Good morning people who are friends of Jesus and part of God’s family.

John 15:14-15 NIV “You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”

This is important.

Christians obey God, but they do so as friends, not as servants.

This is not splitting hairs. This is right foundational theology. This is truth.

God is not looking for people who simply follow instructions without knowing His heart. Please get this. It’s not about rules to make us good. It is about knowing God’s love for us that results in us trusting that He knows best. From this place, we willingly and fully do all that He says. Life is the result!

Jesus knew His Father’s heart for Him and also for us. He had an unshakeable conviction that His Father is love. Therefore, He fully submitted to Him, regardless of the cost.

These are days when the Holy Spirit is highlighting the cost of truly following Jesus. We have not signed up for a pleasure cruise. We are in a life or death spiritual battle, and we are called to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Jesus. This is normal Christianity.

But we do so as friends who know the Father’s heart. There is further revelation to be received about the goodness, kindness and love of God. This is the greatest fuel for our obedience as friends of God.