Read John 14:1-24

…If you love me, you will keep my commandments…”

In theory, an all-powerful God shouldn’t need to offer incentives for obedience to his commands, especially if they are so good for us. However, Jesus presents a compelling and intimate case for delighting the God who created us.

When it comes to the outcomes of our obedience, Jesus makes his loving intentions clear. Jesus says in verse 23 that he and his father will make their “home with” those who “love” him and “keep” His words – those who lovingly obey him. This image of sharing a house or family with Jesus and His Father gives us the perfect analogy for imagining the intersection of love and obedience.

In any family household or relationship, there is tension between loving feelings and loving actions. Most children grow up loving their parents but then are rudely shocked when, at some point in their development towards adulthood, they are given ‘chores’. They begin to wonder, “How is it that the person we experienced such pure love with now expects us to do work for them?” At some point in that development process we begin to pitch in around the house regardless of how we feel towards our parent(s). We then see the benefit of working together in love. Not only does the household thrive, but we strengthen and reflect the values of the ideal family within which we exist.

The ideal scenario in each household is that we fulfil our jobs not just because they are necessary (washing up, vacuuming, mowing) but because we joyfully fulfil our roles out of pure love. This is not only great for us, but the very thing that God himself seeks – a family that acts out of, and for, love. It’s what we could term loving obedience.

It’s not simply ‘better’ to have a God that asks for loving, rather than blind, obedience. Obedience that is simply ‘ticking the box’ may produce some positive outcomes, but it falls far short of the compelling, abundant life that Jesus invites us to. This is why Jesus invites us to a faith that is beyond mere subservience to a superior being.

The faith that Jesus aspires for all of us is a faith guided by loving obedience to a loving, and powerful, Father God. To lovingly obey Jesus is to participate in the ideal household, securely loved by our heavenly father and lovingly obedient to him in return.