These things I have written to you who believe in the name
WEEK 3
PRAISING GOD FOR WHAT WE KNOW
1 JOHN 5:13-20
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.
If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death.
We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
FATHER, we lift up to You the last portion of 1 John 5,
thanking You for John's repeated uses of the word know: These things are written to those who believe
in the name of the Son of God, so that we may know we have eternal life. We know that You hear us in whatever we ask. We know we have the requests we have asked from You
in Jesus' name and in accordance with His will. We know that no one who is born of God
continues in the same unbroken pattern of sin as before. We know that we are of God because we hear
the voice of Your Spirit in Your Word. And we know that the Son of God has come,
and has given us understanding so that we may know
Him who is true.
O Lord, how striking it is that we know all the necessary things:
who You are, who Your Son is, what the gospel is, what salvation is, what sin is, what righteousness is, what it means to be born of God, what it means to be a child of God, what it means to be delivered from the power of the evil one, what it means to have eternal life. These things we know because
You have given us revelation and illuminated our understanding
so that we might know with full assurance.
The best of it all is knowing You—
the God of all comfort, Father of mercies, our ever-present God, eternal Savior, Creator of heaven and earth, Lord of righteousness, judge of all things, and justifier of all who believe in Jesus—
how unsearchable are Your judgments
and unfathomable Your ways!1
You are unspeakably great, and greatly to be praised.2
The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in due time. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.3
May we seek satisfaction in You alone.
We bless You for the good news of salvation—
all its doctrines, insights, promises, and pleadings. By its truth we understand that we were hopelessly lost, but You sought and found us. We were poor and empty, but You have filled our cups to overflowing. We were in darkness, but You brought us into the light. We were in bondage to sin, but You bought us
and made us slaves to righteousness. You became for us a place of refuge—
our fortress, our Rock, and our redeemer.
Make us to be bold reflections of the grace and holiness
embodied in Your Son, our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Use both our lives and our lips to tell the world of His glory.
We know that all things are in Your hands. You will not permit us
to be tempted beyond what we are able,4 and You can use even the worst calamities of this life for our good and Your eternal glory.5
Yet we pray as Christ Himself instructed us to pray: Deliver us from evil. See us safely and speedily through all the trials
that are so common in this life, and deliver us from temptation.
Forgive us, Lord, for this week's sins. Wash us; make us clean
even as we worship You now. In Your Son's name we pray,
thanking You again for what we know. Amen.
1. Romans 11:33 2. Psalm 145:3 3. Psalm 145:15-16 4. 1 Corinthians 10:13 5. Genesis 50:19-20; Romans 8:28; Ephesians 1:11-12