BC / AC

Most people would say that God's commands are a set of rules we need to keep in mind as we go throughout our lives. They are a set of 'guidelines' we are to 'adhere to' the best we can in order to somehow 'make our way to God'. There is 'no making one's way to God' - he already made his way to us! We 'keep' the commands of God not because we 'have to', but because they are what actually gives us a new way of living.

I will never forget your commands, because through them you gave me new life. (Proverbs 119:93)

Let's look at it this way - BC (Before Christ) we likely 'colored outside the lines' a bit with our lives. Then AC (After Christ) was given control of our lives, we have likely observed some change in our priorities, actions, and even our attitude. Yes, his presence begins this work, but it is more than we just keep his commands. We actually delight in keeping them - we see them as a way of making better choices. We don't resist them any longer, trying to color outside the lines, but trust the 'lines' are there because they will shape us into loving and caring individuals.

The commands of God aren't burdensome to a believer because they are actually shaping our lives anew. We don't keep them because we have to, but because we delight in the 'freedom' of spirit, soul, and mind that comes when we do. Most outside of a relationship with Jesus would think that an odd statement to make because they cannot see any set of rules as giving us 'freedom'. Our freedom is 'bought' by keeping the commands of God, but reinforced when we move from just knowing the commands into the place of allowing them to affect the way we live.

Some might believe that this scripture implies the keeping of his commands as the way to new life, but this isn't what is meant when God tells us we are given new life through them. We are given new life when we take hold of Christ, allow him to be the central part of our lives, and then trust him to show us how his commands create a circle of protection over our lives. The more we ask God to show us his truths, coupled with the prayer to help us incorporate those truths into our daily actions, the more we will delight in those commands. Just sayin!