God Says Obey His Commandments

James 4:17 "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."

What is a commandment? Webster's dictionary defines it as an order or request to be given; to have or exercise direct authority.

God tells us in His Word to obey His commandments. If you know God says it then you know to do it. So not to do it is sin. God is not giving us a choice in those things he commands us to do. The verse above just tells us what it is called when we don't do what He says to do. So many people say "Well that doesn't apply to me. That is for preachers or Sunday School teachers." I'm here to tell you that if God says it then it applies to everyone. God is not a respecter of persons. He doesn't give instructions for one person that He doesn't give for all His children. In Acts 10:34 we are told that "...God is not a respecter of persons:".

When we love Him we will have no problem obeying His commandments. John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments." The Bible also says in Psalm 119:165 "Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them." So what God is telling us is if we love Him then we are to keep His commandments and that if we love His Word then NOTHING will offend us. I know that God's Word offends some due to how they respond to some of His commandments.

Here are just a few of the commandments that God gives us in His Word that people have problems with:

Deuteronomy 22:5 "The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God."

I Corinthians 7:1 "Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: it is good for a man not to touch a woman."

Matthew 22:39 "And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

Mark 12:31 "And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these."

Luke 10:27 "And he answering said, thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself."

Ephesians 5:18 "And be no drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;"

II Corinthians 6:14 "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness."

Of course there are many other commandments that God gives us in His Word. There are just a few of them. But these are the ones that came to mind as I was meditation on this post.

I am not trying to imply that I am obedient in everything that God says to do. But I am striving to be once God shows me something that He commands me to do. If you aren't obeying in any one of these areas might I encourage you to fall in love with Jesus and His Word and begin to obey Him in ALL areas. That is what I am striving to do in my own life.