1 John 2:4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.
There is a vast difference between knowing Jesus and abiding in Him. Knowing seems much more superficial, more surface-level. I can know every detail of someone’s life and story, but knowing does not indicate that that knowledge has any effect on me—my behavior, my attitude. Knowing is strictly intellectual.
1 John 2:5-6 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.
Abiding, however, involves the head and the heart. If I am abiding in Christ, then my life is rooted in His. I actively strive to live in Him, to embody His values and attitudes, to be His hands and feet. Abiding in Him is a lifestyle, not an intellectual hobby.
1 John 2:9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness.
Lord, I want to abide in You, to root myself so firmly in Your love that it’s impossible to tell where You end and I begin. Help me to invest time and effort into my relationship with You. Help me to actively emulate your love and care for humanity. Draw me closer. Amen.
1 John 2:10 Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.
Have a blessed day.