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.
John 15:10
Ananias and Sapphira were disciples of Christ who sold their land to help fulfill the mission of the early church: None claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had (Acts 4:32). Ananias and Sapphira kept part of the money for themselves and lied about it, claiming to have given it all. Peter rebuked them saying, You have not lied to men, but to God. Over the past few weeks, I have been more aware of how easy it is to stretch the truth to make a point or to avoid the truth so that I do not have to deal with something. As Christians, we need to be committed to being 100% truthful all of the time! When we are not, we are lying to God, not just to men.
Obedience to God’s commands, according to John 15:10, has the benefit of causing us to remain in God’s love. God never stops loving us, but when we are disobedient, we draw away from His love. We may be ashamed or our hearts may be hardened, but whatever the reason for our disobedience, it causes us to be apart from His love.
What has God asked you to do that you are unwilling to do? Have you disobeyed God and find yourself struggling to know His love? He is waiting for you to return to Him in obedience. He longs for you to know the extent of His love. Paul puts it this way: For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, neither angels nor demons, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37-39) If God’s love is ever present and if you are not experiencing that love, ask Him to show you if you are being disobedient to his commands. If so, return to Him in repentance and obedience, and you will remain in His love.
Heavenly Father,
I find myself in a place of emptiness, wondering if You care or even love me at all. Yet Your Word is clear that nothing separates me from Your love. So, I am asking You to show me any area of my life where I am in disobedience to Your Word. Forgive me, Lord, and lead me to obedience so that I can remain in Your love.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
