God’s commandments are what is the very best for us.
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” Jn 14:15 ESV
People have this awful way of thinking God is trying to take away our joy and pleasures in this life. But what He desires, instead, is to help those joys and pleasures be the most healthy ones for us, and everyone around us. There is a huge difference between having a good time and having a godly time. Both can involve laughter and entertainment, but the kinds of these can be completely different. There is a grave difference between dirty, inappropriate jokes and clean, proper fun, yes? God wants us to laugh, that’s why He created laughter…and according to the Bible a cheerful heart is good medicine. (see Pr 17:22) What He does not want us to do is belittle and be rude to someone else in the process. (see 1Co 13:5)
God’s commandments are a blessing to those who follow, as well as those who do not follow. How? Because if we love Jesus, then those of us who choose to follow Him, will be kinder to those who don’t. We will be generous to them, even when they don’t deserve it. We will not get easily offended, even when they are trying to hurt us on purpose. We will instead, treat them with the love and respect Jesus Himself shows us. We will sense a more fulfilling life because we are following the One we love. And others around us will be treated better, and hopefully have a better day, because we are following the One we love. We cannot follow Jesus without this world becoming a better place, because we are following the One we love. No man is an island. Everything we do, good or bad, will have an affect, good or bad.
Join me in memorizing 52 verses this year:
January: 1- Jn 3:16; 2- 2Co 5:17; 3- Jas 2:26; 4- Eph 2:10
February: 5- Jn 10:10; 6- Ro 6:23; 7- Rev 21:4; 8- Php 4:13
March: 9- 1Pe 5:7; 10- Jn 8:32; 11- Dt 30:19; 12- Jn 3:30; 13- 2Chron 20:3
April: 14- 2Chron 20:12; 15- 2Chron 20:15b; 16- 2Chron 20:17
May: 17- Ro 8:28; 18- 1Co 13:13; 19- Php 2:12; 20- Mt 5:4
June: 21- Lk 23:42; 22- Jas 4:7; 23- Pr 22:6; 24- Mt 5:3; 25- Jn 14:6
26- Jas 2:19
27- Dt 31:8
28- Jn 14:15
<>< Peace, Diane
