Love and obedience are tied together

A 5-year-old boy was having a bad day obeying. If his mother told him to do one thing, he’d do something else. If she told him not to do something, he’d go ahead and do it anyway.

After a morning full of disobedience ? and resultant spankings and time-outs ? the boy’s mother pulled him aside.

“You’ve had a tough morning, haven’t you, Johnny,” she said.

“Yes,” the boy muttered.

“Why do you think that is?” she asked, hoping he’s see his disobedience.

“I’m not sure,” he said.

“Do you think it had anything to do with being disobedient?” she asked.

“Maybe,” he said.

“Maybe? Why are you unsure?” she finally said after hesitating.

“Because I want to know something before I answer that question,” he said.

“What’s that?” she asked.

“If I say I was disobedient, will I get into more trouble?” he asked.

“No,” she said. “You won’t get into trouble. We’ve already dealt with that with our spankings and time outs.”

“Then, no,” he said. “I wasn’t disobedient. I was just being ME ? just the way God made me!”

Hmmm. Obedience. It’s the difference between those who love Christ, and those who don’t.

In John 14:21, Jesus says “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.” Conversely, in John 14:24, He says “He who does not love Me does not keep My words . . .”

If you’re wondering whether you truly love Christ, ask yourself: Do I keep His commandments?

Do I generally obey Him? If you do, you love Him. If you don't, you don't. 

In what Jesus calls the “great commandment,” found in Matthew 22:37, were told: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.”

Obeying God’s commandments won’t earn us a place in heaven; that can be done only by receiving Jesus as savior.

But after receiving Christ, a measure of our love for Him is how well we’re keeping His commands.

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"If you love Me, you will keep My commandments."                     ? John 14:15