Dear Disciple,
“Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. John 14:23-24
To love someone is to pursue what is best for them. To love your Master – to pursue what is best for Him – you must obey what He has taught. As you obey Him, even in the moments when it is the hardest thing to do, you will advance His way in this world. You will bring honor to His name and draw others to love and obey Him as well.
To do as He taught is to experience life as it ought to be – life as it will always be in His kingdom. To obey Him is to taste of the culture of God’s Heaven and to begin walking in the prayer, “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven” (Matthew 6:10).
Notice, Disciple, how relational our Master says this is. He promised that He and the Father would come to His obedient servants and make their home with them. This reveals something powerful about the heart of our Father toward us. He desires to make a home among us here and now. Isn’t that beautiful? He wants that. More mind-blowing still, our Master assured us that He has gone to prepare a place for His servants in His Father’s house. They draw near to us and will draw us near to them.
Remember today, Disciple, that obedience is not simply a matter of duty and obligation. It’s so much more. Obedience to your Master is a matter of adoration and worship. You want that fellowship with Him and with the Father. You want to show your love to the One who so extravagantly loved you first.
Express it in songs, speak it prayers, and demonstrate it in your obedience to His commands. Offer Him heartfelt love today because He is worthy of that. He desires to be with you and enjoy a deep and satisfying fellowship with you. You can live the Kingdom life now. You can be at home with God now. And to think that this marvelous offer is just a hint and whisper of the full life He has in mind for you in the age to come!
At home in Him with you,
Ryan