Praise the Lord, my friend.

We hear the word obedience quite often as believers, don’t we?

But what does it actually mean to obey God?

If someone tells us to do something and we do it, we would normally call that obedience, right?

But with God, the reason behind our obedience is important.

Look at the connection Jesus makes here, my friend.

He talks about love and then obedience.

That tells us that obeying God is not supposed to be just about following a list of rules because we are afraid of getting something wrong.

We obey because of who God is to us.

To understand it better, think about someone you genuinely love.

When they ask you to do something, you do not see it as just another thing you have to do.

You do it because you love them and you care about them, right?

Our obedience to God should come from that same love.

So instead of only asking, “What does God want me to do?” we can also ask, “Am I willing to do it because I love Him?”

Because there will be times when God's Word asks us to do something we don't want to do.

For example, forgiving someone who hurt you badly, or loving someone who is really hard to love.

Those things are not easy to do.

But when we love God, we still want to follow His Word, even when it is difficult.

So the next time we come across something in the Bible that asks us to change something or do something differently, let us ask ourselves one simple question:

Am I doing this because I love God? Or because I’m feeling obligated?

May He speak to us and may His will be done in our lives.

We don’t know who is struggling with it, but God does, my friend.

So let us share it with a prayer.

Dear Father God,

Thank You for Your Word and for reminding us that obedience is connected to our love for You.

Father, we don't want to follow Your Word only because we are afraid of doing something wrong or because we feel like we have to.

We want to obey You because we love You.

When Your Word asks us to forgive someone, help us forgive because we love You.

When You ask us to walk away from something that is not good for us, help us do it because we love You.

When we are tempted to follow our own desires instead of what You have asked us to do, please remind us of how much You love us and help us choose You.

Father, I pray for my friend reading this right now.

You know the struggles they are facing, including the struggles they haven’t shared with anyone.

Help them make choices that honour You, and when they fall, help them come back to You instead of running away from You.

Father, please use the video we are sharing today to help someone who is struggling with this.

Let it reach the person who needs it, and help them understand that they can bring this struggle to You.

Above everything, Father, please change our hearts.

Help us obey You because we love You.

Let our obedience come from our relationship with You, not simply from a feeling of obligation.

In Jesus’ name, we pray.

Amen.