He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.1 John 4:4 This fact should give you great fortitude when following Jesus. Those born again become God’s children. Even in difficulties, your steps are divinely directed. You do not have to escape or evade problems on your own. The greatness of God always guarantees a straight…
Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God.1 John 4:2 Those who confess that Jesus Christ is fully man and fully God can be trusted. A simple understanding of Jesus is not enough. He is much more than a prophet or teacher. Jesus the Righteous is God. Do you acknowledge that Jesus is Savior…
Test the spirits to see whether they are from God.1 John 4:1 John was dealing with false teachers. Behind every false teacher is a false spirit. Not every religion (or church) is a valid path to God. Every word spoken must be measured against the Word. What is the standard for your truth? You must find a church willing to…
We ought to lay down our lives for others.1 John 3:16 Laying down our life is an act of true love. Are you alert, aware, and attentive to the needs of others? We cannot be considerate unless we eliminate self-interest. Talking about needs without action is just noise. We cannot even be perceived as counterfeit Christians. Jesus gave His life…
Forgive them, for they know not what they do.Luke 23:34 Jesus was in the greatest imaginable anguish. He does not respond with a passionate complaint, but a passionate concern. Jesus was praying for the soldiers who were nailing him to the cross. The soldiers were bound by duty. How can we hold people accountable for a standard they do not…
Just as I have loved you, you are to love another. John 13:34 We either deflect or reflect the love of God. Those with a closed heart towards God deflect the love. Deflected love is directed at ourselves. We love because we get something out of it. “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have”…
Whoever does not love abides in death.1 John 3:14 Love commences with Jesus and continues through Him. Your capacity to love is determined by your commitment to Christ. It is through the indwelling love of God that you can love those who do not love you. Do you love the unlovely, ungrateful, and unruly? We cannot look at people as…
Whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.1 John 4:7 No person on the planet can live with love absent of God. (An absence of God is found only in hell.) Our contact with God is the catalyst of love. There is a major difference between the love of a believer and non-believer. The distorted heart of man…
We should love one another.1 John 3:11 The way you love indicates who you follow. Those who meet Jesus will receive a new awareness of God’s number one requirement. “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt. 22:39). Do you love your neighbor as sincerely as you love yourself? Often loving our neighbor means denying ourselves. How have you truly…
This is the will of God, your sanctification.1 Thessalonians 4:3 Being born of God demands purification. Sin may enter our minds but calls for immediate meditation. “I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways” (Ps. 119:15). Jesus positions us in righteousness at the moment of conversion, but we must never stand stationary. Every moment is…