“If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;” (John 14:15-16)
Keeping Jesus’ commandments means obeying what Jesus tells us to do. That’s simple to understand. Unfortunately, it’s very difficult to do. The main commandment Jesus has in mind here is “Love one another” (John 13:34). That’s a great-sounding command, and I really want to keep it.
I think of myself as a loving person. But then I hear or read the daily news about all kinds of crimes and war and people’s abuses of one another. Suddenly I’m struggling to love. How do we love criminals? How do we love oppressors? How do we even love people who simply disagree with us?
We also realize there is more to keeping Jesus’ commands than simply obeying. Part of keeping commands means that we hold on to a command even when we have recently broken it. It means that we should try again. And again. And again. Because of God’s forgiveness, we’re not lost forever when we fail. But we must also keep trying to do what is right. Keep His commandments.
Thankfully, Jesus provides us with the help we need. Jesus promised an advocate—an encourager. Someone who will put his arm around us when we need comfort, and someone who will spur us on when we need to try again and keep trying. The advocate is the Holy Spirit. Jesus sent Him to live in us so that we will never be alone in trying to keep Jesus’ commands. If we will listen, He will guide us, help us in so many ways.
Prayer
Dear Jesus, with your Spirit in me, help me to sense your grace over my failures and Your power to help me obey. I really want to do Your commandments. Amen.
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