God alone deserves to be praised for he alone has been our help. All through the series of 1 John chapter one through three, we witnessed the help of God and he has not stopped helping us. Although we are yet to conclude the third chapter, we cannot deny the fact that still God has helped us. Hallelujah. In our previous study about three days back, we saw from scripture how that the conscience written as heart can be a judge to us.
Except we decide to deaden our consciences, God through it can speak to us such that we are able to tell when of a truth when we have gone wrong and when we need to seek his face for that which we have done contrary to his instruction. Praise God. Also, we were able to ask ourselves a very important question, right? Of course. That even if we could silence our consciences, can we also silence God who is greater than our hearts, right? I am certain the lesson blessed you in no small way.
Like it was stated earlier, we shall be concluding lessons from the third chapter of 1 John today and as we go through the concluding lessons, I want you to have this mindset, that just as previous lessons have blessed you, this will bless you as well. Let's see the passage of scripture below,
"And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. [23] And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. [24] And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us." ( 1 John 3:22-24).
The scripture in verse 22 opens with the reason our prayers are answered. It says whatsoever we ask, we receive. Does that mean we are at liberty to ask anything including asking God for the death of a fellow brother or sister or some tragic event? No, not at all. This is because it was stated in the book of 1 John 5:14 that we are to pray according to his will and when that condition is met, he hears us (paraphrased). However, considering this context, scripture says that whatever we ask of him, we receive, why? Because we keep his commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. Do you keep his commandments? Do you do those things that are pleasing in his sight?
We may want to ask what these commandments are, right? If the basis for receiving what we ask of him is in keeping his commandments, what then are his commandments? What commandments does he want us to keep? That answer is seen in verse 23, that his commandment is that we should believe on the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another. Is this burdensome? Isn't this what we can do by the Spirit's help? It then makes sense to say that the reason for which we pray and our prayers are answered is first because we believe in Jesus Christ the Son of God, and secondly, that we love one another. Do you do what is pleasing in his sight? Do you keep his commandments?
He who keeps his commandments dwells in him, and he also dwells in such a person and we know by the Spirit that we have received of him that he lives in us. Can you say he dwells in you? Can you say you dwell in him? If yes, do you keep his commandments? Do you believe in Jesus, the Son of God? Do you love as he has commanded you to? The Lord help us to be doers of his word. Amen.
Thought for the day: Can you say of a truth that you dwell in him and that he dwells in you? If yes, do you keep his commandments?
Gospel Today is a comforting, exhorting, edifying and inspiring devotional published by the Delightsome Land Christian Ministry. For questions, enquiries/testimonies, please call/WhatsApp: 08174915361, 08053662272 or Email: [email protected].
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