Choice 4: 1 John 1–3. That Ye May Have Fellowship with Us and with God

1.    Read 1 John 1:1–4. Describe in writing John’s desire for those he wrote to. Study the following scripture references and then list what these verses teach about how we can come to know God better and have greater joy and fellowship with God:

o       1 John 1:8–10 We need to Love.

o       1 John 2:3–6 Keep His commandments and we shall know Him.

o       1 John 2:9–11; 3:11–19 Love our brother and we will abide in the light. Love one another. “Love in deed and truth.”

o       1 John 2:15–17 Don’t love the world, Love God and do His will and we will abide forever.

o       1 John 2:20–21, 27 Let the Holy Spirit guide and teach you.

o       1 John 3:4–6 Don’t sin and break the law. Abide in the spirit and ye shall become closer to the Father.

2.    Choose one of the ways to have greater joy and fellowship with God as you described it above, and write a paragraph explaining how you can better implement those principles in your life.

 1 John 2:9–11; 3:11–19 Love our brother and we will abide in the light. Love one another. “Love in deed and truth.”

These scriptures tell about loving your “brother.” Often when I hear the term brother I take it to mean everyone around me. To me it is a more general term meaning to love everyone. However in order to apply it more fully to my life I am interpreting it to mean that I need to more fully love my family. I do love them, but I think I need to love them more by being more patient, especially with my new little girls. I get so frustrated with them over small things. It is really tough being a new mommy and of course I love my daughters, but sometimes I lose my cool. They don’t understand my frustrations so it’s really not worth it. I can show them I really love them by being patient. I need to be more patient with my husband as well. I am often having to be patient with him, but I need to be even more so patient with him and show him my love in that way.

Choice 4: 1 Peter 1–4. The Trial of Our Faith Is More Precious than Gold

Read 1 Peter 1:1–9; 2:12, 15, 20–25; 3:11–16; 4:12–19. Write two to three paragraphs using the principles of these verses to explain to someone who says, “Life isn’t fair. Why do I have to have so many trials? I’m tired of being ridiculed by those who do not keep the commandments.”

*disclaimer: Sorry, I went a little overboard and have more than 3 paragraphs. I just had a lot to say. Hope you enjoy! 

Life isn’t meant to be fair. Yes that is harsh, but it is also reality. We are all here to experience different things that will build our character and make us stronger. Trials are here to help us appreciate the good times in life. We would not know joy if we didn’t know sorrow. 

We all have trials at some point in our lives. There is no way to avoid them. We simply just have to keep the faith and endure them well with patience as it says in 1^st Peter 4:13 "But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy." This scripture is simply saying that we are sometimes partakers of Christ’s sufferings because he suffered for us. We can be glad when we remember that he has already suffered for us and he knows what we have gone through. In those times we always have a friend we can count on for comfort.

As we suffer and go through trials we need to have a positive outlook on our situation so that we can better endure them. 1^st Peter 2:20 says: " ...but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God." Hard times will come, but if we endure those times with patience then God will be happy with us and very proud of our faith in Him. 

We also need to follow Christ’s example. Many people ridiculed him for being who he was. Those who crucified him obviously didn’t like what he stood for and we may know many people in our lives now who don’t like us because of what we stand for. However, we need to have Christ’s attitude towards these people. Instead of trying to get back at them we simply should commit ourselves even more to our faith as Christ did. This is mentioned in 1^st Peter 2 verse 23: "Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:" We should be happy and unafraid to suffer for Christ’s name sake as it says in these two verses 1^st Peter 3:14 "But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye..." and 1^st Peter 4:16 "Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf."

So, yes, life isn’t fair. People who don’t live God’s laws will ridicule you. It is up to us to be stronger than they. We have to be the bigger person and stand strong. Christ only wants us to gain experience here on earth so that we can be stronger and help build His kingdom. He has a plan for all of us and He can see the bigger picture. All the trials placed in our path are for our good and for our profit and learning. God always has a purpose, and this is why we must pass through so many trials in this life.