The Book of John: Message Eighty
Four
By Dr. Michael
Guido, D.D.
A young man
had a date. On coming to her home, he said to his
fiancé, "I love you so, I can't live without
you." He continued, "For you I'd cross the
burning desert, and scale the highest mountain, and
swim the widest river. Yes," he continued,
"I'd go through fire for you." But when he
left, he said, "I'll see you tomorrow night, if
it doesn't rain." How often we say we love the
Lord with our lips, but we deny it with our lives.
Let's turn to John 14:15 and see the proof of loving
Him.
Our Lord said,
"If ye love Me, keep My commandments." When
I married the one who is my wife, I promised to
protect her and to provide for her. According to the
law, I must feed her. Do I say, "Let me
see...what's the cheapest food? Oh, yes, grits."
So I buy a barrel of grits, and I say to Mrs. Guido,
"The law says I must feed you. Here's a barrel
of grits. It's not delicious but it's nutritious.
When you eat this barrel of grits, I'll get you
another. Enjoy yourself!" According to the law,
I must clothe her. I shop around, and I find that
burlap is quite cheap. So I buy a bolt of burlap, and
I say to Mrs. Guido, "The law says I must clothe
you. Dress yourself in this burlap. When it wears out
let me know, and I'll get you more burlap."
According to the law, I must shelter her. So I go to
the city dump, and find discarded tin, used lumber
and broken bricks, and I make a shack for her. Then I
carry Mrs. Guido over the threshold, and I say,
"Wife, dear, here's a shack. The law says I must
shelter you. I've done my part. If this blows over,
just let me know, and I'll get some boxes and make
you another." Is that what I say and do? No, a
thousand times, no! Why? Because I love her more than
anyone in all the world, except the Lord. It's a
delight to provide for her, not a duty; a pleasure,
not a pain! If you really and truly love the Lord
Jesus, you'll love His commandments. They'll be a
source of gladness to you, not grief; inspiration,
not irritation; happiness, not horror. Tell me, do
you love the Lord Jesus?
It may be that
you're asking, "What are the commandments?"
The commandments of Christ include whatever is good
and whatever God has required of us. A brilliant
scholar was the guest of Dr. F. B. Meyer. On finding
him up at 4 o'clock in the morning, Dr. Meyer asked,
"Are you ill? Is there anything I can do for
you? I saw your light and wondered if you were
ill." Answered C. T. Studd, "No, I'm not
ill. I love my Lord Jesus, and I want to keep His
commandments. I was searching the Scriptures to see
what He wanted me to do."
It may be that
you're asking, "How shall I keep His
commandments?" Jeremiah said, "His word was
in my heart as a burning fire." Therefore you'll
keep His commandments as a fire to warm you. The
Psalmist said, "Wherewithal shall a young man
cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to
Thy word." Therefore you'll keep His
commandments as water to cleanse you. King David
said, "The statues of the Lord are right."
Therefore you'll keep His commandments as a rule to
square you. A friend prayed much for the conversion
of an officer in India, and one day wrote him,
saying, "Please read your Bible every day."
He did so, and it led to his conversion. He was so
happy, and one day he wrote his friend, "Herein
I was helped by being a soldier, for I began to read
my Bible as I read the Queen's regulations, as if all
its instructions were intended to be followed
out." Yes, if you love Christ, you'll keep His
commandments completely wholeheartedly. You'll do
whatever He commands. You'll not pick and choose, but
you'll keep all His commandments. And you'll keep
them implicitly. "Lord," prayed Mr. Finney,
"here's a man who wants to share his home with
you." "Amen!" said the man.
"Lord," he prayed, "here's a man who
wants to share his business with you." But he
didn't say, "Amen!" "Why?" asked
Finney. "Because," he answered, "I'm
not ready to take Christ into my business and have
Him help me conduct it." Oh, foolish man. He
didn't love the Lord. Do you?
copyright 2000 Guido Evangelistic
Association
All Scripture verses are
quoted from the New King James Version.
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to the next message in this Sower Scripture Study on
the book of John.
This series of messages on the
books of the Bible were originally written for
broadcast on Dr. Guido's radio program, "The
Sower." They are collected and reprinted here
for your enjoyment and spiritual edification.
