Obedience and Sacrifice

“If you [really] love Me, you will keep and obey My commandments"

John 14.15 // AMP

Obey when it hurts. Obey when it doesn't make sense. Obey because He is God.

I'm not going to sugar coat this. 2025 was hard. I've been through 'hard' before and, like you, maybe even many times before. But 2025 was hard - a different hard. 2025 was the year I died - a year of refinement. I believe this might be relevant for a specific group of people that will come across this post, people who know exactly what I'm talking about.

We all know the verse that teaches us to deny ourselves and follow Jesus, being ready to suffer or even perhaps die for our faith in Him. Many aren't aware of the death that happens when you decide to truly follow Jesus, and the sacrifice it takes to carry your cross and follow Him. There is nothing pretty about sitting in the Refiner's fire until there is nothing left of you but Jesus. It is costly. It is painful. However, in my experience, it has been necessary to develop my trust in God, strengthen my relationship with Him, and sharpen my character and attitude. (Note: always remember, obedience outside of relationship with God and trust in + reverence for in Him is just 'works'. God wants your faithfulness and devotion - for obedience to stem from loving Him with all your heart, soul, mind (the first commandment).

The cross paints the perfect picture of sacrifice. What does sacrifice for the sake of following Jesus look like to you right now? For me, it looks like dying to self - letting every bit of me die and shrivel away until my responses, dreams, expectations, sense of self, thinking, actions, perspective, and very essence mirror our Creator. That's why it feels like an actual death when you walk through this process with God. If you're in this boat and feel like a part of you is dying, I encourage you to hang in there and hang on to Jesus because a part of you is dying - all of the parts that can not continue with you on the path God is taking you.

John 14.15 teaches us that if we truly love God (Father, Son, Spirit), we will obey and keep His commandments (i.e. the Ten Commandments and all of the teachings in the Word). Let's read the whole passage together for context:

Jesus’ Oneness with the Father

⁷ If you had [really] known Me, you would also have known My Father. From now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”

⁸ Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father and then we will be satisfied.” ⁹ Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time, and you do not know Me yet, Philip, nor recognize clearly who I am? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’ ¹⁰ Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words I say to you I do not say on My own initiative or authority, but the Father, abiding continually in Me, does His works [His attesting miracles and acts of power]. ¹¹ Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe [Me] because of the [very] works themselves [which you have witnessed]. ¹² I assure you and most solemnly say to you, anyone who believes in Me [as Savior] will also do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these [in extent and outreach], because I am going to the Father. ¹³ And I will do whatever you ask in My name [^[b]as My representative], this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified and celebrated in the Son. ¹⁴ If you ask Me anything in My name [as My representative], I will do it.

¹⁵ “If you [really] love Me, you will keep and obey My commandments.

Role of the Spirit

¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another ^[c]Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever— ¹⁷ the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive [and take to its heart] because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He (the Holy Spirit) remains with you continually and will be in you.

¹⁸ “I will not leave you as orphans [comfortless, bereaved, and helpless]; I will come [back] to you. ¹⁹ After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. ²⁰ On that day [when that time comes] you will know for yourselves that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you. ²¹ The person who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me; and whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him [I will make Myself real to him].” ²² Judas (not Iscariot) asked Him, “Lord, what has happened that You are going to reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?” ²³ Jesus answered, “If anyone [really] loves Me, he will keep My word (teaching); and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our dwelling place with him. ²⁴ One who does not [really] love Me does not keep My words. And the word (teaching) which you hear is not Mine, but is the Father’s who sent Me.

Clearly, there is A LOT to unpack in this passage, but I shall be focusing on the aspect of obedience.

If you're reading this and have a hard year, couple of years, or even life, you may be overwhelmed, disheartened, unable to see the way forward, unable to keep believing, or perhaps you don't want to keep believing or obeying. God requires obedience from you still. He does not leave us to do what He requires us to do all on our own. As followers of Yahweh, He has given us His Holy Spirit to dwell with us - an indescribable gift, to help us do God's will (and more). Be encouraged, He knows you're tired, but He's asking, "Will you obey?"

If you're being elevated in the next season, you will require obedience to maintain your allegiance and devotion to God, otherwise what shall be placed in your hands shall be an idol, or it shall destroy you. Trust when I say this - you did not go through all of that just to forget God (I'm speaking to a specific group of people here; you'll know what I'm talking about if this is for you). This next season will be one of trust, where you might be trusted with something that the trying times were preparing you for. Who knows what that looks like?! Some of you reading this may be on the other side; perhaps you've failed the test, and are required to continue your journey with Yahweh until you are indeed ready for that next step. Perhaps you're still in the refining season, pruning season, or you're in your season of breakthrough. No matter what your journey looks like, never lose sight of the oneness of God, His holiness, and His devotion to you (to never leave you and to empower you to do His will). Never lose sight of the fear of the Lord so whatever He brings your way does not becomes an idol or the reason you walk away from Him. Never lose sight of the fact that God is with you when obedience hurts; that He is willing to back you up on your journey, and all He asks is for you to obey Him.

No matter where you are in life or in your journey with God, please remember that without obedience we are fooling ourselves into thinking we love God. Wherever your season takes you, make obedience the way you show God you love Him.

I've kept this post short so you can dig into the Word a bit more on this topic yourself. I've also done this because obedience is a personal journey between you and God. Here is my invitation to you:

• Shut off all of the voices you listen to (including mine) and spend time asking God what obedience looks like for you right now. (This could be any parts where you're going against His Word knowingly or unknowingly, or in relation to any specific assignment He may have given you.)

• Spend time reading the Word (your bible).

• Spend time in the secret place and return to your First Love - Him (Yahweh).

Whatever the cost, remember, if you love Him, obey Him. For some, this may require more from you than it may from others, but remember, to whom much is given, much shall be required. Whatever the case, whatever the cost - obey Him.

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