God my Father reminded me this morning of how my identity in Him is expressed in my loving my brothers and sisters in Christ. This was something we learned at Equip in January, but to be honest, have not looked at the passage since. It's from 1 John 3:11-24.
I’m reading from the New King James Version:
[1Jo 3:11-24 NKJV] 11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, 12 not as Cain [who] was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother's righteous. 13 Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love [his] brother abides in death. 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down [our] lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. 20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. 22 And whatever we ask we receive from 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 Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
When I was younger, I was bullied my my peers, and I kept on telling myself I needed to do something about it. It left me quite fragile, having wanted to make friends at school. At the time I didn’t think anything of it, but it intimated to me what I would later recall that I needed to make friends, and they needed to accept me. I have aspergers syndrome, the very reason I struggled with it is because inside I was very uncomfortable in who I am. Even remembering my friendships at school, they were marked by me wanting to do things with people. At the end of high school, I made some friends, and decided it was more important than my studies.
What lies have I believed since then, about my character, my personality, my confidence, and who people have said I am? What has kept me back from being the person God has called me to be? Well I realised in January that it was because I didn’t really root myself in my identity as a child, a son or daughter of God. Don’t get me wrong, I have had wonderful experiences where Abba has marked me, chosen me, and also saved me from my fears.
I wouldn’t be the person I am today without these treasures from Heaven.
This is what John is writing towards the people that He loves. He is instructing them on how to love each other. He begins by saying:
[1Jo 3:11-15 NKJV] 11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, 12 not as Cain [who] was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother's righteous. 13 Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love [his] brother abides in death. 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
The previous section ends with the words:
[1Jo 3:10 NKJV] 10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor [is] he who does not love his brother.
He’s declaring the truth about who they are. They are children of God because they practice righteousness, and also, that they love their brother. The reason that He says this is clear in the verses following. He states the truth (he did previously)
That if you do not practice righteousness you are not of God
If you do not love your brother you are not of God
If you murder you are of the wicked one (and we know that anyone that is angry with His brother is also a murderer)
The reason that he murdered Him is because He did evil works (unaccepted by God) and the world is in hatred towards you because you have passed from death to life.
It ends with these sobering words: “He who does not love His brother, abides in death”
Because anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and a murderer cannot have eternal life abiding in him.
These are all directed towards the child of God.
When have you decided to reject the sayings of God on account of loving each other and practicing what is righteous? I will put it another way, What do you do when you fail at God’s commands? what is it that strengthens you when you fail to hit the mark?
Fear is what disables us in the face of love. But we know perfect love drives out fear. You cannot be complete in love when you fear.
Beloved, this is good news, whatever situation you are in, the truth is, you are marked by God. you are chosen, you are delighted in, you are bought with a price, and God laid down his life for you to demonstrate His love.
And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.
He then gives us remarks about how we practice love. It’s really important.
[1Jo 3:16-18 NKJV] 16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down [our] lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
The first is a call to rest. “By this we know love “(how to act with love) “that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren”
I was having trouble understanding this verse until I saw the picture. The picture is we are children of God, and our identity in God is expressed in loving one another. The trial that comes is, are we afraid of His command, so that we should save ourselves, rather than laying down our lives for our brothers? the resemblance to Jesus, nay, to Cain and Abel is astounding. Cain was Abel’s brother! and yet what was his response? to murder and kill because His brothers deeds were righteous. Abel did the right thing, and Cain was furious at Him, for having not been accounted right before God. I hope you realise the ramifications of this.
When did it enter into peoples hearts to murder the people that are doing right? the ones that are standing for truth, that are loving each other, and known and identify with the truth? Cain was beyond redemption of human hands. His heart had been tainted the moment that He cherished lawlessness in His heart, sin crouched at his door, and He was mastered by it. This is why we cannot think lowly of sin, nor indeed of the effects of it towards our brothers and sisters. Sin was the reason that Cain slew able and walked lawless, insubordinate, and most lamentably, alone. God’s judgment on Cain was only because Cain did it. His idle heart looked to find recompense where none could be given. His heart slew His brother only, basically, for a piece of bread. What bread was He eating? it was the one that said “I will have justice on my adversary” even though His justice was blinded by His own greed and contemptible sense of right and wrong. and His adversary, no He did not see His accuser, He merely listened to the taunts of it each day and could not master it. God’s word to Cain was “ sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”
God was extending redemption to Cain that could not be bought. He explains it as “to rule over” which means to subdue it because you are the master, you are the one in control.
