1 John 5 - 6.5.26

Scripture: 1 John 5:2 - 3

“This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,”

Observation

Jesus’ statement in Matthew 22 help simplify things for us when question by religious leaders in Matthew 22:34-40. Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

God does not make commands burdensome; why would he want to burden us?

Years ago I was a stage manager for our old church's Christmas and Easter production. Lorna, my director, and I both wanted to please our Father in heaven by giving our best in our productions. I knew my job was to carry out the vision she had for these productions. After a few years of working together, it got to the point where I could see her certain look and without words, change the scenery or adjust the placement of the actors the way she envisioned it. I loved Lorna my director. Carrying out her vision was not a burden but was joyful.

Carrying out God's command out of Love gives us Joy.

Application

Love God, Love People.

In our everyday lives when we look at people, or scroll through our phones, do we see ourselves reflected in these 2 verses in Galatians 5:22-23: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."  In the past few weeks leading up to the election, I did not see much of the Fruit of the Spirit. I can see why the Lord says to pray continually. It will guard our hearts.

A command is an action word. It is meant for us to act. 

James 1:22-25: “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”

1 John 3:18: “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”

One way to put Love into action is to serve at church. It is one of our core values. Jesus served us first and provided the greatest example of how to serve.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, you loved us so much you gave us Jesus. (John 3:16) "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life". Jesus let my love toward others be of action and not just words. Thank you for your Holy word. Let the fruit of the Spirit flow from me. Let me follow your commands with my Love for you Jesus. Forgive me when my anger turns into hate. I long to see the day when there is no more hate, only the love you have for the ones you call your own Lord Jesus. I am looking forward to the day you crack the sky and take me home. Thank you in Jesus name Amen.

- Robert Oberg