"If you love me, you will obey my commandments. I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, who will stay with you forever. He is the Spirit, who reveals the truth about God. The world cannot receive him, because it cannot see him or know him. But you know him, because he remains with you and is in you."

"When I go, you will not be left all alone; I will come back to you. In a little while the world will see me no more, but you will see me; and because I live, you also will live. When that day comes, you will know that I am in my Father and that you are in me, just as I am in you."

"Whoever accepts my commandments and obeys them is the one who loves me. My Father will love whoever loves me; I too will love him and reveal myself to him."

John 14:15-21

What is your motive for any spiritual activity? In praying, worshipping, Bible reading, giving or witnessing – what is your motive? Is it to have an emotional experience? Is it to make you feel good? Or is it done in keeping with the words of Jesus to John – "If you love me, you will obey my commandments."

Today there is a great need to re-emphasize obedience, whether such actions make you feel good or not. Our goals should be to bring glory to the Lord. Love-inspired duty should control everything we do.

If we love God, we will obey God.

Our Daily Bread – September 24, 2002