Love One Another (1 John 3:10-12)

By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother. For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother's were righteous.
(1 John 3:10-12, NASB)

Yes, if we are not practicing righteousness, we are not of God. Furthermore, if we do not love our brothers and sisters, we are also not of God.

It all comes down to those greatest commandments of Jesus again:

"'AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.' The second is this, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' There is no other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:30-31, NASB)

I know I've written this before, but it's so true. If you love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, you're not going to practice sin. You're going to want to know Him so intimately that you'll spend time in His word. You'll learn what pleases Him. And you'll begin to practice righteousness more and more often.

And if you love your neighbor as yourself, you'll treat them with respect and grace and mercy. Just as Jesus treats you. If you love them, you won't sin against them. You won't cheat or gossip or explode in anger. Instead, you'll be gentle and kind and patient.

Tall orders ... But I believe it's a matter of mindset. You won't always succeed in loving God completely or loving your neighbor deeply, but if your heart and mind are focused on both, you'll begin to live both.

[NOTE: I leave on vacation for two weeks today. I should have internet access, so I hope to continue these daily devotions. However, don't be alarmed if I miss a day or two! God's richest blessings!]

Born of God (1 John 3:9)

Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.
(1 John 3:9, NASB)

Sometimes, old adages really illustrate a point well. Albeit very dark, "Like beating a dead horse" is one of them. Sometimes, it seems like overkill when John or Peter or Paul continue to reiterate a theme or a topic over and over. However, it's just as if they knew human nature. We can be very dense or resistant or downright hostile to truth.

And sometimes, the writers of the Bible knew they'd have to make their argument over and over in order for their readers to really "get it."

We've already read several times how we cannot serve God and still habitually sin. We cannot be Christ-followers and practice sin. One or the other will have dominance in our lives.

If we choose to truly follow Christ and seek the Father's will, then the Holy Spirit will convict us when we sin. If, however, we choose to practice sin, then our focus will be taken off of God and onto our sin. It might be gradual neglect or outright defiance.

You're either "born of God," with the Holy Spirit's indwelling presence, or you're a slave to sin.

So as I've written before, you must choose. Please choose wisely. Please allow God complete control of your life. It'll be the best decision you ever made.

Don't Be Deceived (1 John 3:7-8)

Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.
(1 John 3:7-8, NASB)

We live in a world of deceivers. Politicians. Corporations.

And now, it seems, our schools. They seem to be changing history. They teach evolution as fact, but creation can’t even be taught as a theory. They allow “free thinking,” but don’t be caught praying in class.

But even more tragic? Our churches. Tolerance has morphed into compromise which then becomes acceptance. I’m all for loving my neighbor, and I’m a huge proponent of loving the sinner, yet hating the sin. And if one is not a follower of Jesus, then I say, “Live and let live—as long as they’re not hurting someone or breaking the law.”

HOWEVER …

If one says he’s a follower of Jesus, yet practices sin … well then, I do have an issue with that. If one picks and chooses what she believes in the Bible in order to legitimize her sin … Now I know the Bible says, “Judge not, lest you be judged” (Matt. 7:1), but it also gives guidelines for how to redeem a sinning brother. (See Matt. 18:15-20.)

John makes it very clear in today’s verses. Those who practice, who live in habitual sin of any kind, are of the devil. You cannot serve two masters. (I know, I’m taking literary license with Matt. 6:24 and Luke 16:13 as Jesus was talking about God and money. However, I think He’d be the first to say that we cannot serve both God and anything. He has to be our one and only Master.)

If you’re practicing sin, then please confess it. And then “Go and sin no more” (John 8:11). Don’t be deceived by this world. Don’t be deceived by even those who call themselves Christians, yet compromise God’s word.

Instead, practice righteousness. Pray that God will help you to more and more like Christ. Pray that you’ll exude the fruit of the Spirit. (See Galatians 5:22.) Practice those things that will please God.

In the end? That’s all that matters.

What Do You Practice? (1 John 3:4-6)

Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him.
(1 John 3:4-6, NASB)

John makes what appears to be an abrupt shift from yesterday’s verses to today’s. But not really. We ended yesterday’s study talking about hope. But that verse ended with John’s assertion that we who follow Christ will one day be pure as He is pure.

With those words echoing, John continues by contrasting the “unpure” with the pure. Because God is pure, only those who are pure can abide with Him.

And of course, it’s impossible to be pure, to be righteous, apart from Jesus Christ. He came to earth to become our once-for-all sacrifice. He took our penalty for sin so we can be pure in the Father’s eyes.

