Bible Chapter: I John 3

Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.

1.  Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
    How massive is the love that God has lavished on us.  That word lavish is a strong word that implies excess of good things.  God does not hold back His love towards His children. How amazing it is that we can be His children.  And we see that there is a distinct difference between believers and those who have not made Jesus the Lord of their lives.  Those who have God’s love in them will love others.  A sign of true believers is that they love one another.
    There is a continual purifying process in the Christian life.  We must remember that there is a lifestyle separation between the church and the world.  The devil is real and he is fighting a nasty battle of lies and destruction against God.  This battle is fought through deception that destroys people and separates them from God.  It is not possible to live a godly life while actively participating in sin.  The world will hate believers.  The liar and deceiver will make believers look horrible and stupid.  Don’t give up simply because deceived people mock you for your belief.

2.  What can I apply in my life from the reading?
    In my ramblings through life I have observed that there are ups and downs in the understanding of what is spiritual (Christlike) and what is considered sin.  Many things that Christians have avoided are now actively done.  Right and wrong seem to shift from age to age and location to location.  This is why it is incumbent on every believer to study the Bible and see what it really says.  This chapter has some challenging statements that I must consistently apply.
Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself
No one who lives in him keeps on sinning
He who does what is right is righteous
No one who is born of God will continue to sin
We should love one another
Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth
    This is quite a list to be applied to daily life.  It makes a major difference when obeyed.

3.  How can I help someone?
    I can continue to strive to understand God’s love and then apply it.  It is easy to judge people by all the superficial standards and not love people the way God wants us to love.  I need to see people the way God sees them and treat them accordingly. This does not mean that I encourage or enable sin, but love people.