“If You Love Me…”

These are personal, direct, impactful, and intimate words, only spoken by someone whom you have a close relationship with. These words will cause you to sit up and listen carefully. Especially when spoken by our Lord Jesus Himself.​​

Jesus said: “If you love me, you will keep any commandments”. (John 14:15)​​

Jesus was speaking to His disciples, and now also to us. He is teaching us what it means to truly love Him. It is not in talking only, but by living it out, in “keeping” His commandments. To “keep” means, to guard, protect, retain, to hold as one’s own, and not to lose; to follow and fulfill.​

To keep Jesus’ commandments, we need to express our dedication and devotion to Him through three important disciplines. We should take King David as an example.​

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  1. Obedience. Although King David lived imperfectly, he showed wholehearted devotion to God. David’s desire was to do what the LORD commanded. He expressed this in many of his psalms. His passion was to obey GOD’s Word and to uphold truth, virtue, uprightness, and righteousness. It is impossible to possess these godly attributes by our own efforts. But by our obedience to the Word of GOD. ​

David declared in Psalm 19:7 – 11 “The Law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul, the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple, the percepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the yes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether… in keeping them there is great reward”.​

  1. Humility. David was a young shepherd boy when he was anointed as king. Despite that, he was not puffed up. David never tried to take the throne while Saul was still in power. He waited many years for the LORD to give him the throne. He remained humble, even as king. His humility was shown in his soft heart, his quick realization of his human weaknesses and sin. There were no excuses.​

“For I know my transgressions and my sin is ever before me”. (Psalm 51: 3 ESV) “Create in me a clean heart, O GOD, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me”. (Psalm 51:10 – 11 NKJV)​

  1. Service. In all of David’s life stages and situations – whether a shepherd boy, fighting Goliath, running for his life, or a mighty king – the many psalms he wrote reveal that he served the LORD with all his heart. His wholehearted devotion was active (not passive), committed, determined and persevering. And always asking the LORD to help him. It is not by his own strength. (Psalm 101: 2) In the same manner, Jesus expects us to live out these disciplines of devotion to Him. We say we love Him; we must keep His commandments.​

By brother Andrew Yap

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