Why not?
Well because...
- I'm "free" in Christ to do what I will as long as I have good intentions
- Obedience to all of Christ's commandments is "legalism"
- I believe that the love of God is warm feelings and not what God says the love of Him is
- I'm still the master of my life; Jesus Christ is just my "co-pilot"
- I don't understand that the grace of God is the God-given power and desire to obey God, not an excuse not to obey Him
- I don't really care what the Lord's will is
- I don't even read the Bible. I don't know what it says
- None of the Christians I know are that concerned about obeying the Lord in all things, so why should I be?
- A loving God wouldn't want to burden me with His rules; He just wants me to be happy
There are probably other reasons/excuses, but remember this: Jesus' yoke is easy and His burden is light because of
grace: He is on one side of the yoke and we on the other, so that we
can do what God desires us to do, which we couldn't by ourselves.
God's commands are not a "burden" to the one who has the Spirit of Christ to help him or her and whose mind has been renewed by God to think and desire as He does. (They
are a "burden" to the one whose heart is still set on himself and the things of this world.)
Bonus: The original Greek word translated as "servant" by English translators is actually "slave", as in a person who is the property of his master. We are not our own. If you're living as though you are, you're falling short of God's will and receiving His powerful grace in vain.
Matthew 7:21
Berean Study Bible
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Psalm 119:11
I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Psalm 119:18
Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.
James 1:22
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
Proverbs 2:1-5
My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.
Revelation 1:3
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
Ephesians 6:17
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
Matthew 4:4
But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”