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1 John 2:17

And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

Personal Challenge

This world is a challenging place to live. And for those who are trying to live godly lives and follow in the footsteps of Christ find it even more challenging. The world does not want Christ and therefore does not want His followers. By the grace #God, however, we will prevail. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

1 John 2:7

Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning.

Encouraging words

Jesus fulfilled all of the commandments, the law, of the old covenant. He taught that the essence of that law could be boiled down into two commandments, love our God with all our heart, soul, body, and spirit, and love our neighbor as ourselves. John has been reiterating this new covenant, and reminding us that he is not teaching us something new, but reinforcing what Jesus taught. Our lives should not only be informed by love, but transformed be love. We should be striving to be as loving as Jesus was. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

1 John 2:4-6

He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

Personal Challenge

It has been said that we are known by the company that we keep. John challenges us to understand that just saying that we know Jesus is not enough. Do we keep company with Him enough that people see Jesus in us and in our actions. Are we followers of Jesus in word only or has our life been changed enough that we are being identified as “in Him”? The core essence of being “in Him” is love. Love for our God. Love for our neighbor. This love must be evidenced in how we show our love to others. Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Encouraging Words

Who is it that forgives us of our sins? God, and God alone. We are charged here to confess our sins to our Lord in order to receive is His forgiveness, which He gives fully and freely. In the Orthodox faith practice we have the practice of confession. It is clearly taught that our priest is not the one who forgives our sins, neither does he absolve us of our sins. He is there to fulfill another admonition in the scriptures to “confess our sins to one another”. Our confession and subsequent forgiveness is between God and us. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner?

1 John 1:5-7

This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Encouraging Words

Jesus is light, the light of God shining into this dark and dreary world. His light is warming and encouraging, especially in those times when we feel overcome by the darkness around us. His light is illuminating, revealing to us those dark areas in our lives that we need to purge so that we can live for Him. We can choose to live in His light or stay in the darkness, but life is only in His light. Glory be to God!

1 John 1:1-3

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

Encouraging Words

Our Christian belief and faith is not based on some legend or myth. It is not a story that is made up to generate a following. Jesus Christ was a real man, born of a virgin, and grew into a man. He was fully human as witnessed by many and documented in history. Based on the works and miracles that He performed, including the resurrection from death, He was clearly the Son of God, fully human and fully God. This too was witnessed by many and documented in the annals of history. Jesus was seen, heard, and touched as evidence that He walked upon this earth and did miraculous things. This is the Lord that I worship and choose to submit my life to. This is the Lord that I serve. Glory be to God!

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Encouraging Words

Throughout the last 2000 years, the faithful in Christ have been waiting for His return. He promised that He would return and end this world of suffering and pain. Has this waiting been in vain? No! God does not desire that any of His creation should perish. His is long suffering toward us and giving all an opportunity to repent and turn to Him. Glory be to God!