John 14:15-26
16 — We are not alone. No, not alone. At all. The follower of Jesus has the Holy Comforter abiding with him, sustaining and empowering him to do the impossible.
17 — The Holy Spirit abides with the Christian because He dwells within the Christian. Such a common truth in the church. We accept it by faith and rarely think much of it. It’s too mind-warping to try to figure out. So don’t even try it. Rather, let that truth be life-shaping for you. Live as the holy vessel you are, indwelt by the pure Spirit of truth.
18 — Comfortless. The Greek term is used one other time in the New Testament. In James 1:27, where it’s translated fatherless. Go ahead and look it up in Strong’s Concordance; you’ll likely be surprised at the meaning of the Greek word.
18 — So it isn’t just the Comforter that comes to abide with us, the Advocate does also. Ah, the wonders of the Trinity!
19 — “Because I live, ye shall live also.” Exactly. Be sure to read Galatians 2:20 for more on that.
Then Jesus says, “He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings.” So now I might find myself getting uncomfortable, wondering if He means if I don’t obey Him, I don’t love Him either. I would rather have the option of proclaiming I love Him while showing I am my own man.
Through my desperation comes the realization that the Lord has not finished speaking yet. I hear Him say, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” Comfort, that is precisely what I need right now, alright. This Being the Father will send will come in the name of my Master! He will have the power of my Master! And He will teach me and remind me. (Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit)
24 — No obedience, no love. Know obedience, know love.
How shall we measure a commodity such as love?
“If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Jesus communicates with us using such directness and simplicity, doesn’t He! He leaves no ambiguity in His message: Measuring love is as simple as measuring obedience. The extent of my obedience determines the extent of my love. The process is no more complicated than that.
“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me” (John 14:21). To seek out, treasure, and obey His commandments — that reveals and proves love. This verse brings out an additional vital dimension to obedience and love. Those who love God do not rest in their present understanding and obedience. No! They have the disposition and drive of an explorer, of a learner. They strive to deepen and expand their knowledge of God’s will because they wish to extend the scope of their obedience. In other words, they want to know more so they can obey more…because they want to love more. They read and listen, study and meditate, search and research — not to acquire knowledge for its own sake, but to acquire knowledge for the sake of obedience.
“If a man love me, he will keep my words” (John 14:23). After giving the teaching He did, Jesus could guide His audience to that obvious conclusion. Those who love Him, obey Him. The length and depth of the one measures the length and depth of the other.
Read the rest: Measuring Our Love for God
