These verses seem to be difficult to grasp their full meaning. My first reaction is that I can easily make life all about me, justifying and rationalizing small and big offenses to God. Life is not about me, but all about honoring my Savior and King, promoting His reputation and character. The more I neglect Hos love and mercy, I can slide into my own self sufficient and independent mindset. I’m not the judge of the next guy, but the warnings about selfishness are real.
“Jesus opens his arms to his needy children and says, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28, NASB). The criteria for coming to Jesus is weariness. Come overwhelmed with life. Come with your wandering mind. Come messy. What does it feel like to be weary? You have trouble concentrating. The problems of the day are like claws in your brain. You feel pummeled by life. What does heavy-laden feel like? Same thing. You have so many problems you don’t even know where to start. You can’t do life on your own anymore. Jesus wants you to come to him...
Paul Miller, A Praying Life
“We know that no one who is born of God sins” (1 John 5:18 NASB). “No one who is born of God practices sin” (3:9 NASB). Occasional sins are not here in view, but habitual sins, the practice of sin. Because a believer has a new nature (“God’s seed,” v. 9), he has new desires and appetites and is not interested in sin.
A Christian faces three enemies, all of which want to lead him into sin: the world, the flesh, and the Devil.
The world “lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19 NASB), Satan—the god of this age (2 Cor. 4:3–4, literal translation) and the prince of this world (John 14:30). He is the spirit who works in the children of disobedience (Eph. 2:2).” - Excerpt, Be Real (1 John) by Warren W. Wiersbe
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