the path of joy

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

1 John 5:3

     When you hear the word “love”, most likely your first thought isn’t “obedience”. When we hear the word love, we tend to think about human feelings and emotion. In this text, John says that love is keeping God’s commandments. That might seem strange at first glance, but the more you think about Christ and his love, the more it makes sense. In John 14:31, Jesus says, I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Jesus showed his love for God by obeying him perfectly. In fact, the reason we need a Savior in the first place is because we have broken God’s commandments. It only follows that perfect obedience is the path to life. As sinners condemned, we could never obey God. There is only one person who brings redemption and life: Christ Jesus. He is the only one who obeys God perfectly. He stood in our place, and not only took the punishment we deserved, but also completely fulfilled God’s law like we never could. It is only being united to Christ that gives us the capacity to love. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)

     Obedience shouldn’t be a chore, but a joyous expression of love for God. And his commandments are not burdensome. I’m sure we can all agree that at different points in our walk with the Lord, his commandments have seemed burdensome. We automatically tend to view our relationship with God in light of our performance, not his love. That makes it very easy to slip into the wrong mindset of obeying out of a feeling of guilty obligation, not out of a true desire to love God. Don’t try to fabricate the strength to obey from yourself! It will only end in failure. Apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5) Paul Washer said, "The strength of our life isn’t how much we love Jesus, it’s how much Jesus loves us." 

     Once we realize the beauty of Christ’s love, it transforms our motivations. After all, we love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19) So go back to the gospel and preach it to yourself every day. Dwell in the light of Christ’s love for you. Take hold of his Word and find joy in it. The reason Christ gave us commands is because he already loves us, not because he wants us to earn his love. When we obey him, it brings us blessings. Our Savior works in us to make us holy as he is holy. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. (John 15:11) Christ’s loving commands are the path of joy that leads us to deeper assurance and confidence in him and his love. And they are not burdensome.

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:11)