And once we are saved by the blood of Christ, our desire should be to be like Him. We should no longer be slaves to sin. We should no longer practice sin. Yes. We will sin sometimes. It’s that flesh again. But the key word is practice.

Anyone who practices sin cannot abide in God. You will either practice sin or you will practice a Christ-like life. One or the other.

So ... what do you practice? Is your time spent living a habitual sin? Or do you keep your focus on God? If it's the latter, then your practices should be prayer, Bible study, service, worship, fellowship ...

What do you practice?

Placing Your Hope (1 John 3:2-3)

Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
(1 John 3:2-3, NASB)

Where do you place your hope? In your job? In relationships? In your stuff? And what happens when you lose your job? Or your best friend moves away? Or your house burns down? I know, those are pretty depressing thoughts, but things happen.

The only unchanging place to put your hope is in God. One day, Jesus will return. We know this. We put our hope in it.

One day, we will be like Jesus. We will be pure. We will be perfect in the eyes of our Father.

And we’ll spend eternity with Him.

No more pain. No more sorrow. Just worshipping and serving our Creator God.

I don’t know about you, but that’s where I place my hope.

God's Children (1 John 3:1)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
(1 John 3:1, NASB)

You are a child of God! You are a son or daughter of the King! That’s how much God loves you!

He could have called us servants or slaves … or nothing at all. But He chose to call us His children. His dearly-loved children. When we accept the gift of salvation through belief in Christ’s death and resurrection, we are adopted into God’s family.

I have many friends who have adopted children. Some have “natural” children as well, but they make no distinction between those children who came from their body and those adopted into their hearts.

And once we’re adopted into God’s family, He makes no distinction either.

But the world certainly does. Non-believers don’t understand how believers are part of a family. We’re all brothers and sisters—God’s family. They don’t recognize our kinship because they don’t recognize our Father.

No matter what the world may think of us, be grateful. You are God’s son. His daughter. You have brothers and sisters across the globe. You are never alone, for your Father is always with you.

Your Father. Your Abba. Your Daddy.

How Will He Find You? (1 John 2:28-29)

Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him.
(1 John 2:28-29, NASB)

John now comes to the most important reason we should abide in Christ. He will return one day. It could be today. Or tomorrow. Or years from now. But He will return.

How do you want Jesus to find you when He returns? Watching television? Playing video games? Gossiping with your friends? Committing adultery? Cheating? Lying?

Or will He find you serving at a soup kitchen? Praying? Playing with your children? Reading God’s word? Embracing your spouse? Worshipping at church?

Will you be following what Jesus called the greatest commandment—loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength? Or the second—loving your neighbor as yourself? (See Mark 12:29-30.)

God is righteous. And we who call ourselves His children need to be as righteous as we possibly can be. We won’t be perfect this side of heaven, but we can choose to love God and love others. We can choose to live in such a way that we won’t be in any way ashamed when Jesus returns to take us to heaven.

How will Jesus find you when He returns? Think about it.

Abide in Him (1 John 2:27)

As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.
(1 John 2:27, NASB)

When we accept the gift of salvation through the death and resurrection of God the Son, God the Holy Spirit indwells us. And He gives us wisdom to understand God’s word. He helps us to discern truth from lies. He convicts us when we sin.

But we can fight Him. Ignore Him. Still make our own decisions. Justify our sin.

I’ve certainly been guilty of all of the above. But the older I get, the closer I get to heaven, the more I want to allow the Spirit to work in me. The more I want to allow Jesus to shine through me. The more I want to allow the Father to work His will in and through me.

I want to abide in Him.

Can you honestly say you completely abide in God? That you believe in Him fully? That you want to live to honor and glorify Him and only Him?

Give it up. Give it all up to Him. Let God work through you. Let Him bless you as He sees fit.

Abide in Him.

Don't Be Deceived (1 John 2:26)

These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you.
(1 John 2:26, NASB)

One of the main purposes of John’s writing this letter is contained in these words. He wanted to prepare his readers for “those who are trying to deceive you.”

And we today need this same preparation. We certainly face deceivers, both religious and secular. Evolutionists “prove” their beliefs. Atheists deny God exists. New age thinkers say you can be your own “god.”

Even more tragically, religious leaders, even those who profess to be Christians, are deceiving us. Maybe Christ wasn’t sinless. Maybe there is another way to find salvation. Maybe everyone really will go to heaven if he’s good enough.

Then there are those who tell us if we give more, we’ll get more. That God wants everyone to be wealthy and prosperous.

