Proof Positive

John 15:4-11

Verse 10  If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in His love.

    As we finish our week of looking at radical obedience we look one more time at how this kind of obedience has to come from a love for God that is true and deepening.

    The passage before us today starts with Jesus telling His disciples, and in turn us, one of the most basic principles of a healthy relationship.  If a relationship is to thrive, both parties must be drawing to each other.  Jesus made the point that if we remain in Him, He will remain in us.  This is a poignant thing for us to remember as we push deeper into our relationship with Him.  We aren't going to find the relationship growing if we are waiting for Him to do all the work.  He is calling us into deeper relationship so why would we settle with a long distance relationship?

    Jesus tells us that we prove to Him how much we love Him by the way we obey Him.  He communicates so clearly what He wants in a relationship and all we have to do is obey.  Loving Him through obedience shouldn't seem like a huge obstacle.  In fact, this should spur us on because the God of the universe wants a relationship with us and all He is asking for is sincere, active obedience.

    Obedience in a relationship may have a negative image in our society, but this is not a worldly relationship.  This is not a relationship in passing.  The relationship we are to be growing in with the Lord is a relationship with eternal dimension.  We need to stop thinking about our relationship with Him in regards to what we can get out of it.  This relationship we are grooming is one with no end.  He has done His part and all He asked of us is obedience.  How important is this relationship to us?  Are we all in?

Making It Personal

    How important is your relationship with the Lord?  Does the level of your obedience reflect that?  How important do you want your relationship to be?

Making It Personal Kids

    How important is Jesus to you?  Is it important to you to obey Jesus?  How can you obey Jesus today to show you love Him?

Closing Prayer

    Father, thank You for calling us into deeper relationship with You.  Guide our hearts to love You so truly that we obey You radically.  In Jesus' name, amen.