SCRIPTURE: 1 John 3:4-10
OBSERVATION:
John has affirmed the amazing news that God views us as His children, and that He is transforming us to be like Jesus: pure, holy, loving, good, etc. Based on this, he challenges the moral apathy evident among Christ-followers then (and now), since afterall, we are forgiven, saved, not saved by works, accepted by grace, etc. John makes it clear that people who know God and Jesus, and the ugliness and shame of sin, will not take sin lightly. Those who continue to sin (willingly, intentionally, carelessly) show that they have not understood the message of Jesus. Of course, everyone sins, but Christ-followers will not excuse it or minimize it, they will hate it and strive with His help to stop. They will not continue to sin. To be more specific, a Christ-follower may battle drunkeness, but if he/she is truly living in fellowship with Jesus, then they will hate it, confess it, fight it and seek to destroy it. This is the evidence of a authentic Christ-follower. Those who do not fight it show that they still approve of it, like it, and don’t care that they hurt God and others with it. This puts them in the same league as Satan who approves of it, likes it, and doesn’t care that he hurts God and others with it.
APPLICATION:
Harsh, but important to hear. Do I want to be in league with Satan? Do I realize that my moral apathy moves me towards him? This thought should sicken me, it should cause me to vomit. I am a child of God, I am a brother in Christ, how can I allow Satan’s ways and delights to continue in my life unchallenged. The important thing here is to be very personal and practical. Where is the Spirit pointing to sin in my life right now? Can I think of specific practices or attitudes that I am tolerating, ignoring or excusing? Impatience, greed, anger, unforgiveness, love of things, refusing to help others, lack of concern, ignoring the needs of those around me, sinful desires and pleasures, gluttony, wasting money…. The closer I am to Jesus and to God, the more these things will burden me, lead me to Him for mercy and help, and energize me to fight them.
PRAYER:
Lord, I confess my moral apathy, also in those specific areas You are revealing to me. I am sensing how great and ugly my sin is, how desperate my condition is, and how much I need Your mercy and help. Help me, Lord. Amen.
“This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are…”
John makes it sound so simple, there are just 2 options. Think of your neighbours, co-workers, classmates, where do they fit? Maybe some of the are obvious, but many are not, or they seem to be good people. At first glance anyway. Of course the better we get to know people, the more we discover we didn’t know. And God knows the deepest, darkest places of the heart.
I guess this leads me to think that we should hesitate to make snap judgments. Don’t be hasty in labeling people. There is more going on beneath the surface than first appears. At the same time, as we get to know people (and they get to know us), patterns will emerge. It will become evident in time whether their main direction is towards God and good and grace, or away from these (i.e. the direction of the devil).
What is the general direction of my life? What patterns of priorities and values does my life show to others? Do they see me primarily as self-centered or selfless. Am I leaning in the right direction?
Picking up on the song that Tony mentions, can they tell I am a Christ-follower because of the love that emanates from me?
Like father, like child. As children imitate their fathers, we too, should imitate our Father in Heaven. That must be a characteristic of all His children or the children are not part of the family. Family members also obey their Father. As the head of the family goes so goes the family. We know who is a part of the earthly family by their name and they will know that we are part of the heavenly family by our love.
Help me Lord to obey You in all I do and say. By Your Spirit, lead and guide me so that I do not stray. Keep me on the narrow Way. May others see You in me. May others read me and see that I am part of Your family – a child of God.
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord.
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord.
And we pray that all unity may one day be restored.
Chorus:
And they’ll know we are Christians
By our love, by our love,
Yes they’ll know we are Christians by our love.