WE IN HIM, HIM IN US

PASTOR RYAN LADEN – DEVOTIONALS

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Today’s message from the Apostle John is an essential truth that every disciple of Jesus Christ needs to know and understand. 

Plan

So this is what we are going to do, we are going to read through it once and then work through it bit by bit, prayerfully seeking to embrace this truth in every way possible.

19 This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: 20 If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. 24 The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

(1 John 3:19-24 NIV11)

Verse 19 – “This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence:”

How can we be sure that we are in Christ?

How can we be certain that we are included in the saving work of Jesus Christ?

That is after all, the most important question any of us can ask. We must not rely on the answers provided by our parents, our teachers, or even our preachers and pastors. We must know the answer for ourselves. 

Verse 20 – “If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.”

Some might say that because they have sinned or because they feel convicted by the Spirit for the sins of their past that they must not be included in the gift of salvation. 

But this is not always true. I know that I have faith in Jesus Christ as the Lord of my life and the Savior of my soul and yet I am routinely brought under conviction by the Holy Spirit for those actions and attitudes that are not in line with God’s will and God’s nature. 

In this case, the conviction of the Spirit is equal to the loving discipline of God that is provided for all of his true children (see Hebrews chapter 12 for more). 

Verse 21 – “Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God”

In my walk with God, it is my goal to live in a state of willingness and faithfulness to Christ. 

When I am seeking first his kingdom and his righteousness, I find that I can simply enjoy my relationship with the Lord. I might not phrase this as “confidence before the Lord”, but that is what I experience when I am seeking to make his will my will. 

If we are going to strive for anything in the Lord, strive for this kind of peace and confidence as you worship the Lord, pray to the Father, and submit your life to Christ. 

Verse 22 – “and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him.”

This idea has been so messed up over the centuries. We are not given a blank check by God to get whatever we want in life so long as we believe hard enough and ask with boldness. Just ask Paul about that situation (2 Corinthians 12:9 – his thorn in the flesh). 

What this is all about is this, when we are walking with Christ, aligned with him, our desires and requests become about those things that have eternal value and that bring God glory. When our desires are aligned with the desires of Jesus Christ, our prayers and requests change to be in line with what the Lord is all about. 

Verse 23 – “And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.”

In verse 22 we heard that if we are aligned with Christ, we will obey his commands. 

What commands you ask? 

·  Believe in the name (specific person) of God the Son, Jesus Christ. 

·  Love the members of the family of faith as Christ loves you. 

Believe in Jesus and love his people. That is God’s will for your life!

Verse 24 – “The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.”

Here is the answer for which we have been searching. We can be sure we are in Christ because he has chosen to be in us. The Holy Spirit is alive in every person who calls on the name of Jesus Christ by faith and who seeks to submit to his authority in all areas of life. 

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, help me see you at work in me today. I want to be used by you. I want to witness the Holy Spirit at work in me, through me, around me today. I believe in you and trust in your eternal grace and leadership. I am yours.  

In Christ, 

Ryan Laden

PASTOR RYAN LADEN

Works at MTN. CHURCH

Former Senior pastor at Warnbro Community Church

Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at Baylor University

Studied at Texas Tech University

Went to Castle Hills First Baptist

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