3 Minute Devotional: 1 John 3:21-24

²¹ Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence.

The word used for “confidence” means freedom or frankness in speaking, freely saying all one thinks, or all that he pleases. This denotes a personal relationship and confidence toward God. However, it is not an arrogant presumption or cockiness, but a test for genuineness.

^{22 "}And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him."

Prayer is the subject of this verse. It would be easy to think that this verse teaches that we can ask and receive anything from God. The word picture for “ask” is like a beggar from the giver, a child by the parent or most importantly, man from God. The reason “whatever” we ask of God is answered is found in the latter part of the verse. “Because we keep his commandments and do those things that are pleasing in the father’s sight.” Those who truly know the Lord will not engage in a constant self-centered selfish prayer life. A true believer will ask according to God’s will, those things which are in line with God.

²³ And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us.

John lays down the commandment in this verse, which is two-fold. The first part is that we believe on the name of God’s son, Jesus Christ. The second part of the command is that we love another. The word used for “believe” means to have faith, belief or to give credit. Why the repeated command to love? Because God’s nature is love.

²⁴ Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us.

In this last and final verse in this passage and the chapter, John gives a final test of genuine conversion. He elaborates on the object that he mentioned in the previous verse, the commandments. Jesus kept the law and when we are “in him” the law was kept for us. The word used for “abide” means to remain, dwell, abide, endure, last, preserve, to stand firm or steadfast, to remain alive. If we are in Christ we will love fellow believers and will have the desire and power to do what is right and therefore keep God’s commandments.

Action Steps: - How is your fellowship with God? - How can you trust His love more today and be confident in who He is calling you to become?

3 Minute Devotional | 1 John 3:18-20

18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.19 Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God.20 Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything.

(3:18). John addresses the readers as “little children”. This is an expression of either fatherly love or a statement of their spiritual condition. Apparently John’s readers had a problem with lip service without actual service. The word for “deed” means work or performance. This verse uses the previous verse as a springboard. After telling the readers that if they do not provide for fellow believers, they do not have eternal life. He adds to the command by telling them to show their love rather than talk about it.

(3:19). John reaches a conclusion for the test of providing for fellow believers. It was a test for genuineness, not an act of earning salvation. The word for “know” means to be acquainted with a person, to know or understand. The word for “assure” means to make confident, free from fear or doubt, to depend upon, or have confidence. John uses two words to express that the results of this test are absolute, leaving no room for doubt.

(3:20). John picks up in this verse where the last verse concluded. This was on the ability of the heart to condemn or justify. The heart was an expression used for the mind. In other words, if an object whose ability of right and wrong has been greatly diminished condemns us, we can be sure that God who is able to discern all truth.

Action Steps: - What specific action can you show your love to your family, friends and co-workers today?

3 Minute Devotional | 1 John 3:16-17

¹⁶ We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. ¹⁷ If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?

(3:16). This verse lays out the perfect example by what love is be measured. John states that we know the love of God because of his demonstration of that love at the cross. So the love of God is in direct correlation with the cross. How do we know that God loved us? His action at the cross is proof of His love. The word for love is “agape” is the highest form of love. The Greek language has different forms of the word love, each with different meanings and levels of importance. In this verse he simply says in order for us to follow in Christ’s example of love we must follow His actions - lay down our lives for one another.

(3:17). John transitions from theological truth to application in this verse. The Greek phrase is “shut up his bowels”. Bowels are descriptive of the inner heart or feelings. In other words, those who reject and don't help with basic needs of life are strangers to God.

Action Steps:  -  What can you give up today to show love to others? -  What is a practical way you can share and help someone today?