Joseph's Conversation

Mt. 1:18-25

Mary was betrothed to Joseph. Her husband had been chosen by her parents, and an agreement had been made and officially finalized, This union was legally binding and could only be broken by divorce. But into the mix came a small snafu!  Joseph found his intended bride with child. Mary knew the baby was from the Holy Spirit, but apparently Joseph did not believe so. He wanted a quiet divorce, one that did not shame Mary. 

Second snafu! An angel of the Lord had a private conversation with Joseph, one that opened his eyes to the truth of Mary's situation. He was told that the baby would be a son, and he was to call his name Jesus. No doubt this was a big deal since family names were very important to the Jewish people. Much like John the Baptist, Jesus' name came from God. And rightly so since Jesus was His Son. The angel reminded Joseph of the prophecy, "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us). This must have blown Joseph's mind. He was to be the earthly father to Immanuel. His wife, Mary, was carrying the Son of God, the Messiah. How unbelievable! For sure, this message could only be believed if an angel delivered it. The text says that Jospeh did as he was commanded. He did take Mary to be his wife, but he didn't consumate the union until after she had given birth. Joseph called His name Jesus! What a powerful name that is!

Father,

My heart is full as I think of Jesus and all He has done for me. Like Joseph, at times, I think that this new nature and this forgiveness are unbelievable. But I am so very thankful!

In His name,

Amen

The Birth of Jesus

Lk. 2

It is amazing how God orchestrated the events of Jesus' birth. In this text, the first detail has to do with the Roman emperor issuing a decree what all the world should be registered. All the way from Rome came the impetus to move Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem where Jesus had to be born to fulfill prophecy.

The next detail was that Jesus would be born in humble circumstances. Mary's time came, and Jesus was born in a stable in a manger. Pretty humble!  Why? Because there was no room for them in the inn. No room! Sadly, this parallels the heart condition of most man down through the course of time--no room for the greatest gift man could ever receive. 

The the angels came to shepherds out in the fields tending to their flocks. Shepherds, not kings. The glory of the Lord surrounded them, and they were afraid, and rightly so. Their message stirred within the shepherd's heart the desire to go and see. And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." The angels concluded their announcement with, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" The text says the shepherds went with haste to see the baby. No delay here! Their hearts were eager!

Then Matt. 2 tells of wise men coming from the east searching for the newly-born king. After stopping in Jerusalem, they met Herod and heard his request to bring back news of  the king. There they also learned of Bethlehem. They continued on their long journey following the star, a star placed specifically by God, until it rested over the place where Jesus was. When they saw the baby, they fell down and worshiped offering Him treasures fit for a king. God used them a dream to send the home another way [so sorry Herod!]. 

Just like in the birth of Jesus, God orchestrates the details of our lives. What an amazing God we serve!

Father,

Thank You for Jesus, for every small detail of His birth. Thank You for orchestrating my life as well. Help me to live obediently within the circumstances that You have put me in.

In Jesus name,\

Amen

The Birth of John

Lk. 1:57-80

Elizabeth did indeed give birth to a son. All her neighbors and family rejoiced that the Lord had been merciful to her in removing her barrenness. When it came time to circumcise the baby [8 days later], others inquired if they would name him Zechariah after his father. Elizabeth declared his name would be John. This was unheard of since there was no one in the family named John. Consequently, they went to Zechariah to inquire about the name. Surely Elizabeth must be wrong! But Zechariah wrote on a tablet that he was to be called John, and, at that moment, his tongue was loosed. Everyone there wondered. Zechariah's first words were blessings to God. However, fear descended on all those watching, and as the story spread, fear descended on all those in the hill country of Judea. They wondered what kind of child this would be since the hand of the Lord was upon him. Was it so foreign to see the hand of God upon someone? Or was it that the power of the Lord was a fearful thing? They knew that with great power came great judgment as well. 

Zechariah, being filled with the Spirit, prophesied. 

 68 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people 69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, 70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 71 that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; 72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, 73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us 74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, 75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."

