(reworked SOAP from 2011)
SCRIPTURE: 1John (NIV) 5:3 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
OBSERVATION: It cannot be ignored: to love God means that we keep His commands. To some, that thought seems cumbersome. We are willing to say we love God, but when it comes down to actually doing some of the things He says, well, that is too inconvenient, and we might miss out on something we really like. Think about it: how can we say we love God and not take time to read His Word, the Bible?
Instead of proving our love for God, we want God to further prove His love for us by overlooking our sins and understanding how tough it is to live by His rules. We want Him to heal our sick bodies; we want Him to provide finances for what we would like to have. Instead of thinking about the things we can do to prove our love for Him, we think of all the additional things He can do to prove His love for us!!! And this after He has already given His Son to pay for our sins by His death on the cross!!!
APPLICATION: He has already proved His love for me; now it is my turn to prove my love for Him! If I really love God, keeping His commands is not burdensome.
It is really quite simple: it is a joy to do things for those I really love. It is my pleasure to discover what pleases them. It pleases me to do those things that bring joy to their heart. It makes me smile to make them smile.
It makes me smile to make HIM smile!!!
PRAYER: “I love you Lord, and I lift my voice To worship you, Oh my soul rejoice; take joy, my King, in what you hear; may I be a sweet, sweet sound in your ear.” (Laurie Klein) Amen.
Pastor Leon
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