The Commands of Jesus: 31 Days of Prayer, #2

By Mark Anderson Smith

Reviews of The Commands of Jesus:

 

"[We] read together the last days of the month. To us they are just the right length, in a language we understand. We felt "in tune" with you as you shared personally. The days were well-rounded - challenging, uplifting + encouraging. We really liked day 27 - the seriousness of rejection of God but His forgiveness when we repent. Rejection needs deep thinking about. Day 20 is a good day too. Warning - especially in these days. There is much fake news + conspiracy theories. We need to hear Truth. Only then will we be able to stand up for Jesus. The Commands of Jesus are sometimes - often - always - tough to obey but you empathise with our struggles. We felt you were on the journey with us - alongside us." Jeff + Sue Robinson

 

"Such an amazing resource!! I had the privilege of reading a pre-launch copy - not for review purposes - but I couldn't NOT review it!! Wow!! What a tremendous invitation to take the words of Jesus seriously and enter a new depth of knowing Him as Lord!! If you are looking for a devotional for a man in your life, or a resource to use in a men's group, I can't recommend it highly enough. But beware - you can't read it and not be challenged!!" Joy Vee

 

Christians call Jesus Lord, and sing praises to him declaring he is King, yet how much time have we taken to understand what our King has commanded us to do? We say God is love, God is merciful, God is kind and indeed he is all these things, yet when reading the bible, we find many examples of God commanding his people, and Jesus continuing to do the same to his disciples.

Following on from 31 Days of Prayer, this 31 day study and devotional guide will help you to understand that the commands Jesus gives us to follow are not simply burdens and drudgery to obey, but a pathway to a more content life, one where we are brought closer to our heavenly father's presence and will allow us to be better able to live our lives in peace and in good will with those around us.

Each day's devotional begins with one of the passages from Jesus' teaching. Stories from the author's life are shared along with questions and quotes from relevant passages throughout the bible. Each command is discussed and examined to give insight into the relevance of Jesus' commands to our lives today. The commands of Jesus are a challenge and a blessing and will give you a deeper understanding of Jesus' call on your life.

 

Feedback from readers of 31 Days of Prayer:

 

"I was immediately struck by the depth of spiritual understanding of God's word.  I had never seen the fact that we were actually asking for God's will and provision BEFORE repentance! I went on to read a few days of the prayers and I became convicted and encouraged to go deeper.  Every one I read had something thought provoking." Gail van der Merwe

 

"It was good to connect the commands of Jesus with everyday life. It spoke to me personally, with enough conviction to follow through on acting upon it. It brought focus to the words of Jesus and how relevant to life. I think it is extremely helpful to focus solely on the words of Jesus, It's also relevant and challenging, just what believers need." Alan Welsh

 

"It is a good tool to re-focus on your prayer life. It helped me to get back in to a daily routine. It was enjoyable, practical and easy to follow." Tom Muir
 

"It inspired me to pray more... I have and would recommend 31 Days of Prayer as this has been helpful and each day is different. It gives focus and insight to study further." Grace Welsh

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mark Anderson Smith
• Release date: Jul 29, 2023
• ISBN: 9781915183002

Book preview

Day 1: The one who loves me

If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever – the Spirit of truth.

John 14 v 15 to 17

If you love me, keep my commands. Commands are not something I believe most of us would associate with love. Imagine if your husband or wife said this to you on your wedding day: If you love me, keep my commands. I would understand if you were a bit concerned. Jesus described the church as his bride on several occasions, so what should we make of his instruction that our love will be shown by keeping his commands?

Our Western culture has so diluted the meaning of the word love that even knowing the complexity behind the word, I still struggle to fully comprehend what it can convey. In 31 Days of Prayer, I shared that ancient Greek had at least three words to describe types of love, one of which: agape, meaning sacrificial or serving love, was the most common word used to interpret what Jesus had said. The term used here though has a more nuanced meaning. Agapate, which can be used to describe holding someone in high esteem or respect. When I saw that, I immediately thought of a different scenario one could love like that: the love for a commanding officer, perhaps even for one's king, or president. A love born out of deep respect, perhaps from serving in battle, seeing a person lead his soldiers into danger to defeat the enemy, rescuing the wounded or those taken prisoner, never asking anyone to do anything they would not do themselves.

Jesus is such a commanding officer. He led the way from the very beginning. He engaged the enemy, defeating Satan and casting out every demon he encountered. He cared for those he came across, showing his compassion both for the children of Israel, and for the foreigner that sought him out. Jesus was no high handed officer, unwilling to lift a finger to serve those around him. He took the role of servant, astonishing his disciples when he washed their dirty, smelly feet before his last meal. Jesus warned that following his way would lead to danger and suffering and did not flinch when he was taken, but stood firm under torture. And when he was nailed to the cross, he did not waver, but continued to show his kindness and gentleness, forgiving the murderer hanging beside him, asking for forgiveness for the soldiers who had crucified him, asking John to care for his mother.