Zechariah certainly understood what John's ministry was to be, and he understood that prophecy was to be fulfilled. He was the father of the prophet of the Most High. He was the father of the forerunner of the Messiah. He was the father of a baby named John! John did grow physically and in spirit. He was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance. And what an appearance that would be!

Father,

Thank You for your words allowing us to see how You have worked and will work in the future. Thank You for orchestrating all the events necessary for the birth of Your son.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Leaping and Praising

Lk. 1:39-56

Upon finding out that Elizabeth was pregnant, Mary journeyed to visit her. It was quite the visit! Leaping and rejoicing! Filled with the Spirit! Wow! The text says that when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, her baby leaped in her womb. How amazing is that! Elizabeth's baby knew Mary's baby even when they were both in the womb! Supernaturally wonderful! 

Immediately Elizabeth was filled with the Spirit. Was it the Spirit within her baby, or was it Elizabeth as well? Regardless she exclaimed with a loud voice. There was some shouting and praising going on here! She blessed Mary and the baby within. Then she asked a probing question. Why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? She knew that Mary's baby was the Lord. Definitely Spirit knowledge! For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. It says the sound, did she not see her? Apparently not, so all these Spirit directed  words and actions were only from hearing. How amazing!

Then Elizabeth uttered another blessing for Mary. Previously, she had said, Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And now she says, And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord. Mary believed. She had faith! Even though she was a young women, her heart was God-directed. She knew the prophecies and was waiting for the coming Messiah. 

Her heart was so full at this moment that she uttered a song of praise,

"My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; 52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever."

Another evidence of the Spirit's work in her life. What beautiful words! Humility coupled with her faith in a sovereign God. She knows she is blessed not because of who she is but because of what God has given her. 

Father,

I ask for a servant's heart, one full of humility and recognizes your hand in everything.

In Jesus name,

Amen

The Angel Message

Lk. 2:26-38

It's hard for me to imagine Mary's encounter with Gabriel, but perhaps that is because I am not a Jewish virgin waiting for and hoping that I would be the chosen one to bear the Messiah. But Mary was! Still, no doubt, it was somewhat scary to have a visit from an angel. The text says that she was troubled and wanted to discern what this visit was about. 

Just what exactly did Mary find out?

• That the angel was named Gabriel, and he was from God sent especially to her.
• She was the favored one.
• The Lord was with her.
• She would conceive and bear a son.
• She would call His name Jesus.
• Jesus would be great, called the Son of the Most High, be given the throne of David, would reign over Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there would be no end. 
• She would conceive by the Holy Spirit and the power of the Most High.
• The child she would bear would be Holy-the Son of God.
• Her relative Elizabeth has conceived in her old age, and this would be her 6th month.
• Nothing is impossible with God.

Quite a truckload of information to digest and accept. I don't think Gabriel gave her time for processing. Her immediate response was, Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to Your word. How beautiful! Complete trust, acceptance, and obedience. No wonder she was the chosen one! No wonder Mary pondered these things in her heart. Her mind and spirit were on overload. 

Father,

Give me the spirit of Mary. Help my heart to be one of servanthood and obedience to You. I love You Lord.

In His name,

Amen

Zechariah and Elizabeth

Lk. 1:5-25

Since Zechariah was a priest serving in the temple, should he have believed Gabriel? Should he have known that a messenger from the Lord would only speak truth no matter how incredulous his message was. The text says that they were both righteous before God walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. That would speak of a heightened spiritual awareness. Nevertheless, I know that Zechariah no doubt feared for his life and perhaps this fear clouded his judgment, that and the fact that they were old left him speechless until the birth of the child. 

What a miracle! Their prayer had been answered. I wonder if they had ceased to pray that prayer since their age was so advanced. Regardless, here we have two old people producing John the Baptist, a man who would do such great things for God and who would be the forerunner of Christ. The angel told them of the great joy and gladness that would fill their lives and of the baby's great mission. He would be a Nazarite who would turn the hearts of many Israelites back to God. He would minister in the power of Elijah turning the heart of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just. He was to make ready for the Lord a people prepared. Imagine how Elizabeth felt when he wrote all this to her. Her heart must have soared, or did she dabble in doubt as well. We don't know, but we do know that she was not mute as was her husband. 

