Simple

I have always known I was simple. I just don't tend to like complicated, complex, brain-frying mind twisters. I've tried to  - and I'm still intrigued by deep conversation, I imagine myself with lofty ideas and words. But I'm forced back to simplicity every time.

And you know? I'm okay with that. I've become convinced you don't have to fry and twist and burn out trying to understand God,
His love,
His answers to life,
and His salvation plan.

Yes, No, Wait, or Trust Me.

Father, Redeemer, Savior, Prince of Peace, Comforter.

God is orderly (hence He created order.)
God is Holy (hence He calls us to Holiness.)
God is Love (hence He alone provides and expresses true love.)

God is Faithful (when we ourselves are unfaithful.)
God is Strength (when we ourselves are weak.)
God is Good (when we ourselves are defective.)

It is simple. He loved us. And now we can love Him.

This is also simple: loving Him involves obeying His commands. Simple. He says to do something, we do it.

Some might quibble and say that means we are trying to earn His love. Hogwash. It means that we are obeying Him. If the motives are wrong, He will deal with that.

And should He show you that your motives for obedience were wrong or are wrong, please please please don't be narrow-minded and small, insisting that everyone who seeks to obey Him has your wrong motives as well.

And please please please don't be embittered toward those who have loved obedience, and shared lessons of obedience, and talked about the blessings of obedience, and even (oh, the horrors of this) encouraged others in obedience. Perhaps, just perhaps, they were excited about LOVING this God of salvation and grace - which is shown through our obedience. It is. It absolutely is.

Love is shown through obedience. Don't be afraid of that, just because someone might possibly do it out of wrong motivation. Is not our God big enough to help sort such things out? And just because He helps you sort it out (you who have stumbled into a wrong understanding or a prideful attempt to earn His love rather than serve His love), please don't make silly assumptions, don't jump to conclusions, and please please please don't allow yourself indulgence in judgment of those who have happily, blissfully, and contentedly served His love with obedience out of pure love and joy. Such assumption and judgment leads to harshness, disunity, and bitterness. And it isn't nice, either.

So, keep it simple. Don't over analyze. Let your problems be your problems. Let others have their own. Teach, instruct, and lead (and carefully so, for you do recall what the Word says to those who would teach -
James 3.1  Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.)

Keep your own heart. Be glad for His work in others and trust His work in you and in the brethren. It's hard to be simple at times, but... it is simple, too.