This post is Day 26 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 26

If we take the 10 commandments seriously, then we need to apologise to God for breaking His rules. Many too, may need to recognise that the sicknesses and difficulties we are experiencing today are because our ancestors have not been obedient. Yes, Jesus broke those curses at the cross, but …

1 John 5:1-3

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves The Father loves His child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out His commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep His commands. And His commands are not burdensome.

The Thought

In these verses we have further encouragements to love the family of God, and to look closely at our relationships.

When Moses began to lead the people out of Egypt and towards their Promised Land, God gave him specific orders on how they were to live. You can read that list in Exodus 20.

If we take these 10 commandments seriously today (and we should), then most of us need to apologise to God for breaking His rules. Many too, may need to recognise that the sicknesses and difficulties we are experiencing today are because our ancestors have not been obedient (Exodus 20:5). Yes, Jesus broke those curses at the cross, but it is our responsibility to accept Jesus’ forgiveness and recognise all that He did that day to set us free from our own wrongdoings, but also from the sins of our forefathers.

The last phrase in our verses above is to convince us that following Jesus is easy. “His commands are not burdensome.” All He is asking us to do is love everyone; our families, our neighbours, our colleagues, our church family and all other church families…! If we don’t feel we can do that, we must ask Jesus to heal our hurts and help us forgive.

Action

Pray today for those you find difficult to love. Ask Jesus to help you love them.

Praise Father God that He loved you before you were born, and still does.

Read Exodus 20:1-17 slowly and pray for help in the commands you find difficult to obey.