Tragic … and immensely dangerous. Sin isn’t really sin. Jesus wasn’t really perfect. There are many roads to heaven. The Bible isn’t the infallible, inspired word of God.

So dangerous because God will not be mocked (Gal. 6:7). He will not be second-best (Ex. 20:3). He expects—and deserves—all our love … heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30).

Beware of those who would try to deceive you. Make God’s word your touchstone. If anything distracts you or tells you something contrary to what God’s word says, run from it. And, as I’ve written many, many times, the only way to know what God’s word does say is studying it and meditating on it every day. I can’t encourage you more strongly.

Because if you don’t know, really know, what you believe, you’ll be easily deceived.

And that really is tragic.

Jesus' Promise (1 John 2:25)

This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life.
(1 John 2:25, NASB)

I love this verse! I’m helping out with my church’s VBS this week, and one of the memory verses my kids learned was John 3:16. As I said yesterday, sometimes we who’ve known Jesus for a while can take our relationships with Him for granted. The same can be said of Bible verses we may have memorized years (or for some of us, decades) ago.

John 3:16, written by the same John whose book we’re focusing on now, reminds us of the core of the gospel. God loves us so much, He had a plan for our once-for-all salvation. God the Son, Jesus, came to earth to die for us, to pay the penalty for our sin. And that’s awesome … truly.

But that’s not the end of the story for us.

We’re promised another awesome thing: eternal life with our Lord and Savior. Eternity praising Him. Eternity worshipping Him.

That’s a promise Jesus Himself made. And that’s a promise you can trust.

Abide in God's Word (1 John 2:24)

As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.
(1 John 2:24, NASB)

Do you remember when you first met Jesus? When you asked Him to forgive you of your sins and be Lord of your life? Do you remember eagerly reading God’s word and being amazed how it spoke to you?

Do you remember your “first love”?

Some of us who’ve been following Christ for a while can take the amazing gift of a relationship with God—Father, Son, and Spirit—for granted. We forget what we “heard from the beginning.”

After I rededicated my heart and gave my life completely to the Lord almost 17 years ago, I felt that “first love” again. But I neglected time with God and time in His word. For about five years, my faith ebbed and flowed. I found myself falling back in to old patterns, and I realized that I needed to “abide” in God’s word. I needed to spend time reading and studying and meditating. I needed to spend time in prayer. And it had to be every day.

I get so easily distracted, and I know if I don’t spend part of each day with Jesus, I tend to neglect my relationship with Him. I need to abide in Him. And when I abide in Him, I learn more about God’s will for my life.

Are you abiding with Jesus? Spending time in the Bible? Every day? May I encourage you to do so? It’ll become the best part of your day. I promise.

Denying Christ ... (1 John 2:22-23)

Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also.
(1 John 2:22-23, NASB)

A couple of days ago, we read about the many “antichrists” in the world today. Today’s verses make it even more pointed. Anyone who denies that Jesus is the Christ—the Messiah—is an antichrist. Anti-Christ. Against Christ.

Just as we must decide whom we serve—God or money (Matt. 6:24; Luke 16:13), we must decide what we believe about Jesus. It’s not enough to say He was a wise man or a good teacher. He said He was equal with God the Father (“I and My Father are one.” John 10:30). He claimed that “no one comes to the Father but through [Him]” (John 14:6).

So to say He was just a good man or anything less than the Messiah is just plain wrong. And if you deny what He Himself said He was, then you’re against Him. You’re an antichrist.

I don’t know about you, but that chills me to the bone.

History—even secular history—has proven Jesus existed here on earth. And a two-millennia faith has flourished since the first disciples began sharing the good news of Christ’s death and resurrection. The gospels and Paul’s letters date to within just decades of the actual events. So closely, in fact, those who disputed Christ’s followers could have easily brought eye-witnesses to deny their claims.

But they didn’t. They couldn’t. Because everything happened exactly as the Bible said it did. Jesus did come to earth. He did die for the sins of mankind. He did rise again. He is Messiah, Savior.

Don’t deny truth. Don’t deny Christ as Messiah. Don’t be anti-Christ.

Know the Truth (1 John 2:20-21)

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth.
(1 John 2:20-21, NASB)

When we committed our lives to God the Son, we received not only an anointing from the God the Father, but also God the Holy Spirit indwelt us. He is in us. And He helps reveal the truth of God’s word. As we study and meditate on God’s word, we know the truth.