Perhaps you struggle with the military metaphor. Have you ever had a teacher who was devoted to their students? One who went above and beyond to ensure you could understand what was being taught. Who had such a way of communicating that you were captivated by what they said. Jesus was such a teacher.

Or can you think of a manager, one who was passionate about the business, who just got it! Someone who understood the customers’ needs, who cared about their team, who both showed respect to others, and was respected by all. If you have worked for such a person, and they commanded you to do something, would you hesitate?

As is so often the case, Jesus statement about love and commands here is followed by a promise:

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever – the Spirit of truth.

Our commanding officer has left the field of battle, but he has not left us on our own. The Holy Spirit has been given to us in Jesus’ place, if we will receive him, described here as our advocate, the Spirit of truth.

However, when I turn to my somewhat battered NIV version of the Bible, I find a different term used instead of advocate: counsellor. And when I look up the original Greek I find yet more terms used by different translators: helper or comforter. I know that language translation is as much an art as a science. The English language is confusing enough on its own with different meanings for the same words. Despite these differences I am reassured by the similarity between all the terms. Advocate: someone who defends you. Counsellor: someone who listens to you and gives you advice.  Helper: someone who assists you. Comforter: Someone who reassures you. This is who our commanding officer has sent to support us in our struggle!

Jesus deserves our respect. Jesus has earned our devotion. Jesus commands our love. And, if we do indeed have this love for Jesus, we will have no difficulty in keeping his commands.

Our Father in heaven, your son, Jesus, does indeed deserve my respect. Jesus deserves my loyalty, my devotion, and I choose to give him that respect, that loyalty, my devotion. Thank you that you have not abandoned us, but have sent your Holy Spirit to defend, advise, assist, and reassure us! Help me to understand your commands, to gain insight into why you gave them to us, and to learn to be obedient to you. Amen

Day 2: Obey my teaching

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Jesus replied, Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching.

John 14 v 23 to 24

It is one thing to obey a command, teaching though – at least in my view – does not have the same force behind it. Perhaps that is only down to my experiences in school as a child. I was still quite young when I was called to the front by a teacher. I've no recollection of what I'd been doing. Possibly being mischievous, or silly, or perhaps even cheeky. It is quite possible I deserved a reprimand, though I don't accept I deserved what happened. I was instructed to stand there, in front of the class, and repeat three times: I am stupid.

I wrote about this experience in my book: Double Your Salary, about how after many years I realised I had to forgive that teacher. Looking back, I wonder if that experience killed off my respect for education. It can't have, not completely. I desperately wanted to succeed in life, I knew that education was important to enable that. And I'd had other teachers who would not accept substandard work, and who drove me to do better.

I took Craft and Design in high school. We spent our lessons in a workshop with huge and noisy machines, drills and lathes that would cut through metal as a knife cuts through butter. We were taught to use a vice, and different saws for different materials. I have no recollection of ever being mischievous, or silly, or cheeky while in that workshop. I obeyed that teacher having no desire whatsoever to lose a finger or drill through my hand. If love can mean showing respect, holding in high esteem, then I showed love to that teacher by obeying his teaching.

I grew up on Shetland, among people who worked in hard and difficult jobs. Carpenters, builders, fishermen. There are many ways to lose a finger and I've seen plenty of men who lack one or more from different accidents. Did Jesus have all his fingers after his years as a carpenter? I believe so, but it is quite possible his father, Joseph, did not. Regardless, I'm sure that Joseph would have expected Jesus to obey his teaching, as any good father would. Hammers and saws have been used for thousands of years, and as fathers taught their sons they would have been careful to insist their teaching was obeyed, and illustrate the consequences if it was not. Jesus goes on to describe such consequences in his illustration of the vine and the branches:

If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.

John 15 v 6

Jesus uses the same forcefulness when talking of his teaching as he does when talking of his commands. It is a sign of our love for Jesus that we obey his teaching, a sign that we do not love him if we will not obey his teaching.

I cannot finish without also pointing out the promise Jesus makes. That for those who obey his teaching, our Father in heaven will love us, and that Jesus promises God will come to us, and make his home with us. It is an amazing promise, that the creator of the universe, the King of Kings, will show us love, will live with us.

As I've re-read the Gospels, I've been reminded of how much teaching Jesus did. Everywhere he went, he used every opportunity to teach the people, or teach his disciples. As we continue through this meditation on the commands of Jesus, I will treat Jesus’ teaching with the same respect as his commands. I hope you will do the same.

Our Father in heaven, thank you that you are a good teacher, one who cares deeply for us and wants us to do well. Praise you for Jesus who practised what he taught, living the life he called us to live. Help us to understand the commands and instructions in Jesus’ teaching, and to learn to be obedient to him. Amen

Day 3: All authority in heaven and on earth

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Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth