Devotions for Friday, August 19, 2011
1 John 3:21-24
3 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
Pastor Ben’s Commentary:
The author is telling us some important things about faith. Faith always leads to action, and the author here tells us a couple of things that faith in God produces. It produces obedience to God’s commands, and love for God’s people. Let’s apply those two ideas
Application:
1. If we have faith in God, then we will do what he says. Faith and works go hand in hand. We aren’t saved by our works, but because we are saved we will do good works. If you have faith in God, then you’ll want to know what He says and you’ll want to do what He says.
2. If we have faith in God, we’ll follow his command and example in loving other people. God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son, Jesus, for us. If we love God, then we’ll love what He loved. He loves others. It’s hard to show EVERYONE love, but it’s possible to show SOMEONE love.
Today, live out your faith in God by obeying Him, and showing someone love..
Study the Scriptures with Ben Jennings 
In the first verse it says, “Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.” It says then we have confidence toward the God.. well what does having confidence look like? Once we have accepted Jesus as our savior we believe in Him right? Cause we wouldn’t accept Him as our savior if we didn’t truly believe. A lot of people think that salvation is their ticket to heaven and that they don’t need a relationship with God. Well that’s not true at all, we NEED a relationship with Him. Normally when someone gets saved, they feel different, or at least that’s how we’re supposed to feel. We’re supposed to want to change our sinful lifestyle to live it for Christ who saved us from our debt. Like Pastor Ben said, we aren’t saved by our works, but because we are saved we will do works. Once we start to do good works, because it’s what we should do and not to just get credit from God, and start having the right attitude towards things we will start to have confidence in our relationship with God! I think this is amazing! Once our heart changes and we begin to do the right things, we can start to have confidence! I think that’s awesome! The next verse says that God blesses us by answering our prayers! I know we just talked about how sometimes God doesn’t always answer what we pray for, but that’s because He knows what’s best for us, and I’m so thankful He does, because I sure don’t know what’s best for me! As I read this verse I began to think about the prayers that God has answered for me, and it’s made my life to where it is and that is truly a blessing! I know life is a gift, but the coolest thing ever is that heaven is an even greater gift and it will completley blow our minds! God is so good! In the last verse it says that we should live by His commandments and love one another just like God told us to. It is so hard to love other people! I know I struggle with this.. But if Jesus, the one who drank the cup of God’s wrath of people who sinned against Him, could love other people in a way we may never be able to understand, I know i surely can try! These verses are amazing! Isn’t the bible good? 🙂
I think people who think that the Bible isn’t unique have not read it, at least not with the attitude of really wanting to understand it. I think it is pretty incredible- and it should be right? I mean- It’s the words of God Himself.
I agree with you! A lot of people misconcept what the bible is all about! I would sure be lost without God’s word! I don’t know how people can survive without it honestly! & it is incredible! 🙂
Having faith is sometimes very hard, especially when we go through hard times. Sometimes when i’m going through something I think “It’s never going to get better.” But that’s not true! Like in the application, if we have faith in God, we’ll do what He says, and we’ll follow His command and example in loving other people. By having faith, we as children of God are learning to be Christ like! It leads to obiedience and being able to love others. It is definitley possible to show someone love, and i think it is mindblowing that God loved each and everyone of us so much that He sent His son down to earth, and to die on the cross for our sins. It would be like my dad sending me down to earth and telling me i’m coming to die for everyone of the world… Thats so weird thinking about it like that! So why can’t i have faith in someone who gave His everything for me? He deserves all the honor and glory! 🙂
He’s already proven His love for us in saving us. We should trust Him with our lives as well. He knows best! Good stuff Lindsey!
Yes He sure does 🙂 thanks!
In reading these verses I begin to think about the difference between doing something to gain favor and doing something because of a love motive. Sometimes we do things to gain people’s favor and that doesn’t last very long because we have to keep doing to keep their favor. When we do something out of love for someone that is our motive and that is amazing. For example I do things like cook for my husband not for his favor but because I love him and that is a way I can show my love. We don’t have to be good and sinless
To gain Gods favor but we desire to be obedient because we love Him. I think faith and love are all tied into one another. Love is a very good motive.
My application is to seek what areas in my life I am being dissobedient and get my heart involved to decide to do the right thing. I want to have faith and do right because of the love I have for him.
I really like this verse and I think what it is saying is that when you are doing something just to get something like money it is really stupid and when you are doing something for the love of it, it is really good cause that is what God wonts us to do for him. He wont’s us to learn about him not cause we have to or cause your mom and dad said they would give you money to go, No! that is not how it works out it is Go! cause you wont to and you wont to know more about him.
Is that right cause if it is not please let me know and help me out with it?????? Thankyou!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D
I like what Ben said about loving everyone! It’s so hard to love everyone! But we should love at least someone! God loved us enough to send his Son to die for us, the least we can do is obey him by showing love to others! 🙂
Obedience is a huge part of faith! So when God gives us a commandment we should put our faith in God that he knows what he is doing and that if we obey it will be best for us! In this particular passage the author gives 2 commandments that we believe in Christ and that we love others! I think most of you believe in Christ so we are going to go to the second one! Love others! This is so hard to do sometimes, cause a lot of times we save well they just don’t deserve love! You don’t know how bad they are or how much they have hurt me and other people, they don’t deserve my love! The reality is we don’t deserve God’s love and yet the Bible says he gives it freely to us! So who is that one person in your life who your like, “they don’t deserve my love and I’m not giving to them!” Whoever that person is tomorrow and this week try to show them the love of Christ because they don’t deserve Gods love, but guess what neither do I, and if God can love me I can love others! So pick that one person in your life who you feel doesn’t deserve love and this week show them the same love Christ showed you!
Christianity is about being Christ like and Jesus was a servant. I mean He was born in basicly a barn not as a king. So I think in order to be Christians we need to not only be servants but have the right attitude even when it can be extremely hard. I think that is one way we can show are love to Him by serving Him and others.