Today's Verse: 1 John 5:3 (NIV)

This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,

Because we love God, we delight in His commandments. And therefore, obedience is not difficult.

Today's Comments: The Bible Exposition Commentary ties this verse up better than I can--

Everything in creation—except man—obeys the will of God. “Fire and hail, snow, and vapor, stormy wind fulfilling His Word” (Ps. 148:8). In the Book of Jonah, you see the winds and waves, and even the fish, obeying God’s commands; but the prophet persisted in disobeying. Even a plant and a little worm did what God commanded. But the prophet stubbornly wanted his own way.

Disobedience to God’s will is a tragedy—but so is reluctant, grudging obedience. God does not want us to disobey Him, but neither does He want us to obey out of fear or necessity. What Paul wrote about giving also applies to living: “not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7, nasb).

What is the secret of joyful obedience? It is to recognize that obedience is a family matter. We are serving a loving Father and helping our brothers and sisters in Christ. We have been born of God, we love God, and we love God’s children. And we demonstrate this love by keeping God’s commandments.

Wiersbe, Warren W.: The Bible Exposition Commentary. Wheaton, Ill. : Victor Books, 1996, c1989, S. 1 Jn 5:1