Leonardo da Vinci once said, "Tears come from the heart and not from the brain." His words highlight two vital centres of our being: the heart, where emotion and compassion reside, and the brain, the source of thought and reason. Together, these allow us to live fully and meaningfully. A brilliant mind without a compassionate heart is incomplete, just as a loving heart without discernment can easily lose direction. Emotion and reason must work together – our faith is both felt and understood. When heart and mind are aligned, we can fully engage with Jesus’ words.

 

Love is often seen as a feeling, but Jesus gives it a deeper, more practical meaning in our verse today. He says that those who accept his commandments and obey them are those who love him. For Jesus, true love is not merely spoken – it’s lived out in faithful obedience. This may sound demanding, but when we consider what his commandments are, it would be stranger to claim that we love Jesus while ignoring them.

 

In John 13:34-35 Jesus says, “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. If you have love for one another, then everyone will know that you are my disciples.” Isn’t this the essence of any healthy family – to love, care, and forgive, even without being told?

 

Jesus doesn’t want half-hearted followers. He invites us into a real relationship. He teaches us to pray, “Our Father …” (Matthew 6:9-13) – reminding us that we belong to God’s family, living by his values, relying on him for our needs, and forgiving as we’ve been forgiven. The beauty of it is not only the call to obedience but the promise that follows. Jesus says, “My Father will love those who love me; I too will love them and reveal myself to them.” (John 14:21b) Obedience opens the door to deeper intimacy with God. As we walk in his ways, he reveals more of himself to us – his character, his presence, and his purposes for our lives.

 

Have you ever felt distant from God, wondering why he seems silent or hidden? Perhaps this verse today offers a key insight. Sometimes the path to renewed closeness with Jesus is not through striving for a spiritual “experience,” but through simple, faithful obedience. As we take his Word seriously and live it daily, we begin to see him more clearly.

 

When we love Jesus, we trust and follow him – not out of fear, but devotion; just as a child trusts and listens to a loving parent, we respond to Jesus, knowing that he speaks truth and life.

 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I want to love you not just in words, but with my whole life. Help me to obey your commands with joy and trust. As I follow you, reveal more of yourself to me, that I may know you and reflect your love. Amen