READY:
“‘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.’” — John 15:10.
SET:
If – it is a loaded word. It indicates things outside of our control but an outcome we desire. If you pitch it inside this batter will strike out. If you pass to your open teammate, they can take the shot. If you dribble and drive, you will draw the foul. Our lives are filled with ifs and if onlymoments.
In John 15:10, Jesus is instructing His disciples. He lays down a giant if with an amazing outcome. If the disciples (that includes us if Jesus is our savior) keep His commands, then they will remain in His love. That begs the question, what are Jesus’ commands? Repent and be baptized (Matthew 4:17), let your light shine (Matthew 5:16), follow me (Matthew 4:19), love your enemies (Matthew 5:43-44), forgive (Matthew 5:39), do not worry (Matthew 6:34) – just to list a few.
The list is daunting and pretty much impossible. Much like trying to get right-handed dribblers to use their left hand, we usually default to what we are comfortable with. In our lives we will default to worry, disliking others and holding on to grudges. Jesus does want us to be perfect, but He also provides the way to restoration when we fall short. Paul lays it out for us in his letter to the Romans. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23-24).
Our job is to try. Just like we ask our athletes to try, we are to try to keep the commands Jesus lays out in the Bible. We are to remain in Jesus which will ultimately give us the strength to produce the fruit of obedience to Him.
GO:
- How well do you know Jesus’ commands? What is one thing you can do to learn them?
- Since we know perfection will never be attained, what motivation do we have to try to keep Jesus’ commands?
WORKOUT:
OVERTIME:
“Lord, we want to remain in Your love. That is the safest place to be. Help us to keep Your commands. Help us to know Your commands. Give us repentant hearts when we fall short. In Jesus’ name, amen.”