To Encourage You

1 John 2:3 “And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.”

Do you know Jesus? An easy way to know this is by your answer to the following question: Do you keep His commandments? Notice it doesn’t say “keep some of His commandments,” “keep the commandments you agree with,” or “keep His commandments, occasionally.” The Bible tells us that “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:2-3).

This does not mean that obeying God is easy. In our own strength it is not only difficult, it is impossible. Who can say that they just naturally love God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength, who can say that they truly love their neighbor as themselves? Even more difficult, who out there really loves their enemies and does good to those who mistreat them (Luke 6:27)? For a person, any person, to actually do these things in a consistent manner and with a determined mindset, they must be powerfully motivated to do so, for such things run against the grain of the natural will. I guess it’s kind of like physical exercise. Most people need a motive to do it with regularity. It’s just too easy to not do. But a person will choose to do what is not naturally comfortable if they are motivated to want to feel better, to look better, or to do well in some competitive sport – something like that.

So, what motivates a person to truly obey God, to want to obey Him even when it means to go against our natural leanings – which is most of the time? It is the motive of gratitude for the love that God has for us. A person who really knows God and the love of God towards them wants to do anything in his or her power to honor and glorify Him. What “feels” good or “seems” right becomes secondary to what God has said is good and is right. His commandments are not burdensome to such people. Rather, they are viewed as a privilege and honor – something they get to do, not something they have to do.

And yet we still fail so often to do what we really want to do per the words of Paul in Romans 7. Nevertheless, the true believer will never be comfortable in disobedience. He or she will be grieved in their heart whenever they realize they have grieved the lover of their souls. They will not continue to sin (1 John 3:6) but will confess their sins (1 John 1:9), get back up, and continue to follow with a renewed resolve.

So does this describe you and does this describe me? It is by such a test that we know if we have come to know Him, no matter what we may have been telling ourselves and others.