Live backwards

Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments 1 Jn 2:3

I believe this scripture has been misinterpreted by many people. They believe that it says this: “If you do your best to keep God’s commandments then by that you definitely know God.”  I believe the correct interpretation of this verse is this: “If you are keeping God’s commandments it is evidence that you know Him.”  Can you see the difference?  The first states that the keeping of His commandments cause you to know Him, the second states that knowing Him causes you to keep the commandments.

If you are living the christian life the way that it is designed to be lived you will obey more of God’s commandments by accident than on purpose.  Why is that?  It’s because you’ve learned to cease from your own works and enter into the rest of God.

For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.  Hebrews 4:10

You will be able to say this just like Jesus said:

the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Jn 14:10

This is a backward way of living to most people. Most people believe they need to do this and do that.  No, that’s wrong. If you are focused on trying to do this or trying to quit that you are headed down the wrong road.  You are either headed down a road of failure, or you are heading down a road of temporary fleshly success.  The fleshly success may work for a time, but it will lead to pride and is not sustainable.

The life of faith is an amazing life. God doesn’t want you to do a bunch of works out of your own ability. That does not glorify Him.  He wants you to believe in Him and then watch Him do amazing things through you.

Someone might say, well how does this work?  It works by love.  The bible says that ‘faith worketh by love.’  It simply means that your only focus should be on understand God’s love for you, and for others and, also, in return, expressing your love to God. When you are focused on your relationship with God, faith will work for you.  You’ll begin to see God working in your life and you will live a holier life by accident much more than you ever did trying in your own strength.  It’s because God will be doing the work in you.  You’ll begin to be more effective in ministry than ever before.  Why? Because it is not you, but the Father working in you.

Haven’t you read the scripture that says, “walk in the spirit and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh”?  It doesn’t say, “try hard not to sin and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh,” does it?  No, the more you try the more you will fail. You aren’t doing it God’s way.  Instead you need to focus on the love that God has for you. You need to focus on walking in the spirit.  And even that God will help you with!

Notice the scripture also says, “The fruit of the spirit is…”  and then it goes on list all the good things that should be in every believers lives.  Some people think, “well, I need to go out and practice love and patience and longsuffering, etc. NO! That is not what it is saying!  Those things are FRUITS!  Have you ever noticed tree branches struggling and working hard to produce fruit? Of course not.  The branches simply stay connected to the trunk of the tree.  The nourishment comes from the trunk to the branches and fruit just automatically comes!

Do you remember what Jesus said in John 15?

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. Jn 15:5-6

Just like a branch simply hangs on the vine, all we need to do is hang with Jesus!  The fruit will come automatically!!!!!!! GLORY TO GOD!  What a wonderful life!  No wonder Jesus said, “My yoke is easy, my burden is light.”

With the grace of God focus on a vibrant relationship with Jesus. The love of God will change you. This backward way of living will cause you to be holier, more productive, and more effective by accident than you ever could working in your own strength.