1 John 2:1-17

 From 1 John 2:1-17

 

---My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin.  But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father.  He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.  He Himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins---and not only our sins but the sins of the whole world.

 

God---this is the truth that angels long to look upon.  Don’t let me take it for granted.  Don’t let me live less than joyfully in light of who You are, how You’ve loved me, and all that You’ve done.  

 

---And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments.  If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth.  But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him.  That is how we know we are living in him.  Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.

 

God---create in me an obedient heart so that I can always be sure that I know You and am known by You.  You have loved me completely---give me eyes to see that so that I can live a life that flows from the love you have shown me.  Help me to live my life as Jesus did.  Fill me up and let me pour myself back out into others.  Help me to live this way.  I struggle against it sometimes.  Create in me an obedient heart.  

 

----Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment for you; rather it is an old one you have had from the very beginning.  This old commandment---to love one another---is the same message you heard before.  Yet it is also new.  Jesus lived the truth of this commandment, and you also are living it.  For the darkness is disappearing, and the true light is already shining.

 

God—thank You that the darkness is disappearing.  Thank You that the true light is already shining.  Make me as one who walks in the light---not as one who hides in the darkness.    

 

----If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is still living in darkness.  Anyone who loves a fellow believer is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble.  But anyone who hates a fellow believer is still living and walking in darkness.  Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness.

 

God, do not let me be blinded by darkness.  You say that the summation of the Law is this---Love You and love others.  Create in me a heart that is capable of doing this. 

   

 ----I am writing to you who are God’s children because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus.  I am writing to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.  I am writing to you who are young in the faith because you have won your battle with the evil one.  I have written to you who are God’s children because you know the Father.  I have written to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.  I have written to you who are young in the faith because you are strong.  God’s word lives in your hearts and you have won your battle with the evil one.

God—make me strong in You.  Make me as one who walks through the day knowing Your word lives in my heart and that the battle with the evil one is over---and won.  Let me know that my sins are forgiven.  Let me know Christ, who existed from the beginning.  Plant Your Word firmly into my spirit.  Subject my spirit and my will to Yours---as it is a stubborn and foolish spirit…..Encourage me in Your promises----and give me a love for the true light that You offer.  

 

----Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.  For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions.  These are not from the Father, but are from this world.  And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave.  But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

 

Do not let me love or crave things that are fading away.  Make me a person who does what pleases You.  

 

Anything I pray for myself, I pray for others as well.

 

You know the ones that are laid upon my heart---bring healing and comfort and Your Presence to those---and to all the ones who are laid upon Your heart as well.  

 

Thank You for all that You are, all that You’ve done, and all that You will do.

 

In Jesus’ name I pray.

 

Amen.    

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