Wow, this teenager could actually do it! I saw it with my very own eyes! He was outside for about half an hour, in grueling hot weather. One temperature gauge I saw indicated 96 degrees. But, despite the heat wave, this young man was out there and doing just fine.

What was he doing? He was playing basketball. What’s so amazing about that?

Well, let’s go back about five months when the area we live in was hit with some heavy snow storms. After awhile there was about two feet of snow on the ground. An adult, that lives in the same house with the teenager came out and shoveled away. But where was the teenager?

There’s two teenagers in that house. Upon inquiry I was told one had asthma and I forget what was said about the other one, which is the one I have seen play basketball in mighty hot weather.

I can understand the teen with asthma not being able to do much, but it looks like this other teenager is well able to do some work. However, once again, in the summer, who mows their yard? The adult, not the teenager, is seen pushing the mower in hot weather. However, the hot weather does not stop the young man from playing basketball.

The point is, most people do what they want to do. Some pastors like myself will tell you that some folks claim they just can’t sit in church but you will find some of the same ones sitting in bleachers with no back support in all sorts of weather. It could boil down to the thought that if one loves something enough, they will do it.

Many people view God as a loving God, and that He indeed is. Despite the fact Adam sinned and as a result we are all entangled in a sin nature, God intervened by veiling flesh upon Himself to redeem mankind through the life, suffering, death and resurrection of Christ. Most people know John 3:16--”For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

That belief requires us loving God beyond simple mental and vocal assent. If we really love God, we will keep (do) His commandments: "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.” (John 15:10)

People do what they want to do. I hope you do want to really love God. Sure, some of His commandments can be difficult. Our flesh is weak, but we need to have the attitude Paul had as expressed by the Holy Spirit in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”