God's laws come from His great love for us
God’s laws come from His great love for us by Anjelica Zapata
I always viewed religion as strict adherence to the do’s and don’ts of the 10 commandments to keep from making God angry and taking his anger out on you. Yet I considered reading the Bible because Hell felt real enough to avoid. So I settled with googling bible verses, looking for shortcuts or loopholes that felt more convenient and practical to live according to. Overall my moral compass was founded on two ideas: Hell seems real, so Heaven has to be too and if I was good at things and towards people I would make the cut. This kept me mostly sane and at ease until I came to college.
Coming to Chi Alpha my first year, the feeling I wasn’t truly right with God couldn’t be subdued, especially in the midst of other people with similar backgrounds and experiences. The great difference between me and them was that their lives confirmed a faith and a love for God. I thought to myself; how could keeping God’s law be worth giving up things I didn't think were entirely wrong like smoking, swearing, and being intimate with my boyfriend at the time?
As I started reading the Bible again and attending bible study this is what I read and observed. There are two things worth noting about God’s interests: He loves us and he hates sin. The Bible says in 1 John 3:4 that “sin is the transgression of the law”. Psalm 19:8-9 reads, “God’s laws are perfect. They protect us, make us wise, and give us joy and light. God’s laws are pure, eternal, just.” God’s laws come from his great love for us so when you break a law, you break a heart.
Furthermore God’s love is demonstrated by the Cross because although we have sinned and the wages of sin is death, the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23). When you read the Bible, you get to know and you come to love God too much to keep sinning.
If any of this resonates with you, I implore you to seek God and community. Read the Bible in its entirety and start with the Gospels. Lastly, hold tight to the following verse:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16
Conviction:
When you break a law, you break a heart
Practical Challenge:
Create a daily reading plan and read through the Gospels this summer (Matthew/Mark/Luke/John).
Meditate on John 3:16 this week