Loving Jesus by Obeying Him
Month 4: Walking in the Spirit · Loving Others
Today's Scripture
Read together: John 14:15, 21
15 If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. … 21 Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.”
Memory Verse
“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—”— John 14:16 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Judges 19–21
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Around Day 96 of 365 — the dark close of Judges, and our deep need for a King and a Helper.)The Heart of It
Right before Jesus promised the Helper, He said this: "If you love Me, keep My commandments" (). And right after, He said it again: "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me" (v. 21). Notice the order. Love comes first, and obedience flows out of it. Jesus isn't saying, "Obey Me so I'll love you." He's saying, "Because you love Me, you'll want to do what I say." Real obedience isn't gritting our teeth to follow rules. It's the natural fruit of a heart that loves Someone.
And here's where it ties to loving others. Jesus' commandments aren't a long list of "don'ts." At their heart is this: "love one another as I have loved you" (). So when we love Jesus, the very obedience He asks for sends us straight toward people. Being patient with a brother. Sharing with a sister. Forgiving a friend. Helping Mom without being asked. And we don't do it on our own steam. The Helper Jesus just promised is the One who gives us the love and power to actually live this way. Loving Jesus, obeying Jesus, and loving people are all woven together. And the Spirit is the thread holding them tight.
Around the Table
When we love Jesus, we want to do what He says — and what He says is, "Love each other!"
Let's do it: Do one kind thing for someone in this room right now, just because you love Jesus.
Jesus didn't say "obey so I'll love you." He said love comes first, and obeying shows our love back.
Let's talk: What's one of Jesus' commands that means loving another person? How could you keep it today?
Obedience is the evidence of love, not the cause of it (). And the Spirit supplies the power to obey.
Let's go deeper: Where do you obey out of duty or fear instead of love — and how would loving Jesus first change that?
💬 Conversation Starter
Think of someone you love a lot. What's something you'd happily do for them that you'd grumble about doing for a stranger? Love makes obeying a joy. And that's how Jesus wants us to follow Him.
🛡️ Defending the Faith
Doesn't "obey to show love" make Christianity just about rules? No. Jesus flips the order. We're loved and saved by grace first (). Obedience is how that love answers back. Changed behavior that flows from love, not fear, is one of the surest signs God's grace is real in a life.
For Dad · Go Deeper
This passage is a quiet rebuke to two errors that creep into Christian homes. The first is legalism. It says, "Do this and God will love you," and it breeds anxious, joyless kids. The second is cheap grace. It says, "God loves you, so behavior doesn't matter," and it breeds presumption. Jesus holds both together. Love is the root. Obedience is the fruit. And you can't have the fruit without the root. Practically, this means the way you correct your children preaches a gospel. When you discipline, lead with their belovedness: "You are mine, and I love you no matter what. That's exactly why this matters." Then call them up to obedience. And remember, verse 16 comes right here. He doesn't leave them, or you, to obey alone. He sends the Helper. Parent your kids the way Jesus parents you: loved first, then led.
Draws on: Paul David Tripp, Parenting; Tony Evans, Raising Kingdom Kids.
Let's Pray Together
"Lord Jesus, we love You because You first loved us. Help us show that love by obeying You. Help us love the people right here in our home. And fill us with Your Spirit to do it. In Jesus' name, amen."
Because I love Jesus, I get to obey Him. And obeying Him leads me straight toward loving people.