1 John – Chapter 3

And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. 1 John 3:23-24 – Often times we make Christianity too difficult. We make it this complicated obstacle course of rules when God has created into a clear cut path. God asks us to believe in Jesus and love people and when we do that we know we have His Spirit within us. That’s not so complicated is it? Maybe today we need to get back to our first understanding of God’s love and grace. Let your walk with God be simple today. It’s about you choosing to believe in His Son and choosing to love people like His Son did. God knows how easily we get sidetracked which is why He gave us His Word to keep us grounded. Today we see the simplicity of our faith, don’t overcomplicate it. Who knows, if we keep it simple, maybe we’ll live it out more. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 751

For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 1 John 3:11- “Humans want to save things that they love” – Steve Irwin. This quote from the Crocodile Hunter is one that set my heart on fire long ago for working with animals. If I could help people love animals then they’d want to save them. Now while saving animals is a great thing my heart has shifted its focus to people. This quote though still spurs me on. God has given us a message and command long ago to love one another. Why? Because when we love something we want to save it. When we love our neighbor we want them to be saved from their sin. When we love our brother we want them rescued from what’s leading them to death. Love for people is what spurs us to share the gospel message with people. Today ask God to grow your love for the people you’re around for when you love someone you want to save them. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1716

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. ¹⁷But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? ¹⁸Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:16-18 – Our love for one another is essential to our life with God. The chapter begins by outlining for us who are children of God and who are children of the devil. That determination is settled by if that person is living a holy life or living a life after sin. For those choosing a holy life, the command stated clearly in this chapter is that we are to love one another. We know this sort of love because we’ve seen it displayed for us by Jesus. Now if our brother needs us, our love isn’t just going to be fluffy talk, but actionable in his life. Allow though the reality of what John is saying here sink in. If we refuse to love our brother, we don’t know God and are not abiding with Him. We can’t claim to be a follower of Jesus if we don’t love our brothers and sisters. What then needs to change within your story to begin loving people like you should? Since our love for one another tells God and others we are for Jesus, then how are we not loving well and how can we change that? Begin with even one small way to pursue a righteous life here, what is one way you can love those in your daily community better? God has given us such an example of love to follow in Jesus, let’s seek to follow His lead today. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2585