Today’s Encouragement is, “Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome.” 1 John 5:3-4 NLT
Loving God –
In all honesty, how are we doing at loving God, or even keeping His commandments? John points out that they aren’t a burden; it can be done.
Remember Jesus’ teaching on this? He amplified all the commandments, telling us that just being angry with someone was like murder (Matthew 5:22), and lusting over another person is adultery (Matthew 5:28). When He taught this, early in His ministry, He was explaining that full compliance with the commandments of God, is essentially impossible for all humans! All of us are sinners (Romans 3:23), but God makes us righteous through faith in Jesus! (Romans 3:22)
Only through Jesus! Our human efforts toward righteousness can provide the appearance of godliness and can deceive us and others, but God sees clearly. He knows our hearts. And our righteousness, good deeds, and self-control-led efforts are like filthy rags compared to His perfect standard! (Isaiah 64:6)
As Paul explained in Romans 6:15, this isn’t a license to continue sinning, but a realization that our behavior cannot save us. No one can ever be good enough to merit God’s Grace and Forgiveness! Only the Perfect Person of Jesus can save us.
And now, because we are saved through faith in Him, we can live a more righteous life. Choosing daily to walk in His light, rejecting sinful ways, living an honestly holy life, as best we can, and pressing on to the prize of hearing “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:21)
Thank You Father, for what You have done for us, which we could not do for ourselves. You’ve made us Holy!
I Love You Lord
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