What if you had to climb a huge mountain. It would take hours and include steep inclines. You probably wouldn’t want to do it. But what if you learned that at the top of the mountain there would be an incredible feast. In fact, all of your favourite people would be there. It would be the best day of your life!
With that in mind, something switches in your thinking. It goes from being something you have to do, to something you want to do. Your thinking changes because you learn the reason for climbing the mountain.
Let’s be honest. Following God’s commandments can feel burdensome, like climbing a mountain, like something we “have” to do, but not necessarily something we want to do. But when we remember why we are called to live this way, a change starts to happen in our thinking.
This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) unpacks 1 John 5:1-12. It explores how we need to obey God’s commandments if we truly want to love the people around us, the reasons for doing so, our three enemies, how love is an ongoing conversation between “have to” and “want to,” and a few practical suggestions for when God’s commandments feel difficult.
