In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.
1 John 5:3 (NIV)
Not Burdensome
Under Canadian Criminal law, a person who is charged with a criminal offence is “presumed to be innocent until proven guilty”. The “presumption of innocence” is an important part of the foundation of the Canadian judicial system. This is widely known as the fundamental principal or “golden thread” of Canadian criminal law that is related to the burden of proof. Simply defined, the burden of proof is the requirement that the Crown must provide sufficient evidence in court to convince a legal authority that their side of the case brought forward is conclusively proven to be true and accurate.
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The presence and influence of gods and goddesses were integral parts of life in the Roman state. The people of Rome built temples to their gods and observed rituals and festivals to honour and celebrate them. Any favourable or unfavourable circumstances in Roman life could be attributed to the mood of certain gods, so people would likewise make offerings to the gods in thanks, or in an attempt to appease their tempers. Unlike many monotheistic religions or spiritual traditions, the Romans gods were seen as caring little about the morality of the Roman people. Rather, their chief concern was being paid tribute through very specific rituals. What a contrast to the God who had revealed Himself in the person of Jesus Christ. The apostle writes this in 1 John 5:3: “In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.” Our relationship to Jesus Christ is one of love. We never have to worry about appeasing God – He loves us and has drawn us to Himself. He simply calls us to love Him back by walking in obedience.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley