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.