Devotions
Rev Gav
Radio
1 John 3.11–21
For this is the message you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. We must not be like Cain who was from the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. Do not be astonished, brothers and sisters, that the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life because we love one another. Whoever does not love abides in death. All who hate a brother or sister are murderers, and you know that murderers do not have eternal life abiding in them. We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?
Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God;
Reflect
Because we have the Holy Spirit and God’s ‘law’ is written on our hearts, we can listen to the Spirit and know the truth. Some Christians say, “I know in my knower” to describe a deep sense of knowing God’s will.
Tuning in to the Spirit is something that us Christians have to learn. A bit like tuning into a station on an old-fashioned radio, it takes time to learn to recognise the gentle, nudging voice of God and, over time, we get quicker at hearing it (or ignoring it!) The ‘moves’ of the Spirit get translated by us into words or feelings which result in right actions. We have this deep sense of God’s prompting, and then we do something about it.
When you have the Holy Spirit it becomes difficult to see poverty, injustice, or need without feeling God prompting you to act. Remember, the Spirit living in you is not only (or perhaps not even primarily) for your benefit, but outward-looking and looking to the interests of others.
Of course, as I have already alluded, we can choose to ignore the prompting of the Spirit. We always remain in control and have freewill. And also, the good news is that when we do ignore the Spirit, God doesn’t give up on us or stop being bothered to try and use us. God is infinitely patient and infinitely loving, and will take every opportunity to use us if we are open to it. Therefore, do not be discouraged because with God, we have an infinite number of new beginnings and fresh starts.
However, we do have to listen to our hearts. We do have to be sensitive. God’s voice, although persistent, is often small, still, and gentle. If we are so consumed with our own needs and wants, spending all our time sating our own physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual desires, then God’s voice may easily be missed. It is why a short quiet time each day is helpful, but saying that, if we have learned to hear God’s voice, we can discern it sounding clearly in the most hectic, traumatic, and noisy situations.
Today, I pray that you will tune into God’s voice, that you will respond to the gentle, outward-looking nudges of the Spirit, and be the blessing to others that God longs for you to be.
Pray
Holy God
So fill me with your Spirit
that I may hear and
respond to your voice.
Help me be a blessing
to those you wish
to reach with your love.
This day and forever.
and then