The Lord is awe-inspiring, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in 1 John 5:3-4a,
“This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world.”
From time to time I hear someone talk about what a challenge it is to live “a Christian lifestyle”. Simply or nearly impossible to do what should be done to live life as a dedicated disciple of Jesus Christ. All of the challenges, all of the difficulties, “the things I ought to be doing”, etc. But here John claims that the commands of God are not “burdensome”. He makes it sound like it is our birthright as children of God to be enabled to obey God in “overcoming the world”.
What John says here reminds me of what the Lord Jesus Christ had to say, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” This certainly doesn’t sound like our new life in Jesus Christ should be an overwhelming challenge.
So why do so many among us feel like living a life pleasing to God is such a challenge, so difficult? John makes clear in this letter that it is inevitable that we as believers will see changes in our lives. We will not continue in sin as a lifestyle, 3:6,9, we will do what is right and we will love our brothers, 3:10,14, we will obey God’s commands and do what is pleasing to him, 3:21,22. Sometimes I wonder if we don’t bring various expectations on ourselves that God doesn’t intend. Sometimes I wonder if we have really done our homework in the Scriptures to know accurately what it is the Lord expects of us and what the lifestyle of a disciple of Jesus Christ really looks like. Sometimes I wonder if a number of us live under an illusion fostered by religiosity and the do-gooders amongst us. (I consider “do-gooders” as those who lay burdens on the rest of us like the religious elites that Jesus Christ castigated, “You experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.” Luke 11:46.)
I certainly wouldn’t say life isn’t difficult. It is as we live in a world under the curse of God for the sin of Adam and Eve and of all mankind. We struggle with our sin nature and we are subject to the discipline of our loving heavenly Father. “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons… God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:7-11.
Life in this world is difficult. It is difficult for everyone, believers and non-believers alike. But for believers we find in our God that his commands, what he requires, are not burdensome. Our Savior Jesus Christ who did all the heavy lifting himself on the cross invites us to himself with the understanding that we will find rest for our souls as his yoke is easy and his burden is light.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your theme of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We’d love to hear from you!
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