Living in Christ Not in Lawlessness
Today’s Bible Verse: 1 John 3:4 ESV
Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.
I wanted to take a moment this Monday morning to reflect a little bit on a verse from yesterday’s Epistle reading from 1 John 3, specifically verse 4. “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.” This is a powerful verse for every Christian to read and “inwardly digest.”
As we live in Christ, daily we have opportunities to show God’s love by fulfilling the commands of Jesus. There will be times when we will find it difficult to love others as God has loved us. Yet John is telling a deeper story to Christians: If you willfully sin, then you have to recognize that we are lawbreakers. It is the willfully part that should hurt our souls. No Christian should go out of their way to purposely sin. It is like the old adage I use - criminals can say that they are Christian, but their actions show otherwise. Our challenge when reflecting upon 1 John 3:4 is the acknowledge that there will be times when sin and know it is wrong. Then let us go to repentance to our Father and ask for forgiveness. With a smile on His face, our Father will grant us forgiveness.
PRAYERS
Keep in Your Prayers:
All people battling cancer.
Those who reject Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
A Prayer for Today:
Grant me, Heavenly Father, the courage to do good this Monday. Open my heart to show Your grace and mercy to others while showing the blessings of what faith in Jesus brings. In Your Son’s name, Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.
Luther’s Morning Prayer:
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.. Amen.
Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
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