John 15:9-10 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.”

Every parent, if they’re honest, will confess that it’s easier to love a child that does what they’re told. Some people would say that’s violating “unconditional love,” but it’s a fact. We can love unconditionally only in the abstract; in practical terms, behavior matters. We’re afraid of that, because we know our behavior isn’t that good! However, this is the tension of reality. This is precisely why we are saved by grace through faith: it is only through the perfectly obedient Son that we can be accepted as righteous and holy. (Ephesians 2:8-9, and various other passages) The thing is, it’s all interrelated. If we love God, we will keep His commandments! (John 14:15) It is definitely worthwhile to do in-depth study of this Upper Room Discourse, and to do such study repeatedly, because it is of vital importance. It is what Jesus wanted to be sure His disciples heard before He was crucified, and as such, cannot be overestimated. The repeating themes are love, joy, obedience, and the Holy Spirit, along with the opposition we will encounter from the world. It’s impossible to have too much understanding of those. We all desire joy, and as Jesus said in the very next verse, abiding in God’s love certainly generates joy! It’s actually impossible to separate all these things, so the wisest approach is simply to seek more of Jesus. If we will do that, we will be obedient and loving and joyful, fully assured of the love of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

This is of course how I seek to live my life, but I’m on the way, not arrived, just as Paul was. (Philippians 3:12-14) People comment that I am kind and gentle and the like, but my temper can be sharp at times. People think I am perfectly righteous, but God knows better! I certainly desire to live in perfect step with the Holy Spirit who is in me, (Galatians 5:25) but sometimes my rhythm gets off. Obedience is a choice, and I need to make that choice more and more consistently, for my blessing and the blessing of those around me.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I do love the Upper Room Discourse, and I want to make it more and more part of me, to live it out in every detail. I can’t do that in my own wisdom and strength, but nothing is impossible for You, so I ask You to do it in and through me, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!