1 JohnNäide

Have you ever doubted a compliment or good news from someone so much that you needed them to repeat it a few times before it actually sank in? You wanted to believe it, of course - but sometimes the rest of the world can tell you something else so often that doubt sets in. Making it easy to be wary and difficult to trust the truth.

You are not alone! In this passage of scripture, we see John line out exactly how the followers of Jesus could know that they were following Christ. And after having been led astray by false teachers, they needed all the assurance they could get - John reassures them three times in these verses and in verse 16.

To break it down simply, in verses 13-15, we know that we abide in God, and God abides in us because 1. we have his Holy Spirit and 2. because we confess and acknowledge that Jesus is the Son of God.

If, like the recipients of John’s letter, you find yourself doubting whether or not you’ve truly received Jesus as your Savior, follow the steps outlined in these verses. Acknowledge Jesus’ love for you and the sacrifice he made to pay for your sins, and look for the evidence of the Holy Spirit in your life (read up on the fruits of the Holy Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23).

Prayer Points

• Thank God for setting up reminders for you that He is with you.
• Ask Him to reveal the fruits of the Holy Spirit within your life.