{"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments." - 1 John 5:3}
I read the following devotional this morning that discusses more of this verse in 1 John:
"If we're to love God with all our heart and soul and mind, and if obedience is a major part of such love, it follows that we're to obey Him with all our heart, soul, and mind. We're to put everything we have into obedience to Him.
Most of us believers practice what I call a "cruise-control" approach to obedience. We press the pedal of obedience until we've brought our behavior up to a certain level or speed, which is most often determined by the behavior standard of other Christians around us. We don't want to lag behind them, nor are we eager to gorge ahead. We want to just comfortably blend in. Once we have arrived at this comfortable level of obedience, we push the cruise-control button in our hearts, ease back, and relax. We don't have to watch the speed limit signs in God's Word, and we certainly don't have to experience the fatigue that comes with striving to obey Him with all our heart, soul, and mind.
By contrast consider race-car drivers. They wouldn't think of using cruise control. They're not interested in blending in with hose around them. They want to win the race. So they're totally focused on their driving. They try to pus their car to the outer limits of its mechanical ability and endurance, and press themselves to the limits of their skill. They're driving with all their heart, soul, and mind.
This is what it means to love and obey God with all our heart, soul, and mind. It means striving for holiness, in the words of Hebrews 12:14. It means making every effort to add to our faith the various facets of Christian character, in the words of 1 Peter 1:5-7."
~Jerry Bridges~
Holiness Day by Day Devotional
So, are you one who uses cruise control or are you a race car driver?
~Grow in Grace~
2 Peter 3:18
AMEN!!!!!
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