A responsibility comes upon us when we receive the Lord Jesus as Savior. A few lines of poetry came to me when I was a new believer that impressed on me that I was to start living differently than I had lived before I opened my heart to the Lord. I would not work my soul to save, for that my Lord has done, but I would work like any slave for love of God’s dear Son.

This was not a Word from the Bible, but it did leave an impression on my young heart. It came through to me that my salvation had not come by any works I had done. It also made a strong impression on me that the motivation of my service unto the Lord would come because of my love for Him, not because of any necessity laid upon me to remain in His favor.

I John 2:6-8—He that saith he abideth in Him ought (is indebted, is obliged) himself also so to walk, even as He walked. Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the Word which ye have heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in Him and in you: because the darkness (of your own soul) is past, and the true Light now shineth.
NIrV—Those who claim to belong to Him must live just as Jesus did. Dear friends, I’m not writing you a new command. Instead, I’m writing one you have heard before. You have had it since the beginning. But I am writing what amounts to a new command. Its truth was shown in how Jesus lived. It is also shown in how you live. The darkness is passing away. The true Light is already shining.

DEAR LORD, the Light You have brought into my heart shines brighter than any light I’ve ever known. Thank You for setting me free from the darkness that once closed in on me. I didn’t know where I was going or what I was doing. But, when You came in, everything changed. Sometimes I’ve slipped. I thank You for not throwing me overboard when I did. You are so gracious and loving. Please draw me on till everything about my life is pleasing to You.

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