Doing What Pleaes God

Christian Commitment
in Today's World

1 John 3:18-24 (The Message)

When We Practice Real Love

 ^18-20My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love. This is the only way we'll know we're living truly, living in God's reality. It's also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves.  ^21-24And friends, once that's taken care of and we're no longer accusing or condemning ourselves, we're bold and free before God! We're able to stretch our hands out and receive what we asked for because we're doing what he said, doing what pleases him. Again, this is God's command: to believe in his personally named Son, Jesus Christ. He told us to love each other, in line with the original command. As we keep his commands, we live deeply and surely in him, and he lives in us. And this is how we experience his deep and abiding presence in us: by the Spirit he gave us..

For Reflection
It is not all about you!  Tear off the robes colored by who you think you are. Sacrifice yourself. Ignore self doubt.  Be free before God.  Believe deeply. Live deeply.  Follow the Spirit.

Pray deeply for the courage to trust in God.  Pray to act on impulses of love.