Rules (BCP)

For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world.

It is used so often its almost cliche, but CS Lewis' analogy of the world as a football match (soccer game) is an apt one. I used to be an under-8 soccer referee and believe me, a soccer game without rules is NOT FUN. So too, John writes that the rules of God are not a burden, but in fact a set up for the overcoming of the world.

It is so easy during the Easter season to preach only the triumphalist gospel, but if we give due reverence to the Lectionary we can see that we are to model the sacrifice of Christ. We are to give up those things which may feel good, but take us away from the love of God. Grace is given freely, but faith without works is dead.