What do you obey?
“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. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.” – John 14:23-24
Why didn’t Jesus say if we Love Him we will obey the law?
The teaching of Jesus was NOT the law and for a very good reason – Jesus made it so that we could have a way to the Father that was Not present since Adam!
To obey the teaching of Jesus is this – LOVE!
Jesus did NOT teach the law! Jesus didn’t teach effort and sacrifice and suffering to obey a code written on a stone so that somehow we might feel closer to God!
Jesus taught Love! Jesus taught that to obey Him was to be “RECONCILED” to God, His yoke is easy and His burden is light and His Peace passes ALL understanding for a very good reason – the cross!
What most Christians forget is that Jesus IS THE WAY! He IS the Only Way – not your works, church attendance, community involvement or business accomplishments – It’s His way or the highway made famous by ACDC!
But the church pew is comfortable! I am not saying there is anything wrong with going to church – I am saying that many get into the comfort of church as opposed to the cross of Christ! What does that look like?
1) You have an emotional buzz or high at church so you have had an encounter with God and are therefore good for another week. Problem – Hitler caused emotional buzz in the people he spoke to every time he spoke! Jesus IS The Way!
2) You have a feeling that you have done your “duty” and as a result you are good for the next week! Problem – this makes church no more than a religious time clock that you punch just like you do at work! Jesus IS The Way!
3) You go more than someone else so you must be closer to God than they are. Problem – No one is righteous, not even one! Jesus IS The Way!
Obeying His teaching, obeying His commands and following Jesus is really rather simple:
“Love thy neighbor as thyself and thus fulfill ALL the law and the prophets!”
Obeying Christ is NOT necessarily obeying the law!