September 1

Abiding in Obedience, in Love

If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. — John 15:10 BSB

These two things can’t be separated—remaining obedient and remaining in the love of Jesus. Only a life under Christ’s guidance can show that we are the objects of His delight. We must keep His commands if we want to live in His love. If we live in sin, we can’t live in the love of Christ. Without the holiness that pleases God, we can’t please Jesus. Anyone who doesn’t care about holiness doesn’t know the love of Jesus.

Experiencing the love of our Lord is a sensitive thing. It responds to sin and holiness even more quickly than a thermometer reacts to temperature. When we have tender hearts and honor Jesus in our thoughts, words, and actions, we experience countless signs of His love. If we want this joy to continue, we must continue in holiness. Jesus won’t turn His face away from us unless we turn away from Him. Sin creates the cloud that blocks out our Sun. If we stay obedient and fully committed, we can walk in the light as God is in the light, and we will remain in Jesus’ love just as He remains in the Father’s love. This is a sweet promise with a serious "if." Lord, help me keep this "if" in my hand, for it opens the treasure chest.