March 26, 2002

OBEDIENCE

"If you love Me you will obey My commands" (John 14:15, NEB).

"If you love Me," Jesus says, "you will obey My commands." Jesus saves men, not in sin, but from sin, and those who love Him will show their love by obedience.

"All true obedience comes from the heart. It was heart work with Christ. And if we consent, He will so identify Himself with our thoughts and aims, so blend our hearts and minds into conformity to His will, that when obeying Him we shall be but carrying out our own impulses. The will, refined and sanctified, will find its highest delight in doing His service. When we know God as it is our privilege to know Him, our life will be a life of continual obedience. Through an appreciation of the character of Christ, through communion with God, sin will become hateful to us...

"The Lord will teach us our duty just as willingly as He will teach somebody else. If we come to Him in faith, He will speak His mysteries to us personally. Our hearts will often burn within us as One draws nigh to commune with us as He did with Enoch. Those who decide to do nothing in any line that will displease God, will know, after presenting their case before Him, just what course to pursue. And they will receive not only wisdom, but strength. Power for obedience, for service, will be imparted to them, as Christ has promised. Whatever was given to Christ--the 'all things' to supply the need of fallen men--was given to Him as the head and representative of humanity. And 'whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight' (1 John 3:22).--The Desire of Ages, p. 391.

With obedience comes a promise, "If you love Me, you will obey My commands; and I will ask the Father, and He will give you another to be your Advocate [Helper], who will be with you forever.

Those who love Jesus and recognize Him for who He is, will do what He asks, and they will receive the assistance of His Holy Spirit forever. Amen.