Reading your Bible for today July 1

July 1: 1 John 3:16-21

KJV Key Verse: 1 John 3:17
17 But whoso* hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

Devotion:
Have you ever thought about just what you would do for a friend in need? Have you ever thought about how much you would expect your friends to do for you if you were in a position of need? Have you ever been called upon to do something you did not like just because your friend needed it done? I am sure we would all be able to name something that we did not expect to have to do but we did it anyway...

We would have done that out of our love or friendship for the other person. Our love may not have been tested, but we may well have looked upon it as just that. Maybe we can look back and see what others have done for us and realise just how much they must actually think of us just because of what they have done. Maybe we now have a firmer definition of just how much we actually mean to others and how much they mean to us!

Then there are the ones who say they will do anything for you and end up turning their backs on you just when you need it most! Or maybe they said they could do something only to find out they could not actually do it, no matter how much they tried! (But their heart's may have been in the right place). We need to make sure we do not promise things which we cannot live up to or are not willing to do.

God has gone all the way. He has already show us just how much we do mean to Him. He has already paid the ultimate price just to show us how much He loves us. He stood up to His word. He made sure He did not let us down. He carried through with His promises. He has set the example which we need to look up to and live up to!

Points to Ponder:
Just how far are you willing to go for your friend?

Just how far would you be willing to go for Christ?