Time in God’s word is the only way to really know God and His will. And it takes time. Every day. I know I write about this a lot, but it’s true. Until I spent time with God—every day—my walk with Him was, well, up and down, back and forth. It was too easy to neglect God. To neglect my faith. And fall into old fleshly ways.

When I made it a point (literally an appointment) to spend time with God each day, my life changed. For the better. As I learned more about Him and His love, grace, and mercy, my faith grew stronger. I had more peace. More joy. And as I trusted my life to Him, I became more content with whatever He sent my way.

Now, my day isn’t complete without spending time with God. Sometimes it’s only a few minutes. Other times, it’s much longer. The important thing? Keeping Him first and foremost in my heart and mind. Learning more about Him and His will.

Every day. What will you do this day to know your God more deeply?

For or Anti Christ (1 John 2:18-19)

Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.
(1 John 2:18-19, NASB)

In the end times, there will be an Antichrist, who will deceive the world and usher in the tribulation (which, I believe, will happen after the rapture of the church). But even in these days, there are many, many antichrists. Anyone who is against Jesus Christ is an antichrist.

Atheists. Agnostics. Followers of other “faiths” that deny Jesus as God. And sadly, so-called Christians who say Jesus may not have been sinless or that He isn’t necessarily the only way to salvation and eternal life with God.

What do you believe? Is Jesus who the Bible says He is? Perfect God the Son who came to earth to pay our penalty for sin and to reconcile us with God the Father? Or was He just another wise teacher? Or maybe a myth?

You can either be a Christ-follower—heart, soul, mind, and strength—or an antichrist. One or the other.

Which are you? Your decision has eternal ramifications. And as I wrote yesterday, you must make a choice. So again, choose wisely.

God or the World - Your Choice (1 John 2:15-17)

Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.
(1 John 2:15-17, NASB)

Our world offers many enticements. Things that appeal to our flesh, that catch our eyes. Wear this and you’ll look like her. Use this make-up and you’ll defy age. Drive this car and you’ll be popular. Ads and commercials depict beautiful, carefree people living just for today.

And sometimes even we Christ-followers get caught up in the hype. But the Bible makes it very, very clear. We cannot love both God and the world. Whichever is our primary focus becomes either our God (capital “g”) or our god (lower case “g”).

The Bible makes something else very, very clear: This world and everything in it is temporary. It will “pass away.” In fact, it’s in the very act as I write this. Even many secular scientists say the world is winding down, and we who follow Christ know that, one day, He will return. This world and its lusts will be destroyed, and we’ll live eternally in the new heaven and earth God has planned for us.

So … where is your focus? Are you running after the temporary things of this world? Or are you looking toward eternity? Are you living to serve God? Or the gods of this world?

You have to make a choice. Choose wisely.

Four Attributes of Believers (1 John 2:13-14)

I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
(1 John 2:13-14, NASB)

These verses describe four attributes of believers. Let’s look at them one by one:

We know God. We serve a personal God, One who wants to be known by His children. Many belief systems (in fact, most other than Christianity) believe their god to be far off somewhere, not interested in the day-to-day of us humans. Our God, on the other hand, is with us at all times. He never leaves us. We can come to Him at any time—and He’s here. Right now.

We have overcome the evil one. When we become followers of Jesus Christ, we join the winning side! Satan may try his best to tempt us or try to pull us away from the truth, but he knows he’s going to lost the war.

We are strong. With Jesus at our side, we can accomplish anything, according to the Father’s will. Yes, we may have pain or tragedy or crisis, but we are assured that we “can do all things” through the power of our Lord Jesus Christ. (See Philippians 4:13.)

God’s word abides in us. As a believer, a follower of Christ, it is critical—and I don’t use that word lightly—to spend time in God’s word. The Bible is full of truth, wisdom, encouragement, conviction, and inspiration. We know God more and more through His word. And we know more and more what He wants from us through His word.

Do you know God? Really know Him? Do you feel confident you’ve—with Jesus in you—overcome the evil one? Do you spend time in His word so it can abide in you?

Serving our personal God with whom we can truly be in relationship is a blessing beyond measure. Don’t take it for granted.

For His Name's Sake (1 John 2:12)

I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name's sake.
(1 John 2:12, NASB)

Such a short verse, but so rich. When we confess our sins, God the Father will forgive. (Don’t forget 1 John 1:9!) And He forgives because of the name of Jesus, God the Son.

There’s a wonderful old song written by Bill and Gloria Gaither called, “There’s Something About That Name.” The words are so true:

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, there's just something about that name.
Master, Savior, Jesus, like the fragrance after the rain.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, let all heaven and earth proclaim!
Kings and kingdoms will all pass away,
But there's something about that name.

