The Right Motivation to Obey God

In review of John 15:14 Jesus tells me, “You are my friends if you do what I command” (NLT).

Jesus said in John 15:14, “You are my friends if you do what I command” (NLT).

I can’t say I love Jesus and then go live like the enemy. I can’t say I’m a Christ follower and then keep on living a self-centered life. I can’t just pick and choose the verses that I want to listen to and ignore the ones I don’t. Jesus says I’m his friend if I obey him and his commandments.

I don’t obey him out of guilt or fear or obligation. I obey him because he loves me! He wants the best for me. He loves me like nobody else will ever love me. The Bible says the only reason there’s love in the world is because God is love. I obey God out of love, because he loved and saved me.

I could do anything I wanted to do, however Jesus has changed my wants. I no longer want to do those things now. They are cheap, phony thrills that seem to give a temporary kick to life, but then they kick back. They may look like freedom, but they don’t last, and they lead to despair, not dignity and depression, not delight.

John 15:9-11 says, “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me . . . When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!”

God doesn’t want me to obey him because I’m afraid of him. He doesn’t want me to obey him because I’m scared of punishment. God wants me to obey him because of love. It’s his love that leads to true joy.

Bottom Line:

Become his friend, do as he commands.

What this means to me:

When I do as he has commanded, I become his friend.

In summary, I'm am his friend if I do what he commands. I can't say I'm his friend and follower and then go on living a self-centered life. I can't just pick and choose the verses I want to listen to and follow and ignore the others. I obey God out of love, because he loved and saved me. It's his love that leads to true joy.

I thank you God and Jesus for your love and caring for me. Today I pray for your wisdom and guidance as I orchestrate my day, my work activities, my leadership and my interaction with others. I pray this through your Son Jesus name, amen.