AUG 28

John 14:31
Memorise John 14:31
“I love the Father”

So often we think that the reason why Jesus did all that He did was because of love for you and me. However this is only part of the reason. Jesus in John 14:31 says “But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.” Jesus lived a life on earth totally obedient to His Father’s commandments and then went to the Cross in obedience to His Father’s will. He did all this because He was compelled by His love for His Father. This love compelled Him to purposefully face the sufferings to come, and so with steely resolve He was able to say “Arise, let us go hence”. Later in John 21, we will see Christ exhorting Peter to do all things compelled by love for Him. Here, Christ points out that He is the example to the entire world in the way that He obeys the Father compelled by love.

God desires that we too obey Him compelled by our love for Christ. This should be our natural response to what He did on the Cross for us. Our motivation for obedience is important. Christ rebuked the Pharisees for appearing to obey just so that they would be admired of men. Some might obey only out of duty or obligation, just like those born into a Christian family who attend church because they are forced to do so. Some might obey because they desire more health or wealth and assume God will provide this in reward for their obedience. I know of one guy who pretended to obey so that he could marry the Christian girl he was pursuing! Wrong motives call into question whether one is truly saved or not. Even if one is saved, having the wrong motive can cause you to get disillusioned: for example, when you teach difficult children and find no improvement, you might get discouraged. Only when you are motivated and compelled by love for Christ will you be able to continue serving no matter what. I pray that in this study of the life of Christ, you will realise all the more what Christ has done for you, and that you will thus obey God and serve Him compelled out of love for Him, just as Christ did when He was on earth.

Thought: What is my motive for obedience?
Prayer: May I obey Thee out of love alone.