She did conceive despite the medical impossibility and despite her husband's doubt. For 5 months she stayed in seclusion, but she said, Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among the people. Her burden was lifted, and her sorrow was dissipated. She was blessed of the Lord and was rejoicing in that fact. How wonderful! God can do miracles when it fits His timing and His purpose. The birth of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ were 2 such great miracles to be remembered at this time of year. But for me, I will remember that with Christ came my atonement, redemption, and sanctification. He gave me the miracle of new life and new birth. He took away my reproach and my shame replacing it with His glorious grace.

Father,

Thank You for this great gift, for sending Jesus to be born such a humble birth, for His life and death, for His resurrection, for giving me new life, for covering me in His blood and Your great grace. Thank You. I can truly say Merry Christ-mas!

In His name,

Amen

The Marriage Supper of the Lamb

Rev. 19: 9

Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me, These are the true words of God.

The rejoicing in heaven is great as they witness the judgment of the great prostitute. Her crimes were twofold: one, corrupting the earth with her immorality, and two, shedding the blood of God's servants. Her judgment was swift and final. The 24 elders and the 4 living creatures cry out, Amen, Hallelujah. Amen meaning complete and utter agreement with this judgment, and hallelujah meaning praise Yaweh.  

Into this John hears the voice of a great multitude who are worshiping God and His great works of judgment. Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give Him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and pure--for the linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. Following judgment comes the marriage supper of the Bride, the saints, those who are washed in His blood, redeemed, and sanctified by His grace. They are clothed in linen, the righteous deeds of the saints. What are these deeds? Are they the works done by the believers? No, these righteous deeds are the gift of His grace. For apart from His grace we are nothing. All we do is stained by our ever-present though not enslaving flesh. As Paul put in Rom. 7, his delight was in the law of God in his inner being, but in his flesh was another law waging wag against the law of his mind and heart. This war was the sin that dwelled within him. So it is for all humans. We are not enslaved by this sin because Christ has won the victory. So even though we fail and fall, we are not condemned. We have been moved from the domain of darkness to the kingdom of the Beloved Son. Hallelujah! [Praise Yahweh!] And because of this great gift of grace our voice can be one with the great multitude in heaven, and we can be clothed in fine linen, the righteous deeds of the Saints, the gift of His amazing grace! How exciting to look forward to this!

Father,

As I read this, not only the marriage supper of the Lamb, but also Your swift and final judgment, I praise You for this gift of grace! Thank You over and over and throughout eternity. Thank You for sending Your Son to shed His blood and save and redeem me. Thank You for His great gift of grace that clothes me in fine linen, pure and bright. Thank You for making my voice one with the heavenly multitude. Thank You so much!

In the name of Jesus and because of His cleaning blood and His gift of grace,

Hallelujah! Praise Yahweh,

Amen.

Conqueror's Grants

Rev. 2-3

In the letters to the 7 churches John records an indictment against each church, something that they were missing in their relationship to Jesus. Even though these  assessments were a prominent focus of the letter, He gave a gift to those who conquered or were faithful in each of the churches.  To the church at Ephesus, a church known for its endurance yet one who had lost their first love, Jesus gave the ability to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. Eternal life was theirs and nothing could take that away.

To the church at Smyrma a church known for their tribulation and poverty. Even though they were rich in Jesus, their lives were ones of tribulation and even imprisonment. To these faithful ones, Jesus gave the crown of life. They would not be hurt by the second death. Their destiny was sealed. 

To the church at Pergamum one known for holding fast the name of Jesus during persecution yet at the same time one that taught the teaching of Baalam and the Nicolaitans, Jesus gave some of the hidden manna and a white stone with a new name written on the stone that no one knew except the one who received it. Their entrance into heaven was guaranteed with their new name. 

To the church in Thyatira, one known for their works yet at the same time one who tolerated Jezebel enticing people into gross immortality, eating food sacrificed to idols, and learning the deep things of Satan. Yikes! Sounds pretty bad. Still to those who held fast until Jesus comes He gave authority over the nations and the morning star, which is Christ Himself. 

To the church at Sardis one known for being alive and yet dead, one who was exhorted to wake up and strengthen what remained and was about to die. Their works were not complete in the sight of God. But for the one who conquered, the one who walked in white without soiled garments, their names would never be blotted out of the book of life. Jesus will confess their names to the Father. 

To the church at Philadelphia, one known for keeping Jesus' words and not denying His name even though they had but little power. Because they had kept the words of patient endurance, they would be kept from the worldwide hour of trial. If they held fast and were conquerors, they would be made pillars in the temple of God, and on them would be written the name of God, the name of the city of God, the new Jerusalem, and the name of Jesus. 

To the church at Laodicea one known for being lukewarm and nauseating to Jesus. Without repentance, they would be spewed out of His mouth. They thought they had need of nothing yet were blind, and naked. They did not have the white garments needed for eternal life. He rebuked and disciplined them that they might open their eyes and see. Jesus knocked at their door. To the one who did let Him in and who conquered, Jesus granted him to sit on His throne with Him. 

Whether or not these churches are in the past [past tense], I think what they are saying applies to our time and our lives. We must examine our hearts and see if we are holding fast until He comes. For each of the churches and for each of the conquerors, there is a guarantee of eternal life, of salvation, and of being with Jesus for eternity. That is exactly the same for us!

Father,

Thank You for Jesus, the one that I adore and am learning to adore more every day. Thank You for my salvation and for guaranteeing me eternal life with You. Strengthen me to hold fast, to be faithful, and to resist false teaching.

In the name of the grant-giver,

Amen

My Heart

Hosea 6:6

For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

God does not want people who merely go through the motions, who come and do what is expected externally but yet have their hearts in a far different place. Israel and Judah were doing just such things, and in fact even worse. They had forsaken the Lord and were cherishing whoredom and wine which had altered their understanding. Consequently they were destroyed for lack of knowledge. How sad!

1 Sam. 16:7 says, But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.": God has always been concerned about the heart. Ps. 51:16-17 says, For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Such an important thing to remember! It is so easy to reduce our faith to the motions of church and even of service. We equate doing things with favor with God when it is not that way at all. The same idea is found in 2 Cor. 5:12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 

What is in my heart? Am I satisfied with motions even the motions of daily Bible reading or of doing women's Bible study? Shouldn't it be more? My heart needs to long for the presence of the Lord. Like David said in Ps. 27:4 One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of he Lord and to inquire in His temple. And again in Ps. 84:1-2, How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for he courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. And Ps. 42:1 says, As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. David understood what made him right before God, his heart. His heart panted for God. God was his life, his necessity for existence. Such fervor and emotion! Perhaps that is it. I reduce too much to head knowledge, to facts without involving my emotions. My whole being must be in love with God, must pant for Him and desire above all else to gaze upon the beauty of His holiness. 

Father,

In Your grace and strength grow my love and devotion. Match my emotions match my study. I confess that I do go through  the motions at times instead of seeking You with a heart of love and desire. Forgive me. 

In Jesus name,

Amen

High Priestly Prayer

Jn. 17

John has transcribed the prayer of Jesus, the prayer that Jesus prayed for all His followers, for all who believed during that time and who have believed in the time that has followed. and for all who believe in His name and obey His words. His prayer is specific asking for certain things for the Father to do. He asked for the Father...

• To keep us in the Father's name, that is to keep us to the end. While Jesus was on earth, He kept us not losing any except for Judas who had to be lost because he was never found at all. All those that the Father had given to the Son from before the foundation of the world. v. 11
• To keep us from the evil one but not to take us out of the world. His followers must be in the world to share the message and suffer as He did. v. 15
• To sanctify us in the truth, God's word is truth. God sanctifies believers through their time in the word, their exposure to the word, and their obedience to the word. Jesus is the logos, the living word. In essence steeping ourselves in the word is steeping ourselves in Jesus. v. 17
• To make us one as Jesus and the Father are one [not just for those alive at that time but for all those that were yet to believe] What is the purpose of such unity? That the world may know that the Father sent the Son, Jesus Christ. Our lives are a proclamation of the great act of love of the Father. v. 21
• To have us be where He is so that we can see His glory that the Father gave Him before the foundation of the world. Yes! We will be in heaven, with Him eternally relishing and worshiping Him in all His radiant glory.v. 24

Jesus was that emissary sent from the Father to give those who believe eternal life, to make known to man the Father's name, and to offer us the same love the Father had for Jesus. Jesus did all that the Father had sent Him to do and now His time was drawing near. He must know do the most humbling act, dying on a cross like a common criminal.  He must take upon Himself the sins of the world alienating Himself from the Father for a time, but meeting the legal requirement of the law so that sin could be dealt with judiciously. How horrendous to know what was to come down and how horrendous it would be!

