Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Today’s Scripture Reading 
1 John 3:19–4:6

And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.

And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. And this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming; and now it is already in the world.

Little children, you are from God, and have conquered them; for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore what they say is from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us, and whoever is not from God does not listen to us. From this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. (NRSV)

Reflection

Our scripture reading this morning begins with the words, “And by this we will know.” How will we know what? By going back to verse 16, we learn that “This is how we know what love is.” And that love is that Jesus laid down his life for us and that we should lay down our lives for each other. That’s tough.

Loving can appear to be easy, especially if I only use words. I love my parents, spouse, children, friends, oh, I just love all people. Very nice rhetoric but just not enough. Am I willing to put actions behind those words? Even if I was having economic difficulty, most Americans have more material possessions than most of the world could even dream of. Can I part with possessions and money to help others? I seem to find time for entertainment for myself. Can I find an equal amount of time to volunteer my time and service to those who need help? When I am discouraged or troubled, I look for an ear to listen to me. Do I keep my ear available and am I willing to listen to others without comment or judgment?

You get the picture. At its most painful end, Christian love requires me to give up my life, but in ways that require much less sacrifice, Christian love requires me to give up things or time to help when I see or hear of any of God’s children in need.

Prayer

Dear Lord, let us not love only with words but with actions and with truth. Amen.

Written by Linda Gibboney, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

Devotion index by date

Please email me daily devotions