Marie’s daily verse:1 John 3:18 NKJV

My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

DAILY DEVOTION, October 3, 2022

But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him (1 John 2:5).

How can we know that we are in a right relationship with God? John gives us some insight. We know we are in him when we are obeying His word. Faith in Jesus leads to obedience and the love of God is poured into us. John wants us to understand that faith can be hypocritical. The devil has a kind of faith. He believes that God exists, but he does not obey God. There are people like that in the world today. They say they believe in God, but they do not obey Him. James discusses this matter in James 2. He says, “But someone will say, ‘You have faith; I have deeds.’ Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds” (James 2:18).

Yes, it is faith alone that saves us but how can we know if our faith is authentic? James and John both indicate that real faith produces obedience. While our obedience is never perfect true faith changes us. We have a deep love for Jesus, Aand we want to obey Him. Disobedience means we are drifting away from Him. Don’t let that happen to you.

Father, please lead me to a life characterized by obedience to Jesus. I don’t want to play at religion. I want my faith to be authentic. Forgive my failures and lead me on the path of righteousness, for Jesus’ sake, Amen.