He Hears!
"I believe that as often as I transgress, God is more ready to forgive me than I am ready to offend" (C.H. Spurgeon).
John's first letter emphasizes the assurance and confidence we can have in our relationship with God. If we confess our sins, He will forgive us (1:9). Believers depend on the Lord for our salvation from sins (2:2). In our verse for today (5:14), John tells us that believers also have the confidence to ask God "according to His will," and when they do so, He hears!
The point could be made that God hears all our prayers, and He does. After all, He is God and is all-knowing. So, of course, He hears all prayers. It could also be said that He answers our prayers according to His will in everything we ask of Him. He isn't going to go against His will because He is perfect. That is true. However, the flow of thought in the book should make us focus our attention on one specific area that John is writing about - the forgiveness of sins. He hears in those important petitions we make regarding our faults and mistakes!
1 John 5:13 tells us this letter was written to those who believe in Jesus so that they might know they have eternal life. One of the benefits of our place in God's family is that He hears and responds to our prayers. Again, it would seem the trajectory of this letter leads to this being specifically a prayer for forgiveness.
In 3:22, he said whatever we ask, we receive from him because we keep His commandments and do what pleases Him. This is the terminology used previously in the letter to talk about the assurance we have of our sins being forgiven in Jesus. If we are "walking in the light" (1:7), we are keeping His commands, living for Him, and trusting in Him. He hears us and forgives us by the blood of Jesus!
If you are a child of God, it is simple. If you want forgiveness, repent and pray. Strive to live for Him, but know that when you slip or fail, He is always there to forgive you. He hears! I hope you will turn to Him because I love you, and God does, too!
Corey Sawyers is the preaching minister for the Martin Church of Christ and an adjunct instructor for Bear Valley Bible Institute. He is Melody's husband and Daddy to Garrett (and Bailey), Gordon (and Lauren), and Gannon. Thank you to all our Veterans!
