"Obedience Made Easy"

“And this is His command: to believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as He commanded us. Those who obey His commands live in Him, and He in them.” (1 John 3:23-24a)

These verses expand the meaning of Jesus’ two great commands: Love God and love people.

You show your love for God by believing in Him and placing your life in Jesus’ hands. You love others by sacrificially loving them more than yourself.

1 John 3:16 says, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.”

Both of these commands are fulfilled in obedience.

John 15:10 says, “If you obey My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have obeyed My Father's commands and remain in His love.”

Obedience is a circular activity. Your obedience places your faith in Jesus resulting in the work of the Holy Spirit being released in you. Releasing more of the Holy Spirit enables you to continue living in obedience. Obedience comes easier when you have cultivated a lifestyle of learning to remain (dwell) in Jesus.

John 15:4 says, “Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.”

Your growing relationship with Jesus will not only help grow your faith, but will also help you make Jesus the Lord of your life. Walk with Jesus daily in prayer and Bible reading so that He grows to be the “hub” of your life – arming you for obedience!

1 John 2:3-6 -- “We know that we have come to know him if we obey His commands. The man who says, ‘I know Him,’ but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in Him. But if anyone obeys His word, God's love is truly made complete in Him. This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.”