Loving God, by Keeping His Commandments

As a Christian, the deepest matter at the heart of my faith is the love of God—a love so powerful that it is the very glue holding us together in His presence. From the moment I stepped into faith, I was moved and transformed by His Word. It was a profound determination to live for Him that filled me, or for some, it was the miraculous healing they received that underscored His magnificent love.

Yet, as life progresses, post-conversion experiences do change. Adversity strikes and I find myself yearning for God’s intervention, hoping that situations will align with my desires. This longing is natural, but the disappointment when reality falls short of my hopes is a familiar pain.

In the shadow of sorrow, searching for solutions can feel overwhelming, particularly when my path lacks illumination as described in Psalm 73:16. But my understanding of God’s unwavering fidelity—that His love for me never changes—is what lights my way. Learning about His love is an ongoing journey that demands a personal grasp of His will and active participation in my faith. After all, as my Creator, His path for me is surely the greatest.

In modern times, disdain for God’s commandments is rampant. Society flouts these divine decrees, making mockery and sin a new norm. I see it everywhere—in the media, the nightlife, the relentless pursuit of pleasure without moral bounds. It’s a sad spectacle that even some true believers are being swept away by this tide, feeling God’s laws as burdens rather than blessings.

Contrary to this, the Apostle John reminds us, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments” (1 John 5:3). These commandments were not given lightly; they have profound reasons behind them. “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage” (Exodus 20:2). This declaration reminds us of God’s past deeds and sets the stage for His commands.

As the Lord liberated the Israelites from Egypt, freeing them from enslavement, so too were the commandments given as a guide for His people to live distinctively from those around them. To abide by these laws is to remember and uphold our privileged identity as God’s chosen and avoid falling back into any form of spiritual bondage (Exodus 19:5-6).

The pervasiveness of corruption obscures our view of God, dimming the truth and the promise of His kingdom. I’ve seen how easily we can drift from the Lord, losing the liberty He secured for us at so high a price. Keeping the commandments strengthens our relationship with God, offering us clarity to see His will and to understand Jesus’s teachings. It is in this relationship that God’s love is perfected within us (1 John 2:3-5), and I stand as a testament to this transformative power.

We warmly invite you to come to the True Jesus Church’s bi-annual Evangelical Service and Spiritual Convocation.  See details below.

18-21 April, 2024 Evangelical Service and Spiritual Convocation

Thursday, 18 April, 2024 6:50PM to 8:10PM
Friday and Saturday, 19-20 April, 2024 9:00AM to 8:10PM
Sunday, 21 April, 2024 9:00AM to 1:00PM
Complimentary lunch and dinner will be served.

Please find our church location below:

4N550 Church Road
Bensenville, IL 60106
 Google Maps

For online streaming, please click here.

For regular service hours, please click here.

Email us at ilovejesus@tjc-chicago.org