1 John 5:3/ Intimacy Over Religion

"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome." 1 John 5:3

 Remember when you were a kid and your parents made you clean your room? But you wanted to play with toys, not pick up toys. So, you slump your shoulders and drag your feet, begrudgingly obeying your parents because their commands are such a burden in that moment. We've all been there at some point! We honor with our actions, but our hearts are far from willing. 

 We can do this with God at times. We can have a disconnect between our hearts and our actions. Jesus said, “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;" (Matthew 15:8). This is hollow and hypocritical religion. 

 True intimacy with Jesus comes when we love God AND obey Him. Our love for Him should be so full that we see His commands as a delight, and we joyfully obey them without question! We need God's help with this. King David prayed,

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
Psalm 139:23-24

Let's ask God to do the same for us! 

Do we love Jesus?
Do we obey Jesus?
Do we delight in His commands?
Are our motives pure?
How's our attitude?

 Pray for God to search your heart, show you any grievous way, and lead you out of those things. Lord willing, we will walk in deeper intimacy with Jesus as a result! 

 If you want to dig deeper into this, need help, need prayer, or have questions—please reach out to us here: Roots Help & Prayer Form (https://www.rootscc.com/covid-19-help)

In Christ, 
Pastor Kevin