THE FRUIT OF LOVE

JOHN 14:22–24

“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”

(John 14:23).

For the third time Jesus repeats the connection between love and obedience. Judas (not Iscariot) asks how Christ would manifest Himself only to them and not to the world. Judas was probably thinking in terms of a political kingdom, and wondered that no one would see it except the disciples. Jesus answers by revealing, once again, the spiritual nature of His kingdom. His kingdom will be manifest only to the disciples because it will be established in their hearts. There the Son and the Father will dwell.

But notice that Christ first distinguishes His followers from the world, and He does this by describing them as those who are obedient to His will. Those who obey His laws, truly love Him. And those who love Him receive not only the love of Christ but the love of the Father. Then, and only then, wall God dwell with them. He is a God of love and where there is no love. He cannot dwell.

Love for Christ is the root of the new creature, and in consequence, obedience is the fruit. Where there is sincere love to Christ, there will be obedience to His will. Matthew Henry writes, “The surest evidence of our love to Christ is obedience to the laws of Christ. Such is the love of a subject to his sovereign, a dutiful, respectful, obediential love, a conformity to His will, and satisfaction in His wisdom.”

If there is no obedience to Christ, there can be no true love for Him. No matter how much a person may profess faith, if he does not obey the commandments of Christ inwardly and outwardly, there is no redemption, there is no reconciliation with God.

In the Old Testament, God dwelled among His people in a tent or a tabernacle. But in the New, in this Gospel dispensation, God dwells in the hearts of His people. But He only dwells in the hearts of those who love Him. This is not to say that we earn God’s love. He is the one who gives us the grace to love Christ in the first place. We cannot love if God has not changed our hearts. If you find that you are unable to love Christ, to obey His will with a grateful and sincere heart, then the problem might be that you have never been born again. Without love, we cannot be a part of Christ’s kingdom. Without obedience, we do not have true love.

CORAM DEO

Psalm 132–135

1 Corinthians 8

Think of the privilege it is to have the Sovereign of the universe dwell with you, love you, care for you like a mother cares for her child. What should your response be to such loving kindness? Meditate today on Christ’s love, on all that He has done for you. Let His love stir up your own and spur you on to good works.

For further study: Ps. 91:14–16 • Prov. 8:17 • Rev. 3:14–21

thursday

august