Keeping the Commandments

How often do we hear passages from scripture that tell us to follow the commandments...to keep to the teachings? Today's reading from I John tells us quite plainly what we must do to have "the truth" in us. Not only how we can know, but also how others will know. I often have the debate with some of my Christian friends that nothing is necessary on our part, because Jesus paid the price and sealed the deal for us. While it is absolutely true that Jesus paid the price, and that he is the "expiation" for our sins, it is also true that we have to do something! It is not something we have the ability to do on our own, or something we can do to earn heaven, but what we do to show that we have placed Jesus as the Lord of our life. How does it happen? How do we keep the commandments when we can't will ourselves to do it? We put Jesus in front of ourselves...we ask for his unending grace...we acknowledge that we can't, but that, through his love, we can and will.