MEDITATIONS FROM THESSALONIANS

 

August 9, 2006

Reading: 1 John 5:1-5

 

“And his commandments are not burdensome.”— 1 John 5:3.

 

Is it true, my soul, that the commandments of your Lord are not a burden to you? Surely, at times, it seems like it; because you still carry that evil nature that harasses you every day and is diametrically opposed to His commandments. Certainly Paul was aware of this battle:

“For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do” Romans 7:14-15.

Yet, in the very moment when your old nature tempts you to break your Savior’s laws, you truly love and delight in the holiness of His commands. The Holy Spirit is at work in you and will never fail to convict you of the proper path to take.

“I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart" Psalm 40:8.

Your threefold adversary, the world, the flesh and the devil, will constantly attempt to sway you their way, but equally as persistent, the Holy Spirit will remind you that you are committed to His laws and will give you the strength to oppose and defeat them. Precious is the joy that comes when you experience the victory of choosing the way of God.

“Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies for they are ever with me” Psalm 119:97-98.

Remember, also, that your victory can only come about because One had to die to satisfy the judgment of God. Jesus had to die to make this possible, and He did.

 

Precious Jesus, it is completely by You, and in You, that my soul finds the commandments of my God not to be a burden. By faith I behold them all fulfilled in You, as my glorious Head; and by virtue of my union with You, I feel the gracious principle of Your life-giving Spirit inclining my soul both to love Your commandments, and most earnestly desiring to fulfill them. Lord, now You have set my soul at liberty, enable me to always run the way of Your commandments.“

 

“Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it. Incline my heart to Your testimonies, and not to covetousness. Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way. Establish Your word to Your servant, who is devoted to fearing You. Turn away my reproach which I dread, for Your judgments are good. Behold, I long for Your precepts; Revive me in Your righteousness” Psalm 119:35-40.