Hello Advent Family,

How do we show our love for God?  The Bible says that one of the most basic ways is through our obedience and our love for others.  John spells it out very simply in I John 5.  Let’s look at it together today.

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep 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. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

God doesn’t love us any more or any less based on our obedience to Him.  His love for us is perfect an unconditional.  Unfortunately our love is neither of those.  Two things happen when we obey God.  First we remain closer to Him.  While He never changes sin by it’s nature separates.  I remember when I was a child and I did something I wasn’t supposed to do.  I went and hid.  I left my parents presence and hid from them.  Adam and Eve did the very same thing in the Garden.  Sin separates. Not only does it create distance but we also feel differently.  Even though God remains with us and will never leave us we feel far from Him which often leads to even more sin.  It is a vicious cycle that keeps us from true joy in our relationship with God.  John reminds us that the commands of God are not burdensome.  It truly comes down to loving God and loving people.  We all will fall short at times but when we do remember to seek quick reconciliation with your God who has already forgiven you.  This will keep us from getting stuck in the cycle. 

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave