Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Jesus’ Commands; Part 2 – Loving God

What does God want from me? Who among us hasn't asked this question, and wanted a clear, direct answer from our invisible God? Here is what's God's Answer to this question is, John 14:15 If you love Me, keep My commandments.


 

How do we best show our love and thankfulness to Jesus? He has made this part easy – follow His Commands (now following all of these Commands is the challenge and joy of a Christians' life.) I have assembled these 'red-letter' Commands of Jesus (this list is again from Smith, J. H. (1992; Published in electronic form, 1996). The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge,) into two main groups – those Commands that deal with our relationship with God, and second, those Commands that deal with ourselves or others. In this Summary I will first list the six (6) different groups of ways we are to show our love to God, and in today's post, I will only give details for the first three of these:


 

  1. Abide in Christ;
  2. Pray/Fast/Tithe/Baptism;
  3. Believe in God;
  4. Give Special Attention To/Discern
  5. God's Importance to a Believer/Fear and Respect God/Honor God
  6. Godly Works/Produce Fruit.


 

  1. Abide in God/Christ;

Abiding in Christ, Jn 15:4 (Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.), 9 (As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.)

Cross-bearing, Mt 16:24. Mk 8:34.

Steadfastness, Jn 15:9. (As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.)

Take up the cross, Mk 8:34.


 

  1. Pray/Fast/Tithe/Baptism – the Works of the Faithful;
    1. Prayer:

Agreement in prayer, Mt 18:19.

Closet prayer, Mt 6:6. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret.

Prayer/Ask, Mt 7:7-11 (Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him). Lk 11:9-13 (adds the following: how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!).

Prayer for daily bread, Mt 6:11. Lk 11:3.

Prayer for deliverance from evil, Mt 6:13. Lk 11:4.

Prayer for more laborers in the vineyard, Mt 9:38.

Prayerfulness, Mt 6:5. Lk 18:1 (And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart…(persistent widow parable.). 22:40 (Mk 14:38 is better - Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak).

Simplicity in worship/prayer, Mt 6:7. And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.


 

  1. Tithe:

Almsgiving, Lk 11:41. 12:33.

Tithing, Mt 23:23. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.


 

  1. Fast:

Anointing when fasting, Mt 6:17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face


 

  1. Baptism:

Baptism, Mt 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit


 


 

  1. Believe in God;

**Belief in Christ, Jn 6:29 Then they said to him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" 29 Jesus answered them, **"This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.

Jn 14:1 Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

**1 J 3:23. And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us

Faith, Mk 1:15 The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.

Mk 5:36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not fear, only believe."

Mk 11:22 and Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God. 23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.

Jn 6:29 Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."

12:36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." (Implication is that there will be a time when there will be no light?)

14:1 Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

Jn 14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.

20:27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe."

**1 J 3:23. And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.

Faithfulness, Mt 24:45 Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Lk 12:42

Lk *16:10. One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.

Trust God for needs, Mt 6:30-32. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all; Lk 22:36. He said to them, "But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.


 

Perhaps this is a growing process. Jesus said, "If you love me, you will obey my commands." (John 14:15). As our love for Jesus grows, our desire to please Him and obey Him also grows. But let's start growing! I have highlighted a few of these verses that look to have special importance. And you probably already know the application – today find one of Jesus' Commands and show your love of Him by putting it into practice in your life. My prayer is that God bless you in this.

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