Paul McKenzie

Memory Verse, Thursday, September 18, 1 John 5:3

"For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments, and his commandments are not grievous." (KJV)

"In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome." (NIV)

We left yesterday with the words of Phillip: "Come and see!" From Moses and the Prophets, God had spoken to Israel about the One Who would take on flesh and deliver us from sin. And He will reign on the throne of David. At this present time, He is at the right hand of God the Father, being our High Priest during this awesome Age of Grace, offering reconciliation and salvation to those who will believe.

And, possibly soon, He will come back to officially and permanently claim and sit on the throne of David, touching His foot once again upon the Mount of Olives, as the angels said when He ascended: "They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." (Acts 1:10-11)

The spot where Jesus ascended was very intentional, for it was to show us precisely where He would return to set up His Kingdom in the Millennium, prophesied in Zechariah:

"Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights on a day of battle. On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half the mountain moving north and half moving south." (14:4)

Pretty cool, right? Those who believe that Jesus has set up His kingdom spiritually and that we are already in the "Millennium" have a difficult time with this. Six times in Revelation 20 it says that Jesus will literally return, and physically reign for a literal 1000 years. He made sure we got it through John in Revelation, so we could see that there is a definite timetable to come, and maybe soon. And when it does come, it will happen very quickly.

After those 1000 years, He will defeat the last of His enemies, and will present the Kingdom to His Father, and the Trinity will reign forever in the New Jerusalem.

And those who believe are invited! Yes, we are invited by His marvelous grace, and through us He calls all the world to repent and be reconciled to Himself. For "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)

Christ wants us to testify of His love and greatness during the short time we have on this earth. It seems like a daunting burden, but it is not grievous, for He even provides the works that we do, and has had them planned before the foundation of the world: Listen to the next passage from Ephesians from yesterday:

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (2:8-10)

So, the burden is on Him. Jesus said, "Many are called, but few are chosen". As His followers, we call out to all who will hear. What will you do with these words?

Today if you hear His voice, harden not your heart.

*All passages from the NIV unless noted*

Memory Helps:

"In fact, this is love for God:
to keep his commands.
And his commands are not burdensome." (NIV)

I was thinking about verse 2, when we were "burdened" by those heavy commandment stones. Now I picture, while I'm straining with these "burdensome" commandment stones, a lovely heart which has "love for God" written on it, descends from heaven and replaces my heart. Suddenly the commandments I am "keeping" are lighter than air!

In my "linking", I see my "Ma", the memory character I use for verses 3, (M=3) wearing a big, flowery, "Yawning Lei" (for John 5). She sees Noah from chapter two "burdened" trying to "Keep his commands", so she takes them easily from him, for she is filled with "love for God". That helps me both to remember 1 John 5:3, and the transition from verse 2.