1 John 5:3-5 - Faith vs. Obedience

In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,  for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.  Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
1 John 5:3-5

So which is more important: Faith that Jesus is the Son of God or obedience to God's commands? Both are equally important. I don't think either is useful without the other. If we think of obedience to God equalling love for him, then our faith leads us to us showing our love to him through obedience.  Our faith in God and his son is what helps us to keep his commands. We are given the power to overcome the world (sin).

Lord, Thank you for giving us victory in overcoming the world. Please help us to remain faithful to you and make your commands clear to us. Amen.

1 John 4:10 - This is Love

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:10

1 John 4:7-21 is all about love, God's love and our love. I think the key of the concept of love is the verse above. God loved us so much he sent his son to die for our sins. Accepting this sacrifice makes us one with God and God is love, so we have become love. Every thought, everything we do is to come through this love filter. God found a way for the sinful people he created to return to him without sin. This is love. Am I loving people? Am I showing them how to become sinless and return to God?

Lord, Thank you for loving us by sending your son to die for our sins. Please help us to show love to others by leading them to you. Amen.

1 John 3:19-20 - Doubting hearts

This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 1 John 3:19-20

This was a confusing passage for me. And when I come to a confusing passage I usually check with commentaries to find some clarity. Even one of the commentaries said, "A very difficult passage." I liked this summary best:

The force of 1 John 3:19-20 may be thus summed up: ‘By loving our brethren in deed and truth we come to know that we are God’s children and have His presence within us, and are enabled to meet the disquieting charges of conscience. For, if conscience condemns us, its verdict is neither infallible nor final. We may still appeal to the omniscient God, whose love implanted within us is a sign that we are not condemned and rejected by Him.’ (Link)

So, most of 1 John shows us what a Christian is like and not like. This passage assures us that even though sometimes our heart makes us think, "I am no good, I'm not worthy to be a part of God's family," the truth is that out hearts are not very reliable and God is more powerful than our heart. If we have given our lives to Christ and live like we belong to that truth, we are part of God's family regardless of the doubts of our heart.

Lord, Thank you for giving us clear instruction about how to live as your children. Please help us to overcome the doubts of our heart. Amen.

1 John 2:17 - I want it!

 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. - 1 John 2:17

There are times when we want something. Maybe it is a new job, a new car, a drink, or a half gallon of ice cream. Whatever our desires are, we have to keep our main focus on the will of God. In the end, none of those things we want really matter. They may be good things, and it is ok to want and get them as long as it is not at the expense of the will of God. When the pursuit of these things cause us anxiety and to make sinful choices, then we need to put God back in first place and reasses our desires.

Lord. Thank you for all of the gifts of this world. Please help us to keep you and your will as the most important thing in our lives. Amen.

1 John 2:9 - We are family

Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister[a] is still in the darkness.
1 John 2:9

Footnotes: 1 John 2:9 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a believer, whether man or woman, as part of God’s family; also in verse 11; and in 3:15, 17; 4:20; 5:16.

In general, I don't think we should hate anyone, but this passage stresses the importance of not hating our brothers and sisters. This is stressed several times in the book of 1 John. So, who are our brothers and sisters? In the footnote above, it refers to a believer, whether man or woman, as part of God’s family. As Christians, we have a responsibility to each other. We are a family. We may disagree, even on points of doctrine, but we must want the best for each other and pray for each other. We are linked by the most fundamental of beliefs: God is real and he sent his son to die for our sins. This core belief supersedes all other aspects of our human existence. If we can not love each other, how can we love non-believers and share God's love with them? And why would they want to be a part of a family who can not exist in harmony?

Lord, Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your family. Please help us to love each other. Amen.

1 John 1:9 - Forgiveness

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

Did you know you are a sinner? I am a sinner too. We are all sinners. Even if there are aspects of our lives we think are ok, they may be sinful. In the Old Testament, men often had multiple wives. There is no indication they considered this sin, but today we generally see this as wrong and sinful. Sin is always sin, but to the one engaged in it, it may not always be clear. Sometimes it is just the norm of the day. Thankfully, if we admit we are sinful and allow Christ to forgive us, we are forgiven of all of our sins, even the ones we do not know we are committing.

Lord, Thank you for sending your son to die on the cross so that we may be forgiven. Please help us to admit to our sin and grow to sin less each day. Amen.

Revelation 4:8b - Prayer, going into the presence of God

Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.

In Isaiah 6 and Revelation 4, the authors were given a glimpse of heaven, but for most, entering the “presence” of God is basically prayer. One way to construct our prayers is with the following four, key elements. First praise God. One might quote, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” You may also sing praise songs, repeat phrases of praise you have heard or compose words of praise. Next ask for forgiveness from sins citing any recent offenses or areas of temptation. 1 John 1:9 states “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Third is a time of thanksgiving. Thank God for all he has given, for specific things, and especially for sending his Son deliver us. Last is an opportunity to come to God with requests. When we make requests of God, we must do so in the name of Jesus Christ. John 16:23b-24 states, “Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” Going into the presence of God is a humbling experience, but time could not be spent in any better way.

Lord, thank you for allowing us to come into your presence. Please help us to speak to you in a worthy manner. Amen.