Father,

Thank You for the gift of Your Son.  I know that You will do as Jesus asked you to do in this prayer. I ask that You make me a reflection of Jesus so that the world can know Your love. 

In Jesus name,

Amen

Final Words

Jude 24-25

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy,

to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

What a glorious God I serve! He can keep me from stumbling. He can present me blameless before Him  and His glory with joy. What else do I need? Praise be! Earlier Jude has exhorted his beloved believers to build themselves up in the faith and pray in the Spirit. Building up in the faith speaks of time spent in the word, studying, memorizing, and meditating. It speaks of Christian fellowship and worshiping with other believers. It speaks of so much that is essential for the Christian walk. Praying any other way than in the Spirit is like speaking to the air. It's not going to get an answer! Then Jude exhorts them to keep themselves in the love of God and to wait for the mercy of Jesus that leads to eternal life. Keeping ourselves in God's love would mean loving others as Jesus loved others. As we wait for the mercy of Jesus, the completion of our salvation and our calling home to heaven, we can love others, reaching out to them, meeting their needs. Finally, the beloved believers should have mercy on doubters, and if necessary save some by snatching them out of the fire, some by showing mercy with fear, yet even hating the garment stained by the flesh. 

What does that mean? It is clear about showing mercy to doubters. Don't give up. Keep sharing even going so far as snatching them from the immediate fire of God's judgment. Maybe a death bed confession of Jesus. To the ones we show mercy with fear, could it mean we fear because the situation we are in might be a temptation for us? We are there for the unsaved one, but must also keep ourselves unspotted from the world. We hate the sin, but not the sinner. We hate the ungodly lifestyle, but not the sinner. 

And after this instruction, Jude prays to Him who able to do all this, to Him to whom belongs glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all times and now and forever. Amen.

Father,

Only You can do these things in my life. You are the power and the strength. Make your power perfect in my weakness. Build me up in my faith. Teach me always to pray in the Spirit. Keep me in Your love and strengthen me to wait for Jesus to call me home. Help me reach out to others sharing Your message with them.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Contend for the Faith

Jude 3

Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. 

Contend, stand strong, be a good soldier! These are just a few of the commands concerning our faith. In this passage Jude reiterates these ideas and expresses his concern about false teachers, people who have crept in unnoticed and have firmly established themselves in the body, but yet are ungodly and are designated for condemnation. Their charge: perverting the grace of God into sensuality and denying Jesus our Lord and Master. These false teachers can expect a similar fate as Cain [murder], Balaam [religion for hire, money], and Sodom and Gomorrah [sexual immorality and unnatural desire]. They blaspheme what they don't understand and are destroyed by the things they do understand, the things that are instinctively known. They want perversity and that perversity ends up destroying them through disease or dissatisfaction. Soon all that they do is not enough, and they are on a life-long [or should I say life-short] quest for the next high. So what is their final fate? Condemnation, death, destruction, eternity apart from the presence of God. 

But for the believer, it is simple. Contend, stand strong. Recognize your enemy. And how do we do that? By knowing the truth so well that anything that smacks of evil is readily discernible. Jude also warns them using the example of the chosen people on the wilderness walk. They were delivered by God but their repeated sins were so great that they were destroyed before ever entering the promised land. Our times and our culture is evil to the max. It is smart for us as Christians to heed these same warnings. My best defense is Jesus Christ my righteousness! Knowing Him and His words will keep me safe as long as I don't waver and engage in what the world has to offer. I must stay strong until the end. 

Father,

Keep my eyes open wide not just to see my own sin but to see when false teaching is present. 

