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Christian Devotional – July 28, 2014
Read 1 John chapter 5 VERSE: 1 John 5:3–In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome. TRUTH: What does it mean to love God? What does that look like? We show God that we love Him by obeying Him. Obedience is an act of love. God didn’t make it so that showing our love for Him would be drudgery or would be considered a noose around our necks; instead, God showed us that His commands come from His love and are easy to do when we are allowing Him to live and love through us. Are we joyfully showing God we…
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Christian Devotional – July 27, 2014
Read 1 John chapter 5 VERSE: 1 John 5:2–This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. TRUTH: John mentions it over and over again, but it all comes back to God and His love. Because of God, we are able to love others. The way we know we love others is because of our love for God. Out of love for Him, we are obedient to Him. By displaying love through obedience, we are loving God and others. All of this is possible because God Himself is love. Is God and His love central to everything in our life?…
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Christian Devotional – July 26, 2014
Read 1 John chapter 5 VERSE: 1 John 5:1–Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God and everyone who loves the father, loves his child as well. TRUTH: We cannot separate our love of God and our love for Jesus. If we say we love God, we must also say we love His child as well. Jesus Christ is the Holy One of God and He is God Himself. Loving and serving God means we must also love and serve Jesus. Do we see God and Jesus as One? Do we love both the same? RESPONSE: Father, You are love and You love me. I know…
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Christian Devotional – July 25, 2014
Read 1 John chapter 4 VERSE: 1 John 4:20-21–Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. TRUTH: Our relationship with God is reflected in our relationship with others. If we are not loving toward our fellow believers, that is reflecting a bigger problem in our relationship with God. We can see and interact on a physical level with other believers and, as this verse says,…
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Christian Devotional – July 24, 2014
Read 1 John chapter 4 VERSE: 1 John 4:19–We love because he first loved us. TRUTH: This verse explains both the why and the how of love. Why do we love others? We love because he first loved us. How do we display love to others, even when they seem unloveable? God loves us first and through His living in us, He is able to love others through us. Because of God, we are both loveable and able to love. RESPONSE: Father, You loved me, even when I was in the midst of sin. You love me still. Every single day I am a part of Your wonderful love. I…
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Christian Devotional – July 23, 2014
Read 1 John chapter 4 VERSE: 1 John 4:18–There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. TRUTH: Fear and love cannot co-exist. Either we are fully resting and trusting in God’s love, or we are paralyzed by fear. Because of God’s love and His promise to live in us an through us, we don’t have to fear. Is there an area of our life where we are afraid? We can turn that over to God and choose to live in His love instead. RESPONSE: Father, when I am afraid,…
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Christian Devotional – July 22, 2014
Read 1 John chapter 4 VERSE: 1 John 4:17–This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. TRUTH: As it says in the previous verse, God is love and living in love means living in God and vice versa. This is how love is made complete. When we are living in God and allowing Him to live in us, we can have confidence that no matter what we face, we are exactly where God has us and doing His work. In that way, we are like Jesus, living in love each and…
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Christian Devotional – July 21, 2014
Read 1 John chapter 4 VERSE: 1 John 4:16–And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love, lives in God, and God in them. TRUTH: Do we rely on God’s love? God is love and He loves us, but it’s not just a question of knowing God’s love, but also relying on His love to lead us and guide us. Are we living each day relying on God’s love? RESPONSE: Father, You are love and only by relying on You and Your love will I be able to live in love. I will choose to live in You today.
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Christian Devotional – July 20, 2014
Read 1 John chapter 4 VERSE: 1 John 4:15–If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. TRUTH: The message of salvation is simple to understand. If we will acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the perfect Son of God and admit that we have fallen short of God’s expectations of us, then allow Jesus to take control of our life, we will experience the joy of having God living in us. Do we have that close, personal relationship with God today? RESPONSE: Father, I know that Jesus Christ is God and I have asked Him to be the Lord of my…
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Christian Devotional – July 19, 2014
Read 1 John chapter 4 VERSE: 1 John 4:13-14–This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. TRUTH: Two things testify of the relationship we have with Jesus: our words and our actions. God has given us His Spirit who lives in those who have believed in Him. Through the Spirit, we are able to act in such a way that displays our relationship with God. Secondly, the Spirit gives us the words to speak so that we…