“Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”” (John 14:21, NLT)
Every now and then people talk about the “leap of faith” required to do something out of your comfort zone. In the movie, “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”, a leap of faith was required to take a step over a chasm when Indiana Jones’ eyes deceived him. Leaps of faith are important to life. Sometimes, you have to take a leap of faith when you don’t have all the answers but have a hunch that you need to go in a certain direction. A leap of faith will be required to ask a person to marry you. You don’t know what the future will hold, and that commitment of marriage will affect your whole life. A leap of faith must be taken to choose a job, travel to a new place, buy a home on mortgage, fly on an airplane, choose a friend, and so much more. While leaps of faith occur frequently in life, today Jesus is asking you to take a “leap of obedience”. This leap may require more than just your hope that things will go well with your choices.
John 14 begins with Jesus being asked about certain aspects of the faith. He is questioned by Phillip and Thomas and Judas (not Iscariot) about different topics. Jesus not only answered their questions but continued to teach on various topics of faith, trust in God, and our relationship with the Heavenly Father. Then, Jesus made the statement included in our scripture for today. Here, Jesus talked about his “commandments”. He urged his followers not only to “accept” the commandments. He recognized that true disciples “who love Jesus” will “obey” the commandments and be loved for it (John 14:21). You see, accepting Jesus’ commands is different from obeying Jesus commands. Some people accept Jesus’ commandments as important for living. However, they may be unwilling to take the “leap of obedience” required to not only accept those commands of Jesus but to live them out in true obedience.
“In the eleventh century, King Henry III of Bavaria grew tired of court life and the pressures of being a monarch. He made application to Prior Richard at as local monastery, asking to be accepted as a contemplative and spend the rest of his life in the monastery.
“Your Majesty,” said Prior Richard, “do you understand that the pledge here is one of obedience? That will be hard because you have been a king.”
“I understand,” said Henry, “The rest of my life I will be obedient to you, as Christ leads you.”
“Then I will tell you what to do,” said Prior Richard. “Go back to your throne and serve faithfully in the place where God has put you.”
When King Henry died, a statement was written: “The King learned to rule by being obedient.”
When we tire of our roles and responsibilities, it helps to remember God has planted us in a certain place and told us to be a good accountant or teacher or mother or father. Christ expects us to be faithful where he puts us, and when he returns, we’ll rule together with him.”
(Steve Brown, as expounded in 10,000 Sermon Illustrations)
As King Henry III learned, being faithful to Jesus involves obedience. Sometimes, that obedience requires that we not only accept Jesus as Lord but be willing to follow faithfully in whatever task we are called, keeping to Jesus’ commands throughout the journey.
Is there a “leap of obedience” that Jesus is requiring of you during this period of your life? Do you find it more difficult to obey than to simply believe? Remember, there is a direct correlation between true faith and obedience. You can’t have one without the other!
John 14 begins with Jesus being asked about certain aspects of the faith. He is questioned by Phillip and Thomas and Judas (not Iscariot) about different topics. Jesus not only answered their questions but continued to teach on various topics of faith, trust in God, and our relationship with the Heavenly Father. Then, Jesus made the statement included in our scripture for today. Here, Jesus talked about his “commandments”. He urged his followers not only to “accept” the commandments. He recognized that true disciples “who love Jesus” will “obey” the commandments and be loved for it (John 14:21). You see, accepting Jesus’ commands is different from obeying Jesus commands. Some people accept Jesus’ commandments as important for living. However, they may be unwilling to take the “leap of obedience” required to not only accept those commands of Jesus but to live them out in true obedience.
“In the eleventh century, King Henry III of Bavaria grew tired of court life and the pressures of being a monarch. He made application to Prior Richard at as local monastery, asking to be accepted as a contemplative and spend the rest of his life in the monastery.
“Your Majesty,” said Prior Richard, “do you understand that the pledge here is one of obedience? That will be hard because you have been a king.”
“I understand,” said Henry, “The rest of my life I will be obedient to you, as Christ leads you.”
“Then I will tell you what to do,” said Prior Richard. “Go back to your throne and serve faithfully in the place where God has put you.”
When King Henry died, a statement was written: “The King learned to rule by being obedient.”
When we tire of our roles and responsibilities, it helps to remember God has planted us in a certain place and told us to be a good accountant or teacher or mother or father. Christ expects us to be faithful where he puts us, and when he returns, we’ll rule together with him.”
(Steve Brown, as expounded in 10,000 Sermon Illustrations)
As King Henry III learned, being faithful to Jesus involves obedience. Sometimes, that obedience requires that we not only accept Jesus as Lord but be willing to follow faithfully in whatever task we are called, keeping to Jesus’ commands throughout the journey.
Is there a “leap of obedience” that Jesus is requiring of you during this period of your life? Do you find it more difficult to obey than to simply believe? Remember, there is a direct correlation between true faith and obedience. You can’t have one without the other!