Passage Read: John 13-14
Meditation Verses: 14:23-24
Thought
The one who loves Jesus keeps His word, and the Father sees that and loves the one who so honors His Son. Because of his honor of the Son, both the Son and the Father come to dwell in him. But the person who does not keep Jesus' words, that one does not truly love Jesus; both the Father and the Son recognize that, and so should I. Love for Jesus is not just feelings that move one to tears of joy, but should be very strong feelings that move one to honor Jesus by gladly doing anything and everything He commands. The Father and the Son do not delight in the one who has a strong emotional response, but They delight in and come to dwell within the one who loves Jesus with a heart of respect, honor and obedience. Emotion without continuing obedience is not love for Jesus; saving love for Jesus includes and is marked by obedience to Jesus' words.
Application
If I am so grateful to Jesus for His sacrifice for and saving of me, but I do not care what He says enough to do as He commands, then I merely like Jesus, but He does not come to dwell with me. In fact, He's offended by my disrespect even as I go around telling others how grateful I am for Him! What He's looking for is such love that I entrust my whole life to His wisdom and word, so that I walk in His ways and follow His commands. I no longer live for what the world desires, I no longer live for temporary things, but I live for the kingdom of God and His righteousness, though it cost me everything on earth, whether riches or possessions or even relationships. As Jesus did only what He saw the Father do and said only what the Father spoke, so I must do and say only what I see Jesus did and said. My life is no longer my own, but it is Jesus' to command and direct. And He's already recorded everything He wanted me to know, so if I truly love Him, I must speak and act as He instructed and embodied. And if I love Him with this kind of obedience, only then I can have confidence that He and the Father dwell within me.