The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 28 November 2025 – Ancient And Modern
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TOPIC: Ancient And Modern
READ: 1 John 2:7-17 (KJV)
7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.
8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.
13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
THE MESSAGE:
In verse 7 of today’s reading, John calls love an old commandment but in verse 8, he calls it the new commandment. Love is truly both an old and a new commandment. God commands us to love our neighbors in Leviticus 19:18 while in John 13:34, Jesus calls love a new commandment and interpreted it in a new dimension which is expressed through selfless giving, self-sacrifice, servanthood; doing good to your enemies and praying for those who hate or humiliate you. Love extends to forgiving your enemies and giving them food and drink. In fact, love is the mark of Christianity. Jesus said that by loving will all men know that we are his disciples (John 13:35). Some Christians do not see anything wrong in making enemies, hence in their homes, villages, Churches, and business places, they have enemies and their major prayer point is “Let all my enemies die!”
Verses 8 and 11 tell us that anyone who claims to be a Christian, and hates his brother or neighbor, is not a Christian – he is walking in darkness. Verse 15 advises us not to love the world or the things that are in it. Loving the world means conforming to the standard of the world, that is, joining the world to practice corruption, cheating, stealing, lustful pleasure, pride, etc. Read God’s advice in Romans 12:2. The world and everything in it will perish one day, but whoever lives to please God will have eternal life. Make a decision under God today to love your neighbors and yield your life and desires totally to God.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, help me to love others through my actions. Help me to yield my members and desires to You, Amen!
