How Do You Show Jesus You Love Him?

“If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
                                 John 14:15 (KJV)
 
 





 
Hi friends,
 
     How are you?  If you read last week’s post of the Faith Blog by DUO Inspirations, this verse may look familiar to you.  Yes, I used John 14:15 as the focal verse as well.  However, if you remember, I used John 14:15 to encourage Christians to have compassion and understanding for new Christians or almost Christians.  This week, I will ponder the words in John 14:15 in the way that I normally do with the focal verse.

     I believe that the entire chapter of John 14 is of Jesus’ talk with his apostles (and maybe some other disciples) about what is going to happen after his crucifixion.  Jesus is reassuring his followers that “everything will be okay” in that they will see him again (John 14:3), even if others don’t and they will have a “Comforter” (John 14:16) after he leaves them.

    I can’t even imagine what Jesus’ disciples were thinking and feeling during this talk.  It seemed to confuse His apostles.  Thomas (John 14:5) and Philip (John 14:8) both asked questions.  I think if I were one of them, I would have thought that Jesus was talking in riddles.  He was talking about things in the future that they didn’t understand.  Can you imagine being an apostle back then and hearing all of this, not knowing what we know now?

     Anyway, to me, it seems like John 14:15 is part of an agreement of sorts.  Well, maybe more of a testimony of how Jesus and His disciples will be able to realize that they love and care for each other.  Before that, Jesus states that He is of the Father and the Father is in him, and that anyone who believes in Jesus, will be able to do greater works than he has done (John 14:11-12).  Then, Jesus goes on to say, “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” (John 14:13-14 KJV) 

     I believe that Jesus was trying to tell his apostles in this conversation, that he loves them.  He knew that they didn’t understand what he was telling them and didn’t know what was going to happen.  So, he was trying to reassure them.

     Within this conversation, Jesus tells his apostles what they can do to show their love. In John 14:15 (KJV) Jesus says, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

     Have you ever loved some people and looked to them that you wanted to do extra well for them?  Have you ever felt like if you could just do so fabulously that it would impress one of these loved ones, that he or she would know just how much you love him or her?  I have felt that before.  It was a childlike and inexperienced thought or feeling.  It wasn’t a feeling that love could be bought.  It was just a feeling of love and admiration from someone who was young and caring.

     Maybe the words in John 14:15 could be likened to a close-knit family who wanted to keep up the family honor, so they did good out of respect and love for the family.   The driving force for the action is love.

     As I mentioned in last week’s Faith Blog by DUO Inspirations, sometimes when we hear “If you love me, you will ______” it is a manipulation.  The driving force isn’t love at all.  However, when Jesus says it, we know it is out of love and truth.  We know it isn’t out of manipulation or any alternative motive.

     If we love Jesus, we will obey his commandments.  Not out of obedience or law, but out of love.  We will trust that he knows what is best for us and will only tell us what is good for us. Jesus will only tell us things that will lead to glorifying God and being with Him eternally.  What are your thoughts?  How do you show Jesus you love him?  Do you obey his commandments?   
 
Heavenly Father,
     Thank you for your infinite love.  Thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, to be our ultimate role model.  Help us to remember that you have our best in mind.  Help us to realize that the words in John 14:15 was spoken by Jesus out of love, not out of any sort of alternative motive.  Help us to show our love of our Savior, Jesus, be keeping his commandments.  I ask you this through your Son, Jesus.  Amen.
 
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Reflective questions for John 14:15 (KJV):
*What does John 14:15 mean to me?
*Have I ever felt like I wanted to show someone that I loved him or her by
 doing something extra special that you think he or she would know your
 love for him or her?
*Have I ever felt manipulated by an “If you love me…” statement?
*Do I know that Jesus wasn’t being manipulative with this statement?
*Do I show Jesus that I love him by keeping his commandments?
*What message is God giving me in John 14:15?
*What can I do to better heed the words in John 14:15?

Now, it is your turn.
     Thank you so much for being here.  I appreciate your kindness and support.  I enjoy sharing God's Word with you.  I pray that you use my little tidbits and ponderings to read God's Word for yourself and pray for understanding.  I pray it encourages you to reflect upon yourself and do what you can to grow in your faith.  God bless.

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