I John 3:23 “And this is his command: to believe in the name of his son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.” When I was a teenager – long before I met my husband – I had a habit. An addiction, really. I was addicted to being “in love.” I […]

I John 3:21-22 “Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.” My daughter wants to paint her room. Purple. Now, I hate to paint! But my daughter is a good girl. She […]

I John 3:19-20 “This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.” I remember it like it was yesterday. I was a jr. in high […]

I John 3:17-18 “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” As I write this, I am sitting at my computer […]

I John 3:16 “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.” Have you ever held a magnolia? I have. We have a magnolia tree in our yard. The flower looks delicate. But actually, it’s a pretty […]

I John 3:15 “Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.” I used to love watching that murder-mystery show, “Murder, She Wrote.” I actually still watch the reruns whenever I get the chance. One of the key elements to finding out whodunnit is uncovering […]

I John 3:14 “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.” Have you ever been around a person you just didn’t like very much? Shhh. Don’t answer that. The truth is, we’ve all met people who are hard to love. […]

I John 3:13 “Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you.” Did you ever get the feeling that somebody didn’t like you, and you couldn’t figure out why? I hate it when that happens! I always want to figure out a reason for their dislike. If there is a reason, then I […]

I John 3:12 “Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.” I am a people pleaser. I want people to like me. And when they don’t like me, I have been […]

I John 3:11 “This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.” Do you remember that little children’s song, “It’s love, it’s love, it’s love that makes the world go ’round”? I can remember singing that song – very loudly – when I was in pre-school. Loving others truly is […]