August 29, 2015 KNOWING RESULTS IN KEEPING
1 John 2:3-6: “And by this we know that we have come to know Him; if we keep His commandments. The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him: but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him; the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.”
1 John 5:3: “For this is the love of God, that we ought to keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.”
The scriptures have a wonderful way of simplifying truth, or as they say; “hitting the nail on the head.” I’m convinced that man, even with good intentions, tends to complicate and over-analyze what is clearly presented in the scriptures. God has revealed Himself and has spoken to man; now it is our place to hear what He has said and obey. Contrary to popular belief, our “feelings” are not the main issue; our obedience is the issue, and the fact is that “good feelings” follow obedience. Keeping the commands of God becomes our delight once we come to know Him for who He is. If we struggle with keeping His commands or if we do not desire to obey His commands, we simply have not come to know Him. (One may be saved but have a limited knowledge and understanding of God-there is a maturing process in our journey with the Lord that should be taking place.) God’s word is indeed our instruction book for life and we know that when we keep His word, His love has been perfected in us. Some may struggle with not being sure of their salvation, but the assurance of salvation is based on our “walking in the same manner as He walked.” In verse three above, we find that we can be assured that we know Him when we keep His commandments. Knowing Him is the key to keeping His commandments. Our perception of God must be based on what the scriptures say about Him. God is a God of love and compassion, God is all-knowing, God forgives, God is the giver of Life, God is creator, God is sovereign, God saves those who put their trust in Him, God makes us new, God gives hope, God rescues those who call on Him, God chastens those who belong to Him, God calls us to be stewards, God sent His Son to die for us so that we might know Him…….and He is so much more. When we truly know Him, it is a no-brainer; it’s only natural to obey what He says-who wouldn’t obey such a God? I realize that there are times when we forget who we are and we may not be quick to obey; but because of His mercy, He calls us back to Himself where we obey His promptings. In this life, we do not reach a plateau where we have no need for further growth spiritually; we are always being transformed-growing in the faith. One of the surest ways to grow in our walk with the Lord is to be quick to obey whatever God says to us through His word or through His Spirit who lives in us. God does look at our heart, and when He finds that we have a desire to know Him and to obey Him, He is pleased. May we know Him, and then “walk in the same manner as He walked.”
James 1:25: “But one who looks intently at the perfect Law, the Law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.”
James 1:21-22: “Therefore putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.”
Blessings,
Buddy
1 John 2:3-6: “And by this we know that we have come to know Him; if we keep His commandments. The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him: but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him; the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.”
1 John 5:3: “For this is the love of God, that we ought to keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.”
The scriptures have a wonderful way of simplifying truth, or as they say; “hitting the nail on the head.” I’m convinced that man, even with good intentions, tends to complicate and over-analyze what is clearly presented in the scriptures. God has revealed Himself and has spoken to man; now it is our place to hear what He has said and obey. Contrary to popular belief, our “feelings” are not the main issue; our obedience is the issue, and the fact is that “good feelings” follow obedience. Keeping the commands of God becomes our delight once we come to know Him for who He is. If we struggle with keeping His commands or if we do not desire to obey His commands, we simply have not come to know Him. (One may be saved but have a limited knowledge and understanding of God-there is a maturing process in our journey with the Lord that should be taking place.) God’s word is indeed our instruction book for life and we know that when we keep His word, His love has been perfected in us. Some may struggle with not being sure of their salvation, but the assurance of salvation is based on our “walking in the same manner as He walked.” In verse three above, we find that we can be assured that we know Him when we keep His commandments. Knowing Him is the key to keeping His commandments. Our perception of God must be based on what the scriptures say about Him. God is a God of love and compassion, God is all-knowing, God forgives, God is the giver of Life, God is creator, God is sovereign, God saves those who put their trust in Him, God makes us new, God gives hope, God rescues those who call on Him, God chastens those who belong to Him, God calls us to be stewards, God sent His Son to die for us so that we might know Him…….and He is so much more. When we truly know Him, it is a no-brainer; it’s only natural to obey what He says-who wouldn’t obey such a God? I realize that there are times when we forget who we are and we may not be quick to obey; but because of His mercy, He calls us back to Himself where we obey His promptings. In this life, we do not reach a plateau where we have no need for further growth spiritually; we are always being transformed-growing in the faith. One of the surest ways to grow in our walk with the Lord is to be quick to obey whatever God says to us through His word or through His Spirit who lives in us. God does look at our heart, and when He finds that we have a desire to know Him and to obey Him, He is pleased. May we know Him, and then “walk in the same manner as He walked.”
James 1:25: “But one who looks intently at the perfect Law, the Law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.”
James 1:21-22: “Therefore putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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