if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).

DAILY DEVOTION,  May 20, 2021

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. ¹¹ I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete (Luke 15:10-11).

Do you want to remain in God’s love? Do you want to know His loving presence in your life? Keep the commands of Jesus. Obedience leads to an ever deeper awareness of God’s love. Obedience operates at two levels. First, we are obedient when we faithfully do what Jesus commanded. Love your enemies, forgive, pray often, help the poor, be faithful to His church, etc. The second level is to repent when we fail Him. When we confess our sins, he is faithful to forgive us. Obedience plus repentance leads to abiding in the love of Jesus.

We can tell when we are getting it right when we feel His joy in our hearts. Faithfulness leads to joy. It is similar to what we experienced as children. When we honored and obeyed our parents, we were much happier. When we disobeyed them and experienced their displeasure, our joy vanished. It kinda works that way with God.

Father, I want to remain in our love and experience Your joy in my heart. Guide me to the pathway of obedience that I may faithfully serve You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.