1 John 4
Scripture:
1 John 4:7-11
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
Observation:
In this passage and throughout this entire chapter John echoes the theme that resonates through this entire book: love one another. He hammers home the point that there is one clear quality that identifies those who are “from God,” and that quality is that they love people the way Jesus loved us. This quality helps discern whether someone is “in the light” (1 John 2:9-10), whether they are “children of God” or “children of the devil” (1 John 3:10), or whether a prophet is true or false (1 John 4:1-3). And the beauty of this quality is that it is not something we have to create, define or develop on our own. It comes from God, it is demonstrated through the life of Jesus, and we simply respond to his initiative.
Understanding:
Too often we want to qualify people as “in” or “out” by nitpicking their doctrinal points or evaluating their particular spiritual practices or church participation. John makes a remarkable statement, “everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” This is the qualifier. Do I love like Jesus? Do they love like Jesus? But how do we know what that love is – what it looks like? It looks like what Jesus did for us. “This is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” Then, in a stunning challenge he tells us in verse 11 we should love like this - like Jesus. Go into their “world.” Be among the broken, hurting, sinner; walk with them; demonstrate God’s lovingkindness toward them; lay down your life for them. And again, He gives us the power to do it – we “live through him.” (v.9)
Life Application:
Lord, I don’t want to complicate what you’ve asked me to do and empowered me to do. I want to live through you today and love like you demonstrated. Let me lay down my agenda – my “life” – to take up your agenda. I am willing for my schedule to be interrupted by you in order to respond in love. Help me see those I interact with today through your eyes – even those I don’t know or don’t like - and empower me to treat them with grace, lovingkindness, mercy and understanding. Let the love that you’ve poured into my life spill all over those whom encounter today.
– Chris Hansler
Chris is the Regional Executive Director for Pacific Open Bible. He has been a pastor for 36 years and loves his wife, his kids and the church deeply. More than anything else, he wants people to know, experience and live in the gracious love of Jesus that has captivated his life.
Psalm 16 - 10.8.21
Scripture - What stood out?
Psalm 16:7-9 (NASB)
I will bless the Lord who has advised me;
Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night.
I have set the Lord continually before me;
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will dwell securely.
Observation - What does it say?
A psalm of king David.
Understanding - What does it mean?
Thank you Lord for speaking through David. Thank you for your word, for all three chapters in today’s bible reading. I pray in Jesus’s name that you would teach and guide me, In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.
I have set the Lord continually before me
The book of Psalms is such a great compass for me. And while my struggles and battles that I face may require a little more precision counsel, it is so reassuring to know that if I ever get so turned around that I’m not sure where true north is, I can open up the psalms. In verse one David writes ‘You are my Lord’. I repeated that line 4 times placing emphasis on a different word each time (thank you for teaching me that Pastor Warren!).
YOU are my Lord
You ARE my Lord
You are MY Lord
You are my LORD
I could have stopped right there but I kept going. And I landed where You needed me to land. The source of David’s comfort, his confidence, and his joy was You. He reminded himself and refilled those tanks by continually setting you before him.
Life Application - How can I apply this to my life today?
Lord for life application tonight I would like to fall asleep reading the bible. My prayer is that you would instruct my mind at night, even while I sleep. May I wake up tomorrow refreshed and not shaken. May my heart be glad, my soul rejoice, and my body be secure. All because I choose You as my Lord, my Refuge, my Savior, my Rock. In the name of Jesus do I pray, amen.
-kenneth lee
Psalm 15
Scripture
Psalm 15
A psalm of David.
1 Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent?
Who may live on your holy mountain?
2 The one whose walk is blameless,
who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from their heart;
3 whose tongue utters no slander,
who does no wrong to a neighbor,
and casts no slur on others;
4 who despises a vile person
but honors those who fear the Lord;
who keeps an oath even when it hurts,
and does not change their mind;
5 who lends money to the poor without interest;
who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
Whoever does these things
will never be shaken.
Observation
David writes a poetic song where he asks the question :
Who may come before God, who can enter His sanctuary?
David was a man after God's own heart. David came to an understanding that the behaviour of a man or woman of God should be reflected in that person's behaviour.
David goes on to describe the type of character of the man or woman who is fit to enter Gods presence. He talks about his or her character among their friends and neighbors, and his or her character among difficult people. David continues to then describe the blessings that come from this character. “They will never be shaken.”
Understanding
If we are to be men and women after God’s own heart and want to be able to experience the fullness of all God has for us daily, then we need to realize character matters. God cares about how we carry ourselves and not just with those we like or get along with, but with even the ones who irritate us or maybe don’t see things the way we do.
God has called us as the Body of Christ to be trustworthy, honest, honorable, and generous in all areas of our lives.
Life Application
Jesus, I want to be a man after your own heart, to be able to dwell in your presence daily. Help me to walk the way You did. Help me to love others in such a way that I honor them with my words and actions. Help me to be trustworthy, honest, and honorable. Jesus help me to be generous and not just with my money, but with my time and patience.
-Justin Eaves