Intentionally doing what we know to be holy and what is commanded for us to do has a way of shaping the heart. Sometimes holy actions follow a holy heart, and sometimes holy actions begin to condition the heart to be holy. This is paradox. Obey when you don’t feel like it. Obedience shapes us toward holy character. There is a point at which we do the right thing naturally, flowing out of who we have become. To this we were called.
“This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.” 1 John 5:2-3 (NIV)
