Loving God Above All Leads to Obedience and Fulfillment
We’ve been discussing what it means to love God above all else and how this flows from receiving His love for us. Here we need to bring up the powerful effect of obedience in the Christian life.
Obedience is not a popular word. It gets a really bad rap these days, but God sees it differently. God values obedience of the heart, not mere compliance of the will. Rather, such obedience is motivated by love. As Jesus said in John 14:21, those who love Him are the ones who keep His commandments.
John 14:21 He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.
Obedience leads to a deeper experience of God’s goodness in life. Jesus promised above that those who keep His commandments will be loved by the Father and know His close presence. Incredible fulfillment is available as we walk in obedience to the One we love.
Every day presents opportunities to obey, whether at work, home, or elsewhere. With this person, that decision, this flirtation, that temptation, or this suffering. In each moment, we can choose to follow God’s leading. And though obedience is a choice, it’s easier when our hearts truly love Him.
Obedience is our choice. But it is easier to obey Him when we love Him.
As you make the choice to obey God, that is an act of love. That’s how Jesus sees it, and He honors it. He moves closer. He reveals Himself to those who love Him. And love reveals itself more clearly when we obey Him (John 14:21).
The apostle John confirms this in 2 John 6, that walking according to God’s commandments is how we demonstrate our love. Love longs to please the one it’s given to. So when we obey God, even when it’s hard, that action springs from devotion.
Love for God is shown in obedience. That’s His primary love language.
Love for God is shown in obedience. That’s His primary love language.
1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments…
And what has God commanded us to do?
1 John 3:23 This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.
What a beautiful, simple instruction that leads to deep fulfillment.
When believers love God by loving and serving one another, needs are met, burdens are lightened, and people experience God’s love and grace community like never before. Our church family has certainly witnessed this fruit.
On a personal level, too, obedience brings fulfillment even through hard times. Knowing you’re following God’s lead, however imperfectly, assures the heart that He is in control and will use all things for good. You trust Him for the outcome.
As we make hard choices rooted in God’s love, be aware of the fulfillment it brings into your heart, the heart of a child.