ESOCS Devotional 18 June 2023
MEMORY VERSE: “If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.” 1 John 2:29
TEXT: 1 JOHN 2:13–29
13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.
27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that everyone that doeth righteousness is born of him.
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
In our text today, Elder John wasn’t writing to unbelievers, but he wrote to Believers (v 21). He wrote to the elderly, the middle aged and the little children. No class was left out (vv 13–14). When one takes their position, as children of God, for granted, then one tends to take grace for granted. Ananias with Sapphira, in Acts 5, took their positions, as members of the family of God, for granted. That was why they were able to lie with a straight face, even in the gathering of believers. Christ made it clear in Matthew 18: 20 that, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” That was why Peter told them that they lied to God and tempted the spirit of the Lord. No kind of unrighteousness is associated with God and things that concern God.
Elder John advised that no lie, no matter how small, is the truth (v 21b). Today, even inside the church, we have straight–faced liars. Some call it, “white lies”, while others call it “holy lies.” A lie is a lie, no matter the size or colour. Elder John made it clear in verse 22 that “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.” So many have taken the positions as members of the gathering of God’s children (Church) for granted and can now do whatever they like. Some fight, even inside the church hall, others lie, some steal, etc. The most worrisome of late is rumours and accusations among believers, of infidelity and immorality. These shouldn’t be heard among believers. Some are even killing their fellow believers and think they are doing God service (Jn. 16:2b). “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.” (2 Jn. 1:9).
We, as children of God, ought to know that Christ is righteous and doesn’t associate with unrighteousness in any way. We should also know that anyone that professes Christ is born of Christ and should be righteous too. Professing Christ without being righteous in your dealings means Christ is not righteous to you. You are supposed to be Christ-like in all ramifications.
- Trying to deceive yourself in the gathering of the Children of God only makes you another Ananias or Sapphira. “Abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thess. 5:22).
- Father, grant me the grace to abstain from every unrighteousness and be Christ-like in Jesus name, Amen.
FURTHER READING: Genesis 2:15-25; Joel 2:1-14; Acts 3:1-6
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ESOCS Devotional 18 June 2023
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