“The person who knows my commandments and keeps them, that’s who loves me. And the person who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and make myself plain to him.”
John 14:21 MSG
There is a big difference between knowing and keeping. With knowing, the emphasis is on gathering information about someone or something. You devote time and resources to this exercise, because there is something you want to do with the information you are gathering. Then, when you think you have obtained enough information, you act on the knowledge received. The acting on the knowledge received is the keeping part of today's extract.
Men have devoted time and years to studying about God, seeking to know him and to understand who he is. Unfortunately for most of these men, that is where the search ends. We seek out knowledge, because we want to boast in the quality and quantity of information we have, yet we do nothing with the search. We have a deep head knowledge of who God is, but lack any heart experience of who he really is. Obedience to his commands becomes hard work, we struggle with daily devotion to his commands, we labour very hard just to give the outward impression that all is well.
For God, the measure of love for him is the keeping of his commands. I must take out time to know him, and as I discover who he is, I take delight in obeying him. O can never get to the full measure of knowledge, but as I seek him, his promise is that I will find him. As I knock, he promises to open the door to me. His love is full and free, but for all who will take delight in obeying him.
Where do I stand? Like the Psalmist, can I say with all boldness, that I have kept God's word in my heart, so that I may not sin. Do I take God's word as my most prized possession, or it is one of the numerous things that I must squeeze into my day? His time of favour is here.
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