Words to live by

1Jn 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
1Jn 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
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1Jn 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. (KJV)

Words, truly, to live by. In these times of some manner of confusion about the person, work, efficacy, and deity of Jesus, whom we call the Christ, this chapter proves the reconciliation provided by God through the Passion of our Lord.

God, in His great mercy, gives us verses like today’s Morning Prayer lesson (1928 BCP lectionary) to remind us that we do matter, we do belong, someone does care for us, we are special!

All we must do is keep His commandments, love Him, and acknowledge Him.

Which brings us to the last verse in the small chapter, verse 21,

“Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.”

How sweet to be called the children of God! How tender to know that He is in control, no matter what is happening around us…in our personal lives, in our families, in our churches, in our small worlds; He is there for us, if we only trust Him, if we only love Him, if we only obey Him…and not our own ideas and notions of what might be good, or comfortable, or fun in our lives, according to our own small self image…obey Him.

Father, as Christ brought the little children to Himself, receive us unto yourself, that you might guide us, protect us, and bring into your perfect peace, In the Name of Him who died for the atonement for our sins, and lives now to reconcile us, Jesus Christ, your Son. Amen.