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Power to Obey God
Jesus said, “I can of Myself do nothing.” (John 15:5)
Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)
We need the power of God to obey God. We don’t need divine supernatural strength to obey our employer. Money is all the motivation we need. You don’t do what he says and you are fired. But when it comes to God, we need faith because God does pay you for your obedience, but not with money. That’s why we need faith and that’s why we need God to do something inside of us that will motivate us and give us the power to obey Him. We cannot obey God without the power of God coming within (Ephesians 3:16).
Obedience to God is important. We are saved by grace, but we will be judged and rewarded for our obedience. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” (2Cor.5:10) That is for the Christian! Paul includes himself in that judgment. Our eternal rewards are determined by our obedience to God’s word.
This will set you free. The only thing required of us is faith and love. We are saved by faith. Faith works by love. “And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another.” (1John3:23) Paul thanked God for the Colossian Christians because “we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all the saints.” (Col.1:3-4) If we are ever going to obey God, we must have faith and love. Both these are gifts from God (Eph.2:8-9; Rm.5:5; Acts 18:27) to be received simply by faith.
Jesus was asked, “What is the great commandment in the law? He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” The good news is: faith works by love (Gal.5:6).
Everything God requires of us is found in the word love. “All the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Gal.5:14) When you love your neighbor you won’t bear false witness against him, you won’t steal from him, murder him or covet what he has. This love is an inside job.
God commands us to love and He expects that commandment to be obeyed. Our greatest blessing comes in obeying the commands of God. Cursed are those who do not obey God. Obedience is necessary to please God and to gain eternal rewards.
You might say, “But how can love be commanded? I thought love had to be free or it isn’t love.” It indeed must be free. We are not robots. But love is a choice. Contrary to popular opinion, love is not a feeling or just an emotion. Love is a choice. We must freely choose to love God and others.
Jesus adds
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