Saturday, January 24, 2026

Opening Scripture

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14

Opening Prayer

Gracious Father, thank you for the rhythms of day and night, labor and rest, activity and stillness. Open my heart to your love and my mind to your truth. Help me to sense your comforting presence throughout the day as I follow the Lord Jesus. In His name I pray. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading

1 John 5

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.

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. We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

Reflection  

I love this chapter because 1 John 5:11-13 is one of my favorite passages. “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

John has spent a great deal of time in this letter emphasizing the essential foundation of love in the life of a follower of Jesus. In fact, he declares that anyone who claims to love God but doesn’t love his brother or sister in Christ is a liar.

And now, John clarifies exactly who our brothers and sisters are: “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.” The heartfelt confession, “Jesus is Lord!” identifies God’s children. When we become members of God’s family and citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, we forfeit the right to choose whom we will love.

In another refute of Gnosticism, John emphasizes the evidentiary testimony of “water” (Jesus’ baptism), “blood” (Jesus’ crucifixion), and “Spirit” (Jesus’ miracles). These three “witnesses” represent God’s testimony about his Son, the Messiah, our Savior.

Finally, John encourages us to pray for each other. All sin is against God. All sin ultimately leads to death, without the “atoning sacrifice” (1 John 2:2, 4:10) of Jesus. There is sin that results in immediate death (think Ananias and Sapphira), but thankfully, most sin does not. Rather than responding with gossip or pride, we should pray for ourselves and our brothers and sisters who are struggling with sin.

Flourishing Habit

Character and Virtue

As a disciple of Jesus, it’s important to think about what you think about.

In Philippians 4:8, Paul emphasizes the importance of focusing on what’s good, right, and healthy. “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

What do you regularly look at…on a page, on a screen, or in real life? What do you scroll or scan most often? What’s your default entertainment? What’s your “go to” when you have free time?

Intentionally devote a portion of your free time today or tonight to something positive, beneficial, and God-honoring.

Remember: Nothing changes until something changes!