The Voice of God in Holy Writ

1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.	Be careful of the sources you read and who you choose to believe. Seek truth.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:	Those who confess Jesus Christ will honestly express what they know. Others will say things for their own gain, to deceive, or simply because they don’t know better. We need to honor and look for those who speak truth. When you find lasting peace and comfort you will know you have found the truth you were seeking.
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.	To overcome we must submit to the will of God.
5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.	It is important to recognize the they of the world. Not to scorn nor ridicule them, but to learn to love them.
6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.	If you are fortunate to know God and hear his servants, then you have a role to share the spirit of truth and limit the spirit of error.
7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.	Rather than occupy a position of privilege, those who hear must show love for everyone. Through that love we are born of God and we know God. I see my weaknesses when I fail to show love. I must feel and show love to know God.
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.	I suffer when I see my children in pain. I can’t comprehend the love God has for humanity. God willingly sent Jesus, knowing he would suffer. But the hope for all is great.
10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.	We must always remember that when we are right, it means nothing. It just means that we came to see things as God sees them. For that we should feel blessed, not pride.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.	We know we love God when we love one another.
12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.	Quoting from Les Miserables, “To love another person is to see the face of God.”
13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.	I have felt the power and Spirit of God. I feel blessed by those experiences and I know when they are real because I better serve others.
14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.	I offer my solemn witness to this testimony and invite all to seek the truths for themselves and then ask God if Jesus is the Savior of the world.
15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.	When we accept and live the fundamental truths of God’s plan, we will feel God near to us because we will be near to God.
16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.	Sometimes I find it hard to believe that God loves me. When I remember that God does, I come closer to being at one with God.
17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.	I willingly share my witness and do so boldly and with conviction.
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.	In times of peril, earthquakes, illness, and pandemic, I fear to the same degree that I cannot find strength in God. I know my love is imperfect because I still experience fear. Preparing myself and helping others prepare increases my love for others and does cast out fear.
19 We love him, because he first loved us.	Oh how true this is.
20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?	Remember, our brother is our neighbor. We learn from the story of the Good Samaritan that even one considered an enemy is a neighbor or a brother and sister. We must love everyone, even our annoying and hateful brother. I know that when I live that commandment I am filled with the love of God and do not fear.
21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.