We are going to dive into God’s perfect love over the next several posts. Obedience might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you consider God’s love, but I think you’ll find that on this Good Friday it is more than fitting.
During bedtime reading with Cadence last night, we changed courses and looked at Jesus’s conversation with his disciples on the night before He was crucified. Cadence got distracted thinking about Christ’s impending death and the physical pain He endured. Her focus was on the nails, and we talked through all of the sufferings He went through before even getting to the cross. He was so bloodied and beaten that it was difficult to recognize him as human. Pausing to consider that pain as a Believer causes pain within our own hearts. That emotion that wells up is a natural part of love that we discussed in the last post. Cadence very soberly said with tears in her eyes, “Mommy if I were there I would take His place!”
It was a sweet sentiment, and I believe the emotion was in part due to the Holy Spirit inside of her as well as her human, God-given capacity for empathy and compassion. I tried to gently explain, though, that none of us would have taken His place. We would have cowered in fear and confusion just like the disciples. We desperately needed Him to take our place instead.
How often are we quick to make a bold, impassioned statement of love for God or someone else? We might even genuinely mean what we say and truly believe that we could die for someone or take their place in a mighty act of love. God both tells us and has demonstrated for us the very best way to show our love and devotion.
Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me…I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, but I do as the Father has commanded me, that the world may know that I love the Father.” (John 14:23-24, 30-31a)
Jesus demonstrates His love to the Father by His obedience to the Father. Stop for a moment and let your mind wrap around that truth. His life on earth and death on the cross was not only a desire to reconcile us to Himself out of love, but also a demonstration of His love for the Father.
Study it Out
- Read Philippians 2:5-8. What is Christ’s position in the Godhead? Is He inferior to the Father in any way? How does His position and subsequent humble obedience inform your heart about the topic of submission and obedience to God and God-given authority?
- Does the Father enjoy selfishly lording it over the Son? Does Jesus have a power-hungry mindset that is commanding obedience from us for His own selfish purposes? How does John 13 as well as the previous passage you just read refute that kind of thinking? (Remember that our corrupted love tends toward selfish desire while God’s love is always fueled by the desire to benefit and bless the object of His love.)
- Read Romans 6:15-23. Whose slave were you before accepting Christ? You see, obedience is actually a natural part of all love, even love cursed by sin. As condemned sinners, we naturally obey our evil desires or passions that lead to death. As redeemed children, we have the ability to obey Christ which leads to life and all that is good.
- Read the passage given below and consider the following questions:
– How can we discern if we have a true love for others?
– Are God’s commands difficult to obey or designed to bring harm?
– How does faith play into obedience and true love
– How has Jesus’ obedience enabled our own?
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 John 5:1-5)
Additional Resources
Are you looking for more devotional or Scripture memory resources? Find gifts, artwork, crafts and other devotional printables at Etsy.com/Shop/BreathingGrace. You can also find the original Breathing Grace 50 day devotional on Amazon.com/author/RobertsSarah along with a 30 day devotional for Thanksgiving and a 31 day devotional and ornament maker for Advent. All devotionals are available in both KJV and ESV versions of the Bible.