“1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, 2 and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
3 Now by this we know that we have come to know him, if we obey his commandments. 4 Whoever says, “I have come to know him,” but does not obey his commandments is a liar, and in such a person the truth does not exist; 5 but whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has reached perfection. By this we know that we are in him: 6 whoever says, “I abide in him,” ought to walk in the same way as he walked” 1 John 2:1-6.
In these opening verses of chapter 2 or John’s first letter I am struck the power and importance of verse 3: “Now by this we know that we have come to know him, if we obey his commandments.” If indeed the purpose and meaning of life is to know Jesus Christ, and by “know” I mean to have a loving relationship with Jesus Christ, a relationship that defines everything you and I think and say and do each day of our lives, then you and I can know that we have such an authentic relationship with the Lord if we obey the commandments of Jesus Christ, of God Himself.
So then, the meaning and purpose of life is to obey the commandments of God. Obedience to God is rooted in love not compliance. Obedience is rooted in humility because the humble person gives all credit to Almighty God for any good that comes in life. The humble person bows to God acknowledging the grace of God. Obedience to the commandments of God, then, comes from humble joy in obeying God and giving Him all the credit for any and all good that comes in my life. Conversely, then, any time I disobey God and His commandments, I have no one to blame except myself.
So take time today in prayer asking God for the grace to obey His commandments today and to live humbly today.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.
From the Bible:
“The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life” Proverbs 22:4.
“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you” James 4:10.
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” Micah 6:8.
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you” 1 Peter 5:6.
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