Today’s passage: 2 John 1:1–3 Focus verse: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love. (2 John 1:3) John opens his letter calling himself simply “the elder.” Though he could have used more prestigious labels, such as “one of Jesus’s twelve disciples” […]
John writes a letter to the elect, the chosen lady, along with her kids. Some people assume John uses this intimate metaphor to refer to the church (the chosen lady) and its members (her children). But this interpretation falls apart because the New Testament considers the people as the church, not as two separate parts. […]
Today’s passage: 1 John 5:21 Focus verse: Dear children, keep yourselves from idols. (1 John 5:21) After John writes a fitting conclusion to his letter in 1 John 5:18–20, he tacks on one more verse. He simply tells his audience to keep themselves from idols. I imagine John finishing his letter and then reading it. He gets to […]
Today’s passage: 1 John 5:18–20 Focus verse: He is the true God and eternal life. (1 John 5:20) Today’s trio of verses each begins with the same phrasing: We know that. What follows them are seven concepts John wants to remind his audience about. He has covered them throughout his letter and reinforces these key points now. […]
Today’s passage: 1 John 5:16–17 Focus verse: There is a sin that leads to death. (1 John 5:16) Today’s passage teaches us some unusual things about prayer. First, John encourages us to pray for others when we notice sin in their lives. This isn’t all people, but our brothers and sisters in Jesus. Then God will give […]
Today’s passage: 1 John 5:13–15 Focus verse: If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. (1 John 5:14) When we pray, do we think God hears us? Does he answer our prayers? All of them? The Bible says so. Consider what Scripture teaches. First, we can have assurance that God does indeed hear our […]
Today’s passage: 1 John 5:6–12 Focus verse: For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. (1 John 5:7–8) The Old Testament gives a rule that to convict someone requires two or three witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15). The testimony of one person is not enough. Two people must […]
Today’s passage: 1 John 5:1–5 Focus verse: Everyone born of God overcomes the world. (1 John 5:4) There is a lot packed into today’s passage, but most of it reviews what John has already written. He talks about believing in Jesus as our Savior (the Christ) for us to be born again. How loving the Father is […]
Today’s passage: 1 John 4:19–21 Focus verse: We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19) Perhaps the most misused, most misunderstood word in English is love. I love my wife, and I love to watch movies. I love nature, and I love blue. I love to write, and I love spring. I also love God. […]
Today’s passage: 1 John 4:16–18 Focus verse: There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear. (1 John 4:18) In the Old Testament of the Bible, we read the command to “fear God” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). In the New Testament we see the principle to “love God” (1 Corinthians 8:3), and we read that God is […]