1 John 3:18 [18] My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. A Christian’s love should always be love in action. This is the exhortation in our text. If we say we love, and never put our words into motion, they are just empty words. So many today know how to talk the talk, but do not walk the walk. This is discouraging to other believers, deceptive to the one doing the talking, and nothing more than hypocrisy to a lost world. We should note that if a blind world …

1 John 3:17 [17] But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? I do not think the two words that make up the title for this devotional go together. That is why you see the question marks that follow it. From what he has written in this verse, John obviously felt the same way. The truth is, that you cannot be a Christian, and live a stingy life. Christianity is all about giving, not keeping. Jesus taught us that …

1 John 3:16 [16] Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. When I look at this verse, I see three key thoughts within it. First, I see a perception; second, a price; and third, a principle. Allow me to share each of these with you for our devotional thought.  First, we consider the perception in the first phrase. The word “perception” means to be aware of, or to see. We are aware of the love of God, and can see his …

1 John 3:15 [15] Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. I would like for us to reflect on the first word of our verse. This is a word that reaches all four corners of the globe, and includes each individual soul. The word “whosoever” is a wonderful word when placed in verses like John 5:24 or Romans 10:13. However, when placed in this particular verse, it does not speak of the positive for man, but rather the evil.  I would call the “whosoever” in this verse a …

1 John 3:14 [14] We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. A great study through I John would be to research all of the verses that reveal the marks of genuine salvation. After all, that is the reason John is writing this epistle. Perhaps we will begin that study when we complete this devotional book. Here is one verse that marks true salvation in the life of a believer. A true child of God will love the brethren. This is not a love …