Friends For The Journey

Aug. 8, 2006 – a lot has happened in the last few weeks…finished the thesis, painted two houses, moved back to our old house, and spoke at a family camp in Ohio. We returned from Ohio yesterday, and I dropped Deb off from the airport and drove straight to FIU to class. The next month will be a whirlwind. Ruth is leaving in 10 days for 3 months of mission work with Jamie Johnson in Costa Rica. Please pray for her safe travels, her back, and for her financial support.

Jesus asks us to keep his commands. He even says “if you love me, you will keep my commands”. sadly, most Christians don’t even know what they are.

Dallas Willard points out in the Divine Conspiracy, that we are for the most part unable to keep His commands without internal transformation in our souls. Jesus is not expecting us to keep his commands through sheer grit and will power, but rather that our love and intimacy with him, along with the proper use of spiritual disciplines (practices), we will be internally transformed into the kind of people who “will not judge, will love our enemies, will turn the cheek” automatically… because of his presence in our inner person. May the Lord give us his grace!

How do you know if you love Jesus? How do you know, how much love Jesus? Do a self-evaluation of your life using Jesus’ instruction. Jesus said, “if you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

#44 KEEP MY COMMANDS

John 14:15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”

What does it mean to keep Christ’s commands?
Greek tereo (to guard from loss or injury, keep the eye upon. It also means to observe, to give heed to, and to watch over). The same word is used to describe the care that the Philippian jailor was to exercise in order to keep watch over Paul and Silas. (Acts 16:16-34). In pre-modern sailing, navigators would use the phrase “keeping the stars”. This is how the commands of Christ are to be used: to chart a course throughout life in order to arrive safely at a destination.

What is the most effective way to “keep” Christ’s commands?
The best way to keep the commands of Jesus is to memorize and mediate on them until they are engrafted in our soul. (John 15:7, Deut. 6:6-7). Meditate on them “day and night” in order to have success (Joshua 1:8; Psa. 1:2-3).

Repent—Matthew 4:17
Follow Me—Matthew 4:19
Rejoice—Matthew 5:10–12
Let Your Light Shine—Matthew 5:14–16
Honor God’s Law—Matthew 5:17–18
Be Reconciled—Matthew 5:23–24
Do Not Lust—Matthew 5:28–30
Keep Your Word—Matthew 5:33–37
Go the Second Mile—Matthew 5:38–42
Love Your Enemies—Matthew 5:43–45
Be Perfect—Matthew 5:46–48
Give, Pray, Fast Secretly—Matthew 6:1–18
Lay Up Treasures—Matthew 6:19–21
Seek God’s Kingdom—Matthew 6:24–33
Judge Not—Matthew 7:1–3
Don’t Cast Pearls—Matthew 7:6
Ask, Seek, and Knock— Matthew 7:7–8
Do for Others— Matthew 7:12
Choose the Narrow Way— Matthew 7:13–14
Beware of False Prophets— Matthew 7:15–16
Pray for Laborers —Matthew 9:37–38
Be Wise as Serpents— Matthew 10:16
Fear Not— Matthew 10:28
Hear God’s Voice— Matthew 11:15
Take My Yoke —Matthew 11:28–30
Honor Your Parents— Matthew 15:4
Beware of “Leaven” — Matthew 16:6
Deny Yourself — Luke 9:23
Despise Not Little Ones—Matthew 18:10
Go To Offenders—Matt 18:15
Beware of Covetousness—Luke 12:15
Forgive Offenders—Matthew 18:21–22
Honor Marriage—Matt 19:6
Be a Servant—Matthew 20:26-28
Be a House of Prayer—Matthew 21:13
Ask in Faith—Matt 21:21–22
Bring in the Poor—Luke 14:12–14
Render to Caesar—Matthew 22:19–21
Love the Lord—Matthew 22:37-38
Love Your Neighbor—Matthew 22:39
Await My Return—Matthew 24:42–44
Take, Eat, and Drink—Matthew 26:26–27
Be Born Again—John 3:7
Keep My Commandments—John 14:15
Watch and Pray—Matt 26:41
Feed My Sheep—John 21:15-16
Baptize My Disciples—Matt 28:19
Receive God’s Power—Luke 24:49
Make Disciples—Matthew 28:20