• 

If someone claims, “I know him well!” but doesn’t keep his commandments, he’s obviously a liar. His life doesn’t match his words. But the one who keeps God’s word is the person in whom we see God’s mature love. This is the only way to be sure we’re in God. Anyone who claims to be intimate with God ought to live the same kind of life Jesus lived. 1 John 2:4-6 Message

Scotty was our 92 year old fitness member. A gruff old, retired army drill sergeant who came in quite regularly, sat in the lobby, reading a magazine, explaining to me the finer points of working out. His outspoken manner had run off many people over the few years I’d known him. He didn’t mind telling them what they were doing wrong and what they should be doing. No one invited him into their conversation, yet he didn’t seem to need to be asked.

One day after cussing out a fellow member, he came out to sit and began repeating the conversation I just overheard. I said, “Scotty, you need to stop giving advise unless people ask you for it and for heavens sake, stop cussing them out. If they want to hurt themselves, that’s not on you!”

He chuckled and replied, “I suppose you’re right, I’m sorry. I just don’t understand why people just want to continue doing it wrong when I’ve told them how to do it right!”

At that, I stood up from my desk and made my way into the reception area. “Scotty, I’m pretty sure Jesus felt the same way! He showed them a better way but they refused to listen. He gave His life for them and they just didn’t get it, but He never forced Himself on them. He loves you too, Scotty.”

He looked at me intently and made a sound between a hmmm and a grunt. “I believe in God, I just haven’t needed Him much. I’ll have to give that some thought.” I never had another chance to talk with Scotty about his relationship with God because he died a few months later.

It’s not about knowing about God, it’s about committing to keep His Word. In chapter 4:7-8, John goes on to say, “My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn’t know the first thing about God, because God is love—so you can’t know him if you don’t love.”

It’s all interwoven into the tapestry of His plan. Know Love, be Love to the world, allow the Holy Spirit to take the seeds you’ve planted and do His perfect work in them. Do your job so that He can do His job. Study Jesus and duplicate Him in your world.

Until Tomorrow,

Sandy G