“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote in one of her most famous sonnets. Learning how to love someone well is a lifelong pursuit.
Knowing how to love Jesus doesn’t have to be. John recorded Him as being quite clear:
If you love me, obey my commandments.
He didn’t say that we have to be perfect to prove our love for Him, or even good. He didn’t mention church attendance, scripture memory verses, or raising our hands during worship songs. He didn’t even tell us which Bible to use!
What He did tell us was to OBEY, using the verb “tereo” which means to keep watch, observe, obey–all likened to a soldier maintaining guard or obeying orders.
When a soldier keeps watch,
he is careful with what he is guarding.
He is watchful and vigilant.
He doesn’t doze or become complacent about his duty.
He presses through whatever hardship exists
in order to be obedient to that order or command.
Sounds like if we agape-love Jesus, if we treasure Him, if we take our pleasure in Him, then we will be that guardsman over the treasure of His love. We will be vigilant over our behavior, we will be watchful for any temptations and slip-ups that could remove us from our post. We won’t become complacent and shrug off our duty, we will remain steadfast, living the orders He has given us.
What are those orders?
There are many, but He said they all boil down to two:
1.) Love God with all you have and all you are.
2.) Love others as you love yourself.
We have the choice all day, every day. We can do the worship, memorize scripture, attend every church service available, but it is our obedience to those two commandments that speak His love language the loudest.
Ready? Let’s begin today.
Coffee, Bible, Journal.
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