Examining How to Live Obediently to God (Part One)

From the desk of Dr. Robert L. Taylor, Th.D. Our passage is found in John’s letter to believers. He says, (3) “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. (4) For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. (5) Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:3-5). We’ve seen throughout John’s gospel and this epistle that he insists that our “love of God” is basically just a matter of keeping “His commandments.” In other words, our love for God is how we keep His commandments. Obedience to God's commands is a necessary expression of our love for Him. Just as a child will obey his or her parents to show love, believers will obey the heavenly Father to show love toward Him. In speaking of Jesus, John wrote, “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him” (John 14:21). Again, John wrote, “But whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him” (1 John 2:5). If our love for God boils down to keeping His commandments, how can we keep His commandments? Is the keeping of God’s commandments a difficult and hard task? I’m sure every believer has dealt or is dealing with this concern. John addresses this issue with the words, “His commandments are not burdensome.” Jesus’ commands are not a burden, but a blessing for those who know God. Jesus said, “For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:30). A yoke is a wooden crosspiece fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to a plow or cart. It allows two animals to share a load and pull together. In the Bible the yoke is sometimes referenced metaphorically to describe the weight of a task or obligation. An “easy” yoke meant that the burden being shouldered was not heavy because Jesus Christ would be pulling with us. The Christian life isn’t at all a yoke that’s difficult or overwhelming. Why is that? John answers, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.” We’ll continue this teaching in Part Two. Be encouraged in living obediently to God!