12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Lets establish "the facts" about the Love the Father has given unto us and then the "facts" of what Jesus says about our Love for Him/God.
The above verses begin in context with great promise of power and end with the Holy Spirit dwelling with us and in us. But there is a hinge on this "door of blessing and power" that needs be applied before we "receive" "what we ask.
Look for it..............
Yes it is found in verse 15. "IF YOU".........Love Me!
Then it goes on to say "keep my commands."
If you love me..........if you love me..........if you love me.
Lets look at another example in Scripture:
John 21:15-17
15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
In this example Jesus again asking the question to a believer (in fact the one who is considered chiefest), do you love Me?
Lets make this completely clear here: In the Scripture from John 14 Jesus is saying that we prove our Love for Him by obeying His commands............In context, the followers of Jesus had to answer the question by reflecting on their obedience. Imperfect, sinful men who follow Jesus would have to prove their Love for their Lord by obedience to His commands. If this was done all the above promises and below indwelling would be theirs. The way the prefaced statement was made it shows that being obedient with Love would cause the latter and former to continue in an active sense throughout their walk.
Now lets look at poor Peter the master of emotion and passion in John 21. Back up to the thought that Peter was one of the first chosen of the disciples and he was a simple, brash fisherman. He also walked with Jesus for 3 yrs and even left his wife and family to do so. He was dedicated to put into practice what he believed even to the slicing off an ear of Malcus who was in the garden during Jesus capture. But passion reveals itself both ways when Peter is concerned. Peter is familiar with John 14 about obeying the Lords commands to show Him he Loves Him, but he is out in a boat with other men naked until he hears that Jesus is on the beach. Then he girds up his garment and in full show of passion has to jump off the boat to beat everyone else in. What fervor, that's when Jesus asked him "loveth thou me?" Keeping it in context here is Jesus who knows all things brings up to Peter the question of Love when moments before he was naked before men on the ship. In other words "Peter what are you doing?" "Do you love me? Will you obey my commands? Is this how you are "leading my chosen?"
This is reminiscent of Luke 22:32
32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”
Another "passionate" outburst by Peter followed by a warning rebuke from Jesus. Are we starting to get the picture? Even godly men full of passion mess up and sin. If it happened to Peter who's shadow fell upon the sick and healed them how will we fare? "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23. That was written in a letter to "the church" not the unbelievers. Let me ask these questions:
Are you walking with Jesus?
Are you passionate about following His commands?
Are you full of the Holy Spirit?
Then welcome to the Peter Club.
You have all the same possibilities that Peter had along with all the gentle rebuke he had.
If Peter, Paul, Silas, John, ect walked with Christ and were used of God with their imperfections so can you be. The determining factor is to "obey His commands" and your Love will be shown in this way. If you mess up don't throw yourself out of the running to "glorify your Father in heaven" just confess it to Jesus, ask for grace to overcome and resist evil.
So the solution it that simple.
Obeying is Loving!
Confessing is Humility.
Be led by the Spirit and you will accomplish the "things of the Spirit."
They will know we are Christians by our Love.
Passion is necessary.
Zeal is required.
Submission is proof of His Lordship.
Power is in the answer to prayer.
His Love is eternal, unending.
He promises to forgive and restore.
He promises to glorify Himself through you.
He will never leave or forsake you.
He cannot lie.
He will never change.
He knew your life as a story already told and still chose to save and use you.
"Lift up your hands oh ye people, lift them up to the Lord from whence your help cometh."
He will never stop Loving us so we should never stop obeying Him.
Humbly in His service
With love for all the saints
J&E
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