SOAP Devotional 2014-06-11
Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer
Scripture:
And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us. (1 John 3:23, 24 NLT)
Observation:
Yes, we must believe in the saving power in the name of God’s Son, Jesus Christ and, yes, we must love one another as He commanded us to do, but the powerful statement here is, “Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them.” And because of this we know He lives in us because the Spirit He gave us lives in us.
Application:
The word “remain” is significant in this passage. It is that remaining in fellowship with Him and He in us that allows us to know that the Spirit He gave us lives in us. This, in turn, allows us to “know” that He lives in us. We “know” we are saved, we love one another as believers, we obey His commands, and we “remain” in fellowship with Him and He with us. Keeping His commands is not legalism, it is just what we do because He is in us?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for sending your Son to not only save us, but to remain in fellowship with us. And thanks for sending your Spirit to live within us. Help me to always remember to do what I should do and to remain in fellowship with you through obedience to your Word.
