Overcome The World Series

Illustration: A woman visited a newspaper editor’s office, hoping to sell him some poems she had written. “What are your poems about?” the editor asked. “They’re about love!” gushed the poetess. The editor settled back in his chair and said, “Well, read me a poem. The world could certainly use a lot more love!” The poem she read was filled with moons and Junes and other gushing sentiments, and it was more than the editor could take. “I’m sorry,” he said, “but you just don’t know what love is all about! It’s not moonlight and roses. It’s sitting up all night at a sickbed, or working extra hours so the kids can have new shoes. The world doesn’t need your brand of poetical love. It needs some good old-fashioned practical love.”

D.L. Moody often said, “Every Bible should be bound in shoe leather.” We show our love to God, not by empty words but by willing works. We are not slaves obeying a master; we are children obeying a Father. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, pp. 523–524). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

3) Obedience to the Word (1 John 5:2–3)

1 John 5:2–3 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.(ESV)

The opening statement of verse 2, by this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, is the result of the truth John expressed in verse 1. Just as it is impossible to love God without loving His children, so also is it impossible to truly love His children apart from loving Him. Those twin priorities of loving God and other Christians mark all who have been born again. The proof of genuine faith is sustained and loving obedience; it is to love God and obey His commandments. Genuine saving faith produces love, which results in obedience. Those who believe God is who Scripture reveals Him to be will respond in love, praise, and adoration. Because He is the supreme object of their affections, they will long to obey Him. Obey translates a present tense form of the verb poieō, which has the connotation of “to accomplish,” “to carry out,” or “to practice.” The present tense indicates that believers’ obedience is to be continuous. It will always be the direction, though not the perfection, of their lives. One who truly loves God will view His commandments as a precious treasure, to be guarded at all costs (2 Tim. 1:14). Poieō refers to action, tēreō to the heart attitude that prompts obedience. Disobedience to God’s will is a tragedy—but so is reluctant, grudging obedience. God does not want us to disobey Him, but neither does He want us to obey out of fear or necessity… What is the secret of joyful obedience? It is to recognize that obedience is a family matter. We are serving a loving Father and helping our brothers and sisters in Christ. We have been born of God, we love God, and we love God’s children. And we demonstrate this love by keeping God’s commandments. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, pp. 523–524). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)