By This...

1Jn. 3: 16

By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

 

By this we know love. Without the self-sacrifice of Jesus, we would never know true love, love that can save a soul and reconcile that soul to God.  The flesh does not know this kind of love; instead, it knows lust, self-gratification, pleasure, etc. But love through the divine is amazing and truly a gift from God. If we know this love, and we do, it demands that we follow in its footsteps. We must lay down our lives for our brothers. We must not only love in word and talk, but in deed and in truth. How better than through the One who is the Truth, the Way, and the Life! 

 

1Jn. 3:19

By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before Him...

 

If our heart condemn us, God is greater. His infinite, omniscient knowledge knows our heart. If our heart does not condemn us, and it can't because of the sacrifice of Jesus that covers us in His blood, we can be confident before God. Our prayers will be answered because of our obedience to the Word. And the word says we believe in the name of Jesus and love one another! Whoever keeps His commandments, abides in God. Here is the rub! To keep the commandments, we must be in the Word to even know the commandments. 

1 Jn. 3:24

Whoever keeps His commandments abides in God, and God in Him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit He has given us.

 

How do we know Jesus abides in us, lives in us every moment? First, by knowing and keeping His commandments  Secondly, by His Spirit that He has given us. God called us to be His children. He sent His Son to make that possible through His death and shed blood on the cross. Then Jesus gave us the gift of His Spirit to lead, guide, and teach us. Not only that but He gave us Himself to live in us, Christ in me the hope of glory! And He gave us His Word so we would know how to live. Saved, sealed, and enabled to live a life that will bring glory to God! And what do I do? Accept it as the glorious gift that it is! Surrender to the One who love me! Desire to be His every minute of the day, not just in word and talk but in deed and truth.

 

Father,

Thank You for the greatest gift ever! Give me the grace to accept, surrender, and desire.

In Jesus name,

Amen