John 14:15 (ESV)
15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

So, why is that so hard to do? Christ isn’t talking about keeping the original version of the 10 Commandments, he’s talking about the amped up version of the 10 Commandments that he gives us in the Sermon on the Mount/Plain (Matthew 5-7, Luke 6:17-49). So why is it so hard to stay the course?

How have we gotten to the point where so many people in the world don’t even think it’s relevant?

How do we even begin to live a life like Christ calls us to live – one of love and selfless service to others – if we are still wrapped up in our daily wounds, our history, our self protective bubble? Why would we even bother with that paradigm?

Why wouldn’t we? Who rails at the injustice of the/in the world? Who doesn’t? Sure, there are some people who are so far gone they consider anyone in need as ants, worker bees there to be exploited, but they are only a powerful minority.* Most humans want to see a better place, free of pain – starvation, abuse, exploitation, illness, etc. Yet, we are making small progress, not huge, earth shattering progress. Why? Because we’re living in an old paradigm, one that precedes Christ, which is why we struggle to follow His commands.

What’s the way forward? Faith and Love. We can only move forward if we love unconditionally, if we love unselfishly, if we love with abandon and are unafraid of getting burned a few many times. We have to leave our wounds, our history, our self protective bubble to be lovingly centered on others and not our own little crumb of the pie. We have to love like Christ loved us – willing to suffer and give up everything if that’s needed – to serve and give a hand up to the marginalized.

Sure, yeah right, how?

Hebrews 11 (ESV)
11 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

Faith – we all have faith because we don’t have proof of everything. Even atheists have faith because not even Christopher Hitchens knows everything, so he has faith that somethings just are. Where is your faith? What is your rock? Honestly – when the crap is hitting the fan and there’s no hope, who/what do you turn to?

By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God. And so were we. By Faith. The implications are staggering. A God of love created us and the universe. We are connected. God tells us there is eternity and we choose where we will spend it by the choices we make. He has a plan and a calling He’s given us plainly, for all of us to follow.

When you have faith that your eternity is secured, loving unconditionally, unbridled, unrestrained, is possible. The security of faith allows you to love without fear. As we love without fear, as we invest ourselves in Christ, we will move closer to keeping His commandments in all that we do. The things of the world fall away and become less and less important.

Place your faith where it matters, where it’ll make a difference, where it’ll be your home.

Faith + love = radical good

* I won’t say anything about liberal elites from Wall St. or Hollywood here….