Hearing God’s Voice from His Word
James 4:8 says, “Come near to God and he will come near to you.”
Take a moment and turn your attention to God. Tell God that you desire to trust and obey Him. Ask God to speak to you from His word.
Psalm of the Day
Psalm 62:5-8 Rest in God alone, my soul, for my hope comes from him.
6 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will not be shaken.
7 My salvation and glory depend on God, my strong rock. My refuge is in God.
8 Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before him.
God is our refuge.
Read the Entire Psalm
Read these verses again and consider the direction of this Psalm. The direction is upward. Rest in God. Hope from Him. He is rock, salvation, and stronghold. How many times is God mentioned in these three verses either by pronoun or the word God. Our lives were meant to orient to Him. He is strong. He is a refuge. Praise Him for being a place of strength and refuge.
Scripture Reading
1 John 2:7-14- New International Version
7 Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.
9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. 10 Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. 11 But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.
12 I am writing to you, dear children,
because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.
13 I am writing to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
because you have overcome the evil one.
14 I write to you, dear children,
because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
because you are strong,
and the word of God lives in you,
and you have overcome the evil one.
Having God’s Ear through Prayer
- Express thanks to God.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal sin to you.
- Confess your sin to Him and receive forgiveness.
(1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sin He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins.”) - Bring your personal requests to God.
(Psalm 62:8 “Pour out your heart before God”) - Pray for someone in your small group.
- Join with others from River and pray for Jason and Lisa as they serve overseas. Ask God to guide them and encourage them.
Living as God’s People by applying the Bible
Scripture Reflection from the Sermon
We were created for God. Created to be loved by Him and to enjoy loving relationships with one another. Sin in us and sin in the world around us confuses our understanding of love. People sometimes demand love, or will only love if we love back, or we will weaponize love and withhold love in order to get back at others. This was not God’s intent. 1 John 3:16 says, this is how we know what love is, Jesus Christ laid down his life for us we ought to lay down our lives for one another. Jesus is our example of love. One of the tests of whether we have eternal life is that we are growing in Christ-like love. It is important to remember that we are seeking to grow in love. John told his readers that he saw this new command to love in Jesus and he sees it in them. You do not love perfectly, but if you have committed your life to Christ and you are responding to Him, He is working in you. Thank Him for his work and presence in your life. Ask Him to encourage you and show you have grown in love. Ask Him to lead you today as you seek to love others like He did.