Word of the Father

Word of the Father. Jesus tells us in John 14, that he who loves God keeps His commandments. Those who are of the world see and obey God's Word because they love God. Those who are not of God, not only do not obey Him, but neither do they understand Him or His Word!

21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
(John 14:21-24, King James Version)

Word of the Father

Jesus was totally consistent in His ministry in always showing Himself as a representative of God. Even in this passage from John 14, He said, and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. Everything that Jesus taught was not His Word alone, but the Word of the Father.

If this is true, should we not pay closer attention to what He is saying? Often it is not easy to tell the difference between true Christians and professing Christians. As a matter of fact, I think it may be sadly true, that many who view themselves as Christians, will come to find out that they never knew Him in their heart of hearts.

That is really a sobering thought, is it not? If that is true, how do we know whether we are truly Christians or not? The answer is really not that complex; as a matter of fact, it can be summed up in the negative and in the positive in two verses from today's reading in John 14.

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me . . . He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings.

Does that seem too simplistic? Sometimes we get the idea that living for Christ is somewhat of an option, just for the more Spiritual minded Christians. I can just choose to be a carnal Christian, meaning I love the Lord, but my keeping of His commandments is somewhat optional. Someday, I will get more serious about the Lord and try to live more like Him. Is that right thinking?

No, it is not. Jesus said that the greatest commandment is that we love the Lord our God with all our heart, all our soul, and all our mind, and our neighbor as ourself.

That, dear friends, is the Word of the Father, and it is not optional! Pray that God would help you to grow in the Lord, and that you will learn to love others as Christ loves you.

Oh how I love Jesus,
Because He first loved me!

Next: Troubled Heart - Verses 25-27