Women in Discipleship (sm)
Weekly Devotionals 2006
Week Nine
But whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been purified. By this we know that we are in Him; the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.
1 John 2:5-6
Have you noticed that when you make a decision to turn from a bad habit or sin it seems that the thing is bigger than life itself? It's like making a New years resolution or determining to fast during Lent or losing weight. The desire to do the thing grows but the difficulty to stick with it is ever present trying to destroy the good thing. I've been there. Have you?
John writes a message of hope for all of us who struggle. "But whoever keeps His Word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected." The life of a believer is challenging for sure. Jesus pleads on my behalf "always" before the Father. (Hebrews 4:14) Jesus knows the temptations and the weaknesses we all have. He is my Advocate and a Perfect One at that. Praise be to God.
In John's day there were many false prophets who tried to twist the Word of God to their own way of thinking. John knew that the believers needed to hold to the truth of Jesus alone. Nothing more, nothing less. Jesus is our Teacher. We have the Gospels that teach us the Word of Life (1:1) John tells his people and us to simply walk in the same manner as He walked. In this manner the abiding will produce joy abundantly.
The testimony of a believer is the manner of his or her walk. True faith is demonstrated in how we live.
Questions to ponder:
How seriously is my walk of faith in Jesus Christ?
How do I treat those who are weak, sick, in need of help?
How is my lifestyle a testimony to my walk with the Lord?
How tightly do I hold on to those things that are worldly?
If Jesus were to ask us the same question as the rich young ruler what might our answer be?
Food for thought this week,
May we each be found faithful to Him,
Sandra Davis for the Women in Discipleship team
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