Three Little Letters

Here is a link to last week’s series, Three Little Letters.

If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a fellow believer, [a] that person is still living in darkness.

1 John 2:9

Let’s begin by unpacking the key verse.

If anyone claims to be in the Light …

So, the assumption is that you are a believer. A true follower of the Lord Jesus. If that’s true, then by His grace you are living in His Light because He is living in your very soul.

As you grow in your faith as a believer, the righteousness of God replaces your sinful nature more and more. You will still face the struggle with sin, but your new nature will thrive if you lean into your relationship with Christ and away from the darkness of the world.

Conversely, if you find that your life looks like the world around you, then you should re-assess. Look at the end of the key verse.

…that person is still living in darkness.

What person is in the darkness? The person who hates a fellow believer does not have the Spirit of God living in their heart. The scripture is very clear.

Well, sometimes other people can be hard to love, right? But God says otherwise. And with His power, and by His Spirit alive in every believing heart, nothing is impossible.

But there is no doubt that loving others may not always be that simple. Especially in close relationships when people openly profess Christ, but they abuse or mistreat others.

In cases of abuse, neglect, or mental anguish, we must use common sense. God does not expect us to endure harm. Abusers in the Church must be addressed legally and, when appropriate, scripturally.

But this devotion is primarily focusing on the simple issue related to ordinary professing believers.

There are times when people claim to be Christians, but they just have difficult personalities. They bring their human frailties to church, like we all do.

What do you do? Do you still love them?

Absolutely! They have to love you and me, too. You still have to serve one another when opportunities arise. You should greet one another in the Spirit of fellowship at church. Remember, Godly love is much more than an emotional feeling. Christ-like love is a sacrifice. It is an action.

Often, there are professing believers who have come from unloving backgrounds. They have not learned yet, how to love like Christ, but they are learning. We must be patient and model the love of Jesus for them.

God didn’t call us to equivocate about who we should put up with, enjoy being around or even love. He simply said love.

God’s Word does not leave us in the dark.

We should always look at our own heart first. In 2 Corinthians 13:5 Paul gives the Church a warning to test themselves to see if they are really in the faith. Although this is an encouragement for that specific body of believers, we can apply it to ourselves, individually.

So, how do we do we test ourselves to see if we are in the faith?

• The Spirit will be evident in our lives Galatians 5:22-23
• We will push back against evil and desire godly living 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22
• We will ask the Holy Spirit for help daily Psalm 139:23-24
• We will quickly confess known sin Psalm 51:4

Anyone who loves a fellow believer[b] is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble.

1 John 2:10

Now that you are certain of your relationship with God, the next step is to pray for the difficult person in your life. The Holy Spirit may reveal more than you expect. The Spirit may reveal something missing in your own life that is integral to your walk with Him. Don’t dread this; opening your heart to His leadership and growing in Christ is what truly matters.

The Spirit may help you love this difficult person in your life in a whole new way. But most importantly, He will help you love Him and honor God as He deserves.

 …the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.

1 John 2:8

English Standard Version (ESV)

The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.

How beautiful are the feet of those

who share the Good News of Jesus!

Isaiah 52:7 (Paraphrased)