OBEYING HIS COMMANDMENTS

By Andrew Murray

"If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love."-JOHN 15:10.

        How clearly we are taught here the place which good works are to occupy in the life of the believer! Christ as the beloved Son was in the Father's love. He kept His commandments, and so He abode in the love.

        And keep them in the obedience of your life. It has been your solemn vow has it not? -- no longer to
tolerate even a single sin: "I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep Thy righteous judgments."

        Labour earnestly in prayer to stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. Ask earnestly for the discovery of every secret sin - of anything that is not in perfect harmony with the will of God. Walk up to the light you have faithfully and tenderly, yielding yourself in an unreserved surrender to obey all that the Lord has spoken.

        When Israel took that vow (Exodus 19:8, 24:7), it was only to break it all too soon. The New Covenant gives the grace to make the vow and to keep it too (Jer.31). Be careful of disobedience even in little things. Disobedience dulls the conscience, darkens the soul, deadens our spiritual energies therefore keep the commandments of Christ with implicit obedience. Be a soldier that asks for nothing but the orders of the commander.

        And if even for a moment the commandments appear grievous, just remember whose they are. They are the commandments of Him who loves you. They are all love, they come from His love, they lead to His love. Each new surrender to keep the commandments, each new sacrifice in keeping them, leads to deeper union with the will, the spirit, and the love of the Saviour.

        The double recompense of reward shall be yours -- a fuller entrance into the mystery of His love -- a fuller conformity to His own blessed life. And you shall learn to prize these words as among your choicest treasures: "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love, EVEN as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in His love."
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Yours in Christ,
Paul N.F.