Believing is Being (1 John 5:1-5)

I was at a huge Christian conference once and sitting in a seminar about the 10 Commandments. The guy leading it asked us a question: 'Why did God give the Israelites the 10 Commandments?' I remember one of my youth leaders at the time sticking his hand up and answering, 'For their enjoyment!' I thought it was a great answer because God only asks us to do what is best for us but the guy leading the seminar obviously didn't see it that way and didn't know what to make of it. I think he thought it was a joke or something. Oh well.


John says the commands of God are not burdensome.

There's something really natural about being in a relationship with God that naturally affects everything else, even when there's sin trying to catch us at every turn. People struggle and strive to impress God and live for him but John makes it sound so natural - like breathing in and out. Loving God, loving Jesus, loving others and obeying God's commands should all be as natural as breathing in and out.

If only it were that easy! But it's worth remembering that it should be this easy! The thing that makes it difficult to do these things is our own sinful nature (which we won't completely shake off until Jesus takes us to heaven) but if we're Christians, we have God the Holy Spirit living in us and this means that we have a new nature. This means that we're not battling to live for God against our nature but that we're living naturally for God and when we sin - we're battling our new nature. Do you see the difference? We're being less ourselves, less our true nature, less like our Father God when we sin.

So how can we live more naturally and do the things John describes? Well, it all starts with believing. Not doing - BELIEVING. What we believe affects what we are. John says those who believe Jesus is the Messiah (chosen one from God, saviour, rescuer) are the children of God.

So, do you believe this? If so, ask God to help you live according to your new godly nature. If not, why not and have you considered Jesus thoroughly for yourself or written him off?

Have fun!