8-25-23   THOUGHTS

The aged apostle John seems to see things simply and clearly.  When I read him in 1John, I often think, “It’s not quite that simple...?”  If I tarry, as I need to to understand, I find myself thinking “Yes... it is just that simple!”  Verse 14, “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.”  Then, “we know love” by Christ dying for us! In verse 17, GIVING and LOVE are tied together. Then the impossibility of all this being a “mental gymnastics process”  is stated!  LOVE MUST BE LIVED!   How am I doing?  Sometimes I just want to say to the old man John, “BACK OFF!"   But that would not be profitable or safe for me.  I must find “the joy of loving”  in this life and pursue it totally!  This is GOD’S RIGHT WAY!   IT IS TRUTH!

1John 3:11-18     For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; 12  not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous.  13  Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you. 14  We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. 15  Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 16  We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17  But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?  18  Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.

My Prayer:
May we learn love, O God.  We see it so awesomely in You, may we seek to emulate it in our own lives. May we seek to benefit others as we use the gifts You give us.  Help us to see that those gifts are both physical and spiritual.  Teach us to simplify our lives. May we live at a level of intensity that reflects our knowledge of the cost of our salvation.  Thank You Jesus.  Awaken us, O Lord.    In the name of the One who saves us,       Amen.