Author: Brian Burdett

“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.” – 1 John 5:3

You can’t separate loving God from obeying His commands. You just can’t. There’s no version of authentic love for God that involves picking and choosing which of His commands you’re going to care about and obey.

Many today want to imagine God’s commandments as a giant buffet from which they can select just the bits that look good to them. They might choose the commands about loving people and reject the commands about His design for sexual expression. Or they might embrace His commands about sexual expression while ignoring commands to sacrificially care for the poor and vulnerable.

It doesn’t work that way! If you love God, then you need to understand what He commands and you need to commit to obey what He commands. You also need to understand that God’s commands aren’t given as a burden but as a blessing. They exist to bless your life and help your flourish in a world governed by God. You need to obey those commandments that are easy for you to obey and those which are really difficult. You need to obey the commandments you love and obey the commandments that really chafe against your preferences.

Real love for God looks like total commitment to love God – as He actually is, not as you imagine He is – with ALL your heart, ALL your soul, ALL your mind, and ALL your strength. Real love for God looks like total commitment to love your neighbor as yourself. Real love for God looks like seriously committing to #FollowJesus

“Saying with a loud voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!'”
– Revelation 5:12

Imagine being present to see and hear this heavenly chorus of praise for Jesus! If you’re a Christian, you will one day! “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain!” Jesus is the Lamb of God Who died for the sins of the world. Jesus sacrificed Himself as the ultimate Passover Lamb. He covers everyone who trusts in Him with His own precious, holy, innocent, sinless blood so that we will never face judgment for our sins.

Jesus is worthy to receive all power, glory, honor, blessing, wealth, wisdom, and might! Take time right now to pause everything and just praise Jesus. Praise Him. Praise His grace and mercy, His love and power, His gentleness and faithfulness, His justice and holiness. Jesus is the Lamb Who died for you. He is worthy of everything you can possibly give Him. So give Him your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Worship Him and praise Him right now!

Once you’ve finished, live a life of worship by choosing to always #FollowJesus!

“No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.” – 1 John 3:6

Do you have a pet sin that you like to keep around? Many people do. It’s that sin that you excuse away as “not a big deal” or claim that it “doesn’t hurt anyone”. It could be gossiping about other people. It could be a tendency to lie to avoid problems. It could be a temper that you don’t control, a website you shouldn’t look at, or a tendency to drink or use something you shouldn’t. Too much of something. Too little of something. Hopefully you get the idea… something you know you shouldn’t mess around with but you also don’t try very hard to get rid of it.

Here’s the problem with keeping a pet sin in your life… A person can either abide in Christ or keep on sinning. You can’t do both. Can’t! Everyone who abides in Christ will occasionally sin. There’s grace for that. Whenever it happens, repentance and confession brings God’s forgiveness every time (see 1 John 1:9). But if you’ve got a sin that you commit quite often and aren’t fighting against it, aren’t trying to kill it, and don’t even feel terribly bad about committing it, then you aren’t abiding in Christ. Not like you should. Not in the way that brings true joy and fruitfulness.

If you’ve got a pet sin, it’s time to change! Decide to hate that sin! Seek to nail that sin the cross! Pray for God to help kill that sin’s desire in your heart! Now is the time when people like to make resolutions for the year ahead. Resolve to more closely #FollowJesus by rejecting any sin in your life and abiding in your Lord Jesus!

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life” – 1 John 1:1

Make no mistake, the words of the New Testament are the true, firsthand accounts of what the Apostles saw and heard! John is emphatic about this as he begins this letter. Jesus is the Word of Life made flesh (see John’s Gospel, chapter 1). John heard Jesus. John saw Jesus. John looked deeply at Jesus for years. John touched Jesus.

John’s testimony about Jesus is the reliable eyewitness account of someone who knew Jesus from the beginning of His earthly ministry all the way through His resurrection from the dead. The New Testament isn’t a collection of stories, myths, and fables. Matthew, Peter, James, John, and Jude all knew Jesus well and encountered Him after His resurrection. Paul met the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus. Mark and Luke were close associates of the Apostles who painstakingly recorded their memories and testimony.

You can trust the good news contained in your Bible. It is true. It is supported by many faithful witnesses who invested their lives in telling people what they recorded in it. The Bible has been carefully transmitted across the centuries and faithfully translated by people of great learning and faith. Trust in the Bible. More importantly, trust in Jesus! #FollowJesus

“So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” – Hebrews 9:28

Don’t grow weary! Just as surely as Jesus was born in Bethlehem, lived a perfect life, died a sacrificial death on a cross to atone for your sins, rose from death, and rules from heaven, He WILL return. Jesus will appear on Earth a second time. When He does, it won’t be like the first time. It won’t be to deal with our sins. He’s done all that work. It also won’t be quiet. It will be unmistakable to everyone.

His next visit will be to complete the sanctification and glorification of His people and the renewal of creation. He will wipe away all the sin and evildoers on earth. He will usher in a world without the curse of sin. He will usher in the glorification of our bodies to be like His. He will usher in an eternity of joyful fellowship and service to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. So, be patient – better days are coming!

Yes, this fallen world can be miserable at times. Our bodies, minds, and hearts inevitably betray us. We’re surrounded by sin and its devastating effects. We see and hear about horrors and disasters around the world. It can certainly be discouraging. Don’t let the noise and sufferings of the present distract you from the glorious future ahead. Keep your eyes fixed upon Jesus. Your Savior is with you. He loves you. He will one day be physically present and visible with you.

In the meantime, use these evil days well. Share your hope with those who have none. Offer the good news of Jesus to those overwhelmed by the world’s bad news. Live a quiet life of holiness and devotion. Use your gifts, talents, and treasure to serve the Lord. Worship and fellowship with other believers. Devote yourself to growing closer to Jesus. #FollowJesus