Daily Devotional
How Do You Discern Truth?
“Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.”
1 John 3:4-9
October 20, 2023
Ponder This
Once I’m saved, I have a new dynamic: God’s life is in me. I have a new desire: I want to be like Him because He’s in me, and I'm in Him and abiding in Him. I also have a new deterrent. It says here in this verse, “And he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.” This is a present continuous sense. If the God of the Bible lives in you, you cannot habitually live in sin—you just can’t do it. If Jesus Christ is in you, you cannot go on carelessly, thoughtlessly, continuously, practicing a lifestyle of sin. The Holy Spirit of God in you will tear you up. You will be under conviction, and the Holy Spirit of God will live in you, work in you, and dwell in you. He is delivering you, not only from the penalty of sin and the power of Satan, but from the principle of self. You are born again. You have received a new nature, and with that new nature, you have a new dynamic, a new desire, and a new deterrent. You’re living for Jesus.
- When have you been convicted by the Holy Spirit?
- What is the difference between conviction and guilt? Why is it important to know this?
Practice This
Pray and confess your sins, acknowledging the areas of conviction in your life.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Real Truth Never Changes
Real truth never changes, and the truth about government is that it is God who ordains it, leaders who are responsible for it, and citizens who are accountable to it. The privilege of being called Americans comes with significant responsibilities—to God, to each other, and to the world.
