Many talk about KNOWING God, but do they? Many talk about LOVING God, but do they? Many talk about ABIDING in God’s love, but do they? The many claim to KNOW God, LOVE God, and ABIDE in God’s love, but their actions show otherwise.

In part of Jesus’ response to Philip’s question (cf. John 14:8), Jesus said, “I will love him (who keeps His commandments) and manifest Myself to him” (v. 21). Then, Judas (not Iscariot) asked Jesus how He would manifest Himself (v. 22). Jesus answered, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him” (v. 23). We will KNOW Him, as He is manifested to us, if we keep His word.

During this discussion, Jesus also stated, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (v. 15). He repeated this several times throughout this conversation with His disciples (cf. 14:15, 21, 23-24; 15:10, 14). We LOVE God by keeping His commandments.

After discussing the need to abide in Him as the true vine (cf. 15:1-8), Jesus said, “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love” (vv. 9-10). We will ABIDE in His love if we keep His commandments. Jesus Himself is the perfect example of this.

Let us submit to what the Lord instructed concerning the conditions of KNOWING Him, LOVING Him, and ABIDING in His love.

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