This post is Day 17 in a series of studies about “1 John”. I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

Feel free to comment below with your own thoughts about each verse and how you will be acting on each thought. Also, if you haven’t yet signed up to receive the notifications of new studies, you can do that today (the form is at the bottom of the page).


1 John – Day 17

1John 3:21-23

Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from Him anything we ask, because we keep His commands and do what pleases Him. And this is His command: to believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as He commanded us.

The Thought

I have to admit that these verses frustrate me a little! I have not yet arrived at the place where I have received whatever I ask! Many things Yes! I could write a book listing the answers to prayer I have received, and I am eternally grateful to God for those answered prayers, but “anything I ask”?? No! What about you?

Sometimes the Bible seems to over-simplify things, and I am beginning to understand why. The condition for answered prayer is in the next verses: “believe in His Son”, and “Love one another”.

Most of us have met people who say they believe in God, but that’s where it ends. They believe He exists, but they don’t have a relationship with Him. The Greek word “pesteuo” is translated “believe”, but it is also the root word for faith. To “have faith in” Jesus is what John is asking of us here. Not for the moment of our death, but for our way of life.

Churches are full of people who believe that God is there, and that Jesus died, but have no experience of that real relationship. We need to share with them our personal experiences of His love, and what “having faith” really means.

Action

Thank Jesus today for the growing relationship that you have with Him, and with other believers.

Think of the answered prayers you have experienced and be grateful.

Ask the Lord if He wants you to share your faith with anyone you meet today. Be obedient!

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