1 John,  2011 - Through The New Testament

1 John 5

October 5, 2011

Bible Passage: 1 John 5

A year on…

Coincidentally, I was assigned to blog about this same chapter last year. Nearly a year has passed since. Having read what I wrote then, I realized the same verse stood out for me, even stronger this time:

For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.                                                                                                                                                         1 John 5:3

A colleague used to comment that Christians lead restrictive lifestyles and have to sacrifice many things – drinking, clubbing, smoking, gambling…cannot do this, cannot do that.

Most of us can live on without these vices. But there might/would be days we feel weighed or bogged down by commandments in the bible. We might be reluctant to spend our Saturdays in church. Although we want to, we have to decline invitations to have drinks with friends on Friday nights. We might be unwilling to forgive those who have offended us. We find it difficult to control our tempers and not lash out at people we love.

All these, and many more.

But all these so-called “sacrifices” are nothing compared to the greatest sacrifice on the cross. Obeying God’s commandments are really the least we can do.

It is easy to say we must obey God but much much harder to walk the talk. However, if we are willing to let God govern our lives and desire for Him to be number 1 in our hearts, living for Him and leading a life pleasing to Him will be the natural thing to do.

I am sure we know of church members who changed for the better after receiving the Holy Spirit. We are weak and God knows that. We can rely on Him to strengthen us, strengthen our faith, move our hearts and grant us obedience and submission to His will.

The opportunity to share my thoughts on this chapter for the second time (thanks BRC!) was a reminder to take a step back from the meaningless busy-ness of day to day activities and reflect on and evaluate on my faith, starting from the fundamentals – love God, obey His commandments.

Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”                                                                                               John 14:23

Do we obey God, or do we just try?

May God have mercy on our weaknesses.

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One Comment

  • PS
    October 7, 2011 at 1:26 AM Reply

    1 John 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.

    How do we know whether we love the children of God? According to Elder John, loving God and keeping His commandments is the way to know that we love the children of God.

    Elder John did not say something like giving a glass of water or doingsome kind acts for His little ones. Elder John said, “…love God and keep His commandments.”

    A strange definition, isn’t it? Ponder.

    When we love God, we do as God commanded. What are His commandments?

    Mark 16:16 …”Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creatures…”

    Matthew 28:19-20 …”Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;…”

    John 21:15-17 …”Do you love Me?” “Feed My lambs.” “Tend My sheep.” “Feed My sheep.”

    Indeed when we love God and do His commands, we are loving His children.

    1 John 5:11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

    Again how strange to use something which cannot be verified as testimony? Has anyone seen or touched eternal life?

    1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

    Colossians 1:24 …His body, which is the church,

    We are in the body of Jesus Christ. We are in His Son. We are in Him who is true.

    God has given us a real testimony.

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