I John 5:3, "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."

This morning, there are many misconceptions about the Almighty. Many people do not just fail to understand the things of Him, but they teach others these untruths as well. One of the biggest misconceptions about the Creator of the heaven and the earth (to those who profess to believe in Him) are what His commandments are. Many people do not understand God, because they do not know what His true commandments are.

Christ upbraided the Pharisees and scribes for laying burdens upon men's shoulders that were not able to be borne. Today, there are still men laying burdens upon the shoulders of God's children that they are not able to bear nor should they be told to bear them. The first thing to know about the Lord's commandments is that we do them out of love. John says that very thing in this verse. We do not do things for God to get something out of Him, but we do them to bring glory to Him and shew forth our love for the One who created us and saved us when we could not do so for ourselves. Our salvation is a burden that we do not have to bear. The Lord's commandments are kept out of love and not fear. We should do nothing out of fear (besides the reverent fear of the Almighty) but out of power, and love, and a sound mind.

The next thing to note about the Lord's commandments is that they are not grievous. Once we learn that we do them out of love, we further realize that He has not called us to do anything that He does not give us the ability and will to do. After the Lord regenerates one of His people, they then have the ability to do things that are pleasing to Him. This was not the case before, but thanks be unto Him that we have the ability that He has worked in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure. Since we have the ability, will, armour, and opportunity (all provided by Him), we are without excuse not to do the things that we have been called to do.

Most of us grumble when we have to do natural things in this life that we think are unreasonable.  Perhaps our boss is having us do something that we think is unnecessary. Perhaps he is asking something that is impossible. Such is never the case with God. We always have the ability to do what He commands, because He is the One who gives us the strength to do it. Let us ever thank Him for His blessings and do unto Him our reasonable service.