“Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.” – 1 John 4:15 

Scripture reading: 1 John 4:13-18; Matthew 10:32-39

John has reminded us often of the difference that exists between a true child of God and a child of this world.  The child of God has fellowship with God while the world is in league with the Devil.  Therefore, John has even spoken about the fact that there is animosity between the believer and the world as he says, “Do not marvel my brethren, if the world hates you” (3:13).  Making a profession of faith in Jesus is a declaration as to which side of this reality we are on.  It is not enough that we simply have the bare facts that God sent His Son as Saviour of the world.  We must confess this before men.  What this means is that we are able to say before a hostile world, “Jesus is my Saviour and He is my King.”  We must confess “that we have known and believed the love that God has for us.”

Often this confession comes at a cost.  The louder we confess Jesus as Saviour and the more faithfully we walk as He walked, the harder the world pushes back.  Sadly, this pushback can even come from family and friends.  As hard as these realities are to deal with at times, the great comfort that John brings to us is the fellowship that we have with God.  The world and its system might hate us, but it cannot take that which is most precious to us, namely, our fellowship with God.

Suggestions for prayer

Pray that you would unashamedly confess the name of Jesus among men.  Pray also for those in your life who are hostile to the Gospel that they might come to know Him as Saviour.

Rev. Brian Murray is the associate pastor at Grace ARP Church and the Director of Gillespie Academy in Woodstock, Ontario. He has been ordained in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church since 2003 and he and his wife Melissa have four children. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.