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walking like he walked

1 John 2:3-11 (JDV)

1 John 2:3 This is how we know that we know him: since we keep his commands.
1 John 2:4 The one who says, “I have come to know him,” and yet doesn’t keep his commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
1 John 2:5 But whoever keeps his word, truly in him the care of God is made complete. This is how we know we are in him:
1 John 2:6 The one who says he is staying in him should be walking like he walked.
1 John 2:7 Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old command that you have had from the beginning. The old command is the word you have heard.
1 John 2:8 Yet I am writing you a new command, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.
1 John 2:9 The one who says he is in the light but hates his brother or sister is in the darkness until now.
1 John 2:10 The one who cares about his brother or sister stays in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.
1 John 2:11 But the one who hates his brother or sister is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and doesn’t know where he’s going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

walking like he walked

Confidence and assurance of salvation do not come from confessing a certain doctrine or creed. Confidence comes from living like the Savior told us to live. That is why the Lord in his compassion is going to give us some neighbors and brothers and sisters who challenge our commitment. Their words will irk us. Their actions will tempt us to be infuriated. This is a test. The authenticty of our faith is being tested. Don’t walk away from such people. Embrace them with love. The result will be our own confidence in Christ.

LORD, give us the wisdom to love those you bring to us — to walk like you walked.