“We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.” 1 John 5:19 (NIV) You read that verse and it sounds like bad news. The whole world under the…

“Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.” 1 John 5:21 (NIV) The whole letter ends with one short, strange sentence. After pages of deep theology, John suddenly says only this: guard yourselves from idols. No explanation follows, no long argument builds…

“We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them.” 1 John 5:18 (NIV) Maybe you have been sleeping with one…

“In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.” 1 John 5:3 (NIV) Obedience is supposed to feel light, but yours feels heavy. You keep pushing through commands like they are one…

“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.” 1 John 5:1 (NIV) Loving God was supposed to be the easy part. Loving the people who…

“This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.” 1 John 4:13 (NIV) You do not have to feel certain to be certain. Feelings rise and fall with…

“No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” 1 John 4:12 (NIV) Someone watched you this week and drew conclusions about God. They were…

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:10 (NIV) You keep trying to love people better than you can. You wake…

“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1 (NIV) Not every spiritual voice you hear is from…