“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit[a] of truth and the spirit of falsehood.” 1 John 4.4-6
This weekend, I was at Revive Children’s Camp, helping lead nearly 300 participants through a four-day weekend camp where we are loving God, having fun, and enjoying meeting new people. This is what Revive is all about. I am realizing we are not an overproduced summer camp. We are simply people gathering together who love Jesus, happen to be in the Wesleyan/Methodist tradition, and are seeking Christ at camp together, and it is a blast.
During this week, the words of 1 John 4:4 are ringing true: “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” In the previous passage, we read about testing the spirits—and now we are realizing the Spirit in us is greater than the spirit that is in the world.
We are people who are from God and listen to God. We are listening to His voice, and God is doing a work among us. This week, forty children accepted Jesus. They want to follow Him. They are now “from God.” They listen to His voice. They are leaning into becoming who Christ has called them to be.
We are called to live in the love of God and to realize the one who is in us, the Holy Spirit, is greater than the one who is in the world. Christ draws us to Himself and reminds us of who we are in Him.
I am thankful for His presence among us, for the opportunity to see kids accepting Christ, and for Jesus to be our agenda. We are thankful for His love and for the power of His promise, both for today and in the age to come.
“O Lord God, a day after camp, and I am still recuperating. But I am thankful, filled with Your Spirit, and so blessed by Your love. Come now, Holy Spirit, find us willing and faithful. Help us walk according to Your ways as we introduce Your children to Your love. For You are good, and Your love endures forever.” Amen