I was preparing to minister one evening and was in prayer. I was aware God desired to speak something to my spirit. I quieted myself before Him, and He spoke, “Read John 14:15.”

By the reference alone I had no idea what John 14:15 said. So I turned to it and noticed in my Bible it began a new paragraph. I read these words of Jesus: “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”

I read from the 15th verse down to the 24th verse. All ten of these verses related hack to verse 15. After reading the last verse the Lord spoke to my heart, “You didn’t get it. Read it again.­

I read all ten verses again. What I heard through this scripture was: “By keeping My commandments, you prove you love Me.”

Again I heard His voice speak, “You didn’t get it. Read it again.” Now my curiosity was aroused. I read the ten verses again only to hear the Lord say, “You didn’t get it. Read it again.” This transpired a number of times until my frustration began to mount.

Exasperated, about the eighth time I cried, “Lord, please forgive my ignorance! Open my eyes to see what You’re saying!”

Then I read verse 15 again: “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” I noticed a reference marker by the word keep. I went to the reference notes in the margin and noted the more accurate translation was “you will keep.” By substituting this phrase in the place of the single word keep the verse read, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. “

When I read it this way, skyrockets went off inside me. I saw what He was saying. “John, I wasn’t saying if you keep My commandments, you will prove that you love Me. I already know whether you love Me or not! I was saying, if you fall head over heels in love with Me, you will be able to keep My commandments!” My original vantage point was the law; the new view is relationship.

Bevere, John. The Devil’s Door. Lake Nary, Fl: Charisma House, 1996, p. 93,94. With permission, www.charismahouse.com.