Keeping God's Commands

John 14:21 had become somewhat of a life verse for me. You see, I always thought that keeping his commands meant: following the rules—you know, commands, like the ten commandments. Somehow, I made that into me trying to be good enough. Oh, I knew all the scriptures about how we aren’t saved by works, but rather by grace. And yet, I found myself striving . . .  for perfection. I also found myself comparing myself to others to see how I was doing, which led to being self-righteous and judgmental. I fear I more often brought the Bad News to people. 

Without realizing it, I had ascribed to "checkbox Christianity." I thought that going to church regularly, serving on committees, singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School, and serving at potlucks would surely show my love for him! And while it did, I fear I had been missing the whole point. 1 Corinthians 13 reminds us of the importance of love. Without it, even the most profound words sound like the annoying clang of a cymbal and the deepest knowledge and faith mean nothing. Matthew 23 warns of hypocrisy and scolds the religious leaders of the day. Despite their attention to the details of religious traditions and rituals, they had failed to love . . .  to show compassion and mercy. Had I fallen prey to the same misled convictions?

Now, as I follow my trail of "bread crumbs," I realize that I am following His commands . . .  that are specifically for me . . .  for today! When I claim Christ as my Lord, he becomes my Master. Therefore, I need to follow his commands—for I am his servant. And in doing so, he is pleased and promises to show himself to me. And, indeed, he has! I have been blessed by this revelation. He has become more real than I had ever thought possible. And I have become consumed by the desire to share these realizations with others. I believe that is called . . .  sharing the Good News!

“Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one

who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by

my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

 John 14:21 NIV

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith

—and this is not from yourselves,

it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not

have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and

all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains,

but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess

to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I

may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.”

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NIV

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!

You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin.

But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—

justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced

the latter, without neglecting the former.”

Matthew 23:23 NIV