Do You Love God’s Word and His People?
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. – 1 John 5:13
John wrote his three epistles so that you and I could know without a shadow of a doubt that we know Jesus, we understand the gospel, and we have a personal relationship with our Savior. If you read through first John, the author gives us seven questions to answer. These questions are not only meant to challenge us but also to give us confidence that we really do belong to Christ as His followers.
Over the next couple of days, we’re going to look closely at these seven questions. As we do, I want you to honestly answer each one and spend some dedicated time reflecting on where you are in your relationship with Jesus and where you have room to grow. So with that, let’s dive into the first three questions.
The first question is: Do you walk in the light? If you are comfortable walking in darkness and walking in sin, you will never have any confidence that you are a child of God. If you’re choosing to walk in darkness, then that means the outside of your life is not agreeing with what has happened on the inside of your life if you have truly given your life to Christ. On the other hand, if you have really met Christ, the inside will also look like the outside. The outside will look like the inside. When the outside and the inside are not looking the same, we can’t have confidence in our faith.
The second question is: Do you obey His Word? You will have the desire to obey God's Word when you have fallen in love with Jesus. You will want to align with Him because you know Him, and you will obey His Word because you actually have a relationship with Him. He wants us to align with all of His Word, not part of His Word. So often, we metaphorically tear pages out of the Bible if we don't like certain things it says. We want to redefine what is right and what is wrong based on what the culture says. But what we need to be doing is standing on the Word of God and aligning with the Word of God. We need to ask ourselves, are we seeking to please the world? Or are we seeking to obey the Word of Jesus Christ?
The third question is: Do you love fellow Christians? Have you ever been hurt deeply by someone who calls themself a believer? They said something or did something that hurt your feelings, and it was painful. The reality is that sheep bites get infected very quickly, and they can do a number on your spiritual life. Do you know why? Because you expect Christians to act like Christians. But remember, you are not the Holy Spirit. God will deal with the people who hurt you; you don't need to worry about them. Here is the crux of the matter: Do you love fellow Christians even when they don’t act lovingly toward you?
My prayer is that today you will take the time to think through your answers to the questions above, and then come back tomorrow as we look at the four other questions we can pull from first John.
John wrote his three epistles so that you and I could know without a shadow of a doubt that we know Jesus, we understand the gospel, and we have a personal relationship with our Savior. If you read through first John, the author gives us seven questions to answer. These questions are not only meant to challenge us but also to give us confidence that we really do belong to Christ as His followers.
Over the next couple of days, we’re going to look closely at these seven questions. As we do, I want you to honestly answer each one and spend some dedicated time reflecting on where you are in your relationship with Jesus and where you have room to grow. So with that, let’s dive into the first three questions.
The first question is: Do you walk in the light? If you are comfortable walking in darkness and walking in sin, you will never have any confidence that you are a child of God. If you’re choosing to walk in darkness, then that means the outside of your life is not agreeing with what has happened on the inside of your life if you have truly given your life to Christ. On the other hand, if you have really met Christ, the inside will also look like the outside. The outside will look like the inside. When the outside and the inside are not looking the same, we can’t have confidence in our faith.
The second question is: Do you obey His Word? You will have the desire to obey God's Word when you have fallen in love with Jesus. You will want to align with Him because you know Him, and you will obey His Word because you actually have a relationship with Him. He wants us to align with all of His Word, not part of His Word. So often, we metaphorically tear pages out of the Bible if we don't like certain things it says. We want to redefine what is right and what is wrong based on what the culture says. But what we need to be doing is standing on the Word of God and aligning with the Word of God. We need to ask ourselves, are we seeking to please the world? Or are we seeking to obey the Word of Jesus Christ?
The third question is: Do you love fellow Christians? Have you ever been hurt deeply by someone who calls themself a believer? They said something or did something that hurt your feelings, and it was painful. The reality is that sheep bites get infected very quickly, and they can do a number on your spiritual life. Do you know why? Because you expect Christians to act like Christians. But remember, you are not the Holy Spirit. God will deal with the people who hurt you; you don't need to worry about them. Here is the crux of the matter: Do you love fellow Christians even when they don’t act lovingly toward you?
My prayer is that today you will take the time to think through your answers to the questions above, and then come back tomorrow as we look at the four other questions we can pull from first John.
Recent
Archive
2025
January
Building Men Over MembershipsAre You Encouraging Others?Committing Others To ChristSharing Your StoryFaith Beyond Your FamilyGod’s Purpose In Your PainAligned PrayersPraying with PowerA Defining EncounterA Desire To ServeA Faithful and Helpful FriendRestoring Broken RelationshipsThe Power To RestoreA Guilt-Free LifeA Hand Of BlessingA Heart Of RepentanceAllowing God To Do The ChangingAre You Feeling Stuck?Trust His HeartBe Ready For InterruptionsFull of the Holy SpiritDefeating DepressionPowerful Prayers and a BurdenThe Triumphal EntrySurrender Your Life to ChristGratitude Is The Gateway To ContentmentGratitude Is A Defense Against AnxietyDealing With DoubtFocus On The WordGiving and ServingListening Instead Of Talking
February
3 Keys To A Heavenly PerspectiveA Faith Rooted in FactA Faith That Draws or DrivesWhy Support Israel?The Danger Of Being Full Of YourselfLiving Out The Great CommissionMaking SureGod Is All-SufficientGuided By ProblemsJoy In The Midst Of ProblemsRemember Who God IsA Brand New Glimpse Of JesusA Call To God’s ChurchA Childlike FaithA Christ-Honoring EpitaphA Church On FireA Faithful and Helpful FriendA Personal AnswerA Public AnswerBe Sensitive To Your WitnessAwakenings and Quiet TimesCraving Spiritual MilkEmbracing Your Second ChanceSigns Of True RevivalResisting EvilBe DifferentBe AstuteBe Loving
March
Witness with Your WordsGod’s Word Is EnoughStay Rooted In The TruthA Call to God’s ChurchFalse ProphetsJesus Intercedes for YouHave You Met Christ?Focus on the GiverEncountering God’s GraceStanding Accountable Before GodBe Ready for the End Jesus Understands Your PainLooking ForwardImmeasurably MoreLiving in DenialYour Salvation MomentWhat Does It Look Like To Be The Church?A Word of BlessingJesus Cares about YouThe PavementWhen You Need Hope The End Is Near Stand on the Word of GodA Gracious GiftCelebrating Through BaptismThe Promise of the Holy SpiritBe Aligned in PrayerI Am InnocentGod Draws Us to HimselfFind Rest in the LordBearing The Burdens Of OthersPrioritizing Your Love For Christ
5 Comments
May I be in the Word more and be more loving to my fellow Christians, and to more like Jesus this day
3rd. Yes I love other Christians but do not understand why they are vocal and active politically conservative. They accept a man who has no character and continue to believe in him. Also,why they allow their inbred racism to continue.
While growing to recognize that I am a work in progress; I pray to be enabled to see and feel with immediacy what I am to do when a person comes in my presence with a need. How do I respond as God wants me to respond ?
I Thank God that every day I realize more How Blessed I am. Thank You JESUS ! GLORY TO GOD, Our Father .🎆
Lots to ponder here ... One fact is clear .. we are "all" imperfect and sinful people. I believe God wants us to "look to Him" as we draw closer to Him ... He alone is The Way, The Truth and The Life !!