What if there was a way to take all the commandments of God and sum them up in two short commands? If we could manage to put all the rules into two simple ways to be obedient to God, what would those rules be? According to John the apostle we have been learning that we can receive whatever we ask for whenever we simply follow God's commands and do what is pleasing to Him. Now our question becomes, “What are God's commands, and what is pleasing to Him?” Our verse of study today in First John chapter three and verse twenty-three answers those questions. John wrote:
And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
Herein lies the commandment: “Believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another”. Most everyone desires to have things just the way they want them. We would love to have every desire, every passion and every event in life to go our way. We know that isn't practical, however, it doesn't prevent us from anger, resentment, discouragement or even despair when an event or person doesn't comply with our wishes. We somehow believe that the whole world should comply with our demands, and even though we have some understanding that it doesn't work that way, we still act as though it should.
John says we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ. This is more that just His title, but rather the character of Jesus. His name is above every other name, and His character is flawless. Jesus never fails. Jesus would never lead us into a place of difficulty without being with us through the hard times. Jesus went through great trial Himself, and He is acquainted with overwelming grief. He knows us, and He knows what we are going through. He promised before He left the Earth that He “would be with us always, even to the end of the age.”
John also reminds us that we should love one another. John the apostle is known as the apostle of love which is remarkable since there was one time he and his brother James were ready to “call down fire” upon Samaria because they would not let Jesus and the disciples pass through their city. John now says, “love one another”. This often becomes our challenge, and this is the place where we sometimes need the greatest help from our Heavenly Father above.
If we truly desire to receive whatever we ask for, all we must do is keep these two simple commands. They are clear, and there should be no doubt whatsoever as to what God desires of us. The decision is up to us, and the results of the choices we make will be upon us. The best we can do is to examine ourselves to decide whether we are in compliance with these commands, and remember, Jesus was the one who gave us these rules long before John the apostle wrote them.
Next time we shall take a look at the result of keeping these two commands, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow...there is more...
Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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