What does "they have kept Your word" teach about obedience to God's commands? Setting the Scene “ ‘They were Yours; You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.’ ” (John 17:6) Jesus, in His high-priestly prayer, looks at His disciples and sums up their lives with one concise commendation: “they have kept Your word.” That single line opens a rich window into the nature of genuine obedience. What “Kept” Means • The Greek verb tēreō carries ideas of guarding, preserving, watching over. • It is not a casual nod of agreement but an active, deliberate custody of God’s revelation. • Obedience, then, involves both believing truth and protecting it from distortion or neglect. Essentials Drawn from the Phrase • Proof of Relationship – Keeping the word reveals that the disciples truly belonged to the Father (John 17:6). – 1 John 2:3-5 confirms: “By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments.” • Expression of Love – John 14:23: “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word.” – Love and obedience are inseparable; affection for Christ ignites faithful action. • Submission to Authority – God’s word is final, flawless, and binding. Obedience bows the knee to divine authority rather than human opinion (Psalm 119:160; Acts 5:29). • Continuity, Not Perfection – Peter denied, Thomas doubted, yet Jesus still says, “They have kept Your word.” – The pattern of their lives was obedience, even if marred by momentary failure (Proverbs 24:16). How Obedience Takes Shape • Internalize: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Colossians 3:16). • Guard: “Hold fast to the pattern of sound teaching” (2 Timothy 1:13). • Act: “Be doers of the word” (James 1:22). • Persevere: “Blessed is the one who keeps My words to the end” (Revelation 3:10). Motivations That Sustain Obedience • Gratitude for saving grace (Ephesians 2:8-10). • Desire for abiding fellowship: “If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love” (John 15:10). • Anticipation of reward: “The one who looks intently into the perfect law… being not a forgetful hearer but an effective doer, he will be blessed in what he does” (James 1:25). The Call Today “ ‘They have kept Your word’ ” is more than a historical note; it is the Spirit’s invitation to guard, cherish, and practice every command God has given—confident that such obedience confirms our identity, magnifies our love for Christ, and yields lasting fruit. |
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