December 29th, 2009 
Jojo Agot 
I once attended a friend’s wedding where the mother of the groom said during the reception that the ultimate form of love is respect. At first I thought she was being out of context but when I remembered that she is a battered wife, I realized she was speaking from experience. She needed love, and she wanted it to be given to her in the form of respect. It was a heartbreaking thought that crossed my mind as I sat there listening to parents and sponsors taking turns to speak words of advise to the new couple.
Love means differently to different people. If you’re familiar with Gary Chapman’s idea of love tanks, you know what I mean. Some want love in the form of a hug, others in the quantity of time spent with them. Some people want it in the form of gifts while others in the form of service. Most fathers, for example, think you love them if you serve them coffee in the morning. While others think it’s just a silly cup of coffee, for some, it’s a deep expression of love.
Jesus defines love in terms of obedience to His word.
I know it doesn’t sound theologically deep. Obedience, after all, is a boring word. It wouldn’t rank high in Google but it ranks high in the heart of God.
If you love me, you will obey my teaching… John 14: 23.
Obedience is better than sacrifice… 1 Samuel 15: 22
He doesn’t need candles, monuments, cute text messages, bumper stickers, blog shout outs, chain letters, or WWJD bracelets.
He simply wanted us to obey.
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Note: This post is an entry to the bi-monthly blog carnival alternately hosted at Peter Pollock and Bridget Chumbley‘s sites. This week, the topic is LOVE. To read more posts from other bloggers, click here. If you want to participate, just write a post on the topic on schedule and link your blog to the host sites mentioned above. Thank you.
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I think men better know love in receiving respect, and women better know respect in receiving love.
I've never really thought of it that way but thanks, I think that makes perfect sense.
"He simply wanted us to obey"
I think this is wonderfully stated… simple and profound at the same time! Thanks, JoJo.
I think the best part of loving Him through obedience is that we are not obliged to have that "wonderful, overwhelming, inexplicable feeling" mostly associated with love. We don't have to "feel" it all the time because doing and being are sometimes enough. This way, even non-emotional people can love God.
Wow. I actually got caught up on the comparison you make to Google priorities and God's priorities.
If SEO is "search engine optimization" (something important to us bloggers), maybe as people of faith we could benefit from a bit of "FEO" (faith engine optimization) to help us celebrate those qualities which MOST help us develop and deepen our faith, and actualize it into real, tangible, profound change.
"These three remain," writes Paul: "Faith, hope and love." But he reminds us that a proper application of FEO places love at the forefront.
Jeffrey, the Google comparison is actually unintentional. I just figured that of all the search keywords I used, I've never even thought of searching for Obedience.
Your FEO got me laughing. I like the sound of it. Thanks for dropping by.
It seems that love functions a particular way more often that it is an emotion. Emotions indicate what we're focusing on, and how we perceive it, and love is bigger than that. Great post!!
Exactly! too bad that many people confuse emotions with love.
I never would've thought about obedience being Jesus' love language. Interesting. Thanks for giving me something to gnaw on today! Nice post!
Jaime, it surprised me too. I guess there are now 6 five love languages. Gary Chapman should know about this, lol.
He wants us to obey, and he offers – eternity. Good post, Jojo.
not a bad deal, right? thanks for dropping by Glynn.
"Obedience, after all, is a boring word." Perhaps that is why we don't do it very well. We're more into passion, glitz, fireworks….but without obedience we don't give ourselves a chance to feel that deep, abiding love He has for us. I agree with obedience being Jesus' love language.
"Perhaps that is why we don't do it very well. We're more into passion, glitz, fireworks…."
So true, very true.
hi jojo,
thank you for the reminder of Love in obedience, and obedience in Love.
Nancy, thanks for dropping by.
Hi Jojo:
We haven't met but I really enjoyed this post. It was simply put and well done.
Obedience might be a "boring word" but as someone who is trying to live a life of obedience to Christ I've found it to be anything but boring. It's eventful in ways that I never dreamed.
It definitely does "ranks high in the heart of God" as you said. To obey is better than sacrifice. We'd do well to remember that. Thanks for this wonderful reminder.
Melinda,
Thank you for the kind words. I guess what I was trying to say was that obedience, as a word, is kind of boring. The act of obedience is an entirely different matter. Thank you for noticing the fine line.
I am glad that I've met people like you and everyone else through this blog carnival. You guys expanded my world. Thank you for that. Same thing I would say to all who commented above and all who joined the carnival.
I have a different take on John 14:23. Rather than Jesus measuring your love for him by your obedience, I think the rest of that section of scripture(I'm thinking of John 14-17) suggest that he's offering the key to perfecting obedience: to love him . In other words, "do you want to be able to obey me? Here's how: love me. Because when you love me, you are inwardly changed into the kind of person that keeps my commands."
Nate, I see what you mean and I think I agree with you. Obedience can be mechanical at times and only love can make it meaningful. Now I see one more reason why obedience is "boring" (I really have to find a substitute word for that, lol). I'm looking at it from the other end. Now it makes more sense to me.
Thanks a lot!
Obedience definitely isn't a popular word. But in the proper context, I don't think it needs to be a drag. It's just the way it's presented. Of course, not that love makes it easier, love is one of the hardest things in Scripture, understood rightly. But I think Love-centered obedience will take me in a more "true" direction, one in which I more intimately know the heart of God, than obedience-centered love does. Glad to hear your thoughts, and see you posting on such a worthy subject!
Nate
I agree. Obedience, quickly and accurately, is an example of love AND respect. Very well explained/ expressed. Glad to have a chance to do this; hadn't started a blog until a couple days after this first phase of the carnival began. Am SO glad I did since I've seen so much that's blessed my heart… and encouraged me to keep on keeping on.
Hello Joanne, welcome to the exciting world of blogging! Glad you dropped by.