So how can we tell if someone truly loves God?

John tells us they will love others and keep God’s commands. (1 John 4:20-5:3)

And, he tells us, the keeping of God’s commandments won’t seem burdensome (5:3).

We will have a holy “want-to”.

And Jesus told us, “If you love Me, keep my commandments.” (Recorded by John in his gospel, John 14:15)

And the really cool truth of the matter is, the more you love and trust Jesus, the EASIER it is to have that holy “want-to” to keep His commandments.

But, we can all agree, it’s hard to trust and love someone you don’t know, or that you only hear others tell you about, or that you never experience for yourself.

Can I tell you something?

For years and years, I would try so hard to obey God, but I’d end up going my own way, I’d blow it, then doubt my salvation. I bet I asked God to save me fifty times and cycle in and out of this! It was miserable!

This continued (for years) UNTIL I started getting in the Word on my own!

It was there, as I sought the Lord, that I found Him.

I would read Scripture, and then I might hear the same verse on Christian radio or from a friend. God was speaking to me and my circumstances. He was revealing Himself to me, in ways I could see. I was learning to hear His voice.

It was there, with my Bible, alone on my couch, that I began to know Him to be trustworthy and faithful. I got to know His heart, His will and His way through reading His Word.

Listen—What started out as a sort of discipline turned into true devotion.

I began to realize God’s Word is not some list of rules, like I used to think, but it is how He guides me to His best for me. It was during this time that I began to trust Him more than I trusted me.

Oh, how I love Him. And the more I love Him, the easier it really is to obey Him.

Do I do it perfectly? Nope, not at all. But it is my heart to follow Him, and my prayer to love Him more tomorrow than I do today.

And, honestly, it’s not burdensome. ❤️

It is so GOOD to trust and obey, and as an old hymn says ,

“Oh, Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
And ‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
Just to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er;
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh, for grace to trust Him more!”

And, as Paul told us in Romans, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Rom 10:17)

whataSavior

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