John 14:23

Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word ; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”

To keep the word of the Lord is to honour what He says and to obey His instructions.

For some people, "obey" is a very difficult word. When they hear it, almost instinctively, they raise up their shields of rebellion. It reminds them of the commands of authority figures who bullied and abused them in the past.

For such people, doing what God says and submitting to the commands of the Bible present significant challenges. However, when God tells us to obey Him, He does not do that in disrespect for our dignity.

After all, He created us in His own image as free moral beings and gave us the awesome power of choice. When He calls us into obedience; He speaks for the preservation of our lives and dignity.

A manufacturer of an electrical gadget instructs the owner of his products regarding the kind of voltage to plug the equipment in or the best way to run it.

When you choose to buy that product, you must also choose to obey the instructions of the manufacturer if you want the best out of your purchase.

In a similar way, when we accept the gift of life from God, we must also obey His instructions for our own good. Yes, we can have our own free will and can chose what we want but if we want the best for ourselves, then we must yield to the Creator’s instructions. A lifestyle of complying with God's will serves our own good in the end.

Prayer: Lord, give me an obedient heart that seeks your will above all else. John 14:19-24