- John 14:15 – If ye love me, keep my commandments.
- John 14:16 – And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
- John 14:17 – Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
- John 14:18 – I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
- Philippians 1:6 – Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.
As we grow in our faith and study God's Word more deeply, our devotion to Him strengthens. The desire to obey does not emerge fully formed the moment we believe. When we start a new life in Christ, we have a desire to please Him, but the determined pursuit of His will develops over time. Often, at the beginning of our faith journey, we have various motives: finding comfort, a sense of gratitude, or a desire to rectify past mistakes. However, as our faith grows and we learn how deeply God loves us, our inner attitude changes. Obedience, which at first seems like a debt or a duty, gradually turns into sincere devotion. At the heart of this change lies a deeper knowledge of the Lord. As we read God's Word, we learn who He is, His character, His heart, and His will. We see how He cared for us in the past and trust that He will provide in the future. We understand the wisdom of obeying our Heavenly Father, for He knows what is best for us and He loves us. Wherever you find yourself in your obedience—between a sense of obligation and sincere devotion—it is possible to move in the right direction. Be determined to obey God and read His Word daily to learn how to live faithfully. On this path, God is with you and is able to complete the work He began in you.
Reflection
Reflect today on your motives for obeying God: do they stem more from a sense of duty or from your love for Him? What can you do this week to better understand His character?
