Wow, that should make you really think. It seems a little harsh, but it should be harsh. God gave His Son for us so we can have eternal life and what He wants is our hearts fully devoted and obedient to Him. If we think about it, it really doesn’t seem like too much to ask. John is just reminding us that our life should resemble Jesus’ in all we do and if you really love God we will learn and grow to obey.
Verse 6 says, “Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.”
Jesus lived His life not for Himself but for doing God’s will. Whatever He did or said was from God and to glorify God. If we open God’s word and truly read it trying to get our wisdom from it we will grow to live for God as Jesus did. It will be a challenge and hard work but it is so worth it. We have the perfect example in Christ and the perfect owner’s manual from God so we need to forget our desires and truly live for pleasing God. John makes it seem like we have to be perfect but it is all a matter of the heart. God knows our motives so we need to remember as we are growing we will have our struggles.
John reminds us in verse 2, “He Himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins – and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.”
We need to read, pray and open our hearts to learn all we can so we can be the church where ever we are and be the light for people to see. Amen