Scripture: 1 John 3:11–24
More on Love and Hatred
11 For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15 Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.
16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
19 This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: 20 If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. 24 The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
Observation:
“And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.” (1 John 3:23-24)
We have this blessed assurance that we are God’s as we believe in Jesus and we love one another. The Spirit remains in us and assures us of our status in him and we receive the peace that surpasses all understanding.
Application:
Since we know that we are in God’s will by the presence of his Holy Spirit in us, we need not worry about the things of this world that can cause distraction and lead us astray. Rather, we should seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness and everything else will be given to us as well. (Matthew 6:33)
Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank you for your constant presence in our lives through the Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance in your eternal kingdom. Let us be confident then in your will for our lives as we seek first your kingdom and righteousness. For your plans for our lives are so much greater than any plan we can make for ourselves. For you have granted us spiritual gifts and talents that are meant not only for ourselves but for the building up of the Body of Christ. As we cooperate with your Spirit, we will see your kingdom grow and we are blessed to be a part of that through you. Amen.