Beyond the Weekend

June 15 | Matters of the Heart

June 15, 2016

Matthew 22.34-40

When Jesus was asked which was the greatest commandment, he took his listeners back to the foundation of every command God had given, “Love the Lord your God…Love your neighbor as yourself” (Deuteronomy 6.5, Leviticus 19.18). Because God rescued them, their only proper response was to love him in return. This love would be visible when they obeyed what he commanded (John 14.15).

As Jeff Manion tells us in the video clip below, obedience must be motivated by devotion. We obey because we want to, not because we have to. Because we love God, we’re willing to obey. This can be a challenge for us because we’re often not convinced God’s rules are his greatest kindness to us. We can think God’s rules are designed to keep us from experiencing all that life has to offer.

Today, as you welcome God into your day, take an inventory of your motivation for obeying. Do you obey because you have to, or because you want to out of your love for the God who rescued you? To help you with the right motivation, write down and memorize John 14.15. It’s only seven words, but it could be the seven words God uses to change your motivation!

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