Overcomers (5)

Marks of an overcomer: behaving - passing the moral test.

How are you behaving? Would people say you are behaving like a Christ-follower? Do you love God and His word? Do you love obeying His word?

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
I John 5:3-4a (ESV)

The word keep conveys the idea of constant obedience. Not perfect obedience. But constant obedience. A lifestyle of obedience. When we are born of God, our “want to” is transformed. We want to obey God.

And notice. His commandments are not burdensome. This is opposite to burdensome man-made religion, rituals, and rules (Matt. 23:4). Jesus said that His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matt. 11:30).

Loving God is not just external obedience. It means that our hearts are changed. We want to obey. The more we love God, the more joy we find in obeying Him. It’s when we are not right with God that His commandments seem like a chore and duty.

But when we love God, we find that His commandments may be difficult, but they are also a delight. If the commandments are not burdensome, what are they? They are desirable. What you desire to do with your whole heart is not burdensome to do. Listen to the psalmist. Psalm 40:8: “I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”

God's love that is produced in our hearts gives us a desire to love and please Him. So we find ourselves eager to keep His commandments. God's commandments bring us joy and freedom, not a sense of oppression.

Note: Only those who are born of God can pass the moral test.

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world.
I John 5:3b (ESV)

Maybe you lost your job. Or you are underemployed. And this has created some self-doubt for you “Am I any good? What’s wrong with me?” And you’ve been throwing a “pity-party.” You are short with people at home. You know God says, “Be patient.” But you’ve been anything but patient. Or maybe you’ve been making some ungodly financial decisions you never believed you would make. Or maybe you’ve been cutting corners you never thought you would cut. And God brought you here to remind you that winners behave. They pass the moral test.

Marks of an overcomer? behaving: passing the moral test.