Delivering us through His commands

Name: WORLD
Price range: $

Thanksgiving is the way out of misery. I know this by the Word, and by empirical evidence.

All of the commands of Christ are not our burdens but our deliverance. Here are but a few:

Be thankful (Colossians 3:15). Love one another (John 13:34). Forgive one another (Colossians 3:13). Confess your sins to one another (James 5:16). Sow generously (2 Corinthians 9:6). Look out for the interests of others (Philippians 2:4, 21). Cleanse yourself from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit (2 Corinthians 7:1). Set your mind on things above and not things of the earth (Colossians 3:2). Walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16).

What a strangely wonderful way He has of delivering us from the hopelessness and despair of self-absorption. As we press into doing the commands, to actually "practicing the truth" (1 John 1:6), and as we press into "practicing righteousness" (1 John 3:7, 10), we experience our fears, regrets, and hang-ups falling away. We actually get to know Jesus better when we keep His commands:

"And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments" (1 John 2:3).

I took my usual walk today, mindful of the holiday, and I thanked God for all kinds of random things, including strong legs to be able to walk and lungs to be able to vocalize his praise.

Andrée Seu Peterson

Andrée is a senior writer for WORLD Magazine. Her columns have been compiled into three books including Won’t Let You Go Unless You Bless Me. Andrée resides near Philadelphia.

Faith & Religion

Delivering us through His commands

Comments

Related Articles