Keeping the Commandments

       I must admit that I take a glance now and then to the material that is on my Facebook page.  Everything that people "post" appears on my page.  To be honest about all of it, I don't forward, paste or "like" a page that demands that I "share" it with all of my contacts.  I get those requests that inform me that if I don't like, paste and forward this to my wall, I do not love Jesus, I am unpatriotic, or not willing to ban some product.  According to many of these posts, I will have refused to be blessed, experience good luck or be one of 300 people who will eat free at Wendy's for the next year.  You see, in my life, I would much rather take the advice, command and example of the Scriptures.   John 14:21 says, " He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him."  
      There are certainly many people who claim to "love Jesus" with all of their hears.  There are probably more who claim this fact than actually do because they fail to pass the test.  it is much like what James said when he mentioned that faith without works is dead.  The Apostle John wrote the above words saying that if a person has the commandments of Jesus and keeps them, he will be that person who really does love Him.  Jesus summed up the law when He said that a person needs to love God with all of his strength, mind, will and all of his heart, and to also love your neighbor.  A person can find out how to do this by reading the Ten Commandments.  The Lord Jesus Christ also commanded that we believers love one another, even those people who are believers but you pretend don't exist.  Those are the people that you avoid, don't speak to or just in generally, ignore.  Forwarding a piece of electronic mail will not grant you great spiritual benefits but keeping the commandments of Christ will.  The final days of the Lord Jesus Christ on earth provided a great opportunity for Christ to teach His disciples especially recorded in John chapters, 13 through 17.  He taught them many things which we are most fortunate to have.  He knew where He was going and how things were going to play out, and so imparted some great pieces of wisdom to His disciples.  The above verse is one of those instructions.  Many people can say one thing and simply do another.  The lesson for us is to indeed have His commandments and then to keep them.  You see, by keeping them, we will be agreeing to what He said.  Are you able to love your neighbor?  Are you able to love God with all of your heart?  Praise God today that we have His instructions for our daily living.