1 John 5

It often amazes me how often I miss seeing something right in front of me. Even though hours before I had placed the object I seek right where I am looking, I just don’t see it. How does that happen? It frustrates me to no end. My mind starts playing the blame game; “I’m getting so old and forgetful” or “someone must have moved it” or worse, “ I can’t do anything right!”. When I finally find it I get angry with myself because “I KNEW IT WAS THERE”.

How often do we do that with God? We think we are doing what God wants of us, but then insecurities begin. Is this what He really wants? Am I suppose to be really doing this? Is that what He really meant?

Thankfully we have a God who doesn’t want us to have second thoughts,

or to be in continually uncertainty? Our God is a God of certainty. He never changes. He remains faithful. He tells the truth and He is our solid foundation. He wants us to KNOW Him and to KNOW His Word and to KNOW his commands. He doesn’t want us second guessing them.

In the NLT version of J John 5, the words ‘we know’ appear 8 times . As a rule, when something is repeated multiple times in a passage it means that it is important, to take notice of, and often a command.

What does God want us to know?

1. We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments. (Just as our love for the people of God reflects our love for God, so our love and obedience to God is a demonstrated by our love for the body of Christ)
2. All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true. (If we believe in God then we must believe in Jesus and what He says as God gave testimony about his Son and God doesn’t lie)
3. I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life. (God wants us secure in our salvation.)
4. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, (He listens to us, He never tunes us out)
5. we also know that he will give us what we ask for. (We must have confidence that God will give us our desires if we align with His desires)
6. We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them. (A faithful believer avoids sin, because of Jesus they have the resources to be free from habitual sin. Furthermore, Jesus protects us from the hands of Satan.)
7. We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one. (Because of Christ in our life, we are no longer under the control of Satan as those who do not believe in Him)
8. And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. (Because God sent His Son in the flesh, to die on the cross for our sins, to be raised from the dead and is sitting at His right hand we have access to God. Believers have His Holy Spirit living in them as a constant connection to God)

John ends his letter by writing this: “Dear children, keep yourselves from idols”. If we KNOW the above, why then do we attempt to replace God with the things we seek after? Why do we question Him and try doing things our own way? He is never “misplaced” to us. If we KNOW Him, we can always find Him!

Debbie LoSurdo | Administrative Assistant

Debbie committed her life to Christ in January of 1994. She and her husband, Joe, have two children and four grandchildren. Debbie volunteers on staff part time. Her ministry experiences include Student, Children’s, Hospitality, Women’s, Small Group, Discipleship, Biblical Guidance and AIM ministries. Debbie and Joe joined HCBC Hutto in June of 2009.