"I am writing this to you so that you will not sin."

Today I am reflecting on 1 John 2:1-6.

John says, "My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin." Pretty clear, huh? John, the "Beloved disciple" and a loving spiritual father to the members of Jesus' church, wants God's children to stop sinning.

It doesn't seem like a suggestion...or that John is soft selling it like, "You know believers, I was kind of thinking you might not want to play around with sin." He just says, "I don't want you sinning."

Why? Just from what John has written in 16 verses so far, here is what I see:
-You destroy your fellowship with Jesus and the Father. (1:5-6)
-You ruin your fellowship with other believers. (1:7)
-You disrupt the on-going "cleansing" process from sin that Jesus accomplishes in us through His blood. (1:7-9)
-It makes you question how sure your relationship with Christ is. (2:3)
-You deny your love for Christ. (2:5)

Considering those consequences, why would we hold on to our sin?

But, I also realize I need to shift my attention a little bit here. Sin is bad. It has horrible consequences, but are the negative reasons enough for me (and you) to stop sinning? Maybe-maybe not.

John helps us out here as well. Instead of making it just an issue of hating sin, he makes it an issue of loving God. Loving something more always helps me to choose what I love over something else. I love my wife so I choose her over others. I love steak, so I choose that over other options (when I get a choice). The list can go on and on.

John says obedience to God (the opposite of sinning) is a demonstration of our love for God. Do we choose Him and His ways or something else?

Jesus, help me to love you more.