Ready:
“If you love me, you will keep my commands.” —요한복음 14:15
Set:
This command from Jesus seems pretty harsh all on its own. Let’s look at it through the lens of the sport world. If we think of a relationship between a coach and an athlete: an athlete with no closeness to the coach is less likely to obey anything he or she is commanding them to do. We know there are athletes that keep their distance from the coach. For some, they’re afraid of the coach. For others, they don’t want accountability so they stay as far away as they can from the coach. But, for the athlete that leans into the coach, chooses to stay moldable and coachable, and obeys what the coach commands, that relationship will be the strongest one on the team.
I have seen this countless times throughout the teams I’ve interacted with. The athletes on the team that love the coaching staff keep their commands more seriously than those who don’t. Those athletes in turn, end up succeeding in far greater things than those who are distant from the coaches. Proximity and relationship to the coach equals success in following through with commands. Jesus’ command starts to sound less harsh when you view it like that.
A true athlete isn’t just obeying their coach because it’s what they’re supposed to do. The athlete that loves their coach obeys because they trust the one who is doing the commanding. They’ve spent time with the coach, getting to know their character, listening to their voice and building a relationship with them. It’s easier to obey someone you trust and have gotten to know well.
If we love Christ, we will keep His commands. If you are finding it hard to keep His commands, it is a good idea to check your proximity to Him and His Word. Being near to Christ and His Word keeps us accountable. It’s a lot like sticking near the coach on your team. The further you stray from the coach, the further you will be from following whatever play he or she is trying to run.
Go:
What is your proximity to the authority figure in your life and how is that affecting you doing what is being asked of you?
Are you keeping God’s commands? What is your proximity to Him and His word today?
Workout:
Overtime:
“Heavenly Father, thank You for being the ultimate Authority Figure. I pray for a soft heart that can’t get enough of Your presence. I don’t want to be the one on the team that stays far away from You because I am afraid or because I don’t want the accountability. I want to be the one always found huddled around You, taking in as much wisdom and guidance as I can possibly hold. Amen.”