Remember Jesus, what Jesus was able to accomplish, not because He looked to recompense, but because His heart is forever connected with the forever. He has tasted death for all, that all should have life through Him. Abel died, yet Jesus, he lives. If we put our confidence in Jesus, the man God, perfect in all of His ways, then we find such sweet rest and redemption from Him that cannot be spoiled by our works. God is eternally youthful in his dealings with us, unchangeable, because just like Jesus, the Father also is wanting a family, to have sons and daughters that are connected with Him, abiding in Him, and waiting for Him, cherishing intimacy as the children of God, and that know their God. that know Him and are confident, even when lies and accusation come their way. This courage cannot be birthed by great works, this confidence cannot come from living for the reward. Don’t get me wrong - Abel and Jesus all looked to the reward. But what sustained Jesus (let us just focus on Him) is his connection to the forever. the Father, the alpha and omega. That He lived out this passage. He lived out what it looked like to have identity in God and expressed in loving His brothers and sisters. the ones that Are so precious to Him, because He looks at us with the same eyes as the Father does. Resting in the Fathers love. Not being intimidated by anger and lust, and lies.
This is why we should lay down our lives for the brethren in giving materially for their needs. I want to say so much more about this.
The reason that He says this is because we have such small love for our brothers, that we wont even take care of their material needs. How can we clothe them in eternal splendour if the most ready and practical expression of loving each other we don't even consider.
Yes, it is saying practical outworking of love is found in giving to the needy, the ones that have financial stress, the ones that are under obligation from creditors, that are bound by their own choices and needing rescue. Again, the reason that the Israelites gave to the needy, was because it was prescribed in the law. They gave because it was an obligation, a command to. Their financial stability relied upon their tithe. If they didn't offer to those that had need, their whole way of life would stumble. It was the levites that experienced this blessing. They looked to the sacrifices that were offered as their daily bread. They ministered to God out of the offering that they received, which they gave back to God, and who were also responsible for teaching the population the ways of God. If we stop doing this, we forfeit that love that God has expressed towards us, because we do not consider the purpose of the giving.
What are some other practical outworkings of love that you can think, that you have not been doing, but He's putting on your heart now? What are the motivations of those practical outworkings? is it because you want to know God?
And so we get to the last section:
[1Jo 3:19-24 NKJV] 19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. 20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. 22 And whatever we ask we receive from 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 Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
the word "And" means that it links itself to the previous comment. Because you have done these things, because you are living in love, because you know Him, by this we know that we are of the truth.
The reason is because he's getting to the best part. the part that you can heave a sigh of relief, and come back to what really matters. "And" meaning practical outworking of love, that we should assure our hearts before Him - that phrase "before Him" means "see His face"
the word "For" means because. meaning, if you apply this, and your heart condemn you, listen to the truth. "God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved if your heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God"
The confidence we express toward God, or in God, is linked to the asking of prayers. We ask not, because we do not think we have a need (James 4:2) Such things arise from our hearts related to not asking, our greed, our murder, our idolatry. all things that have fallen away when we came to Christ. That confidence is in the asking, as Children we ask. That confidence is also an expression of our identity in Him, we fail not because we have confidence in God.
It's easy to get ahead of yourself when thinking this way. I mean if we are that invincible, that our old nature is taken away like the wind, Jesus, help me in my fear and unbelief!
verse 22 is a reminder of the rest of the section. if we keep his commands and do what is right in his sight, then we ask and receive.
It ends with what we believe. We believe that Jesus Christ is His Son, in his name we have life, and he gave us this commandment. It is not our own, but another that has said it for us. And if we keep His commands, chiefly to love one another, then we abide in Him. we Know this by the Spirit he has given us.
There is a great battle waged over the loving of our brother. It is that which is won by Jesus in His effectual love and sacrifice toward us. Being a christian, and living in love is expressed in our love for each other.
In what ways can we continue to love one another and live in love for the sake of Christ?
All the glory goes to Him, whom has rested our hearts by His presence.
How has that gone? is there any feedback for me from reading this devotion? I am actually really wanting to know, as I judge my own stuff only from my perspective. it would really help me so that I can get better at this.