Reach4Life- Journey 2: GrowSample

Day Six: Obedience

“We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands.” – 1 John 2:3, NIV

LISTEN

If a teenager lies to or steals from their parent, they don’t stop being their parent’s child, but the relationship is damaged. The way to make peace is to confess and stop doing wrong from then on. In the same way, when we sin after becoming a child of God we don’t stop being his child; but fellowship with him is broken until we admit our sin and sincerely ask for his help to change.

LOOK

1 John 1:5-2:6

LEARN

God is light (1:5). Since he hates sin, he wants us to live openly and obediently before him. This makes fellowship with him and other Christians possible (1:6-7). If we sin, we must confess and not hide our sin (1:9). God promises to forgive us and purify us with the blood of Jesus (1:9-2:2). As we grow in our relationship with him, we’ll become more obedient (2:3) and more like Jesus (2:6). No matter how many times we fall, if we confess, he’ll lovingly forgive us.

Like a child learning to walk, we must move beyond constantly falling, and learn to walk in obedience to him. God is gracious, but he’s also committed to making us more like his Son.

One more thing:

It’s important to know the difference between the Holy Spirit’s conviction of sin and the devil’s condemnation. When you sin, the Holy Spirit lovingly highlights your sin and gently draws you back to God.

The devil tries to make you feel unworthy of God, causing you to run from him in shame.

Reject these lies and feelings of shame. Instead run to God’s grace.

LIVE

· What are the sins that you struggle with?

· Do you tend to hide, or confess them?

· Have you noticed even small changes in your life that show you are becoming more like Jesus?

LINK

For more on Obedience, read:

Romans 6:8-13

James 1:13-17