The Bible teaches us that our physical and spiritual life is a precious gift from God. That our core purpose of living is to know God, love Him, worship Him, and give glory to Him, love others, and securing eternal life through Jesus Christ our Savior. While we are finding ultimately the meaning to our lives before a Holy God, we will realiize that only He is worthy of praise. And He said, “You shall have no other gods before Me.” Please refer to Exodus 20:3 and Deuteronomy 5:7.

God our creator breathed life into all humanity, making humans in His own image, endowing them with the highest with intrinsic value. All believers are instructed to direct their actions, to work, and daily choices toward honoring God rather than seeking selfish pursuits. We are here to do of His good pleasure, not for ours. God desires for humanity to live in obedience and honesty; however, people succumb to the temptations of sin falling into arrogance, complaint, and excuses and as sin begets further sin, they ultimately arrive at a state of foolishness and shame. Consequently, the relationship between God and humanity was severed by sin. To restore this broken relationship and save us from the suffering caused by sin, God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, to this earth as a sacrificial offering. Through this, anyone in the world who believes in and repents before Jesus who came as the atoning sacrifice sent by God is saved from sin and granted eternal life. This is God’s love for humanity and his boundless grace bestowed upon all mankind a love given to those who are utterly undeserving.

Jesus stated He came to seek and to save that which was lost and provide life “more abundantly” to us and offers us eternal life to those who believe in Him.

Genesis 26:5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

Abraham kept the commandments by faith alongside God, obeyed God’s Word as it was given to him, listened to it, and held fast to the commandments, statutes, and ordinances. This is exactly what God requires of each of us.

Deuteronomy 11:13 And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,

God commands us to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, listen diligently to His commandments we are guaranteed fullness in our lives.

Proverbs 4:4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

When the Holy Spirit teaches us, He teaches us that these commandments are truly necessary for us so that we may engrave God’s Word on our hearts and keep it there, enabling us to remain strong and courageous amid life’s trials, receiving His help, and growing in our love for God.

Proverbs 7:2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.

When we continue to listen to God’s commandments, keep His law, and learn from it as it leads us to a life of gratitude and when we become those who please God through our obedience, that joy also becomes boundless grace for us. The Almighty God knows, sees, and hears everything.  And God, who records all things, desires above all else to cherish, value, and bless us when we obey. When we realize that God promises to guard those who keep and follow His will as the apple of His eye and that this is the beginning of life’s blessings we can be certain that we are loved by God, and that those who follow Him can truly experience great joy in life.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

God tells us here that he knows us and he has a plan and a purpose for each of us. The question is; Are we willing to submit and follow?

Wherever we are, God’s thoughts toward us are of righteousness and peace; in contrast, Satan uses calamity to reduce the beginnings and ends of our lives to futility destroying the precious things we have built up and incites conflict, tempting us with strife and misery.

The question is whether we have the willingness to obey and follow Him willingly.

When those who followed the Lord look back on the moments they served in the past, they realize that God’s words, “Follow Me,” were not merely a call to ministry.  It is the miracle of obtaining eternal life through Jesus, who justified us from sin it is heaven itself. It was a call to enter a relationship with God and with the people of Jesus. The way we follow the Lord manifests differently in each season. The same is true when we participate in the Lord’s ministry. It is not a ministry born of our own thoughts and arrogance, but the ministry of Jesus the precious blood of Jesus, who was crucified and resurrected for us. Amen.

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” These are precious words spoken to those who have been saved. We must not take the truthful words He speaks to us lightly, nor should we merely listen to them superficially; He teaches us faith by works and truth, and commands us to obey His commandments, that is, His Word. Furthermore, He tells us to keep the commandments without fail not merely to follow them outwardly, but because love covers all transgressions, and those who love Jesus first are accompanied by the true Spirit.  These are the supremely truthful words of Jesus. When we consider that the Father sent Jesus to proclaim these words, and when we fully understand that it is not just Jesus alone but the Triune God, God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit who is making this request, these words take on even greater significance for us. The Triune God is calling us to obedience to God.

John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

By keeeping these commandments, we are showing our love to God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit all at the same time and and this is the very source through which we gain the knowledge of God and eternal life from Him.

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.