Daily Bible Study

Tweet

Day 4 1 John 4 1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit who confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit who confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 5 They are of the world: therefore, speak they of the world, and the world hears them. 6 We are of God: he who knows God hears us; he who is not of God hears not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. 7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one who loves is born of God, and knows God. 8 He who loves not knows not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwells in us, and his love is perfected in us. 13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. 15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he who dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him. 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear hath torment. He who fears is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us. 20 If a man says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar: for he who loves not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loves God love his brother also. Love is the greatest of all emotions. Many movies and television shows are based on love. If you don’t love, you hate. They say there is a very thin line between love and hate. John’s message to the church was love. He told the people they were to love God and each other. John also told them if they didn’t love, then the spirit of hate dwelt in them. God dwells in the person who loves because the Spirit of love dwells in him. As Christians, you know the greatest act of love happened when Jesus gave His life for you on the cross. With your salvation, God dwells in you so you can say: Greater is He who lives in you than he who lives in the world. The world has the spirit of antichrist because everyone who doesn’t confess Jesus as Savior and Lord, has the spirit of antichrist living in them. You cannot love God before He loved you. I wondered about that when I first accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord. Then I read how Jesus knew me at the foundation of the world. He knew you too. He knew everything about you the moment He created the world. And He loved you. He knew everything you would do and loved you despite your failings. When you look into God’s Word, you see His love for you on every page. Do you love Him? Have you taken His commandment to heart, the one that says you are to Love the Lord your God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself? Do you show God’s love when someone comes against you, or is your first response to get even? God loves you. Jesus loves you. The Holy Spirit lives in you. What are you doing to show God’s love to those around you? Let’s pray: Father, thank you for loving me so much You sent Your Son, Jesus, to die for me. Help me to love those around me as much as You love me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 24 June 2019 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay