“In fact, this is love for God: to keep His commands. And His commands are not burdensome.” 1 John 5:3 NIV
John adds an uplifting word at the end of verse 3: “and His commands are not burdensome.” He does not mean that obedience to God’s commands is always easy or effortless. The warfare terminology of “overcoming” and “victory”, in the following verse shows that obedience is often a battle. The world, the flesh and the devil are formidable enemies that we must constantly fight against. In what sense are God’s commands not burdensome? God’s commandments are not burdensome because they are the commands of God, not of a human. The human commands are burdensome. Invariably they stem from an attempt to earn standing with God or status before others through a system of human works. The Pharisees had added their commandments to God’s commands, but Jesus called them “heavy burdens” (Mathew 23:4). Even God’s law, apart from the grace of Christ, was a heavy yoke that no one could bear (Acts 15:10; Galatians 5:1). God’s commands come from an all-wise heavenly Father, designed for our good. Our gentle Saviour said, “My yoke is easy, and My load is light” (Matthew 11:30). A loving father does not tell his child to stay away from a busy street because he wants to take away his fun, but because he loves him and wants to protect him from injury or death. An immature child may think that his father’s commandment is restrictive, but he needs to trust his father’s love and obey anyway. When we see that God’s commands stem from His love for us as His children, they are not burdensome.
PRAYER THOUGHT
Thank You Lord that Your commands are not burdensome.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
Lord thank You, as we walk in close relationship with You, You help us to see Your commands stem from Your love for us as Your children, and they are not burdensome. AMEN
I.B.R.A. Readings
Genesis 26:17-22
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