Don’t Bother Obeying If You Don’t Love!
“Sadly… Failing to keep the words and commandments of Jesus Christ and the Word of God is the greatest proof that you really don’t love Him.” Jennifer Leza
If you are in love with someone, you want them to love you back. You want them to want you. That’s what makes chemistry and a good marriage – a man and a woman who spontaneously reciprocate love to each other – because they truly love one another. Think about that. No human would deny such a simple, self-evident truth. Well, the One who made us wants us to want Him – to love Him.
Just WHAT is there not to love about the LORD and Savior Jesus Christ? If we haven’t taken time to get to know about Him and to know Him, we will never begin to uncover His infinite riches, truth, divine attributes, kindness, mercy, grace, love, and much more.
Jesus says: “IF YOU LOVE ME, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) The self-reliant legalist is quick to emphasize the keeping of His commands but that’s utterly in vain if we have not love for Him! Read Jesus’ words again and look closely at what comes first which indicates divine priority – “IF YOU LOVE ME, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) You see, it’s only “IF” we “LOVE” Him that He is interested in our obedience. Obedience to what Christ commanded is of no value to God if we don’t sincerely love Him.
Perhaps our prayer should begin with “Father, You are love. Help me to love You more! Jesus, You must increase but I must decrease! I beg You now to break me LORD!”
EVERY single human being loves someone supremely. For most who claim to know Jesus, they love self more than the Savior (2 Timothy 3:1-7). Token obedience out of guilt doesn’t please God.
One disciple notes: “If I start the day without seeking Him first, getting His agenda for me, I’m serving the god of self. Who I give my first waking moments to shows who is Lord of my life. If I’m happily married, and in love, the first thing I wish to do when I wake is to say good morning to my love…. Shouldn’t it be this way with JESUS our divine Husband? Shouldn’t my love for the One who bled to redeem me burn hotter than any other earthly love?”
When Jesus compared Mary and Martha, which one did He say pleased Him most?
“And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42
Note that Jesus here said that the “good part” Mary chose “shall not be taken away from her.” Now, recall with me how Paul taught that love is eternal whereas gifts are not (1 Corinthians 13).
“Charity: the Righteousness of God in action in one’s life.” Gary Nygard
Obeying God does not earn your justification – it’s an expression of your love for Him! Read Romans 3:23-25; 4:4-5 and Titus 3:5-7 repeatedly, pouring prayerfully over these precious passages.
Yes it’s true that those living in sin are hell bound for there is no excuse for sin – because the LORD is “Holy, holy, holy.” (Isaiah 6:3; Romans 6:1-2; Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Revelation 4:8, etc.). Yet we must not lead people to believe that we are saved by our own works or obedience but rather by CHRIST HIMSELF (Ephesians 2:8-10). Good works is the fruit of knowing and abiding in Christ and yet they don’t save us – CHRIST does! (John 15)
Isaiah De Castro writes: “We are saved by the work of Jesus Christ and not our own works. This is true, but we must honor His works and sacrifices by obeying His words and living in His holiness and righteousness. Anyone who is not living in the godliness and righteousness of God (Words of God) is a fake receiver of grace and ‘this people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me’ (Matthew 15:8).”
Obedience is the FRUIT that proves we know and love Him and are in an abiding relationship with Christ. It’s always going to be resident in every one of God’s true children and yet fruit doesn’t save, only JESUS can do that! (John 15)
God’s people are justified by CHRIST Himself, saved perfectly…. And our good works which He commanded, are the fruit of that relationship with Jesus and not what saves us! John 15
Heartfelt Willingness Must Precede Obedience
You know, when His people were backslidden, the LORD told them to “Come ….. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.” (Isaiah 1:18-20) Note the order here: Firstly and foremost important to God is that His people be “willing.” Note the order and how “willing” comes before “obedient.” God is only interested in our obedience if and as our hearts are “willing” or desiring Him.
1. “willing”
- “obedient”
YOU ARE UNCONTIONALLY LOVED – NOT UNCONDITIONALLY ACCEPTED!!!
“Your Work of Faith, and Labour of love”
“Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;” 1 Thessalonians 1:3
Our work for Christ must emanate from our “faith” toward Him and our “love” will bear the fruit of “labour” for His glory. You may wish to really grab on to this divinely-inspired phrase – “work of faith, and labour of love.”
The bottom line is that Jesus is not at all interested in you trying to serve and please Him IF YOU DON’T LOVE HIM. Of course, you must repent in order to be His son/daughter to begin with (Luke 13:3, 5). And, repentance is putting your full trust in Him and the beginning of loving Him. The LORD looks upon and wants your heart. – “Rend your heart, and not your garments.” (Joel 2:13)
I believe we can behold this important priority throughout our LORD’s Word and Joel 2 is not exception.
“Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 And rend your heart (internal), and not your garments (external things), and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your God? 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: 16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.” Joel 2:12-16
In Matthew 9:13 Jesus told us to go and learn something:
“But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Matthew 9:13
Christ foretold that in the last days, the love of many would wax cold – toward Him and consequently, His beloved people.
“And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end (truly loving Him supremely), the same shall be saved.” Matthew 24:10-13
Jesus here says that the love for God among those who once knew Him is fading and waxing cold whereas it was once hot. Is this not exactly what happened to the Ephesians and the Laodiceans? (Revelation 2:4-5; 3:15-16). It’s those who are choosing daily to love God above their selves who are longing to be with their glorious Savior. Their love for the LORD waxes hotter daily as they look expectantly and eagerly for His soon return.
Commanded to Love
IF we truly love Him, we will obey Him. Yet, trying to obey Him without loving Him in order to get Him to love us or please Him, is futile.
Many are getting caught up in law keeping type obedience. Many times we hear the fleshly command to “keep Torah.” BUT what did Jesus sum it all up as? Many can be heard saying “Stop Sinning” and “Go and sin no more.” Jesus said the latter but not before He forgave the woman He told that to. Redemption comes before obedience and overcoming (John 8:1-11; 1 John 5:4-5).
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40
And just WHY are we privileged to return love to the LORD? – “We love him, because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)
“His Commandments are not Grievous”
Those who love the LORD desire and rejoice to obey Him. “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” (1 John 5:3) Now, go read this passage – begin reading in 1 John 5:1. Notice that it’s only when we are not submitted to, that is, abiding intimately in, Christ that His commands would be “grievous” to us. Otherwise, our obedience to Him is a labor of love. Do you remember how much Jacob loved Rachel? That was his baby wasn’t it? Look what Scripture reveals about that relationship – “And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.” (Genesis 29:20)
Don’t you just love that verse? – “And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.” (Genesis 29:20)
Rachel was a labor of love for Jacob. He didn’t mind working for her because he loved her. Spending those years to be with Rachel was not “grievous” to Jacob because he loved Rachel.
“Anathema Maranatha”
Are you saying “Come Lord Jesus” with those who truly love Him, or, are are you cursed?
“If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ…”
“If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.” 1 Corinthians 16:22
Of this verse, the late Donald Stamps notes:
“ANATHEMA. Paul ends the Corinthian letter by reminding all professing believers that to claim to be believers, yet to “love not the Lord,’ is to be ‘Anathema’ (i.e., accursed, doomed). To ‘love not the Lord’ means to fail to have a heartfelt love toward Him, to not obey Him (John 14:21), and to distort the apostolic gospel of N.T. revelation. To be accursed means being excluded from the true spiritual church on earth and finally from the heavenly kingdom of the age to come. Paul wants his readers to understand that the ultimate test of Christian discipleship is a personal, heartfelt loyalty to the Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Rom. 10:9).”
The last word in this verse is “Maranatha” which means “Come Lord.” And this is the heart cry of all who are His blessed remnant! Their hearts are looking for Him and they “love his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:8; Hebrews 9:28) Jesus will soon return for “all them also that love his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:8)
As things continue to get darker and the hearts of men more murderous and antichrist, we must rejoice and reflect upon the words of Jesus when He told us: “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” (Luke 21:28)
It is of the utmost important that we choose to love and to continue to learn to love and obey our LORD Jesus Christ who bled to save us to the Father.
Friend, are you truly loving God first and foremost? Is Jesus truly first in your daily, personal life? Does the LORD come before YOU? Are you dying so He can live? Do you arise in the mornings to seek His holy face in prayer and reading His Word?
Sign up for free email devotional here.
Abiding
Attend to My Words [podcast]

