But why do you call Me “Lord, Lord,”  and not do the things which I say? Luke 6:46

In the classic film “My Fair Lady,” Eliza, frustrated with the words “I love you,” sings a song which begins: 

            Words! Words! Words! I’m so sick of words! I get words all day through; First from him, 

            now from you! Is that all you blighters can do? Don’t talk of stars burning above; If you’re 

            in love, Show me!

There’s truth in that song. An emotional teaching moment in Peter’s life was when he met Christ by the Sea of Galilee after His resurrection—the same Christ whom Peter denied knowing just before the crucifixion. In this meeting in Galilee, Jesus needed to know whether Peter’s heart had changed. Three times Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love Me?” And each time Peter replied that he did. But each time Peter confessed his love for Jesus, the Lord gave him a command: “Feed My lambs…. tend My sheep…. feed My sheep” (John 21:15-21).

Jesus’ words illustrate a theme that runs throughout Scripture: Love is demonstrated by actions. More specifically, when it comes to God and man, love for God is demonstrated by man’s obedience to God’s commands. And such obedience is rewarded by blessing. 

Jesus made this connection when He spoke to a large crowd of followers and seekers: “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46) In that crowd were people who were seeking His blessing but had not counted the cost of obedience.

If we confess Jesus as Lord, don’t take lightly the responsibility to obey His words.

Oswald Chambers wrote in one of his devotionals:            Beware of reasoning about God’s Word—obey it.