If you listen to a recording of this wonderful song, in between the two choruses, Gloria herself speaks of the amazing things that happen just at the mention of Jesus’ name:

Jesus, the mere mention of His name can calm the storm, heal the broken, raise the dead. At the name of Jesus, I've seen sin-hardened men melted, derelicts transformed, the lights of hope put back into the eyes of a hopeless child. At the name of Jesus, hatred and bitterness turn to love and forgiveness; arguments cease...

Emperors have tried to destroy it; philosophies have tried to stamp it out. Tyrants have tried to wash it from the face of the earth with the very blood of those who claimed it. Yet still it stands!

And at the name of Jesus, we are forgiven. There really is something about that name. Indeed.

Love Others (1 John 2:9-11)

The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
(1 John 2:9-11, NASB)

For the first part of his letter, John focused on loving and serving God. Being Christ’s light. Now he ups the ante.

Living in Christ’s light means more than loving God. It means loving others as well. And John makes it very clear: If we hate someone, we’re walking in darkness.

Hate breeds in darkness. I know. For many years, the hate I harbored for my abusers filled my heart so completely, there was no room for peace or joy … or love. Even more, that hate kept me from my relationship with God as well.

It wasn’t until I could forgive and love—yes, love—those who had hurt me that I was able to truly love God. Remember, forgiveness doesn’t mean agreement or approval. It means taking the burden off of your own shoulders. It means opening your heart to God’s love.

Is there someone you’ve yet to forgive? Someone who’s hurt you? Forgive. And even if you can’t let them in your life (and that’s okay), ask Jesus to help you love them. With His love.

Be the Light of Jesus (1 John 2:7-8)

Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard. On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining.
(1 John 2:7-8, NASB)

John’s readers would have been very familiar with God’s commandments: to love Him (commandments 1-4) and to love others (commandments 5-10). (See Deut. 5:7-21.) So he first reminded them of that very fact. The “word which you have heard” would have been embedded in their hearts.

Yet John was also “writing a new commandment.” Before Christ’s first visit to earth, the people of Israel were to follow a laundry list of cleansing and purification rituals. Law upon law. And for them, atonement came through an annual sacrifice of a spotless lamb.

Now, however, atonement comes through the spilled blood of Jesus Christ. This “new commandment” said to abide in the light—the true light—of the Savior. Accept His gift of forgiveness and salvation. Joyfully live in relationship with him.

And one last promise in today’s verses: “the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining.” Yes, this world seems to be very dark—and getting darker. However, Jesus’ light is already shining through those who really, truly follow Him.

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you may remember the time we spent in Philippians. Remember how Paul describes true followers? To paraphrase: We are light in a dark, perverted, corrupt world.

Shine the light of Jesus today. Be Him to someone.

Truth or a Lie? (1 John 2:3-6)

By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected 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 2:3-6, NASB)

As I’ve written before, there are many people who call themselves “Christians.” There are churches that say they’re “Christian” churches. But in reality? They’re liars.

If someone says she knows God, yet she picks and chooses what she believes, she’s a liar. If someone says he knows God, yet he disregards part of God’s word and commandments, he’s a liar. Hey, it’s not me who says this; it’s God.

The one who really knows God will keep His commandments. She’ll keep His word. He’ll love God and others. Those who really know God will abide in Him.

They’ll walk as Jesus walked.

So, are you a true follower of Christ? Do you believe God’s word as His inerrant, inspired revelation? Do you strive to follow His commandments—knowing, of course, that you may fail sometimes? Do you do your best to walk as Jesus walked?

If you truly want to follow Jesus, don’t compromise. Don’t “edit” God’s word. Walk the walk and talk the talk.

And why is this so important? Because the Bible says some will experience a very tragic meeting with God one day: They’ll stand before God, and say, “I went to church. I called myself a Christian.” And He’ll say, “Who are you? I don’t know you.” (See Matthew 7:21-23.)

Don’t let that be you. Believe with your whole heart. Meditate on His entire word, even those passages you don’t necessarily understand—or even like. Follow His commandments. Love Him and others. Serve Him.

And then one day, you’ll hear those amazing words, “Well done, My good and faithful servant.” (See Matthew 25:22-23; Luke 19:17.)

I don’t know about you, but that’s my desire: to live like Christ on earth, and then to stand before my Lord, knowing I loved, honored, and served Him well.