ESOCS Devotional 23 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 am writing to you, fathers, because you have come to know (recognize, be aware of, and understand) Him Who [has existed] from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have been victorious over the wicked [one]. I write to you, boys (lads), because you have come to know (recognize and be aware) of the Father.
14 I write to you, fathers, because you have come to know (recognize, be conscious of, and understand) Him Who [has existed] from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong and vigorous, and the Word of God is [always] abiding in you (in your hearts), and you have been victorious over the wicked one.
15 Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification] and the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life [assurance in one’s own resources or in the stability of earthly things]—these do not come from the Father but are from the world [itself].
17 And the world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings (the passionate desires, the lust) of it; but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his life abides (remains) forever.
18 Boys (lads), it is the last time (hour, the end of this age). And as you have heard that the antichrist [he who will oppose Christ in the guise of Christ] is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen, which confirms our belief that it is the final (the end) time.
19 They went out from our number, but they did not [really] belong to us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us. But [they withdrew] that it might be plain that they all are not of us.
20 But you have been anointed by [you hold a sacred appointment from, you have been given an unction from] the Holy One, and you all know [the Truth] or you know all things.
21 I write to you not because you are ignorant and do not perceive and know the Truth, but because you do perceive and know it, and [know positively] that nothing false (no deception, no lie) is of the Truth.
22 Who is [such a] liar as he who denies that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah)? He is the antichrist (the antagonist of Christ), who [habitually] denies and refuses to acknowledge the Father and the Son.
23 No one who [habitually] denies (disowns) the Son even has the Father. Whoever confesses (acknowledges and has) the Son has the Father also.
24 As for you, keep in your hearts what you have heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the first dwells and remains in you, then you will dwell in the Son and in the Father [always].
25 And this is what He Himself has promised us—the life, the eternal [life].
26 I write this to you with reference to those who would deceive you [seduce and lead you astray].
27 But as for you, the anointing (the sacred appointment, the unction) which you received from Him abides [permanently] in you; [so] then you have no need that anyone should instruct you. But just as His anointing teaches you concerning everything and is true and is no falsehood, so you must abide in (live in, never depart from) Him [being rooted in Him, knit to Him], just as [His anointing] has taught you [to do].
28 And now, little children, abide (live, remain permanently) in Him, so that when He is made visible, we may have and enjoy perfect confidence (boldness, assurance) and not be ashamed and shrink from Him at His coming.
29 If you know (perceive and are sure) that He [Christ] is [absolutely] righteous [conforming to the Father’s will in purpose, thought, and action], you may also know (be sure) that everyone who does righteously [and is therefore in like manner conformed to the divine will] is born (begotten) of Him [God].
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 23 June 2023
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