Begin with two minutes of silence and stillness before God.

In the closing chapters of this letter, John revisits two themes that anchor the Christian life: love (1 John 4:19) and faith (1 John 5:4). 

In chapter 4, he reminds us that love is not something we conjure up on our own. It comes from God. His love was revealed in sending His Son to be the Savior of the world. Because we have received this love, we are called to reflect it. To claim to love God while hating a brother or sister is a contradiction. Love for God will always overflow into love for others.

Loving others is not always easy; however, actively remembering God's love for us can shape the way we see others. When we see others as unconditionally loved by God (just as we are!), we strive to love them as God loves them: to forgive, show patience, and serve in the way Jesus demonstrated His Father's love to everyone. 

Chapter 5 shifts the focus to faith: faith in Jesus as the Son of God. This faith is not a weak wish but the very victory that enables us to overcome the world. When we are tempted to fear, doubt, and sin, faith (trusting Jesus) anchors our hearts in Christ's finished work. John assures us that eternal life is ours in Him, and that we can approach God in prayer with confidence, knowing He hears us. Faith is not the absence of fear, doubt, or sin. Faith is choosing to trust Jesus in the midst of those things, living in obedience to Him regardless of what we see unfolding around us.  

Taken together, these chapters remind us that the Christian life is not complicated, though it is costly: it is about trusting in Jesus and loving others. To live this way is to walk in the very heartbeat of God.

In closing, I'd like to offer you a prayer that David prayed, along with three ways to live out the love and faith that John describes. 

"Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning, for in you I put my trust. Teach me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul." (Psalm 143:8)

1. Receive God's love daily. His love is the source of our ability to love ourselves and others well. Ask God to remind you of His unfailing love for you. "Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning..." 

2. Choose to trust Jesus actively. In every decision and experience, resolve to choose trust in Jesus with every detail of your life. "...for in You I put my trust."

3. Examine your relationships (with God and with others). Where is God calling you to choose love over resentment, service over selfishness, curiosity over judgment, proximity over distance? Ask God to show you how He would have you respond in truth and love. "Teach me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul."

Prayer: Lord, thank You for loving me first. Help me to live in the confidence of Your love and to extend it freely to others. Strengthen my faith, resting in the victory You have given me through Christ. May my life reflect both Your love and Your truth each day. Amen.

Take two minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

Use the S.O.A.P. Method to study God’s Word.

• SCRIPTURE: What stands out to you in today’s passage?
• OBSERVATION: What is this text saying? What is the context? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? Are there any commands, instructions, or promises?
• APPLICATION: How can you apply this verse to your life? What does this mean today? What is God saying to you?
• PRAYER: Respond to the passage in prayer. Ask God to help you apply this truth to your life and spend some time listening to what He may be telling you.

James Weekly Verse Challenge

Want to go beyond just reading God's Word? Want to take action? As we study the Book of James in the "Faith That Works" message series, we encourage you to do more than read the theme verse. Each week, we challenge you to memorize the verse and put it into action. Beginning Monday, October 6, we will text the weekly verse on a downloadable wallpaper on Monday mornings. Download the mobile wallpaper to your phone and memorize the weekly verse as you strive to live it daily. 

Text "JAMES" to 601-299-4493 to receive each week's theme verse.