John 15:10 - “If you love me, you will obey my commands just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.”

Many times upon reading this passage our minds immediately go to the Ten Commandments as given to Moses. So if we go to church regularly, are not murders, adulterers, thieves, and gossips, we could feel confident that we are obeying Jesus’ commands. Not so fast. There are other commands from the Father that Jesus gave.

• Repent: Bring sin to the cross to be washed away
• Forgive: Release those who have sinned against you
• Fast: Give up worldly or fleshly desires for spiritual gain.
• Pray: Spend time in communion with God
• Give: Give of your substance (money, time, talent, and gifting) into the kingdom.
• Cleanse the Leper: Cleanse what is unclean in your sphere of influence. (attitudes, language, behaviors)
• Heal the sick: Lay hands on the sick and pray, minister to them, help them
• Cast out demons: Remove the works of Satan from your life and your sphere of influence.
• Raise the dead: Give life to the walking dead as well as the physically dead. Raise up your dreams and hopes and those of others
• Preach the good news of salvation: Live with the light of Christ in you.
• Make disciples: Come along side new Christians and mentor them

These commands get to the very fiber of our being and require daily obedience. Obeying these commands are conditions for the promise that we will remain in his love. Remaining is different from being visited by or going in and out of His love. To remain means to be engaged in his love 24/7. If we do, we will not know a time we are not in his love. Others will know us because we reflect the Father’s character. This is awesome living with an awesome God.