May 24, 2026

Today's Reading: John 14:23-31

Daily Lectionary: Numbers 21:10-35; Luke 21:20-38

“Jesus answered him, 'If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.’” (John 14:23)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

“Jesus answered him, 'If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.’” (John 14:23)

I love Jesus. I’m sure most of you do too. Jesus says that if we love Him, we will keep His words. The word “keep” here doesn’t just mean to obey; it also means to treasure or hold on to. If we love Jesus, we will love and obey His Words.

That totally makes sense. If we love Jesus, we’ll love the things that He tells us to love and cling tightly to them. If we love Jesus, we’ll love the things that Jesus loves. If we love Jesus, we’ll want to make Him happy and do the things that He wants us to do. This is all most certainly true.

So, how’s that going for you? Do you always appreciate everything Jesus has said to you? Do you love Jesus’ words that say you should forgive that girl at school who’s always mean to you? Do you love God’s plan for chastity and sexual purity the way that Jesus does? Do you always want to make Jesus happy, or are you preoccupied with making yourself happy? We all know the answers to these questions, and it’s not good.

But remember, when Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit to us, He promises that the Spirit will bring to our remembrance all that Jesus has said to us (John 14:26). And Jesus doesn’t just preach the Law to us, He gives us the promises of the Gospel! You are washed by Jesus’ blood. Your Baptism has joined you to Christ’s death and resurrection. The Heavenly Father loves you and has made His home in you. Jesus will feed you with His own Body and Blood to strengthen you unto everlasting life. And all of this is given to you as a Gift, by grace through faith, apart from any merit or worthiness in you.

If we love Jesus, we will love these words! In fact, that’s pretty much what it means to be a Christian! We love the Gospel, and we live in the peace that Jesus promises, with hearts untroubled by the accusations of the Law (John 14:27). At the same time, in response to the Gospel, the Holy Spirit begins to create in us a love for the other words that Jesus has spoken to us, the words of His holy law, that we might obey them to the pleasure of God.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

O God, on this day You once taught the hearts of Your faithful people by sending them the light of Your Holy Spirit. Grant us in our day by the same Spirit to have a right understanding in all things and evermore to rejoice in His holy consolation; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (Collect for Pentecost)

Rev. Aric Fenske, Executive Director of Lutherans for Life.