Be About God’s Business

Written By Betty Predmore

1 JOHN 2:1-17

(December 1)

My teenagers know my house rules. We go over them often. But that doesn't mean they always follow the rules exactly as given. There are times when their rooms don't get cleaned up on a Saturday morning ("Oh, sorry Mom, I forgot!"). Other times, I find them staying up past bedtime ("I just wanted to finish this game!"). And there are the frequent times of quarrelling ("She started it!").

They know the rules, yet they make a choice to not follow them. When they do, they suffer the consequences.

John is talking about much the same thing in chapter 2. We, as believers, know the way we should live and the things which are considered to be sinful. But do we do those things anyways? You bet!!

John isn't speaking about some new law that is just being enforced amongst believers. He is talking about the commandments that have been around for ages. These should definitely be "old news" by now.

When we continue to break these rules, we can't really say "I know God." If we do, we are lying, not living in the truth. In order to say "I know God" we must be living in his truth, being about his business.

What is his business? The first commandment (and the most important one) is to love others. Jesus was the truest example of loving others, loving enough to sacrifice his own life. You cannot say you follow Jesus, and still hate another believer. If you have hatred for others, you walk in darkness. Light is only found by living a life of love.

Have you, as a believer, felt hate for another? If you say "yes", you are most certainly not alone. But there is still hope and all is not lost. Because of Jesus!

Because of Jesus, our sins are forgiven. So even if we have walked in hate towards others in our past, we can step into the light, being washed clean of that sin and turning away from it. When the word of God is living in your heart, the battle against the enemy is won.

The love we have in our hearts should not be for the world we live in or what it offers us. These offer only sinful things like pride and jealousy. These things will not last. This world will fade someday, and all those things you thought you had to have will be gone.

Our love should be towards the Father and those who follow him. That is where hope is found. That is where promise of eternal life is found. It is that love that endures through all that the enemy tosses our way.

When we love God and love others, we are free to live for him and fulfill his plan for our lives. That is when we have the freedom and the privilege to be about God's business.

Betty Predmore

Betty Predmore is a writer, blogger, speaker and ministry leaders. She is the founder of Mom-Sense, Inc., a ministry designed for mentorship, connection and service to women of all life circumstances. Through this ministry, women are encouraged and supported with scripture and life application. Mom-Sense helps women overcome life struggles through small group classes with biblical curriculum, individual counseling, bible studies, and other areas of support.

Betty also directs the Imperial Valley Life Center, which is a non-profit faith-based pro life women’s resource center. She has a passion for saving the unborn and supporting mothers through pregnancy and motherhood.

Betty loves to speak at events, sharing the love of Jesus with other women. She does this through practical life application mingled with God’s word, and sprinkled with humor. Having experienced a broken home, divorce, abuse, grief, single motherhood, blended families, and adoption, she uses the broken places and movement of God in her own life to share His word in an inspiring way. She enjoys sharing her blogs on social media as a way of reaching out on a broader spectrum. Betty has many speaking topics which can be found on her website: www.bettypredmore.com

As an author, she has had the opportunity to impact women and reach deep into their hearts with her words of inspiration and encouragement. Through Pondering Virtue and Whispered Grace, she has created wonderful tools for the woman who is seeking direction in her spiritual walk.

Betty serves on the writing team of A Wife Like Me, and is also a contributor to Moms Encouraging Moms and Gift of Thorns. Her blogs have appeared in several magazine publications throughout the years including Southern Faith Magazine, Purposeful Life, and Aspiring Woman Magazine.

While Betty thrives on her ministry opportunities, her greatest blessings come from being a wife to Jim and a mama to their wonderful collection of children, who bring joy, laughter, and an occasional tear to her days.


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