Let all that you do be done in love. (1 Corinthians 16:14 ESV)
Earlier on day 17 of our devotion we talked about the Pharisees. This group of religiously devout men were among some of the most carefully observant concerning the Word of God. The Pharisees were known for the rigor in which they knew and observed the Law of God. Yet as we already discussed, Jesus took issue with the Pharisees on many different things, one was the motivation for their obedience.
Jesus put it this way: “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.” (Luke 11:42 ESV) If I could summarize what Jesus is saying in this verse, I might say this: Jesus corrected the Pharisees because all though they paid close attention to the letter of the law (i.e., tithing) they neglected the heart of the law (love).
Yesterday we talked about “walking by the Spirit” and we talked about the “how” to walk by the Spirit. But you also need to know the why of walking by the Spirit. Why, as in, why would I live my life this way? What is our motivation to walk in the Spirit? If you miss this, you are going to become cold, legalistic, and works based in your faith. The motivation must be love. It is because we are loved by God and because we ourselves love God that we obey.
It is here that I need to pause and share a hard truth with you: nothing you ever do or don’t do will ever make you more or less saved. It isn’t about you, but about Christ in you. So many followers of Jesus are exhausted by continually trying to do more or stop doing thinking that they can earn God’s love. Scripture is clear: For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV) Go back and read that again. Read it one more time.
We aren’t working for salvation; we are working from salvation. Pastor Craig Groeschel of Life Church says it this way, “we aren’t fighting for victory, we are fighting from it.” Do you see the difference? I don’t have anything to prove or earn. I am who God says I am. Because I am a beloved, chosen, holy, son of God, that love is the source of everything I say and do. If love is not the chief motivation of what you are saying and doing, you should pause and consider: is this honoring Jesus?
This passage should be familiar to each of us: And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” Our love for God will overflow into the love we have for other people.
When we kicked off this devotion 24 days ago, we looked at the call of God for us to return to Him (2 Chronicles 7:14). Can I share a secret with you? So many of us are afraid to come home. Because we don’t fully grasp the incredible love of God that surpasses all understanding (see Ephesians 3:18-19). Because we don’t understand or grasp God’s love for us, it becomes incredibly difficult to walk by the Spirit. I might say it like this, obedience problems stem from a lack of understanding concerning God’s love.
I’d like to end today’s devotion with a profound thought from Jesus: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15 ESV) A love for God that doesn’t lead to obedience isn’t love at all. It may be admiration. It may be a strong affection. But, true love will always honor the relationship and will lead to an obedience infused, undergirded, motivated, and acted out of that love.
Father, forgive me for failing to scratch the surface of Your great love. Lord, please forgive me for ever thinking I could work to earn or keep my salvation. Jesus, please fill my heart with wonder and awe at the great love You’ve shown me. Thank you for paying the price for my sin. Holy Spirit, I pray my love for You would only grow. Help love to motivate me to love others. Lord, help me actively make the decision to live my life to love You and love others. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
