1 John 2:18-3:6
1 John 2:18-3:6
English Standard Version
Warning Concerning Antichrists
18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us.
God---you promise that He who began a good work in me will be faithful to complete it. You began a good work in me when You rescued me---complete that good work---and help me to continue with You.
But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. 20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.[a] 21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. 24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he made to us[b]—eternal life.
God—I want to walk with You. I want to abide with You. Thank You that You gave everything to make that possible. Do not let me be spiritually blind to everything You have done---or to love You have for me. Sometimes---I have scales on my eyes. Please take them off---and let me see. Let me take into my heart all that You are---all that You’ve done---all that You will do. And let me walk joyfully and gratefully with You.
26 I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you.27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.
Children of God
28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.
God, I know that You are righteous. I know that I am not. But let me practice righteousness so that I can abide closer to You. Let me clothe myself in the righteousness of Christ---and abide in Him---so that when You appear---I can have confidence. I have avoided Your word---I have avoided prayer---because already---sometimes I shrink from You in shame. I don’t want to do that anymore. I just want to walk with You---the way You intended for me to do when You made me. Grant me understanding, wisdom, love, and obedience---so that I can do that.
3 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.
Thank You—God---for the kind of love You have given to me and to others. Do not let me take for granted what it means to be called a child of God.
The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears[c] we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
God---I hope in You. And only You. I have hope that what will be has not yet appeared. I have hope that when you appear---I will be made like You. I have hope that the scales on my eyes will fall away---and I will see You as You are. Keep this hope alive and well in me. Keep it close to the surface. Don’t let me throw anger or bitterness or fear on top of it. Keep my Hope in You green and growing. And teach me to live out of that hope.
4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.
God---you gave everything to take away sin. Do not let me cling to sin. To anything that says---I know better than You---to anything in me that tells me---I know best how my life should go---to anything in me that tells me---I don’t need Your law to know what is right and what is wrong. Do not let me practice lawlessness. I want to know You. I want to see You. Clothe me in Your righteousness---in Your perfection---and turn me from sin. Give me a heart that loves You first---always. “What will be has not yet appeared…..” I hope in this promise because I know---sometimes I do cling to sin. Sometimes my heart turns to things that are fading away. But I hope in You. That one day I will see You as You are---that one day I will be made like You. Thank You for this hope. Thank You for this promise. Let me live a life that reflects Your promises taken to heart---not just words…..not just an intellectual knowing…..but hope planted deep in the heart. So that I can love You with all my mind, heart, and soul. And that I can love others as well.
Anything I pray for myself---I pray for others as well.
God---You know the ones who have been laid upon my heart. I know that for every one person laid upon my heart---there are a million more laid upon Your heart. Bring healing where it is needed. Bring Your presence where it is most needed. Bring comfort. Meet the needs of the people You love---of the people You gave everything to rescue.
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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