No Gray Area

Meditation - Reflections on Following

(1 John 5)

I have always heard actions speak louder than words and John seems to want me to hear it again.  The relationship between my being a Christian and my actions toward others is too close and organic to separate.  If I tried to pull them apart, I would get a mess.  Loving God and Loving others is one in the same, especially since one of the main commandments from God is to love others.  For me the issue often comes down to how willing am I to give up a bit of pride, recognition, importance so another might receive it.  Do I love myself so much that I can't legitimize and encourage another?  Unfortunately I do fail John's test often and John reminds me of this. If I don't love someone else I must not be loving God.  The unburdensome commandments...if I can just grasp the importance of willing obedience, I can experience life in the wide open spaces of God's grace.  Something inside of me needs to hear the black and white ultimatums that John is laying out.

[2] By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. [3] For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. [4] For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. (1 John 5.2-4a ESV)

Clear, defined, right and wrong...no gray.  Have a concern and thought about others, and I am doing the right thing.  Obey - good, disobey bad. Actions that demonstrate care and concern for others mean my relationship with God is progressing, deepening, expanding.  Actions that focus only on my own needs, that disregard or demean others mean that my relationship with God needs work.  Thank you John for making that clear, so clear that I can't hide.

My prayer this morning:

     [4] Make me to know your ways, O LORD;
teach me your paths.
[5] Lead me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all the day long.
(Psalm 25:4-5 ESV)