“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments” (1 John 5:3).

What if I told you that you had to climb a steep mountain. It would be difficult and take several hours. You probably wouldn’t want to do it.

But what if I then told you that when you got to the top you would get to experience an incredible feast with the best food you had ever tasted. And what if I also told you that you would see all your favourite people. It would be the best day of your life. 

After learning the reason for this task, something would most likely switch in your mind. It would go from something you had to do to something you wanted to do.

God’s commandments can be like this. They can feel like something we have to do, but not always something we want to do. However, when we think deliberately about the reason we are called to live like this, we can discover fresh insight and motivation to do so.

Here is one of the reasons we follow God’s commandments: They reflect God’s character and benefit other people. 

For example, we’re not supposed to murder (Exodus 20:13). Makes sense. But have you ever thought that one of the reasons might be because our God is a life-giving God who has made other people in his own image? He values human life. When we do the same, we reflect his character.

Or think about the commands of Jesus. What if we were as generous as he calls us to be? Or as forgiving, or as courageous, or as truthful? Not only would we reflect God’s character, but we would be a powerful blessing to the people around us! 

All of this has to do with love. Love is an ongoing conversation between “have to” and “want to.” The more we love God and reflect on his goodness, and the more we love other people, the more we want to do certain things. Many of the “have to’s” start to turn into “want to’s.”

Tim Chester and Christopher de la Hoyde write: “Christ’s commands become lovely to us as he becomes lovely to us.”*

So, when God’s commands feel difficult, remember that they reflect his character and benefit the people around you. This will give you fresh insight and motivation to be his vessel of blessing in the world.

Notes:

-“When following God’s commandments feels difficult.” Click here. Sermon. 

-*Tim Chester and Christopher de la Hoyde, Who on earth is the Holy Spirit? (The Good Book Company, 2005), 34.

-Bible quotes are from the ESV.