If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
John 15:10 NIV
Kept
People often wonder how long they should keep their tax records. According to the Canada Revenue Agency website: “Even if you do not have to attach certain supporting documents to your return, or if you are filing your return electronically, keep your supporting documents for six years in case the CRA asks you to provide them later. The CRA may ask for documents other than official receipts, such as cancelled cheques or bank statements, as proof of any deduction or credit that you claimed.”
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It is imperative that we keep some things in this life – tax forms, promises, sentimental items, commands. Commands? Listen to what Jesus says in John 15:10: “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.” What made Jesus unique, and sinless, was that everything He did was completely in line with His Father’s will for Him. Our problem is that we constantly have thoughts, make decisions and act outside of God’s perfect will for our lives. When we do, we sin, and because we sin, we need a redeemer, one who will wipe away our sin. Only Jesus is able to be that redeemer, because He alone kept every one of His Father’s commands. Jesus then commands us to keep His commands, as the sign of our love for Him and for all He has done for us. His grace is available to us when we fail to do so, but His Holy Spirit, who dwells within us, will empower us to keep His commands. We must daily set our hearts on Jesus and invite Him to empower us to keep His commands.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley