God’s Commandments

“And His commandments are not burdensome.” 1 John 5:3. Why do they not feel like that? Why do they feel like bondage and heavy burdens when it comes to putting them into practice? Because one has not ceased from sin! When it becomes necessary to practice the law of mercy, the demands of mercilessness become so strong that it takes the most intense effort to exercise mercy. When it becomes necessary to practice the law of doing good to the others, the love of money be­comes so strong that one has to fight intense battles in order to obey God’s law. All such things have their source in unbelief! It is evident that the faith that overcomes the world is barely present. The faith that makes it easy to keep God’s commandments is not found. When such striving is evident in one’s life it proves plainly and clearly that one does not keep the covenant one has made with God: to be dead to sin. Instead of considering oneself dead indeed to sin when it rises up, one plays and compromises with the tempter, which is the cause for feeling it burdensome. When the devil says, “Has God indeed said?” (Genesis 3:1), we must not enter into any kind of a dialogue with him about the matter, like Eve did, but simply reply quite firmly: “Yes, God has indeed said it!” Then it is easy to gain the victory. Then the commandments are light.

If this is not our answer, victory is uncertain. Then we could just as easily suffer defeat.

Love God above all things; then His commandments are easy.