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 3:21b-24a …21bwe 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. 24aThe one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them.
We are told many places in scripture that we can receive anything we pray for. But this is not a carte blanche ticket of freedom to ask for whatever we deem best. It comes with great and heavy responsibility to first know the will of God and then to ask in accordance with that will.
What is the first and greatest command? To love God and to believe in the name (e.g., the whole character and divine nature) of his Son, Jesus Christ. Prayers for our salvation and for the salvation of others is always an appropriate prayer in accordance with God’s will.
What is the second command following the first? To love others as God has loved us. Prayers for strength and patience with those who are challenging or difficult is always an appropriate prayer in accordance with God’s will. God has great love for all people and does not wish any should perish (although some will choose to ignore Him). Praying for the ability to love others who seem unlovable or even unlikeable, is always an appropriate prayer. Asking God to send people into that person’s life to minister and witness is always an appropriate prayer. God will handle the results of our honest prayers that are aligned with his will and purposes.
(v. 24) The one who keeps God’s commands (i.e., to love God, to believe in Jesus Christ, to love others) lives in him, and he in them.
Gracious Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the gift of salvation through your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank you for hearing and responding to our prayers. We pray for the salvation of those family members who have either not made a decision to follow you or knew you as a child but have chosen to follow a different path away from you. We pray that you draw them back to You.
In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.
The devotional The One Who Keeps God’s Commands appeared first on Write From My Heart at https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com
email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com
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