The only way to know we're in Him.
This is the title of a short passage but deeply challenging passage in John’s first letter:
“Here's how we can be sure that we know God in the right way: Keep his commandments.
If someone claims, "I know him well!" but doesn't keep his commandments, he's obviously a liar. His life doesn't match his words. But the one who keeps God's word is the person in whom we see God's mature love. This is the only way to be sure we're in God. Anyone who claims to be intimate with God ought to live the same kind of life Jesus lived.
My dear friends, I'm not writing anything new here. This is the oldest commandment in the book, and you've known it from day one. It's always been implicit in the Message you've heard. On the other hand, perhaps it is new, freshly minted as it is in both Christ and you—the darkness on its way out and the True Light already blazing!
Anyone who claims to live in God's light and hates a brother or sister is still in the dark. It's the person who loves brother and sister who dwells in God's light and doesn't block the light from others. But whoever hates is still in the dark, stumbles around in the dark, doesn't know which end is up, blinded by the darkness.” 1 John 2:3-11 (Msg)
This leaves me so deeply moved [for many reasons] that I don’t know what to say.
Love is active; it is not merely the absence of any ill-will towards anyone, love demands action. Love allows us to deal with the pain of relationships; when two of us get together there is naturally a friction at some time, but love is how this is overcome.
‘Naturally’ we learn how to cope with people we don’t always gel with. ‘Supernaturally’ we learn to love them! We love because Christ is in us, and the strength of our love is reliant on Christ alone [not those around us].
“Love from the centre of who you are; don't fake it.” Rom 12:9 (Msg)
My brother, my sister [in Christ] I want to love you more. Sorry for when my actions have blocked God’s light rather than making it visible.
“Here's how we can be sure that we know God in the right way: Keep his commandments.
If someone claims, "I know him well!" but doesn't keep his commandments, he's obviously a liar. His life doesn't match his words. But the one who keeps God's word is the person in whom we see God's mature love. This is the only way to be sure we're in God. Anyone who claims to be intimate with God ought to live the same kind of life Jesus lived.
My dear friends, I'm not writing anything new here. This is the oldest commandment in the book, and you've known it from day one. It's always been implicit in the Message you've heard. On the other hand, perhaps it is new, freshly minted as it is in both Christ and you—the darkness on its way out and the True Light already blazing!
Anyone who claims to live in God's light and hates a brother or sister is still in the dark. It's the person who loves brother and sister who dwells in God's light and doesn't block the light from others. But whoever hates is still in the dark, stumbles around in the dark, doesn't know which end is up, blinded by the darkness.” 1 John 2:3-11 (Msg)
This leaves me so deeply moved [for many reasons] that I don’t know what to say.
Love is active; it is not merely the absence of any ill-will towards anyone, love demands action. Love allows us to deal with the pain of relationships; when two of us get together there is naturally a friction at some time, but love is how this is overcome.
‘Naturally’ we learn how to cope with people we don’t always gel with. ‘Supernaturally’ we learn to love them! We love because Christ is in us, and the strength of our love is reliant on Christ alone [not those around us].
“Love from the centre of who you are; don't fake it.” Rom 12:9 (Msg)
My brother, my sister [in Christ] I want to love you more. Sorry for when my actions have blocked God’s light rather than making it visible.
posted by Andrew at 10:19 pm
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