The Correct Order
Love is the spring of obedience. Any obedience that does not spring from love is legality, servility, or selfishness. Christian obedience knows no other spring than love. The Christian obeys because he loves, and because he is loved. “If ye love me,” says the Lord, “keep my commandments.” Again, the apostle writes, “The love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: and that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again” (2 Cor. 5:14-1514For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. (2 Corinthians 5:14‑15)).
Our love to the Lord is but the response of our hearts to His love for us. “We love Him, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:1919We love him, because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19)). Thus our love is the fruit of His—it is begotten by His, and is the result of it. We do not love Him in order that He may love us. That would be impossible. How could these wretched hearts force themselves to love one whom by sin they hate? The carnal mind is at enmity against God. Without the display of love on His side first of all—His love to us being free and spontaneous— there could be none on ours.
God’s Love in the Gospel
But, blessed be God, this is the very truth unfolded in the gospel of His grace! It was when we “were dead in trespasses and sins” that God loved us. It was when we were “yet sinners” that Christ died for us, and that God found occasion for this display of His own love. It was when we were hateful that the kindness and love of God appeared. And it was when we were lost that the Son of man came to seek and to save us.
Such is the truth of the gospel. The priority of the love of God to man before that of man to God is thus distinctly revealed. For “God so loved the world” in spite of all that man could do to discourage and repel it. Yet that timeless, changeless love beams on us like a sun that no cloud can darken. “God is love” is the grand and full explanation of why He is suffering long with that world which is day by day and year by year augmenting its mountain load of sin and opposition to Him.
The Question for Peter
There is a striking moral connection between the question the Lord asked Peter in John 21:1717He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. (John 21:17) and the command given to that apostle in the 22nd verse of the same chapter. The question is, “Lovest thou me”? And the command is, “Follow thou me.” The order is correct. Love is to precede obedience, and obedience is none the less to follow love. If the first can be established, the second will be secured. If the Lord can gain the heart, He can count upon getting the feet. And hence with divine wisdom He tests the affections of the apostle. “Lovest thou me”; who has so loved thee? And what was the answer of poor, heartbroken Peter? “Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.” Beautiful avowal, and deeply grateful to the Lord! “Thou knowest all things,” said Peter, as though he would again have shed the bitter tears of penitence, and acknowledged the threefold denial of his loved and loving Lord and Saviour. “Thou knowest all things”—my weakness, my folly, my self-confidence, and my sin—my repentance, my anguish, my sorrow, too. “Thou knowest that Ι love thee.” If no one else should know it, Thou dost.
“Follow Me”
Then the Lord said, “Follow me”. If the Lord is really loved, He will likewise be really obeyed. Obedience will be proportionate to and commensurate with love. “He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings;” as the love, so the obedience. There may be and are different degrees of intelligence as to His will, but the spirit of obedience will characterize all who really love Him. An obedient heart is His delight. Such a one will be trained and nurtured by Him and, as He says, “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine” (John 7:1717If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. (John 7:17)). Oh! that these three words, “Follow thou me,” may stand out in bold and clear relief before the grateful and loving gaze of our renewed affections, so that we may practically esteem Him worthy of all our obedience here.
May our inmost souls hear His question, “Lovest thou me?” and joyfully obey His command, “Follow thou me.”
Adapted from J. W. S.