Commandments are not a burden

I was struck silent this afternoon when I read this verse. How quickly with one verse my sin nature was utterly exposed.

1Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome (1 John 1:1-3).

I have been really wrestling lately with what it means to truly love the church. I don't mean the local building that you attend on a Sunday morning. I mean each individual born again believer that attends that church as well as the thousands of other churches that are spread across this world. In my life, up to this point, I have miserably failed to meet this commandment set forth by Christ,

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples. If you have love for one another (John 13:34-35)."

Lets unpack this verse for a second. First, we are commanded, not asked, commanded to love one another. Now, we would hope that this word love would be left up to each individuals interpretation, but Christ knowing our sinful flesh qualifies it by saying, "Just as I have loved you." This of course means that the way we are to love one another is the same as Christ's work in Gospel. Christ gave himself up for us (Galatians 2:20). So I am to love the children of God by constantly giving up myself for them. Scripture is filled with passage after passage on how to love one another: Be at peace with one another, be devoted, honor, be of same mind, have concern, serve, have compassion, be subject, stop passing judgment, accept, instruct, greet, wait, carry one another's burdens, be kind, forgiving, have humility, teach and admonish, comfort, offer hospitality, confess, encourage, exhort, rebuke, and the list continues. That's a lot and it's difficult and can feel, well, like a burden. And here is where the verse hit me "his commandments are not burdensome." Man, I don't think I have ever really read this verse.

So here's where the application comes in. If everyone that has been born again in Christ is called to love everyone else that has been born again in Christ (1John 1:1) then we are called to love the body of believers, the church. This means that I am to love each individual believer within my own church as well as each individual believer in the thousands of churches world wide, without treating it like a burden. Face it, it is much easier to serve some than others, especially if their theology is different than mine. That is the thought of my sinful flesh at it's best.

So how do I walk away from these sets of verses. I can walk away thinking, alright, I'm going to do better loving my fellow believers. I will be a little less selfish, more eager to lend a hand, I certainly won't judge as much, and most of all, I am going to do my absolute best to be somewhat intentional with every person I come in contact with. But if that is it, then I totally miss the point. Why? Because we are only able to love each other, the way Christ loved us, by falling on the grace upon grace which we have received from the fullness of Jesus Christ in the gospel (John 1:16-17). Through Jesus Christ we have the perfect example of love. To obtain this love I must fall on the mercies of God in prayer and plead for a renewed passion and delight in the people of God. So this begins with the church.

At this current season of life I have been blessed to be a part of an amazing body of believers. I have heard often the desire of the body to grow in community and true biblical fellowship with one another. But with this will come the need to set aside all selfish desires to have my ideas of what the church should be so that I may embrace each individual member, at their current walk with Christ. We must walk alongside each other as we both grow our devotion to Christ and to one another. Be encouraged church, "For everyone that has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world- our faith (1John 5:4)." Rejoice as you are partnered with the body of believers to which God has called you.

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
(Romans 15:5-7)