In January our church held its annual congregational fast. For 21 days we prayed together, fasted together and meditated on 1 John . Here are my thoughts from those times of devotion in 1 John.

Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; ^jsin islawlessness. 5 You know that ^khe appeared in order to ^ltake away sins, and ^minhim there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; ⁿno one whokeeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, ^olet no onedeceive you. ^pWhoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.8 ^qWhoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has beensinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was ^rto destroythe works of the devil. 9 ^sNo one born of God makes a practice of sinning, forGod’s² seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has beenborn of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are thechildren of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, ^tnoris the one who ^udoes not love his brother. 1 JOHN 3:4-10

MEDITATIONAL THOUGHT:The Son of God appeared for this purpose: to destroy the works of the devil.

MY THOUGHTS: The enemy’s plan was to take over the whole world and everything in it….BUT GOD HAD OTHER PLANS! God’s plan of salvation was that through His Son Jesus everything that had been lost could be restored. The plan of salvation does not just redeem individual souls. It is not just about forgiveness of sins and the bestowal of eternal life. It is about resurrecting everything that sin and death and the devil have touched! Destroying the works of the devil in all their manifestations is God’s plan!!!