Pastor’s Bible Reading Schedule:
1 John 3-4
There is a special group of people whose job it is to track down counterfeiters. Naturally, these people need to know a counterfeit bill when they see it.
How do they learn to identify fake bills?
Oddly enough, they are not trained by spending hours examining counterfeit money. Rather, they study the real thing.They become so familiar with authentic bills that they can spot a counterfeit by looking at it or, often, simply by feeling it. This is the approach in 1 John 3, which warns us that in today’s world there are counterfeit Christians, “children of the devil” (vs. 10). But instead of listing the evil characteristics of Satan’s children, the Scripture gives us a clear description of God’s children. The contrast between the two is made clear.
The key verse of this chapter is verse 10. A true child of God practices righteousness and loves other Christians despite their personal differences. First John 3:1-10 deals with the first topic, and verses 11-24 takes up the second topic. Practicing righteousness and loving other Christians, of course, are not new themes. These two important subjects are treated in the first two chapters of this epistle, but in chapter 3 the approach is different. In the first two chapters the emphasis is on fellowship: a Christian who is in fellowship with God will behave righteously and will love the brethren. However, in chapters 3-5, the emphasis is on sonship: because a Christian is “born of God,” he will practice righteousness and will love other Christians. Can you say that you are a child of God and in fellowship with Him? Then it should be obvious because of your right behavior and love for other Christians.
Prayer Requests:
Personal
- Lord, please help me to be a man of true Christian character who does right because it is right to do right.
- Lord, please help me to love other Christians regardless of their behavior or personal treatment.
- Lord, please help me to be thankful and honoring in my position as your son!
Political
- Representative Isaac Robinson – District 4 – Detroit
- Senator Jim Runestad – District 15 – Lake Twp.
- Representative Terry Sabo – District 92 – Muskegon