Loving And Keeping

If you love Me, keep My commandments.

John 14:15

When Eddie Taubensee of the Cleveland Indians was sidelined by an injury, he saw a divine plan behind it. “I’m not in the spotlight anymore, which is okay,” he said. “I can handle that. In one sense, I’m free to do anything I want. But I’m going to make myself a slave to everybody—to my teammates, to whoever I come in contact with—to win as many as possible for Christ.”

When Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments,” He meant for us to make every occasion in life, good or bad, an opportunity for obedience. As we celebrate God’s Christmas gift to us, why not ask yourself, “What gift of obedience can I give to Him today?”

Perhaps you need to bring your temper under Christ’s control. Perhaps you need to change your vocabulary. Maybe God is nudging you to forgive an offense or overlook an insult. Do you need to express your love more freely to your wife? Are you presenting yourself modestly in your wardrobe (1 Timothy 2:9)?

As this year slips away, it’s a good time to leave behind some old habits. Confess your sins to God and determine to give Him not idle words but obedient deeds as the new year dawns.