Daily Devotional – Sunday, August 2, 2026
He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he 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 (NKJV)
Many people would sincerely say they love God. They sing with feeling in church, post Bible verses on social media and talk openly about their faith. However, when church is over, they go back to their old ways. They hold on to bitterness, compromise their integrity, or ignore what God has clearly said in His Word. Their actions contradict their profession. Words are important, but it is decisions and actions that reveal whether we really love God.
When Words are not Enough
Jesus speaks directly to that reality in today’s key text. He says that the person who has His commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Him. Christ is not teaching that we can earn His love by obeying Him. God’s love always comes first. Instead, he directs us to the evidence of true love. If we truly love Him, we will not ignore what He says. We will treasure His words because we treasure Him.
That changes the way we look at obedience. It is no longer about trying to earn God’s approval or proving ourselves worthy of His acceptance. It is simply the response of a heart that knows Christ and trusts Him. Most of us have experienced moments when we know we should forgive, tell the truth, walk away from a temptation, or make something right with another person. In those moments, love is no longer just something we say but something we choose. Little by little, our decisions begin to say what our lips have been saying all along.
How Do You Know If You Really Love Jesus?
Jesus then gives a wonderful promise. Those who demonstrate their love for Him through obedience will enjoy a deeper fellowship with the Father and the Son. This does not mean God starts loving us once we obey, but that we continue to walk with Christ and get to know Him better personally. We begin to see His hand more clearly, to trust His promises more readily, and to realise His presence is becoming more precious. The closer we walk with Him, the more we discover the joy of knowing Him.
Today, do not simply ask yourself whether you profess to love God. Ask whether your life reflects that love. Is there something He has already spoken to your heart about that you have been putting off? Start there. One step of willing obedience may seem small, but it is a beautiful expression of love for Christ. As you continue to walk with Him, you will find yourself enjoying an even closer fellowship with the One who loved you first.
Pray
Thank you, heavenly Father, for loving me first. Help me to show my love with willing obedience, and draw me into a closer walk with You each day.
