Listen

Dear friends, if God loved us this way, we also ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. If we love each other, God remains in us and his love is made perfect in us. This is how we know we remain in him and he remains in us, because he has given us a measure of his Spirit. We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the savior of the world. If any of us confess that Jesus is God’s Son, God remains in us and we remain in God.

1 John 4:11-15

Think

How are you known? Let’s see, I’m known as a college professor, a tall guy, a husband, a father, a brother, an in-law, and a grandparent. I’m about to be known as a retiree. How do we know, in the words of today’s verses, that we live in God and God lives in us? It’s simple — we acknowledge that Jesus is the Son of God.

Too often these days being known as a Christian is wrongly tied to political positions, allegiance to country, or righteousness. Thank God for the simpler path: acknowledging Jesus in our lives. I say it’s simple, but is it? Acknowledging Jesus as your Lord may be difficult at times. It may make you uncomfortable, especially in situations where following the ways of Jesus aren’t popular or easy. Sometimes we must step out bravely, loving others even when it’s tough. Living out God’s love is how we acknowledge Jesus in our lives.

Bill Ogletree

Question to Ponder:  

How does your life acknowledge Jesus as Lord?

Pray

God, give me boldness to acknowledge you in all things.

Give me grace to try again when I fail.

Help me bear fruit.

Amen.

Go

How can you bear fruit this day? “Clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” Doing so prepares you to bear God’s fruit.

Colossians 3:12