This post is Day 9 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 9

I would have said that the devil is the liar, or the antichrist is the liar. But here we are told that EVERYONE who does not acknowledge Jesus as Son of God is in that category! That is a scary thought. It makes me pray more for family and friends.

1 John 2:22-23

Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist — denying the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

The Thought

How would you answer this first question in today’s verses? In the past I would have said that the devil is the liar, or the antichrist is the liar. But here we are told that EVERYONE who doesn’t acknowledge Jesus as Son of God is in that category! I find that a scary thought. It makes me pray more for my family and friends.

Reading this we realise that most of us are totally surrounded by mini antichrists: At work or school, in our neighbourhoods, when we travel, when we shop, go to the dentist or hairdresser!

We must learn to see ourselves as mini-evangelists, and take every opportunity to share Jesus with those people who don’t know they are on the wrong side of eternal life. We are not all called to be evangelists, but we are all called to pray for those around us.

When Paul wrote that we should be “always joyful and pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17), he meant it. I can imagine that as he travelled by road or by sea, whatever happened to him, he would be praying for those around him. Am I? Are you?

Action

Ask the Lord to remind you as you go through your day to pray for those around you, wherever you may be. Pray for those on the train/bus, at the traffic lights, at the cash desk in the supermarket.

If you don’t leave your home today, take some time to ask for divine realisation for those in your neighbourhood. Pray for angels to carry the good news to them.

Pray for open hearts and minds.