THE COMMANDS OF THE LORD ARE NOT BURDENSOME

SCRIPTURE:

“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”  (1 John 5: 1—5)

OBSERVATION:

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.  The first qualifier to become a child of God is to believe that Jesus is the Christ.  The second qualifier is a person who loves the father loves his child as well.  The third qualifier is loving God and carrying out his commands.

John said, this is love for God; to keep his commands.  The commands of the Lord are his word.  To many, God’s word may sound burdensome and difficult to keep and obey.  To many, the commands of the Lord sound heavy and thus impossible to keep.  However, John says the commands of the Lord are NOT burdensome.  Life with Jesus is NOT oppressive.  The word of Christ is our very life.

Christ Jesus is the WORD OF GOD, or in him are the commands of a life that his words are not burdensome but life-giving.  We are born into a relationship with God through His son.  And we are OVERCOMER who overcomes the world, even our faith.  The world is burdensome, stressful, and heavy.  The world has many burdensome demands.  Jesus is the word that guides us to overcome and have victory over the world through our faith.

A person who confesses faith and belief in Jesus and yet does not KEEP HIS WORD is a believer who will never overcome this burdensome world.  Jesus is our life and light in this dark demanding world.  I learn today that I must continue showing my love for God by KEEPING HIS WORD, MEDITATING ON HIS WORD, and STAYING IN HIS DAILY.

APPLICATION:

I know there are times I see that keeping the word of God can be a difficult thing to do.  However, the more I am familiar with his word and do them, the more his word becomes more of life-giving power to overcome obstacles in my life.  I will continue to make keeping God’s word in my life a joy daily.  I will not make excuses because I couldn’t make time to listen to Jesus’ words and keep them.  I am committed to doing my utmost best always to hear his word, obey them, and apply them in my life.

PRAYER:

Jesus, open my eyes to see that your word is not burdensome or difficult to do.  Teach me to have a heart that applies your word and keeps them for my good.  Teach me how to love your commands and do what they require me to do.  I confess that I sometimes feel that your word is burdensome, and today you reveal that it is not.  I choose to believe you and to obey your commands with my whole heart.  Lead and guide me to all truth in your commands, Amen!