Know Jesus!

For Thursday, April 27, 2023:

1 John 3:5-6 NLT: “You know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him. Anyone who continues to live in Christ will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is.”

Jesus was born into a community with a huge religious awareness. The people believed in God and held the scriptures and prophesies as sacred. The religious leaders known as Pharisees rigidly honored God’s commandments. In fact their mission had become enforcing those rules, catching someone doing something wrong and calling them on their errant behavior, and that was wrong!

Pharisees should have known Leviticus 19:18: “You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.” The Pharisees were missing love, compassion and forgiveness. They were purporting to know all about God and religion, but had left out a key part of scripture. Their rigid enforcement of God’s commands had become a sin unto itself. It’s obvious the Pharisees didn’t truly know Jesus or understand who he is!

So friends, lighten up, show compassion, love your neighbor and make forgiveness your watch-word. When in doubt, do what Jesus would have done.

Pastor Norton Lawellinh

Jesus in the City Fellowship