Scripture:
1 John 3:11-4:6
Thu, 20 January 2022

Overcoming Hate and Deception

Observation:

Why and how should we love one another as brothers and sisters in Christ?

Deeper Reflection
GOD HAS COMMANDED US TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS fellow believers in Christ (vv.11, 23). We are spiritual brothers and sisters in God’s family. God abides in us by His Spirit who indwells us and we abide in God by keeping His commandments (v.24), including the commandment to love one another. When we do so, we please our heavenly Father and receive His blessings (v.22). We can only genuinely love one another when God’s love abides in us. Without God’s love in our hearts, we will only profess our love, but be unable to prove it by action and giving practical help that costs us something (vv.17-18). In fact, our Lord Jesus has shown us the greatest example of love by laying down His life for us, and He calls us to even lay down our lives for one another (v.16). Sacrificial love through self-giving service to one another is solid evidence of our genuine faith in Christ and that we really have a relationship with God. If we find ourselves unable to humbly serve our fellow believers because we envy or hate them, we are in deep trouble! In God’s sight, those who hate their brothers and sisters are murderers like Cain54 (vv.12, 15). Would such people have an actual relationship with God and have passed from death to life (vv.14-15)? It should not surprise us that the world hates Christians for their beliefs (v.13), but it should surprise us that a Christian would hate another Christian. May the Holy Spirit grant us spiritual discernment to overcome any false teaching that opposes God’s Word (1 Jn 4:4).
54 See Genesis 4:8.
Application:

What will I commit to do this year to love my Christian brothers and sisters in my small group community, extended family, workplace or neighbourhood?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for Outreach/Missions/New Life leaders: To be filled with God’s love and share that with non-Christians through humble service and faithful witness
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Scripture:
Daniel 6:1-10
Wed, 7 June 2023

Consistent Daily Devotion to God

Observation:

What does verse 10 tell us about Daniel?

Deeper Reflection
For Daniel’s distinguishing competency and character, and commitment to ensuring that the king suffered no loss in his empire, Darius “planned to appoint” him “over the entire kingdom” (v.3). But out of jealousy, Daniel’s fellow-commissioners and the satraps attempted to accuse him of “negligence or corruption” in “government affairs” (v.4a). They could find nothing, because Daniel was “faithful” (v.4b). So, they planned to make accusation against him “with regard to the law of his God” (v.5). And they maliciously instigated Darius to establish a law that “anyone who makes a petition to any god or man” besides the king “for thirty days, shall be cast into the lion’s den” (vv.6-9).Then, “when Daniel knew that the document was signed…he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously” (v.10). This was Daniel’s spiritual discipline with a structure of regular “three times a day”. He kept it daily. We can say that Daniel never missed his quiet time. The most important words in the verse may be “when Daniel knew that the document was signed”. They indicate the context of Daniel’s spiritual discipline: A discipleship challenge where his life was at stake. Daniel’s spiritual discipline was no mere religious ritual and routine. He could have skipped his quiet time “for thirty days” and be safe. He didn’t. Daniel’s spiritual discipline manifested his consistent daily devotion to “his God”: “he continued…three times a day…as he had been doing previously.” At the heart of this spiritual discipline was Daniel’s relationship and fellowship with “his God”.
Application:

How can I cultivate a consistent daily devotion to God?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for leaders
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for the Generations: That young people will seek to be devoted to God consistently
  • Pray for self
 

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