In Jesus name,

Amen

Love One Another

2 Jn. 5-6

And now I ask you, dear lady--not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning--that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.

Just a simple message--love one another--but oh, how difficult! You would think that with the love of God reaching out to us in the person of Jesus Christ, the love of Christ constraining and infilling us, and with the Holy Spirit growing His fruit in us, we would be black-belt love-masters. But no! How strong is the selfish nature of man! But it is not a new problem. It has been around since the beginning of time. But with Christ things changed for man. He offered salvation, a new nature, and the indwelling Holy Spirit. He gave deliverance from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of the beloved Son. He allowed them to become partakers of the divine nature having escaped from the corruption that is in the world. And now some years after Christ's death, John addresses believers reminding them of His commandment [And don't we need continual reminding!] 

And this is love that we walk according to His commandment. His commandment, His word must constantly guide our lives. It is in His word and in our realationship with Him that we find greatest fulfillment and happiness. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. Those without are not! Pretty black and white! Love one another!

Father,

Fill my heart with Your love each day so that I may share it with others. Help me to know Your words and then obey them.  

In Jesus name,

Amen

Loving Overcomers

1 Jn. 5: 5

Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

If we believe Jesus is the Christ and that He was born of God, then we must also believe that everyone who is born of Him is loved by the Father and must be loved by us as well. We know that we love our fellow believers when we love God and obey His commandments. The entire thing is tied up in one neat package! Loving God means loving Jesus. Loving Jesus means loving fellow believers. Loving God, Jesus, and fellow believers means obedience to the word. Obeying His word is not a heavy burden but it is the outworking of the Spirit of God within our lives. It is how we know God and Jesus, how we understand the heart of God and the resurrection power of Jesus. It is this same power that was in Jesus and that is in us that allows us to be overcomers of the world. 

Father,

Keep my heart close to Your heart. Help me to seek only to please You in all that I do. Thank You for Jesus, His great sacrifice, and His great love to give His all. Conform me to His image.

In Jesus name,

Amen

By This...

1 Jn. 4: 17

By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as He is so also are we in this world. 

Verse 13 begins with the same by this construction as is in verse 17. In verse 13 it refers to the fact that the love of God was manifested to us in Him sending His Son into that world to be the propitiation for our sin so that through Him we might live. Then the passage says, If we love one another, God's love abides in us and His love is perfected in us. So By this we know that we abide in Him and He is us, because He has given us of His Spirit. Loving each other is evidence of His love in us as is His Spirit living within us. 

Moving on through the passage, the verses that precede verse 17 say that if we confess Jesus as Son of God, then God abides in us and we abide in Him. Through this we have come to know and believe the love that God has for us. So if we abide in love, we abide in God. By this abiding, His love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as He is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love because fear has to do with punishment, and our punishment was taken away by Jesus. He took it for us!  His great love has not only filled us, saved us, and impacted the way that we love others, but it has also taken away our punishment at the day of judgment. 

Father,

Thank You so much for Your great love for me, for sending Jesus as my propitiation, and for taking away my punishment. Help me to love as You would love. 

In His name,

Amen 

Overcomers

1 Jn. 4:4

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

It is just that simple. Jesus Christ and God's Holy Spirit who dwell within me are greater than Satan or any of his minions or followers!!! Nothing takes God by surprise. He is the author of all that happens each and every moment. So why fear??? There is no logical reason, but sometimes fear is not a logical thing. So to bolster my emotions I would need to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, in His word, in prayer, and in fellowship with the rest of my body. Yes, even little children [in the faith and physically] can overcome what is in the world. for God gave us not a spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control. I am gifted to withstand all the onslaughts of this world. I am gifted to be strong and overcome. I am gifted to love as He loved and to have self-control. 

Father,

Take my knowledge from my head and send it coursing through my emotions, in fact, through my entire being. I know I am Yours, and I thank You so very much. But at times, my life doesn't reflect you at all. It's not as if I am doing something bad, but it's like I have forgotten you for a time. I don't ever want to forget You even for a moment. Give me purpose and strong resolve.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Obedience and Love

1 Jn. 3: 22

and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do what pleases Him. 

