John 14:15 “If you love me, you will obey what I command.”

Keeping Jesus’ commands reflects the very nature of our relationship with him. “If you love me, you will do this,” he says. He is not trying to manipulate or pressure us, like the young man who wants to have his way with a young woman, and calls her love into question if she doesn’t give in. “If you love me, you will let me do this with you.” Jesus is simply describing a fact of our relationship. Love changes the way we behave.

You see, we love him because we trust him. We trust him, because he so loved us. He gave up everything in order to save us. He suffered pain we cannot imagine, not because there was any advantage to himself, but because it served us. He took the rap for our sins and let us go scot-free.

If he loved us enough to do that, then we know that he has only our good in mind. We can trust whatever he says. More than that, we are genuinely grateful, and our hearts come to love him. Love never wants to be a secret thing hidden in the heart. It wants some way to show itself. What can I do, what can I give, to return the love that has been given to me?

For the believer, then, keeping Jesus’ commands is never a matter of obligation. These aren’t things we do because we feel pressured, or have been threatened. Nor are we just checking items off a list because they have to be done. They are expressions of love. If we do them, it is because we love him. If we do not do them, it is because we do not love him, or we love someone else even more.

It should go without saying that “obeying what I command” does not include “ignoring what I command,” or “altering what I command,” or “re-writing what I command.” It means doing these things, because we love him. That is in spite of the fact that sometimes we may find his commands hard to understand. Why should I give something up? Why should I control my desires? Why should I love those who don’t love me?

When I was five years old my parents bought our first pet, a dog. They told me, “Don’t try to play with the dog while it is eating.” But I was excited to have a new dog, and I wanted to play with it, and I didn’t see what the harm would be in giving it some love and attention while it was eating. So I did, and it bit me. My parents knew better.

When Jesus says, “Do this,” or “Don’t do this,” perhaps we can give the all-knowing, all-powerful Lord and God who made us credit for knowing a little more than we do. Perhaps we can trust that he loves us. Perhaps we can love him enough to do what he commands.

Sometimes that can even mean doing things that are unpleasant, or even painful. If we love him, we will obey his commands. Have you seen the movie Unbroken? It is the story of Louie Zamperini, an American soldier in World War II, and his harsh treatment in a Japanese prison camp. At one point the Japanese offer him the opportunity to leave the camp and live in a plush hotel if he will read propaganda statements for them over the radio. Refusing means going back to the camp and facing even harsher treatment. He chooses the camp and its tortures. Why? Love for his country, love for the family and people he was fighting for. It did nothing positive for him.

Because we love Jesus, we keep his commands, whether we think we are getting anything out of it or not. (The truth is, we are). That is what love does.