Daily Devotional Monday 27th July 2020
by William Moody1 John 4:13–21
13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot1 love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
Footnotes
[1] 4:20
Some manuscripts how can he (ESV)
John has been just teaching that loving others is a sign of God abiding in us (v12). This abiding is through the Holy Spirit the third person in the Trinity. The Holy Spirit makes the Father and Son real in our lives (13).
In Holy Spirit abiding in us, as well as producing love, enables us to testify to God’s work of salvation in sending His Son (v14-15). God’s love is known and experienced through the Gospel, through Christ coming to save (v16).
God’s wonderful love prepares us for the Day of Judgment (v17) and drives out fear (v18). Oh how precious is this love? What price could we put on it? Do you know and experience the depth of this love?
The response to knowing this amazing love of God has to be loving God (v19) and loving our brothers and sisters in Christ (v20-21). John is very strong here, those who say they love God but hate their brother, are liars (v20).
There is a terrible inconsistency in claiming to be a Christian and then being filled with bitterness towards others. Does your life give evidence to others, that you know and cherish the redeeming love of Jesus? Pray about this!
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