My stepdad is the kind of guy who keeps his word.

If he offers to lend you $1000, he’ll lend you $1000. If he says he’ll be there at 8:00, he’ll be there at 8:00. When he says he hates cilantro, I suspect he’ll forever hate cilantro. He’s a person who keeps his promises, and those who know him know that his word is as good as done.

Keeping Jesus’ word is another story.

We have all bumped up against our attempts to obey the commandments of Christ. How do I forgive this friend who deeply offended me? How do I relax like a flower in the field and not worry about tomorrow? How do I love my enemy?

Jesus’ word is extensive. It burrows into the deepest recesses of our minds and hearts, calling for more than just behavior change, calling us to become someone different on the inside, someone who responds as He would respond, who sees as He would see, whose natural reactions are guided by the Spirit.

This is not possible through our own best efforts, but it does require effort. The beautiful, hopeful truth is that I can learn from Jesus, and as I ask Him to do the work in my heart, I can begin to keep His word.

I can learn to obey as He transforms me from within.