1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:1-5 (NKJV)

The majority of Biblical Scholars agree that the John who writes this Epistle is the same St. John who wrote the fourth Gospel. This is the seventeenth of a series of Devotions on the First Epistle of John. Previous devotions can be found in the Archives. It is my hope that as we meditate on St. John’s Epistle, where the keynote is Love, that together we can grow in our Love of God.

Out of the Civil Rights Movement came the penetrating oratory and the inspiring music flowing from the words WE SHALL OVERCOME. As these words are spoken or sung, they are words of hope, of encouragement, of challenge, and even of condemnation. Hope, encouragement, and challenge to overcome the suppressions, prejudices, and neglect of the past. Condemnation is of those responsible for considering and treating people as less that equal. The song, the oratory, will continue for many years as the people work hard and sacrifice much to reach their goals and overcome.

Out of our Christian Heritage has come the message of a promise fulfilled as Jesus OVERCAME. As this message is given in word and song, we proclaim that Jesus OVERCAME by dying on the Cross for our sins and that the Gates of Heaven are open to all who love Him and Call upon His Name.

Those who do not love the Lord find the Commandments almost impossible to keep. They say that the Commandments are not fair, that they take the fun out of life. This is what Satan would want us to think. Because Christ has overcome, these Commandments are no longer a burden. These same words become acts of love because HE HAS OVERCOME!

WE PRAY:

"Wide open are Thy hands,
Paying with more than gold
The awful debt of guilty men,
Forever and of old.
Ah, let me grasp those hands,
That we may never part,
And let the power of their blood
Sustain my fainting heart." AMEN.

 

"Wide Open Are The Hands" from cyberhymnal.org

A SUGGESTION FOR LIVING THE DEVOTION

Most ex-smokers will tell you that at some point in their life they never wanted to, nor believed they could quit smoking. The point is: they overcame. Select one item from any Commandment that you have trouble keeping. Pray about it constantly. Work on it. You can Overcome it.