Loved Before We Obey

Scripture: “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.” — John 15:9
The order of Jesus’ words is important.

The Father loves the Son. The Son loves his disciples. Then the disciples are commanded to abide in that love.

Jesus does not say, “Obey me so that I might begin to love you.” He says, in effect, “I have loved you; therefore, remain in and live out of that love.”

We do not obey in order to become loved. We obey because we have been loved.
The Christian’s obedience rests upon prior grace. Christ gave himself for us, died in our place, and clothed us in his righteousness. We do not abide to persuade Christ to save us. We abide because Christ has graciously united us to himself.

Yet obedience cannot be separated from abiding. Jesus says, “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love.” This does not mean that obedience earns Christ’s love. It means that obedience is the path along which communion with Christ is enjoyed.

A child’s disobedience does not necessarily end his relationship with his father, but it disrupts the enjoyment of that relationship. In a similar way, cherished and unrepentant sin disrupts our communion with Christ.

We cannot knowingly reject Christ’s commands and expect to enjoy closeness with Christ. Mystical experiences without obedience are not abiding. Theological knowledge without obedience is not abiding. Religious activity without love is not abiding.

Perhaps there is an area in which you already know what Christ commands. The problem is not that you need additional information. The problem is that you have delayed obedience.
Return to Christ. Confess your sin. Rest again in his finished work, and then walk in the obedience that flows from his love.

His love is not the reward for your obedience. His love is the fountain from which your obedience flows.

Reflection: Is there a command of Christ you have been postponing? How does remembering Christ’s prior love change the way you approach obedience?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for loving me before I could ever obey you. Keep me from trying to earn what you have freely given. Expose any cherished sin that is interrupting my communion with you, and help me obey from the security of your unchanging love. Amen.