In Luke 6:46, Jesus says, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”
"Love," according to Jesus, means obedience to what He says. Now this isn’t some "obedience and conformity," psychological type thing where Jesus says that His followers have to follow “unlawful” instructions. No, rather that His instructions are reasonable in a way that our obedience to those instructions comes out of our love for Him. Jesus says in John 14:15, “If you love Me, keep my commands.”
Maybe Jesus hasn’t given you a huge task to take on right now, but it’s when we obey the little tasks, that we then can still please Him. You don’t have to start a mega church in order to start being effective in doing God’s work. But whether God has asked you to start big or to start small, you have to start doing something. Spreading the Gospel to others around you is the most important task that we have as Christians in the world. Whatever that looks like in your life. It could mean being patient with the people that are getting on your nerves, withholding some mean words that you know someone deserves, or maybe even encouraging someone with the love and truth of Jesus Himself. It could even mean bringing God into your conversations or starting that Bible Study. Maybe it's releasing your grudge against someone and actually forgiving them. The duty and task, of change happening in our lives, is possible with Jesus! If you're already a Christian, maybe you need to apply change to multiple areas of your life. That could be could be applying more discipline to your life. Maybe exercise, more sleep, less sleep and laziness, or maybe spending less time on social media. It could also look like fasting and praying more, or even praying for your loved ones. Carrying out whatever task Jesus gives you to do, takes work. Love takes work.
The word "love," is a strong word, and often used like it's something that's so easy to do--like it doesn’t require much. When in actuality, love requires a lot of work. Sometimes, a lot more work than we had anticipated. I know that when I rededicated my life back to Christ a few years ago, I didn’t know that meant I was going to have to get out of my comfort zone. But I knew that God was calling me to do more than just use my zeal for Him online, but also in real life–and in in-person situations. So here I was, a 15 year old, discovering that even though I would rather stick to being the “introverted” Christian, God already called me to do extraverted tasks. What I see now, as those small tasks. But I decided that I was going to love God more than my own comfort, and obey Him. I'm not going to lie and say it's still not a struggle because it definitely is! So I have to give God my "yes" again and again. Day after day!
Love is a serious decision that is fueled by your biggest devotion. If you’re a Christian, that devotion should be Jesus. But if it’s not, then taking time to carry out His commands probably isn’t on your radar. Well, let this be a reminder that if you love Jesus, you shouldn't take obeying Him, lightly. Obeying His commands shouldn’t be a surprise to you. If it is, could it be that Jesus is still in your “like” category? "Love" is sacrificial. "Like" isn't. When you love someone, you don't have a "like" mentality about them. You want to please them and tend to their needs. When you love someone you don't mind tending to what they want done because you put yourself in a servant's position. You posture your heart to decrease your pride and act in humility, instead. It's the same way with Jesus!
Jesus doesn't just appreciate you, but your "yes" to Him. Your "yes" to obeying His commands shows Him that you do love Him. "Love" is a strong word and can easily be misused with the wrong intentions-- those "like" intentions.
At the end of the day and at the end of our time on earth, would our love for Jesus have been true? Will we stand before Him at the end of everything and have done nothing He asked of us?
What will you do with what Jesus has given you to do?
This blog is amazing! Keep going God has an amazing plan for your blog! Love you!