This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 1 John 5:3 NKJV

Choosing circuitous routes around the downtown area used to be my specialty. Traffic lights in our city were painfully long especially around the six railroad crossings that went right through the city center. A red light was an enemy and a frustrating obstacle designed to hold me back.

Then I got older. My vision, hearing and joints conspired to slow me down. The prospect of pulling out into three lanes of speeding cars no longer seemed like such a cinch. Then I began to see that traffic signals were an opportunity and not a barrier.

In the daily rush of our Christian life it is no different. God does not set up the traffic signals of commandments to be obstacles but rather to direct and protect us. John who had been the youngest disciple learned that Jesus never taught us anything to hold us back but only to help us run our race at a pace that will lead us to heaven!