Dear brothers and sisters of Hope,

This week we begin our expositional study of 1 John. The Lord willing, we will focus on the opening two verses this Sunday. As you contemplate these two verses in your homes in preparation for the Lord’s Day, let your eyes and mind be carried into verses 3-4 as well. As reformed Christians, we often stand in need of the reminder that doctrine is not an end in and of itself. John is not here seeking for his readers to merely have a better understanding of the ‘Word of life.’ Doctrine is designed to instruct the mind so that the mind may employ that doctrine in a specific response – and John’s desired responses for his readers are found in vv. 3-4. He desired that the declaration of Christ and who He is and what He has done would carry his readers into a deeper fellowship and a fuller joy.

 May we not fall short of John’s intention. May we not come away from our worship on Sunday with simply a better understanding of Christ, the Word of life. May we by faith, through the Apostle’s declaration to us, come away with a tangible increase of fellowship and joy that finds its source in Him who is the Fountain of life.

 I ran across this quote from D.A. Carson this morning and found it helpful in terms of our text:  The better we know God, the more we will want all our existence to revolve around Him.

 And note that John does not tell us that it will simply be a boost to our joy; he tells us emphatically that this knowledge alone brings the fullness of joy. Do you know that fullness? Is it your present experience? If not, do not blame your circumstances. Realize that it is due to a failure to know and experience your God.

Prayer tonight will be at the Noah’s home. May our time together be marked by a fellowship and joy that goes beyond our present circumstances and rests fully on the life-giving grace of our Savior.

Your brother,

Mike D