His Commandments Are Not Burdensome

"For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome." -John 5:3

I've always had a difficult time with this verse... mostly because my personal experience has often not matched the truth that it protrays. More times than not I've found the commandments of God very heavy and difficult to obey. Perhaps my experience is unique, but I doubt that to be the case. I know this because I regularly talk with brothers and sisters in Christ who are either joyfully and flippantly neglecting of God's commandments or some who are genuinely trying with all their might to obey only to find frustration at every corner. I readily admit that I fall into that latter camp on occasion.

So...What are we missing? What have I been missing?

The answers to our questions are usually found in the context. John says, "For this is the LOVE of God, that we keep His commandments." There are so many descriptors that John could have used to describe our connection with obedience to the commands of God, but, in true-to-John form, He used the word "love." Why love? Why not "this is the right thing to do" or "this is righteousness"?

Perhaps John is trying to hint at the TYPE of obligation we have to God's commandments. It's not enough to merely obey God's commandment. That obedience must somehow be connected to love. And no matter how you define the word, you can't get away with the biblical reality that love is the greatest virtue, emotion, commitment, expression that a beiever can have. Love, in this case, defines our MOTIVES for obedience. Love also helps us understand why the commands are not burdensome.

Today in chapel Darrin Patrick spoke about the reality that the gospel (the love of God for us) should be the centerpoint of all our preaching, teaching, and living. It is not that we preach good sermons about hot topics and then give a gospel presentation at the end (totally disconnected from the messages themselves), but that each message we give should have as its main piont the good news of Jesus. Why is this so important? Because, according to Darrin, the gospel motivates people more than any clever points or how to?s ever could. When we are called to reflect on the reality that God (Christ) died on a cross to save us, it motivates us beyond what any self-help principles ever could.

So... back to the passage. I'm not sure that I fully understand this (or have fully grasped its application in my life), but it seems to me that true obedience is one that is motivated first and foremost by LOVE for God for His sacrifice for us. We respond in obedience not because we fear condemnation from God but rather because He went to the ultimate lengths to save us from our sin and ourselves.

Ezekiel 33:31-32

"And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their hearts is set on their gain... for they hear what you say, but they will not do it." -Ezekiel 33:31-32

I stumbled upon this verse this morning while reading one of my books in school. I believe that it has profound impact in our church culture today. I know that the lessons are, for the most part, self-evident, but I'd like to briefly share some thoughts.

In the first part of the verse you get the picture of a people who beg to be spoken to from God's Word but have little interest in allowing it to change their hearts and lives. This reminds me of several passages:

"For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander of into myths." -2 Tim. 4:3-4

"...having an appearance of godliness, but denying its power..." -2 Tim. 3:5

"...always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth." -2 Tim. 3:7

Citing Isaiah 6, Jesus says, "You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive. For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them." -Mt. 13:14-15

All of these verses are describing a people who look EXACTLY as they should on the outside but TOTALLY MISS the point of God's Word. God did not give His Word to simply help us expand our pool of knowledge. He desires that it would cut deep into our hearts (see and SAVE US from our sin and ourselves. We think of salvation only in terms of heaven and hell, but the Word of God is given for our salvation TODAY.

And before you or I begin to point a finger to identify those we think fit this catagory, let us not miss the point ourselves. Every time we hear God's Word preached, read it, or recite it from memory it should challenge us and/or encourage us. It should AFFECT US. It should make us MOVE not just feel moved.

I see this all the time in the television preacher circuit. People who hoop and hollar and enjoy all kinds of antics in the name of preaching and worship. But they live lives of lust and hatred as soon as the service ends.

Let us not be found guilty of hearing the Word and not allowing it change us.

In Christ,
Andy