1 John 3:19-24; 4:2-3 3:19This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: 20If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. 23And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. 24The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us. … 4:2This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God.
Today’s emphasis:
1 John 3:24b-4:3 24b… And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us. … 4:2This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God.
Early Christianity emerged during the time of polytheistic and pagan worship of many spirits. It was the time of Greek and Roman philosophy. Seemingly whatever happened to a man, whether evil or good, was the result of the pleasure or displeasure of some god or spirit. It was into this culture that Jesus promised to send the Spirit of truth who would come into the world upon his own resurrection and his return to the Heavenly Father. Today’s passage is a reminder that in a world full of misleading and distracting teachings; the one true Spirit will always point to Jesus Christ and will always be rooted, founded, and originating from the Heavenly Father. This is how we will recognize the Spirit of God given to us through Christ.
Acts 15:26 When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.
Gracious Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the gift of salvation through your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit to lead, guide, and comfort us until the Day of Christ’s return.
In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.
The devotional How to Recognize the Spirit of God appeared first on Write From My Heart at
https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com
email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com
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