"YE ARE MY FRIENDS, IF YE DO WHATSOEVER I COMMAND YOU." Obedience to the Lord forms the Christian's grand rule of life. Jesus commands us because He loves us; because He desires our total welfare; because He will prove the sincerity of our profession; and because He expects the obedience of faith. He commands us to follow Him as our great pattern and example; and we should endeavour to imitate Him in His Spirit, and design, and actions. He commands us to believe Him, profess Him, obey Him, and continue in His love. Here we have the Christian's grand motive and spring of action: love. Spiritual love is always loyal to the King of Zion, jealous for the glory of the Lord of Hosts, and devoted to the cause of the Prince of Peace. The obedience of love is easy, hearty, and ready. Love is the strongest incentive to obedience; it conquers fear, supplies zeal, equips with courage, overcomes difficulties, and triumphs over opposition. Let us inquire, from what does our obedience spring? By what is it regulated? Do we really love our God?

For Meditation:
Love is the fountain whence
All true obedience flows;
The Christian serves the God he loves,
And loves the God he knows :
May love o'er every power preside,
And every thought and action guide.