"If you keep My
commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's
commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My
joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full." (John 15:10-11 NKJ)
It is amazing how
many of my friends miss the conditional "if" in the Lord's words. I
guess it is true that we only see and hear what we want to see and hear. But
since I know God's will is for his disciples to grow in him and be fruitful for
him, every word is significant. The significance is in the Lord's point.
So I look at the
context and what he said to those first century disciples. Then, consider how
his command applies today in my life. That is the Lord's point. His words must
be more than simple narrative which is related to us. They aren't mere story.
The words that he spoke "are spirit, and they are life" (John 6:63).
And it is the Spirit
who empowers his words and commands with life. And the conditional phrase
"if you keep my commandments" warns me that personal observance and
obedience is my responsibility. His promise of living in his love is
conditional upon my faithful obedience.
But there is more to
this word from the Lord than simply his love and my obedience. He has spoken to
me about my obedience to his commands so that his joy will remain in me. His
commands are not merely for me to have his love. He loves the whole world and
proved it by giving himself on Calvary. His joy, however, is for his disciples.
His joy is given to those who receive him as Savior and Lord.
In addition, the
Lord's words and commands are for the purpose "that (his) joy may remain
in (his disciples), and that (their) joy may be full" (v. 11). Failure to
"keep" his commands drains the Lord's joy from his disciples. It
seems reasonable to me that in order to be full of the Lord's joy, I must be
full of obedience.
In this world of
selfish living, no one wants to obey anything or anyone except self. No
restraints. No absolutes. No limits. No commands. As Christ's disciple,
however, I live in obedience to the Lord's commands. My obedience ensures his
abiding love, his joy remaining in me, and the fullness of my joy. That is what
I want . . . the fullness of his joy. No half-hearted joy for me! I want a
full, overflowing cup of his joy!
Dear Father, thank
you for your joy I have through Christ. Empower me to faithfully obey Christ's
commands. I pray this in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Obey the Lord today
-- Retain his full joy,
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