Week 3 | Day 2 | A Not So Burdensome Command

Command:

If you love me, keep my commands. John 14:15 (NIV)

Read:

If you love me, keep my commands. John 14:15 (NIV) And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands… his command is that you walk in love. 2 John 1:6 (NIV) 

Reflect:

In my early days of learning to follow Christ, “If you love me, keep my commands” was not a favorite verse. Not only did I not like being told what to do, I seriously doubted that I could adequately keep whatever the commandments were. Then I thought, “Well, what are the commands of Christ?” 

As I discovered the commands were traits of goodness such as kindness, service, generosity, forgiveness, and other such graces that all add up to love, I thought, “That makes sense.” I discovered that love really sums up Christ and learning to live love is what he wants for us. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands… his command is that you walk in love. 2 John 6 (NIV) 

Christ modeled his love by giving up himself in the service of meeting my need. For the joy set before him he endured the cross… Heb 12:2 (NIV) I am the joy set before Christ, and I walk in Christ’s love when I give up selfish preferences and conveniences and focus on the joy of meeting the needs of another. Christ regularly sets before me opportunities to joyfully pour his love onto another. Such a delightful peace rest on us when we follow his gracious command to love. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. 1 John 5:3 (NIV)

React:

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 1 John 3:16 (NIV) In what ways can you show others your love this week?

Pray:

Open my eyes to see the joy of loving the ones you set before me today. May I love them like you love me.