SCRIPTURE - John 14:23-27 (NIV)

“Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let our hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

The mark of a Christ follower is that they love Jesus and obey His teaching. We can easily complicate the Christian life, but Jesus made it very simple. If you love me, you will follow me and obey my teaching. It is that simple. We can debate all kinds of theological matters, and some love to do so, but at its core, to follow Jesus is to obey Him.

What is amazing, is that Jesus says that as we obey His teaching, “My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” How does that happen? How do Jesus and the Father make their home with us? This happens through the Holy Spirit who comes to reside in our lives when we choose to follow Jesus. As a member of the Trinity, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit makes His home with us.

You and I cannot obey Jesus by ourselves. We need the help of the Holy Spirit, who empowers us, teaches us, helps us understand the Scriptures and reminds us of what Jesus has taught us. If you try to follow God on your own, you will fail. If you give your life to Christ and the Holy Spirit comes to reside in you, it is a different story, because He gives us the power we need to obey well and overcome our independent spirit that wants to do life our way.

The result of our obedience and God’s presence in our lives is a gift that everyone wants, but many don’t ever experience. That is peace. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Think of this. The world promises peace and satisfaction but it cannot deliver. That credit card offer sounds great, but it buys momentary satisfaction. That all inclusive vacation looks amazing, but it is over when it is over. My IRA account gives me a sense of security, until the market tanks.

Jesus does not give us momentary peace. He gives us His peace and then sends His Holy Spirit to live in our lives. If God lives within us, what do we have to be afraid of? This is why He can say to us, “Let not your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Don’t overcomplicate what it means to be a Christ follower. Make it your goal to love Jesus well through your obedience to Him. As you do, invite the Holy Spirit to remind you of God’s will, and ask for His help and power to follow Jesus closely.

PRAYER

Father. Thank you, for the promise of Your Spirit that comes to live in my life. Thank You, that He gives me the understanding and power to follow You well. I pray that I will experience Your peace as I pursue You and Your will. Help me not to fear anything I face, because You live with me through Your Spirit. Amen.