Changing your mind

John 14:15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

To John, there is only one test of love and that is obedience. 

It was by his obedience that Jesus showed his love of God; and it is by our obedience that we must show our love of Jesus. 

C. K. Barrett says: "John never allowed love to devolve into a sentiment or emotion. Its expression is always moral and is revealed in obedience." 

We know all too well how there are those who profess their love in words but who, at the same time, bring pain and heartbreak to those whom they claim to love. There are children and young people who say that they love their parents, and who yet cause them grief and anxiety. There are husbands who say they love their wives and wives who say they love their husbands, and who yet, by their inconsiderateness and their irritability and their thoughtless unkindness bring pain the one to the other. To Jesus real love is not an easy thing. It is shown only in true obedience.

A missionary translator was endeavouring to find a word for “obedience” in the native language. This was a virtue seldom practiced among the people into whose language he wanted to translate the New Testament. As he returned home from the village one day, he whistled for his dog and it came running at full speed. An old native, seeing this, said admiringly in the native tongue. “Your dog is all ear.” Immediately the missionary knew he had his word for obedience. 

The will of God for your life is simply that you submit yourself to Him each day and say, "Father, Your will for today is mine. Your pleasure for today is mine. Your work for today is mine. I trust You to be God. You lead me today and I will follow. Now that’s a real change of mind.

God of all time and space,

you initiated the relationship of love and generosity with creation

at a time before and beyond all knowing.

Through the Word and the Spirit,

you continue in eternal love for all beings.

Fill us with a deep obedient and abiding awareness of your presence,

your call, and your grace in our lives and in our world.

Shape us to into the people you have made us to be –

poured out in creative mercy

for the sake of Jesus Christ in all creation. Amen.