During a summer soccer camp, a friend and I were following up with a boy who came forward after praying to follow Christ. We asked him why he prayed, and then he looked at us as he paused to think. He replied, "I just love Jesus." My friend and I smiled and then looked at each other, since it was refreshing him to say that.
"And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son" ( 1 John 5:11).
At this session of camp, this boy was the only one in the older group that came to talk. He explained how his brother had been telling him about what he was learning about God. He said that he decided that he believed in God and wanted to follow Jesus.
"If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us" (1 John 4:15-16).
I pray that we and others see how our belief in our Savior King is grounded in this great love that He has for us and our trust in that love.
"No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us" (1 John 4:13).
Recommended reading: 1 John, chapters 4-5
