"If you love me, you will obey my commandments.

You heard me say to you, 'I am leaving, but I will come back to you.' If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father; for he is greater than I.

You are our God. When your people Israel moved into this land, you drove out the people who were living here and gave the land to the descendants of Abraham, your friend, to be theirs forever.

I have entered my garden, my sweetheart, my bride. I am gathering my spices and myrrh; I am eating my honey and honeycomb; I am drinking my wine and milk. Eat, lovers, and drink until you are drunk with love!

"But you, Israel my servant, you are the people that I have chosen, the descendants of Abraham, my friend.

Whoever does what my Father in heaven wants is my brother, my sister, and my mother."

"I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot afterward do anything worse.

And the scripture came true that said, "Abraham believed God, and because of his faith God accepted him as righteous." And so Abraham was called God's friend.

Jesus' mother then told the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."

Now that you know this truth, how happy you will be if you put it into practice!

"Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. My Father will love those who love me; I too will love them and reveal myself to them."

For our love for God means that we obey his commands. And his commands are not too hard for us,