“If you love me, obey my commandments.”
John 14:15 (NLT)
We could read this verse and keep it simple: If you love Jesus, obey His commandments. But what is Jesus really saying? What does He mean by love? And what commandments is He talking about?
I knew Jesus a long time before I think I really loved Him. There’s a difference. Love changes what we want. When we love someone, obedience doesn’t feel forced—it begins to flow. That’s why Jesus starts with if you love me. He isn’t after compliance. He’s after relationship.
When Jesus says my commandments, He isn’t pointing back to the Ten Commandments or the Torah. He’s pointing to the way He has been forming His disciples all along—and it starts with belief. Jesus repeatedly calls them to trust Him, trust His words, and trust that what He says is good.
This is Jesus’ way: He doesn’t demand obedience first. He invites belief. Belief draws us close. Closeness leads to abiding. Abiding shapes our desires. And obedience becomes the natural result.
So when Jesus says, If you love me, obey my commandments, He isn’t threatening punishment. His commands are good. They lead us toward freedom. Do you love Him today? Then start where He starts. Believe Him. Stay close. Abide with Him. And let obedience grow from that place—because His instruction is good for you, and it shows that you truly love Him when you do what He says.