Do You Love the Lord?
Russell Haffner
In John 14:15 Jesus said, "If you love Me, keep My commandments." This is a fascinating verse that teaches a fundamental principle. It shows us the connection between love and obedience. True love for Christ will always produce obedience.
In the world today, obedience is sometimes thought of in a negative way. Some think it is beneath them to obey. However, that is simply not true. In God's word, we find that obedience is the expression of love.
1 John 5:2-3, "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome."
We should not think of obedience as some difficult, oppressive requirement of our God. Obedience is simply the product of our gratitude and love for God and all that He has done for us through His Son. We should always think of obedience in this way.
There is no doubt that there is a connection between love and action. Love is more than a simple emotion or feeling. True love produces action. Obedience is foundational to living the Christian life. If there is no obedience, then we are not living the Christian life.
In the Bible the words translated as "obey" are automatically connected to hearing. Obedience is the correct response to listening to God's word. In Luke 11:28 Jesus states, "Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!" The standard of measuring our love for God is our obedience.
John 14:21, "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him."
John 14:23, "Jesus answered and said to him, 'If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.'"
The relationship between love and obedience is easy to see. If we truly love our Lord, we will seek to know and obey His commands. If do not keep His commands, we cannot honestly claim to love Him. Actions speak louder than words.
HOW TO START YOUR LESSONS
Perhaps you have enrolled in the school but have yet to start your first course. Beginning your studies is easy to do. Once you login to your account simply choose the course you would like to study from the "Course Schedule" option located on the blue menu bar of the school website (http://school.wvbs.org/course-schedule/). The "Course Schedule" reflects the designated order that Formal Students must follow. Informal and Auditing Students are recommended, but not required, to follow this schedule.
Once you have selected the course you would like to study you need to register for the course by clicking the "Register" button located on the course page. When this is done, you will have full online access to the course. You can begin watching the videos immediately by clicking the "Lesson 1" link. From each lesson page you will be able to view a 30-40 minute video lesson presentation.
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