1 John 2:6 ESV --- whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
Today I was surprised when the Lord and I got to our time in the Word. We stayed on 1 John 2:6. I was preparing to move on, but the Lord had something else here. It was the word "Ought". Yes, the same word I wanted to study yesterday, He pulled me back to it today.
Something that really got me is God had more in this verse, but He also gave me this tiny desire from my heart to study this word and hear Him in it from yesterday. Someone might say hogwash or whatever, but I know that I know in my heart I was moving on, and He reserved this from yesterday so he could give it to me today as a gift. I feel silly sharing this, but it has really made me emotional as I type this up. Proverbs 37:3-4 says, "Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." I believe today, He showed me the proper usage of this scripture. Okay then… I'm being obedient to share… Deep breath… compose myself… move on. LOL…
When I first read the word "OUGHT", and maybe it's just me, but in my English speaking mind I didn't hear it as an overly commanding verb. I thought to myself could we have translated this with a "MUST" or something stronger, but there is a reason this is used.
Ought in Greek is opheilō and means: To owe, to be a debtor, be bound, be under obligation, bound by duty or necessity.
Where I was thinking there needed to be a stern command "You MUST walk like Jesus walked.", God went far deeper and said, "You are in debt, duty bound and obligated to walk like Jesus walked." My command I can easily just reject or avoid. This, however, puts something on me much deeper than a yes or no, I will or I won't. Now I realize in today's world, duty and obligation may mean next to nothing, but if you SAY you ABIDE with Him, you are now in DEBT, you owe, you are bound by duty, obligated to WALK like Jesus WALKED.
So, hear me Christian, believer in Christ Jesus, if you say it, you are duty bound to walk like Jesus walked. No, we're not perfect, never will be on this Earth, but it means you and I better get into the Gospels and the Word and start really seeing and hearing how Jesus walked because we owe a debt to walk like He did.
I truly hope you have a great day today. I am praying for you but if there is anything I can come alongside you in please send me a message. Good, bad, ugly, it doesn't matter. You aren't alone so don't let anyone or anything tell you that you are.
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