HIGHLIGHT
1 John 5:2–3 (ESV): 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.
EXPLAIN
In the previous chapter, John urged the believers to test the spirits. To this church that had been infiltrated and devastated by false teachers, John warned them to check the doctrine and spirit of those who came in and sought to teach among them.
The true follower of Jesus confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh from God. The true follower of Jesus also demonstrates a life of love, for God is love.
Confessing Jesus is fully God and fully man and practicing the love of God toward others, but specifically the children of God, gives us confidence in a world of confusion.
And so the true follower of God love God and obeys his commandments, which are not hard to follow, because the commandments of God are summed up in one: love one another.
APPLY
Children often seem to think obeying their parents is difficult. It seems like torture to make one’s bed, clean one’s room, wash the dishes and dry them, sweep the floors, take out the trash and do laundry.
Surely, such chores take some time and effort. But as adults we find that “life” goes so much better when we have a clean house, clean clothes and a made bed.
Sometimes, we seem to approach living for God the same way as children do chores. We see all of the obligations and feel like it is impossible. But the basic essence of living in harmony with God’s will is simply loving others. When we practice love, we find life truly becomes simpler and a joy.
RESPOND
Heavenly Father, thank you for your love which has transformed me. May I now live by your love in all my interactions with others and so fulfill your will and your Word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.