The “Five Love Languages” as explained by Marriage Counselor Dr. Gary Chapman has helped not just couples in strengthening their interpersonal relationships. By determining how another person expresses and feels loved, a person wanting to build stronger ties can have a clearer grasp at how to make the other person happy.
For us Christians, we are given clear information as to how to express our love for our Messiah Jesus Christ. The Gospel of John, has repeatedly quoted our Lord, saying that the one who loves Him are those who obey Him and keep His commands.
“Jesus answered him, “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
And since our greatest calling is to love and worship God with all our heart, mind, and strength, we are to be obedient to the Lord and His teachings. While we can never be perfect, sinners that we are, Jesus promises to help us remain faithful to Him.
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” John 14:15-17
And there is so much in store for those of us who will remain steadfast in His love. For one, He promises His presence. And as followers of Jesus, this is the best thing that could ever happen to us, to know that we are walking with God.
“Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” John 14:21
God also promises to make us fruitful, meaning we can manifest kingdom values to those around us. And while this may not have direct benefit on us, it will have a ripple effect that makes us more loved by others. Moreover, when we keep His commandments, we get protected against the natural consequences of sin.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” John 15:5-7
Moreover, God promises to be faithful to those who are faithful to Him. The Bible quotes promises upon promises for those who sacrificially follow God’s teachings and live a life of worship.
“Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Joshua 1:7-8
It may not be easy to obey everything that the Lord calls us to do, especially those which include loving people who have hurt us, if we fail, all we need to do is to go back to the Lord, confess and repent, and we can try again.
Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to
ponder on John 15:1-13 to dig deeper on today’s topic.
Reflection Question: How do you express your love for the Lord?
Conversation with the Lord: Heavenly Father, thank you for helping us follow your commands. Thank you for strengthening us to endure the challenges of obedience, Give us the grace to continue abiding in you, so that we can show you how much we love you. We love you because you loved us first. Amen.
“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.” 1 John 5:3
