Know & Keep

"Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." John 14:21 ESV

On March 18, 2013, Paul Bergin, a New Jersey criminal defense attorney and a former federal prosecutor, was indicted by a jury on 23 counts. Included in these charges were hiring hitmen to kill witnesses. He reportedly said, "No witness, no case."

Like Bergin, we can know the law but choose not to keep the law. How do we gain knowledge of God's commandments? By reading and studying his Word. The Bible is the accumulation of God's law. You may be familiar with the legal concept, "Ignorance of the law is not an excuse." The same is true with God's law; we have no excuse for the absence of knowledge. When we know His commandments, we must keep them. In understanding and following the commandments, we are demonstrating our love for Jesus. If we love Jesus, in return, we are loved by God. The manifestation of this obeyance of the law is the Holy Spirit dwelling within each of us.

God, we give thanks for your commandments. As we read and study the sacred scriptures, we grow in understanding of what you desire for us. These are not laws laid down to please you but to serve as a guide in living righteous lives. Lives that bring about your heavenly kingdom here on earth. Forgive us for those times when we know, but fail to keep your commandments. We fail to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, care for the prisoner, and stand for justice. We come to you humbly today and ask for your Holy Spirit to guide us this day. Let today and all the days ahead be a commitment to keeping your commandments. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Blessings,

Pastor Tim