READING:
One-year plan: Daniel 1-2, 1 John 4:7-5:21
Two-year plan: 1 Chronicles 19:1-21:8, John 20:1-23
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In my little book, Disciple, I have written that genuine disciples of Jesus obey Him: “Those who accept Christ’s commands and obey them are those who love him (John 14:21). All who love him will do what he says (John 14:23). Believers are his friends if they do what he commands (John 15:14).”* These are the words of John in his Gospel, and we find similar thinking in today’s reading from 1 John: “This is how we know that we love God’s children: when we love God and obey his commands. For this is what love for God is: to keep his commands” (1 Jn 5:2-3).
When we truly love God, we will obey Him – including by loving others. Indeed, we cannot love others without loving God; nor can we love God without loving others. The One who is love gives us love toward others; it is only because of God’s love that we can—and must—love them as He does. We truly cannot separate the two.
PERSONAL REFLECTION: Do you love both God and His people?
DAILY PRAYER: “Help me, Father, to love Your children well.”
TOMORROW’S READINGS:
One-year plan: Daniel 3-5, 2 John, 3 John
Two-year plan: 1 Chronicles 21:9-22:19, John 20:24-31
*Chuck Lawless, Disciple: How to Create a Community That Develops Passionate and Healthy Followers of Jesus (Church Answers Resources) (p. 44). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.
