1 John 3:18 “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”
Dear God,
Father as the one true God, who is full of love and mercy, I praise and give thanks that You lead me in ways of love and bring me to the point of recognition of my wrong attitudes and words that have poured out of me in the past, down to the present. It seems I am constantly rebuked by my critical thoughts, words and wrong doings, especially toward those nearest and dearest to me. No matter the provocation or irritation, I am learning that as Your child, I can only be truly happy when You live within me and I manifest Your love and spirit to everyone I interact with. Thank you for the example of Jesus when on earth, and for the power of the Holy Spirit, Who enables me to increasingly convey love through my words and actions.
As a follow up to the admonition that we should show love “in deed and in truth”, it is encouraging to read in 1 John 3:19 “And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.” For now I can walk with confidence with my Saviour, knowing His blessings flow into me and from me. I can rest in the knowledge, that God the Father and His son Jesus are One in their knowledge of all things, and in reality that they are total love, and therefore love all mankind.
When I stop to really consider the implications of being a child of God, with Jesus living in my heart, then I, at that time can only manifest love, and so when I am not, I have let go of Jesus. I am so glad the good news is that when I truly confess to Jesus the sin/s that caused me to let go of Jesus, He gladly forgives me and again abides in me and I in Him. 1 John 3:23 “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.”
I give thanks, that John was directed to write how we (I) can abide in Jesus, 1 John 3: 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.”
I love You, Father God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit, for You are One, and know that You love me and delight to fill me with Your Spirit, when I cleanse my heart and ask to be infilled.
Amen