By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever follows His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says that he remains in Him ought, himself also, walk just as He walked.
Being an athlete requires certain routines and behaviors. Marathon runners must be mindful of their diet and disciplined in their training to be ready for the races. Hockey players must skate and run drills to prepare for their games. Imagine that you heard someone going on and on about how he or she was an accomplished runner, but that person had never actually run before. He or she had the shoes and the outfit for it but had never trained. You would very quickly dismiss that person as a runner, understanding that to be a runner, you must run. Being a runner requires more than owning running shoes, talking a big game, or even signing up for a race. You must run.
While obedience to God’s commands isn’t the way that we are saved, it is an overflow that comes when we follow Christ. Because we follow Christ, we keep His commands. We have been called to walk just as He walked by living in a way that honors God in all we do. We cannot fool God when we only pay Him lip service. He knows our hearts and He sees our actions. When we are made new in Christ, it frees us so that we can live reconciled to God and follow His commands. We are obedient to Him not so He will approve of us but because He already has in Jesus.
- How have you experienced the truth that knowing God leads to obedience to Him?
- What does it show others when we live in the way God desires?
- Pray and ask God to give you eyes to see where you need to grow in following His commands.
