Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
October 31, 2023
1 John 5:1-5
1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born from God. Whoever loves someone who is a parent loves the child born to the parent. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: when we love God and keep God’s commandments. 3 This is the love of God: we keep God’s commandments. God’s commandments are not difficult, 4 because everyone who is born from God defeats the world. And this is the victory that has defeated the world: our faith. 5 Who defeats the world? Isn’t it the one who believes that Jesus is God’s Son?
Good Morning. Love God and keep God’s commandments!
God sent Christ to walk among us so that we could learn about the love of God. God’s love is the foundation upon which everything is built. John shared these words in the first chapter of his gospel.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.
11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
16 Out of his fullness, we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Today’s cynics doubt God and are like those who lived in Jesus’ time and did not receive him. God does not force us to accept Jesus. We have a choice to make. To those who cry that God has abandoned us or no longer cares for us, I say that you must give yourself to Christ to find the grace and truth that awaits all believers. No greater love is possible than to send your only son to die on the cross so that all of humanity could be saved.
Evil has a stronghold over much of the world. God’s love is the only thing that can bring evil down. The power of God is lying as embers waiting to spark inside each of us. Through faith, we can ignite the flames of justice and bring God’s love back to the forefront.
Creator God, We love you! Through Christ, eternal life is available to all who call upon his name. Thank you. In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: “The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23).
By the grace of God, we are loved! Pastor Liz
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