Believe These Things
Scripture: 1 John
5:13-15 (ESV)
13 I write these
things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that
you have eternal life. 14 And
this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything
according to his will, he hears us. 15 And
if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the
requests that we have asked of him.
Devotion:
The Apostle John writes with a pastoral heart
in his first epistle, particularly in the concluding affirmations of chapter 5.
Verses 13 to 15 serve as a beacon of assurance, illuminating the path of every
believer with the promise of eternal life and the confidence we can have in
approaching God.
Verse 13 begins with
a profound purpose: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the
Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” This statement is
not merely informative; it is transformative. It has the power to shift the
believer’s perspective from a hope-so to a know-so stance regarding their
salvation. Eternal life is not a distant, ethereal concept but a present
reality for those who believe in Jesus Christ. The knowledge of eternal life is
a stabilizing force, anchoring our souls in turbulent times, and providing a
profound sense of reassurance in our faith.
Moving to verse
14, we encounter a remarkable assurance: “This is the confidence we have in
approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”
Confidence here is not born out of arrogance but out of relationship. It is the
confidence of a child coming to a loving parent, knowing they are heard and
valued. This confidence is not about our own worthiness or righteousness, but
it is about our trust in God’s love, mercy, and grace. It is about knowing that
God welcomes us with open arms, ready to listen and respond to our prayers.
Verse 15 concludes
with a promise that seals the believer’s confidence: “And if we know that he
hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” This is
not a blank check for our whims but a reassurance that when our requests are
woven with the threads of God’s will, they are as good as granted. Our prayers
become powerful not because of our eloquence but because of our alignment with
God’s will, instilling in us a sense of empowerment and hope in the
effectiveness of our prayers.
These verses
collectively teach us about the nature of our relationship with God. It is a
relationship marked by assurance, confidence, and answered prayer. Answered
prayer, in this context, does not always mean getting what we want, but it
means that God, in His wisdom and love, responds to our prayers in the best way
possible. It could be a 'yes ', a 'no ', or a 'wait '. Assurance in our eternal
destiny, confidence in our approach to God, and the certainty of answered
prayer when we pray in His will.
As we reflect on
these truths, let us be encouraged to live out our faith boldly. Let us
approach the throne of grace with the confidence of those who are dearly loved
and fully heard. Let us pray with hearts aligned with God’s will, knowing such
prayers are potent and effective.
In a world filled
with uncertainty, let the assurance of eternal life, the confidence in God’s
presence, and the promise of answered prayer be the bedrock of our faith. The
promise of eternal life, as mentioned in verse 13, is a source of great hope
and comfort. It assures us that our life with God does not end with physical
death but continues into eternity. May we hold fast to these truths, allowing
them to shape our daily walk with the Lord.
Remember that our
confidence is not in our ability to pray but in God’s ability to hear. Our
assurance is not in our faith's strength but in our faith's object—Jesus
Christ, the Son of God. And our hope is not in the transient things of this
world but in the eternal life that He has promised to those who believe in His
name. Therefore, let us not only pray but also believe that God hears and
answers our prayers according to His perfect will.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for all
you have done for us. Help us to wait for and accept your answers to our
prayers. Please keep us in your care daily as we seek to follow you more
closely. May our lives conform in ever greater measure to your life. So that we
become examples of what true Christians act, live, and love like, and let our lives
glorify your name. Now strengthen us to walk today following you on the journey
of life you have laid out for us. Being confident in our eternal life with you.
Amen
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