1 John 4 — Test the Spirits, God Is Love
1 John 5 — Overcoming the World, Testimony Concerning Jesus
Thoughts about serving others
This link includes a list of posts about Serving the Least, the Lost, and the Lonely.
My prayer is for you to join me on this journey. Subscribe to this blog below to get an email when a new post is available.
Let the Word evoke words. May your life encourage lives.
John adds to his stack of reminders to help us on our journey, to build our faith and prepare us when battles come on earth. “Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God” (1 John 4:2). For there are many who will not support this statement. “We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us” (4:6). John is bold and speaks with authority, not for his glory, but for God. “He sent his one and only Son into the world…as an atoning sacrifice for our sins…and has given us his Spirit” (4:9-13).
“God is love” (4:16) is often quoted and is indeed true, but I’m not sure I completely understand what love is, or perhaps I only understand incomplete love. Jesus makes love complete. The more I learn about him, the more I am drawn to love others without reservation. But remember, “many false prophets have gone out into the world” (4:1) will conflict with “In this world we are like Jesus” (4:17). This is the battle and whether we choose to engage, the battle goes on. Tolkien’s, “Lord of the Rings” captures this sentiment. Whether we choose to go to war or not, the war is upon us. Love one another, build each other up in Christ, but do not sit idle.
Lord show me the present battle and help me know precisely what I am to do, clarify my objectives, show me where to strike, where to avoid. Teach me that I may teach others for your glory Lord, not for me.
“Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread” (Proverbs 30:8).
John is relentless in his desire to impart great, yet simple truths for us: “This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands” (1 John 5:2). His commands are not difficult when we remove ourselves from the center of the universe, when we exalt God, when we see Jesus as the one who has given us life through his atoning sacrifice. These words are meaningless to those caught up in the present world–difficult, if not impossible for them to understand. Therefore, we should love our neighbors as God requires and in that love those who do not know Christ will see him before their eyes!
Lord help us all to love like you love. May we learn to love completely!!