Loving God

“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 ESV)

When Jesus spoke the multitudes would listen, but this time He was speaking to his disciples informing them of what was to come. He told them several important truths in these sentences. These truths can also be applied to our lives, the same way they were applied to the lives of the disciples. Christ specifically told them “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” What does it look like to keep His commandments since He came to complete/fulfill the Law? To answer that question Christ tells us, “And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40 ESV)

This is not something that we can accomplish on our own or the nation of Israel would have been more successful at it. But Christ promises us a Helper who will give us the ability to accomplish many things. Only those who believe in Christ will receive this help, because it comes through God in the form of His Holy Spirit. He dwells in you and with you, so if you have God dwelling inside of you then how can you not have the power to accomplish things you set your mind to? Especially when it deals with the will of God you can do great things.

So what things can you do now that you know you are not by yourself and that if you are in Christ he is with you? What would you change to love God better? How would you put feet to the gospel, and love your neighbor as yourself? If you have some ideas feel free to share them and show the love of God with those around you.

Live Long, Pray Hard, Die Well!