“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.”
1 John 3:16

Sunday, June 28, 2009
1 John 4:4-6
Greater is He
Jesus now lives within his followers in the person of the Holy Spirit. The beauty and the implications of this reality are expressed in the classic phrasing of verse 4, “…the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” This is one of the most precious and practical promises in all of scripture. The fact that the God of the universe is in our lives to convict, comfort, empower, encourage, and guide us is an awesome thing, and it is quite possible that a large number of followers of Christ are either totally unaware of this reality OR have not believed or acted upon it in their every day lives. This promise means that we do not have to be fooled by the false messages of this world, which come at us every day, but God can give us great clarity to see the truth and reject falsehood. It means we do not have to give in to temptation when it comes our way, because the one who has decisively defeated sin lives within us. It means we do not have to be discouraged or defeated by the opposition of the enemy or of this world’s system, because the Almighty One ultimately has all authority and will triumph at the final day. We simply need to learn how to hold his hand and access his power in the midst of these types of struggles. How are you doing in walking out this powerful reality?

Prayer Starter:
Lord, thank you that you not only promise to be with me, but that your overcoming power actually lives within me. Teach me how to walk this reality out in everyday life as the lies, opposition, and discouragement come against me.