“Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” -John 14:21
A short meditation before I leave for work this morning. As I read this “verse of the day” on my phone through squinting, puffy, morning eyes, I was faced with the an argument. Too tired to argue with myself at 5 am, I made coffee instead and then looked at the verse again. The mocking accuser rose up with his old worn-out argument, “See, loving God is obedience and you don’t obey all the time so you don’t love God.” Instead of ignoring, I engaged. An “it is written” refutal arose in my heart. “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:32)
Obeying Jesus is repentance of disobeying him. And that is loving him. And by the grace of God, I can do that.
This kind of engagement happens often when I read scripture. I hear an argument, and seek God’s word for a refutal or understanding, and then I find way more treasure and peace than I was expecting.
Don’t hide from hard things, hard words, accusations. Bring them out into the light. Let God’s word shine on them and change the way you think and send that old accuser packing!
Ok, off to work.
Sheila Dougal 