Saturday, September 3, 2022

 

Saturday, September 3, 2022


Psalm 9

Zephaniah 3:1-10

1 John 3:11-24


Observances: Gregory of Rome, bishop and teacher (d. 604); Eliza Darling, pioneer social reformer in NSW (d. 1868)


And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.


Again John comes at us with this heavenly concept to “abide”. Fortunately we now get some practical advice on the subject. We can now dig in and get our hands dirty working at this task of getting closer to God.


It always comes back to love. There is a legend in the church that, when John was in his old age (he was allegedly the only disciple of Jesus who wasn't martyred), the young generation of the church would ask him to come up the front and give them some advice. This man was their last living link to the Lord Jesus, so, they figured we'll get him up to give us some sage wisdom. According to legend, he would always say the same thing: “Little children, you must love one another”. Many times they would get the old man up the front, and every time he would tell them the same thing.


This is only legend, but reading through this letter it is very believable. John actually saw Jesus, the One who had everything, who is the image of the invisible God, through whom all things were made, lay down His life for the sake of His friends. John spent the rest of his life reflecting on how this love interprets the Bible and describes the nature of our relationship with God and one another perfectly. To have things and not use them; to give them away for the benefit of someone else: this is true power, the power of love displayed by Christ hanging on that tree.


Our practical advice this morning is very important. We have become more sensitive as we walk down this path of discipleship, and it is very easy for our tender hearts to turn against us. God, fortunately, never changes. We have the two commandments in verse 23, the two Great Commandments of Jesus. There is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, says Paul, and here John supports that claim, with the reminder that we have also been given the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, the Third Person of God, humbly working away to support us; to abide with us.





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