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Today’s Scripture: 1 John 2:3-11 (S.O.A.P 2:3-6)
3 By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 5 but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: 6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.
7 Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard. 8 On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining. 9 The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. 10 The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
Love is the key to walking in the light. If we can’t love one another we have no way to claim a real love for God.
The love of Jesus is:
WIDE enough to include every human being.
LONG enough to last through all eternity.
DEEP enough to reach the most guilty sinner.
HIGH enough to take us to heaven.
Jesus displayed a new kind of love on the cross. A love not seen before – a love we are to imitate.
Isaiah 60:19-20
The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end.
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound! That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.
s: 1John 2-3-11
0: John wanted believers to be sure of their faith and he taught them that this would be known by the way they lived/walked – specifically, did they walk in darkness (disobedience to God/obedience to the old nature … or did they walk, live, talk, love like Jesus did – in full obedience to God?
a: To apply this to my own life I need to know how Jesus walked, lived, talked, responded, loved … and choose that path over the desires or nature of the old self
p: Father, help me to be a true and bright reflection of Your Son. For in this way the world will know that I belong to You, I will be sure and confident in my faith and You will be glorified.