Listen

“As the Father loved me, I too have loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy will be in you and your joy will be complete.”

John 15:9-11

Think

The commandments sometimes get a bad rap. Don’t do this. Don’t do that.

They kind of feel like a list of classroom rules being read to us on the first day of school, don’t they?

But in reality, the commandments are in place so that we can be our best selves, living into the way God created us to live. More importantly, the commandments lead us to love. If we’re following God’s commandments, then love is what we’re going to put forward.

Too often we think of the commandments as orders to keep us from sinning, but God wants us to live joyfully and, ultimately, that’s why God gave the commandments to us. Of all the things Jesus wanted his disciples to learn, the most important thing was to love one another.

If we’re ever in question on whether we’re living out that love, Jesus says to check yourself when it comes to following God’s commandments. They are our key to living joyfully in love.

Jeremy Wilhelmi

Question to Ponder:

How do God’s commandments help us live out God’s love?

Pray

God, keep me faithful to your commandments so that I may joyfully love with my whole self.

Today, help me show love to…

Amen.

Go

Wonder of God’s love

Love to wonder in God

Wonder to love in God

Love God through awe and wonder

Knowing God’s love and wonder is with you always