OBEYING JEHOVAH'S COMMANDMENTS

You can answer Satan's challenge by living in a way that  pleases God. What does this involve?  The Bible answers: "You must love Jehovah your God with all you heart and all your soul and all your vital force." (Deuteronomy 6:5) As your love for God grows, you will be filled with the desire to do what he requires of you.  "This is what the love of God means," wrote the apostle John, "that we observe his commandments."  ( note: what is left out here are statutes that they did not mention, but the commandments are first and foremost most important)  If you love Jehovah with your whole heart, you will find that "his commandments and statutes are not burdensome." -1 John 5:3. 

What are Jehovah's commandments?  Some of them involve conduct that we must avoid.  First, is to love Jehovah God as mentioned above, second; Love thy fellowman as you love yourself; third; You must not take up the Lord's name in vain; fourth; for six days you may work, but on the Sabbath day, you do not work, you spend it worshiping God; fifth; honor your mother and your father, (note: this does not mean that you make up a holiday to honor them; you only are suppose to honor God. You just make sure your parents are provided for in housing food etc. that is how you honor them) sixth; you must not murder anyone.  Seventh; you must not commit adultery, eighth; you must not steal, ninth; you must not testify falsely against your fellowman; and tenth you must not desire your fellowman's house, you must not desire your fellowman's wife, not his slave man or girl; nor his bull, nor his ass; not anything that belongs to your fellowman. "Shun what Jehovah Hates."   Making changes  in your conduct may be the greatest challenge you have ever faced. Yet, living in a way that pleases God brings great satisfaction and happiness.  (Isaiah 48:P17, 18)  And it is something that  is within your reach.  How do we know that?

Jehovah never asks more of us than we can do. (Deuteronomy 30:11-14) He knows our potential and our limitations better than we do. (Psalm 103:14)  Moreover,  Jehovah can give us the strength to obey him.  The apostle Paul wrote:  "God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear, but along with the temptation he will also make the way out in order for you to be able to endure it." (1 Corinthians 10:13) To help you endure, Jehovah can even supply you with "power beyond what is normal." (2 Corinthians 4:7)  After enduring many trials, Paul could say: "For all things I have the strength by virtue of him who imparts power to me." -Philippians 4:13.  (note: this is all true) 

Next time: SHUN WHAT JEHOVAH HATES

From the Book: What Does the Bible Really Teach? 2005 and 2006