Today's Verse: 1 John 3:8

Saturday, October 25, 2003

He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.
— 1 John 3:8
Now you can listen to Today's Verse on iTunes, Spotify, Echo devices, and more!

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

John presents us with two truths - one hard and the other liberating:
  1. The person who CONTINUES* to live a life caught up in sin has been co-opted and deceived by the devil's influence in their lives.
  2. The Son of God came to destroy all that the devil stands for and give us back our true humanity as a person made in the image of God who lives for his purposes and future.
These two truths remind us we must intentionally choose to honor the Son by living for him. I must ask myself, "Which side do I choose with my life in this war between good and evil?" Lukewarm approaches to following Jesus simply won't cut it (Revelation 3:16). If I am not actively on the Lord's side, then by default, when I continue in sin,* I am choosing the losing side of life! The good news for committed disciples, however, is that the Son will remove the devil's work and free us to find life forever with the Father!**
* ὁ ποιῶν τὴν ἁμαρτίαν means "repeatedly doing sinful things."
** The verb λύσῃ τὰ ἔργα means to "release and set free" from the devil's works.

My Prayer...

Almighty and victorious King of the Ages, you are the only rightful ruler of my heart. I pledge my allegiance to you. Please help me as I seek to lay aside my struggles with sin and empower me to live for you in unwavering loyalty. I pray in the name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

3 Related Resources by Heartlight

Destroying the Devil's Work
Illustration of 1 John 3:8
Inspirational illustration of 1 John 3:8 -- He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.
Don't Be Led in the Wrong Way
Devo: Spiritual Warfare
"Dear children, do not let anyone lead you the wrong way. Christ is righteous. So to be like Christ a person must do what is right. The devil has been...."
The Truth about Sin
Devo: A Year with Jesus
"Dear Beloved, As God's child, you need to know that some truth is very basic and very simple. You also need to realize that the evil one, whom John....."

Illustration

Illustration of 1 John 3:8 — He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Saturday, October 25, 2003

Quotemeal
A daily dose of Christian quotes to inspire and encourage.
Quote by Abraham Joshua Heschel:
"The test of love is in how one relates not to saints and scholars but to rascals."
Daily Wisdom
A daily devotional featuring wise counsel found in Scripture.
Proverbs 8:32-33
""Now then, my sons, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.""
Praying with Paul
Features the apostle Paul's writings turned into daily, powerful prayers.
'Chosen for Glory' (Ro. 9:21-24)
"Dear Father, ruler of the ages, You, O God, are the potter who has the right over the clay to make of it whatever you please. What if you, desiring....."
A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
'My True Family'
"Dear Child of God, There is so much talk in your world about community. I understand that you want to find a place where you can be close to other..."

About This Devotional

Today's Verse is a free daily devotional that includes a Bible verse, thought and prayer.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

More Today's Verse