John the apostle has been giving instruction on how to have fellowship with God. He has noted that we must confess our own sin, and when we do this God will not only forgive our sin but will cleanse us from all unrighteousness. However, if we say that we do not have any sin, we make God a liar and God's word is not in us. John notes that it is important that we live without sin, and he gives provision through the advocacy of Jesus should we fail. The way to know if we are in fellowship with God is that we will keep his commandments. Today we look at the second reference to being a liar in John's view.
In First John chapter two and verse four John writes:
He that says, I know him, and keeps not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
John makes it very clear. There is a lot of difference between someone who simply declares that they know Jesus as Lord and Savior and one who actually lives it. Jesus said it this way:
Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by [his] fruit.
The way a person lives demonstrates his or her actual beliefs. We learned yesterday that Jesus' commandments were to love God and to love people. Do we do this? Do we put God before every other thing in our lives? Do we make time for Him, pray to Him, read His word, and note His fellowship all day long? Do we put others before ourselves? Do we try to help others, be kind to others, pray for others more than we do for our own lives? In other words, if someone were to examine the “fruit” in our lives, what would the fruit look like? The popular phrase of the day is “I'm just sayin'”, but is that our declaration when it comes to keeping the commandments of Jesus?
John says if were are “just sayin'” we are liars, and the truth is not in us. This is inditing, isn't it? Today let's take time to examine our own lives to determine whether we are simply declaring that we know God or whether our lives demonstrate it. I know God is rooting for us, and the provision of His Son Jesus declares and demonstrates His love toward us. Now it is our turn to respond, and tomorrow John will tell us what happens when we keep God's word.
Until tomorrow...there is more...
Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, find locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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