December ThoughtForWeek

2nd Sunday in December

I John 3:13-24 "Do not marvel, brethren, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him." "We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the world's goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?" "Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. We shall know by this that we are of the truth, and shall assure our heart before Him, in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight." "And this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. And the one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And we know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us." I John 3:13-24 (NAS) Questions: We know love by this, that He (Jesus) laid down His _____ for us. And we ought to lay down our _____ for whom? And this is His commandment, that we b_______ in the name of Jesus and L_____ one another. The one who keeps what abides in Him? Want to learn more? Lesson 1... Suggested Bible Reading for Month: December 1-7: New Testament -- 1 Peter 4:1 - 1 John 2:29. Old Testament -- Ezekiel 36 - Daniel 2. December 8-14: New Testament-- 1 John 3:1 - Revelation 2:29. Old Testament -- Daniel 3 - Hosea 11. December 15-21: New Testament -- Revelation 3:1 - Revelation 11:19. Old Testament -- Hosea 12 - Micah 4. December 22-31: New Testament -- Revelation 12:1 - Revelation 22:21. Old Testament -- Micah 5 - Malachi 4. Read these verses online... Easy-to-Read Version "Brothers and sisters, don't be surprised when the people of this world hate you. We know that we have left death (sin) and have come into life. We know this because we love our brothers and sisters in Christ. The person who does not love is still in death. Every person who hates his brother or sister is a murderer. And you know that no murderer has eternal life in him." "This is how we know what real love is: Jesus gave his life for us. So we should give our lives for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Suppose a believer is rich enough to have all the things he needs. He sees his brother in Christ who is poor and does not have the things he needs. What if the believer who has things does not help the poor brother? Then the believer who has the things he needs does not have God's love in his heart." "My children, our love should not be only words and talk. No! Our love must be true love. We should show our love by the things we do. That is the way we know that we belong to the way of truth. And when our hearts make us feel guilty, we can still have peace before God. Why? Because God is greater than our heart (conscience). God knows everything. My dear friends, if we don't feel that we are doing wrong, then we can be without fear (have confidence) when we come to God. And God gives us the things we ask for. We receive these things because we obey God's commands and we do the things that please God." "This is what God commands: that we believe in his Son Jesus Christ and that we love each other. This is what he commanded. The person who obeys God's commands lives in God. And God lives in that person. How do we know that God lives in us? We know because of the Spirit that God gave us." 1 John 3:13- 24 (ERV)