Verse: 1 John 5:18-19
18 We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. 19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.
Devotion
When I was younger I used to read this verse as more of a condemnation. Like it was a reminder of how much of a sinner I still was. There were times when I wondered, “do I really love God if I continue to struggle with this sin?” But as I’ve gotten older, I read it more as a statement of fact: As I continue to follow Jesus, sin loses it’s grip on my life.
Now, I’m not saying this just happens magically with no effort from me. There is definitely a need for effort. I need to be in God’s Word, to be in prayer, to be in fellowship with other believers, to be sharing my struggles, seeking help, asking forgiveness, doing the work to deal with the issues “under the sin” and all that. But what I’m saying is that this verse is actually an encouragement.
If we are struggling with sin, we can hold onto this promise, that anyone born of God does not continue to sin. It might not happen over night, but if you continue to follow Jesus, to seek Him, to bring your sinful desires to him in confession and repentance, then sin’s hold on your life will weaken. The closer we get to Jesus, the further we get from sin.
We will always struggle with sin on some level, but praise God that as we grow in him, it’s hold will weaken. And we will find greater levels of freedom and peace in him!
Author: Christian Dunn
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