God's Commands Are Not a Burden
God's commandments are not a burden to follow because love makes them light and Christ gives strength to bear them.
Mary Wilder Tileston, echoing the sentiments of Francis Quarles and Edward B. Pusey, emphasizes that the love of God enables believers to keep His commandments without finding them burdensome. Through Christ's strength, believers can navigate through life's challenges with ease, akin to a bird effortlessly soaring in the sky. The power of God's grace within us empowers us to rise above hindrances, overcome temptations, and align our wills with God's, making His commandments a joy rather than a burden.
Text
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not grievous.
1 JOHN 5:3
His commandments grievous are not,
Longer than men think them so;
Though He send me forth, I care not,
Whilst He gives me strength to go.
FRANCIS QUARLES
FOR nothing is grievous or burdensome to him who loves. They are not grievous, because love makes them light; they are not grievous, because Christ gives strength to bear them. Wings are no weight to the bird, which they lift up in the air until it is lost in the sky above us, and we see it no more, and hear only its note of thanks. God's commands are no weight to the soul which, through His Spirit, He upbears to himself; nay, rather, the soul, through them, the more soars aloft and loses itself in the love of God. "The commandments of God are not grievous," because we have a power implanted in us mightier than all which would dispute the sway of God's commandments and God's love, a power which would lift us above all hindrances, carry us over all temptations, impel our listlessness, sweep with it whatever opposes it, sweep with it even the dulness or sluggishness of our own wills,--the almighty power of the grace of God.
EDWARD B. PUSEY
Sermon Outline
- God's Commands Are Not a Burden
- The Power of Love
- The Power of God's Grace
- The Grace of God Overcomes Hindrances
- The Grace of God Sweeps Away Opposition
Key Quotes
“For nothing is grievous or burdensome to him who loves.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“Wings are no weight to the bird, which they lift up in the air until it is lost in the sky above us, and we see it no more, and hear only its note of thanks.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“The commandments of God are not grievous,” — Mary Wilder Tileston
Application Points
- Let love be the motivation behind your obedience to God's commandments.
- Trust in the power of God's grace to help you overcome the difficulties of following His commandments.
- Remember that God's commandments are not a burden, but a means of drawing closer to Him and experiencing His love.