Frederickson Blog

For so long, when I read Jesus’ words in John 14:15 (NIV), “If you love me, keep my commands,” I read it only as if He were saying, “If you don’t obey me, it is because you do not love me.”
 

While I still believe that this is one point He is making, I more recently have wondered if He is also saying, “If you love me, it will be easier for you to obey my commands.” Think about this for a minute—how much easier is it for us to obey someone when we love that person?
 

Listen to how the Israelites described their love for the law of the Lord in the book of Psalms: 
 

“Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.” (Psalm 119:97)

“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103)

“Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.” (Psalm 119:111)
 

How is it that the Israelites could describe obedience to the law with such affection and heartfelt dedication?
 

In the times when they were obedient to the law, the Israelites discovered a God who loved them; who took care of them; who gave them joy, security, and protection (among other things). As a result, they came to a place of loving the results of that obedience!
 

Throughout the month of May, we will be talking about what it means for us to thrive in obedience. We want our students to learn that obedience to the Lord Jesus is not just about following a set of rules (while it may feel like this in the beginning). We want to show our students that by following Jesus’ commands, they will discover how much Jesus loves them as they find eternal life, freedom from the power of sin, and a place in His kingdom-building work in the world today.
 

In addition to that, following Jesus’ commands can feel hard or impossible. Thankfully, Jesus showed His love for us in that He gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit! Our goal is that as our students depend on His Spirit living inside them and as they follow Jesus’ commands, those commands will go from being a list of rules to becoming something that is the students’ ultimate joy, passion, and fulfillment that nothing in this world can give. Why? Because in them, they will discover how much Jesus loves them.
 

My hope and prayer for us this month is that we would experience a greater degree of God’s love for us as we obey Him more and more!
 

Family questions: 

1. Which command or teaching of Jesus is most difficult for you? Why? 

2. Which command or teaching of Jesus comes easy for you? Why?
 
3. Which command or teaching of Jesus did you initially think was boring or hard but over time, as you stuck with it, you found to be important? Why?