Since they are God given instructions, we know that they are for our benefit. The greatest admonition is found in the words of Jesus recorded for us by the Apostle John --
…“this is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you.”(John 15:12)
This is more than loving your neighbor as yourself, a long standing commandment found in the Old Testament. Now our love for others is to be on the same plane and magnitude of Christ’s love for us. That is a love that has no limits, a love that is characterized by grace, unselfishness and forgiveness. That is a love that is Godly, Divine in its source and can not be achieved by human effort. Such love is the result of the working of the Holy Spirit in us. Paul reminded the churches in Galatia that we can not produce this kind of love. It is produced by God the Holy Spirit in us. As we allow Him to work in our lives His fruit is manifested --
…“the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”(Gal 5:22- 23 NASB)
Therefore our fellowship with the Spirit of God requires that we keep short accounts with God concerning our personal sins and failures.
... “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness,”(I John 1:9)
Once admitted to God the Father, as stated in Scripture, we are in a posture for God the Holy Spirit to use us and accomplish His desires in our lives --
… “For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”(Phil 2:13 NASB)
How refreshing it is to know that God desires to accomplish in us His will and we are only required to be available for His service. That removes the pressure of trying to be enough and do enough as if that obtains God’s favor. Works are removed as the issue and grace at work in us becomes prominent. That is why a second admonition is given to us by the Apostle Peter when he writes --
…“grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.”(2 Peter 3:18 KJV)
We must develop the same kind of thinking as that of our Lord. His attitude and actions toward us are always in grace. They are motivated by His character and displayed to us in love. The Apostle Paul instructs us to imitate Him in our thinking, becoming a tracing of the Lord Jesus Christ.
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”(Phil 2:5 NIV)
In order for that to occur, we must avail ourselves of learning His Word and then making appropriate application of it. When that happens, we find our lives being productive, filled with the confidence that what God has begun in our lives through faith in Christ, He will bring to fruition in this life and for all eternity.