IF THE WORD isn’t flowing into you daily, you are falling away. Flood and fuel your heart and mind and body with the pure, the holy light of God’s Word daily and you will never famish! All darkness will be vanquished (Psalms 119:130). All who have been saved and yet aren’t in God’s Word and prayer daily – have rejected Christ, with no exception. Re-turn to the LORD prodigal. There’s no good outside of Christ the KING.
“The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” Psalms 119:130
ALL who are not in God’s written Word daily are not hearing from God, do not have God’s wisdom and direction, and are walking in darkness – 100%.
The feeding of Christ’s flock would integrally involve exhorting them to diligently study and walk in God’s Word themselves, daily (John 21:15-17). Isn’t this exactly what the apostle Paul told Timothy to do? Yes. He told his understudy to “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)
One of the ways we know who the false ministers are, is that they want people dependent on THEM, not God. So, they don’t constantly exhort the people to get into God’s Word, the Holy Scriptures, for themselves. Run.
“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” Joshua 1:8
“He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. … My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. 21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. 22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. 23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Proverbs 4:4, 20-23
“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.” Jeremiah 15:16
“Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.” Job 23:12
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Colossians 3:16
“Over the last 5-10 years I can see where He has done this for me already, but the problem is …. it’s not enough! I want even more! One hour of study and prayer in the morning is not enough!” Christine
Support | STORE | Podcasts | Because You Care Page | The Greatest of these is Charity | Be Ready in the Morning [podcast] | The Sure Mercies of David [podcast] | That Repentance and Remission of Sins should be Preached [podcast] | At His Feet | Prepared to be Used of God | Waste | Stewardship | Giving | Let Him be Your Fear [podcast] | Why We Need Not Fear Death | Fear Not Little Flock | The Glorious Church Jesus is Returning For [podcast]



Abiding
Gathering Fruit for Christ’s Eternal Glory [podcast]

IF you are truly born again, God has called you personally to participate in, to obey His Great Commission command— NOT to salvage any country in this fleeting world.
It’s amazing how many people claiming to be saved spend more time, energy, and money trying to save America than they do building up the body of Christ and evangelizing the lost. Anyone claiming to be saved and yet is not participating in the Great Commission command of Christ, is out of the will of God. Repentance needed.
Save America or See Jesus Save Eternal Souls?
“America is under God’s judgment for sure. And recently there was a golden statue made of Trump. And Pastors are praying over it. A golden calf. Same thing happened in the book of Exodus and God slew 3,000 men. This angers Him greatly! There will be a severe price to pay for this adultery! America is definitely going down at the divine judgment of God.” Karen Cochran
Forget saving America. Win souls. Preach the original Gospel to see eternal souls saved unto the LORD. See Mark 16:15-20; Matthew 28:18-20.
A good thing to ask proud Americans who claim they are Christians:
1. “When’s the last time you led someone to Jesus?”
2. “How much time and how much energy do you spend trying in vain to “save America” or “Make America Great Again” compared to the time and energy you spend learning, studying, and meditating on God’s Word and doing it – as in the Great Commission?”
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21
Anyone claiming to be Christ’s and yet is not doing, is not obeying His Great Commission mandate, is not in the will of God.
Regrettably, America is going down in judgment.
No efforts can undo the present reality of those claiming to know Christ refusing to truly repent, nor the 60 million innocent babies America has murdered in cold blood and called it “choice.”
Honoring something God calls “an abomination” brings “the curse of the LORD” upon any nation to do such. See Leviticus 18:22 and Proverbs 3:33. Sodomy is sin!
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21
Doing the will of the Father is executing the Great Commission Jesus gave us!
2 BIBLICAL EVIDENCES PROVE THAT AMERICA IS OVER – if there is no repentance, change [podcast]
“Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. 35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.
38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.” John 4:35-38
Jesus says act now! To put off His work is to put off Christ. Read that again!
“And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62
Many aren’t putting off their own sinful, lust-filled agenda in the world, right?
There is nothing new under the sun. See the book of Haggai.
Support | STORE | Podcasts | Jail/Prison Ministry | Mexico Mission here |All Ministry Updates | The Greatest of these is Charity | Be Ready in the Morning [podcast] | The Sure Mercies of David [podcast] | That Repentance and Remission of Sins should be Preached [podcast] | At His Feet | Prepared to be Used of God | Great Commission




Abiding
Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee [podcast]

Here’s why Jesus came:
“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3
There is nothing – NO-THING – more important in your life than your relationship with Christ.
Job 22
“Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. 22 Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart. 23 If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles. 24 Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks. 25 Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver. 26 For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God. 27 Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows. 28 Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways. 29 When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person. 30 He shall deliver the island of the innocent; and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands.” Job 22:21-30
“lay up his words in thine heart” v22 – WITH the learning of each new verse of Holy Scripture, each new Bible truth, your knowledge and understanding of the LORD and His kingdom is expanded.
“Let thine heart retain my words.” Proverbs 4:4
“I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad. 97 MEM. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. 98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.” Psalms 119:96-100
“God’s acquaintance is not made hurriedly.” EM Bounds
Fresh Start with God | Making Peace with God | Support | STORE | Podcasts |
Sign up for free email devotional HERE… The Moments with My Master email devotional is sent out for the edification of the body of Christ.




America1 year agoThe Drugging of America: The Pharmakeia Sorcery Deception [podcast]
Articles2 years agoChildren being Rescued in Tunnels: Happening Now – UPDATE!
Articles8 years agoSelf-Examination in Preparation for the Lord’s Return
Apostasy2 years agoSHOCKING List of False Prophets Most Believe are True




































