Listening To The Word - 1 YearSample

The Anointing of Jesus

1 John 2:20-23
“But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth . . . . Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ . . . . No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.”

John was writing to followers of Jesus in a time when most could not read, there were no Bibles as we know them today, and most were first generation followers of Jesus. The potential for heresy, deception and error was great. Despite our abundance of Bibles, teaching and accumulated learning over two thousand years of church history, we too can lose our way and drift from our pure devotion to Christ. John’s reference point for all followers of Jesus was the living presence of Jesus within them, through the Holy Spirit. This anointing from the Holy One convicts us of sin, reminds us of the truth in Christ, empowers us to say ‘no’ to temptation and gives us discernment when we are faced with deception, heresy and error. Many followers of Jesus today rely more on the opinions, teachings and writings of others, rather than the living presence of Jesus within them. John would say to us, we too must learn to know and follow Jesus through the anointing of His Spirit of truth within us.

Lord Jesus, you are my reference point in all things. Teach me your ways so I can walk in your truth, for your glory.