A Blessing Not a Burden

“Loving God means keeping His commandments, and His commandments are not burdensome.” - 1 John 5:3 
 
If you love God, you will obey Him. It is through obedience that we show God our love. When we obey His commandments, we are choosing God over our own selfish, sinful, human desires. 1 John 5:3 says, “Loving God means keeping His commandments, and His commandments are not burdensome.”

It is the ending of this verse that we often forget when it comes to obeying God. The verse says, “and His commandments are not burdensome.” See, many people believe that choosing “not to sin” is a sacrifice and that they are missing out.
 
But the reality is, sin is a liar. It can never deliver as much as it promises. It will always leave you wanting more. That is how it gets you to come back. Sin is not satisfying. Once you start, you just want to keep going. Because, unlike God, sin cannot satisfy your heart.

So while you think that you are sacrificing by giving up your sin and the ways of this world, in reality, you are stepping into the blessing God has for you through obedience.
 
God’s commandments are not burdensome. They are for your benefit. Everything God has called you to do is in your best interest. God wants the very best for your life. And He knows your obedience is the key to living the very best life you possibly can.

Choosing obedience over sin is only a temporary sacrifice. Though the sin might feel good in a moment, the long-term consequences are never worth it. That is why John says His commandments are not a burden.
 
Obeying God is always the right choice. But it isn’t about just “sacrificing” for God. Obedience to the Lord is a blessing, not a burden!