This past week while reading 1 John, my brain started thinking about some of the verses.
1 John 3:21-23 – ”Dear friends, if our conscience does not condemn us, we have confidence in the presence of God, and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing to him. Now this is his commandment: that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he gave us the commandment.”
This isn’t the first time these verses have come to mind recently but this time I began thinking about the chief end of man from the Westminster Shorter Catechism – to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. I am still trying to think through these things. I was hoping to have an answer by now but it seems to be a bit deeper than I had expected. If you have anything to share with regards to those things, I would love to hear those ideas.
Love is also still in my mind. It is my year of love so I know it is one thing God wants to teach me – hopefully how to love myself and others more like Christ. It may take longer than a year for me to learn this but I’m willing to put the time in.
1 John 3:15 – “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.”
If we are not telling people about the love of Jesus, if we are not trying to save people from an eternity in hell do we really love them at all? Are we murdering their souls? I have to ask this of myself – if I am not doing this do I love people? Do I? My heart aches – I know the truth. There is no love if I do not take the opportunity and accept my responsibility to share Jesus, if I forget the urgency. People are dying all around me. Back on my knees pleading with my heavenly Father for strength and confidence that I will receive what I ask – to be used so that some might be saved, to the praise of His glory.