running from sin or running toward life?

As Christians we constantly find ourselves focused on the long list of things that we cannot do rather than the freedoms we have been given in Christ. We often look to the restrictions and not the liberty that is to guide our earthly existence. In my experience, this exercise of trying to "not sin" has robbed me of intimacy in relationship with Christ. In John 14:15 Jesus said, "If you love Me, keep My commandments." another translation says, "if you love Me, you will keep my commandments". So here in this tiny portion of scripture we have two ides that vie for our attention: "love Me" and "keep My commandments". These two ideas were never made to be separated from one another or processed apart from each other, however I fear they have been.

Some claim to love God yet their lifestyle clearly does not live up to the charge, "keep My commandments".

Some people keep the commandments rigorously yet there is no sense of the love of God in their life. They are bitter, angry, and self righteous as a result of their successful observance of the law. So how should we live out this beautiful challenge from the Lord? We should do it running forward into all that God has for us! We should also keep them in the proper order.

1. Seek to love God with all that you have. The lawyer in Luke 10 correctly answered Jesus question about what a person must do to obtain eternal life by saying, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself". That is how we are supposed to love God!! We are to give Him all of us. A person that loves God with all they have does not need to focus on restrictions they cannot participate in. The closer we get to God, the closer He gets to us! The more we love God the less we love the world and the things of the world.

2. You will Keep My commandments. If you love God with all you have, the issue of keeping commandment becomes mute. People that put God first do not perceive the walls of restriction around them as an uncomfortable way of keeping them from doing what they want to do, but rather a barrier that keeps them from hurting the heart of their Father. As we strive to love God with all we have, there is an overwhelming awareness of the nearness of His presence. Our obedience and observance of the Father's rules brings life, a life that shines with the Holiness of God Himself. If you love Jesus, you will keep His commandments! You will keep them because to violate His commands is to violate Him. People who love people do not purposefully hurt those they claim to love.

3. Run forward and look forward. The trap of the enemy is to keep us looking backward at the sin we have committed or to keep us focused on restrictions put in place by our Father. Satan tempted both Eve in the garden and Jesus in the wilderness with the same bait. He questioned the will of God in the lives of both. He tried to bring questions about God's will and motives in the lives of His children. Eve utterly failed, but Jesus triumphantly prevailed over the attack of the enemy. We must purpose in our hearts that God has placed limits in our lives because 1. He loves us and 2. because He knows better than we do.

When i run I always try to give myself little goals along the way knowing that the finish line is the ultimate goal. There are days when it is hard to get out and run 5 or 10 miles because i cannot get my mind off of how far that is. Every step I take feels insignificant and i can't stop asking myself how far I have run or if I am almost finished. Sin will keep you from looking forward, it will tie you up with every little step. Sin will make you wonder if you can accomplish what you have set out to do.

The love of God will keep you looking forward and smack dab in the middle of God's will. There will still be hard times, but you can do it if you will give yourself little goals along the way. Knowing that a deeper relationship with the Father is the ultimate goal. Run forward with all you have and do not look backward. You have already conquered the miles of pavement behind you and the future is bright with the presence of God.

If you Love Me, keep my commandments John 14:15