Obedience part 1
I think obedience is all about trust. If you don't trust the person telling you to do something... chances are you're not going to want to do it. You'll be a lot less likely to do it, at the very least. But let me string two memory verses together. And I just did a Guerrilla Gospel message on this because its heavy on my heart right now. Ok. First is John 14:15, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." And that seems pretty simple. Pretty straightforward. Its practically an "if then" statement. And I'm telling you, religious folk LOVE "if then" statements. Because it gives them something to do in order to get something. Its a way to earn what they want. But I don't see Jesus giving us ways to earn things. Because labor and works don't work. Jesus came that we might have life and that more abundantly. That's the GIFT of God. Not earning, but receiving and releasing. I think Jesus was telling us HOW to keep His commandments. "Trust me. I have your best interests at heart." Because you can't give what you don't have. And you can only give what you do have. We love Him, because He first loved us. And that, actually, is my other memory verse. "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another" (John 13:34). So basically, if we put these two verses together, Jesus is saying, "If you love me... love one another." And the best part is, He said, "...as I have loved you..." Because that puts the emphasis right where it belongs. Not on us and what WE do, but on HIM and what HE has done. We are only commanded to love as Jesus has loved us. So if God wants us to love big... He has to first love US big. You can't give what you don't have. And you can only give what you do have. We love, because He first loved us. Did I already mention that? Its important. So our obedience doesn't come from fear of punishment. It comes from trusting in the One who is telling us what to do. And telling us HOW to do it. "My commandment is to love one another. If you love me... you WILL keep my commandment. Because you love me BY loving one another! And you are only expected to love as much as you are loved. So first things first I have to love the hell out of you!" To me that's awesome. That's good news. That's the gospel. God is love and He loves you. Love Him back by loving people. Receive and release the gift you've been given. Give it away. Share it. And in that way, experience it. If love is giving--and it is--you can't experience love unless you give it. And you won't give it unless you trust the One who is telling you to. You won't give it if you think you'll give it away and be left with nothing. That's why we fill ourselves to overflowing with what we've already been filled with. That's why we know and believe that we are connected to the unlimited source of love. The God who IS love. He lives in us. We live in Him. And what's inside... comes out. Naturally. Its not forced obedience. Its doing what we're "commanded" because we know its the best thing we could possibly do. Love God and love people. Love God BY loving people. Because He first loved us. That's true obedience.