September 10th 2023
Obey Seems To Be One Of Those “Four Letter” Words In The USA These Days!
John 14:21 (NIV)
Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.
Obey seems to be one of those “four letter” words in the USA these days! Almost no one drives the speed limit on our highways these days, and this is just an easy example to give. Many people would likely say that this is a bad example as it is not really a serious enough thing to use as an example here. However, hundreds of people die every year in highway accidents, and the reason is often given as “speeding caused this accident!” It makes me wonder if this should be called an accident, as the person driving was not speeding accidentally! What do you think?
Jesus told His followers to obey His commands, and He emphasized obedience as a form of showing love and respect for the one issuing the commands. "If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor to be with you for ever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. (John 14:15-17). It seems many people no longer cling to an attitude of being respectful of other people, even to members of their own family. Jesus knew that this time was coming, and He sent the Holy Spirit to assist anyone who would try to follow His commands, because they truly feel love for Him.
A loving or respectful attitude is fairly exclusively a learned attuite, and it is usually ONLY acquired by being part of a normal family unit. Yes, I believe as God has told us from the beginning a family unit starts with one man and one woman. Sorry, if this seems offensive to someone reading this, but it is God’s command not my opinion, only! It is true some people may learn respect from a seemingly loving group, especially from a Christian church group. Some seek out a group that will accept them, such as a gang! From such a group a person learns to respect the strongest individual(s) that lead the gang.
If you are looking for a loving group to spend your time with, I recommend a Christian church group instead of a gang, as you will gain true love there motivated by belief in Jesus Christ! The writer of Hebrews wrote about the person we need to follow an emulate. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. (Hebrews 4:14-15). Can you become like Jesus in this cursed world? Well, the truthful answer is NO! Yet we can become more like Him, with the help of the Holy Spirit!
Paul wrote about how we are changed by becoming believers. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28). If you choose to become part of the body of Christ, AKA the Christian followers, then we have become a member of the only real loving group active on this earth today. Paul wrote for the church in Ephesus, and us about this opportunity to serve. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. (Ephesians 2:19-20). Has Jesus become the cornerstone in your life?
Parents it is vital that you teach your children to try to understand the biblical accounts about Jesus. Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. (Proverbs 22:6). Some people have commented that when they hear “Jesus Christ’ in their home it means their parents a mad about something. Is Jesus Christ a curse word in your home or a Word that brings on a loving attitude, and a feeling of belonging and being loved?
In the church I regularly attend we hear Jesus being said very often, and it makes me feel loved and included in this family of believers! Back to that word obey again! Jesus said, “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?" Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. (John 14:21-23). Are you sharing your home with the Father and the Son?
If you are a believer, then you (we) have been given another command from Jesus. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20). Have you ever told someone how having Jesus in your life has greatly improved it?
Paul wrote about a person being, “fully mature in Christ.” To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. (Colossians 1:27-28). Is anyone fully mature in Christ in this cursed world, as we all possess a sinful nature inherited from the Fall of Man? Maybe not BUT we should all be striving in our weakest moments to believe we are stronger through our dependance on the power of Jesus Christ!
Let us close this commentary with the first verse of the hymn “Trust and Obey!” In this case obey is not a bad word!
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still
And with all who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Amen!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
John 14:21 (NIV)
Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.
Obey seems to be one of those “four letter” words in the USA these days! Almost no one drives the speed limit on our highways these days, and this is just an easy example to give. Many people would likely say that this is a bad example as it is not really a serious enough thing to use as an example here. However, hundreds of people die every year in highway accidents, and the reason is often given as “speeding caused this accident!” It makes me wonder if this should be called an accident, as the person driving was not speeding accidentally! What do you think?
Jesus told His followers to obey His commands, and He emphasized obedience as a form of showing love and respect for the one issuing the commands. "If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor to be with you for ever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. (John 14:15-17). It seems many people no longer cling to an attitude of being respectful of other people, even to members of their own family. Jesus knew that this time was coming, and He sent the Holy Spirit to assist anyone who would try to follow His commands, because they truly feel love for Him.
A loving or respectful attitude is fairly exclusively a learned attuite, and it is usually ONLY acquired by being part of a normal family unit. Yes, I believe as God has told us from the beginning a family unit starts with one man and one woman. Sorry, if this seems offensive to someone reading this, but it is God’s command not my opinion, only! It is true some people may learn respect from a seemingly loving group, especially from a Christian church group. Some seek out a group that will accept them, such as a gang! From such a group a person learns to respect the strongest individual(s) that lead the gang.
If you are looking for a loving group to spend your time with, I recommend a Christian church group instead of a gang, as you will gain true love there motivated by belief in Jesus Christ! The writer of Hebrews wrote about the person we need to follow an emulate. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. (Hebrews 4:14-15). Can you become like Jesus in this cursed world? Well, the truthful answer is NO! Yet we can become more like Him, with the help of the Holy Spirit!
Paul wrote about how we are changed by becoming believers. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28). If you choose to become part of the body of Christ, AKA the Christian followers, then we have become a member of the only real loving group active on this earth today. Paul wrote for the church in Ephesus, and us about this opportunity to serve. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. (Ephesians 2:19-20). Has Jesus become the cornerstone in your life?
Parents it is vital that you teach your children to try to understand the biblical accounts about Jesus. Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. (Proverbs 22:6). Some people have commented that when they hear “Jesus Christ’ in their home it means their parents a mad about something. Is Jesus Christ a curse word in your home or a Word that brings on a loving attitude, and a feeling of belonging and being loved?
In the church I regularly attend we hear Jesus being said very often, and it makes me feel loved and included in this family of believers! Back to that word obey again! Jesus said, “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?" Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. (John 14:21-23). Are you sharing your home with the Father and the Son?
If you are a believer, then you (we) have been given another command from Jesus. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20). Have you ever told someone how having Jesus in your life has greatly improved it?
Paul wrote about a person being, “fully mature in Christ.” To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. (Colossians 1:27-28). Is anyone fully mature in Christ in this cursed world, as we all possess a sinful nature inherited from the Fall of Man? Maybe not BUT we should all be striving in our weakest moments to believe we are stronger through our dependance on the power of Jesus Christ!
Let us close this commentary with the first verse of the hymn “Trust and Obey!” In this case obey is not a bad word!
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still
And with all who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Amen!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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