Times of Direction

Today I continue in 1 John chapter 2 there's a heaviness to this scripture more than the weight of eating too many whoppers at burger king. Burger king itself prides itself on giving people what they want, their slogan "Have it your way" sums up an entire generation of mankind. The danger of have it your way is that it often times conflicts with God's way.

The author sets out to reassure the readers the forgiveness of sin offered through Christ. Shortly after his opening statement his encouragement changes direction. With the statement in verse 3: We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. 4 The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. This does not lead me in encouragement and reassurance because if this is truly the case there is not one person on earth that has the truth. There is no one who can follow in perfect obedience unless miraculously empowered from God. And even through Divine intervention, the will of man finds it's way to supersede God's. Unfortunately knowing man kind this scripture has probably done more harm then good. The weight of scripture can be heavy but I believe the intent is to provide a balance, if the standards for excellence were too low then there would be little to strive for. John then reiterates his point:

9Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. 10Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him[c] to make him stumble. 11But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.

God sets out direction for us to follow but not a set of directions. His direction is love, love one another. There is no recipe to following God. If God were to give us a to do list, we would focus on the Law of the list and God would inevitably be taken out of the picture.

C. S. Lewis wrote "We might think that God wanted simply obedience to a set of rules; whereas He really wants people of a particular sort" (1952:77)

As Jesus prayed "Not my will but Yours be done" I pray that also. Lead us everyday Lord.