John is teaching that there is a direct correlation between obedience and answered prayer. But in the 2 verses preceding verse 22, John addresses an important preparatory concept. He says that obedience to the truth or the word is one way that reassures our hearts that we are in Him. But there are times when our hearts condemn us. Perhaps Satan brings up old issues, or maybe even current sins that we are struggling with seek to condemn us. But John says that God is greater than our hearts. His promises override what our hearts say, and He has promised that our sins are forgiven. [Not to say that we shouldn't confess the everyday sins that we struggle with.] So then if our hearts do not condemn us saying that we are not worthy to be saved or that we are too sinful for God to forgive, then we can have confidence in God, confidence that whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do what pleases Him.  How glorious is that! Answered prayer! 

The verse says answered prayer is linked with keeping His commandments and doing what pleases Him. What are the commandments? John answers that question immediately. And this is the commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as He has commanded us. Whoever keeps His commandment abides in God, and God in Him. Believe in Jesus and love each other! Simple yet needing so much thought and purpose. We must live intentionally seeking out ways to love and honor fellow believers, and at the same time, deepen our relationship with Jesus. If we do this not only do our prayers get answered, but we are abiding in God and He in us! And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. And how do we have confidence that all this is true and that these are not just empty words? Because of the Holy Spirit who indwells our bodies and whose temple we have become. What a glorious 6 verses!

Father,

My heart is full of praise and gratitude for all the blessings You have given me. Teach me through Your great grace to be obedient to the commandments and to love my brothers and sisters in the Lord. Help me to seek to know You in prayer so that my thoughts and Your will may be on the same page. 

In Jesus name,

Amen

Not in Word or Talk but in Deed and Truth

1 Jn. 3:18

Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. 

Does John address these believers as children because of their maturity level? Are these concepts so elemental that even children should understand them? Regardless his instruction is that we should love one another. [Sounds somewhat basic!] A bad example would be Cain who killed his brother because Abel was more righteous than he. Such jealousy! We condemn Cain but how much jealously is in us? Not to the killing point but to a degree. Are we jealous of other's prestige, position, possessions or friends? When we write it down, it sounds so petty. But in the heart it is so deceptive. 

The world does hate us because Jesus Christ lives within us. But that is where hatred must stop! It must never be seen in one brother toward another. Jesus' example was to lay down His life for us, His brothers. In similar fashion our love for one another should be that strong. If we see a brother in need but then walk away without meeting his need, what kind of love is that? Is the love of God abiding in us? That is why John speaks to believers as children. This kind of behavior is childish and selfish. We need to look around and see the needs of our brothers and sisters in the Lord. And then meet those needs! That is loving not just in word or talk but in deed and truth!

Father,,

Help me to love like Jesus did. Open my eyes to see the needs in others and then meet those needs. 

In Jesus name,

Amen

Strong Words

1 Jn. 3:9

No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in Him, and He cannot keep on sinning because He has been born of God.

John has some strong words in the first 10 verses of Ch. 3. These words demonstrate how the grace walk is not an easy walk. He begins by giving us a great promise: we shall be like Him because we shall see Him as He is. 

• The first order of business is purification because of our hope in Him. We should desire above all to be like Him: And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
• Secondly, He came to abolish sin so that all who believe in Him will not be enslaved to it. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. What is my attitude toward sin? 
• Third, No believer should be making a practice of sin. It is an impossibility for God's seed to be in a person and for them to keep on practicing sin. To God sin is heinous!-No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.
• Then a flat-out statement. Those practicing righteousness are of God and those not are of the devil. This statement is followed by a practical example, that is loving our brother. Loving is an evidence of the seed of God within a person.  By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

The key word here is 'practice'. What is my attitude toward sin? Am I ashamed when I repeat the same sin? Do I pray and seek God's help, or do I just accept it? It is a serious issue. Do I have the evidences of the seed of God within me? 

Father,

Fill me with a desire to be godly so strong that I cannot resist it. Grow me in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. I confess letting my flesh have control of my life too many times. Forgive me.Grant me repentance. 

In Jesus name,

Amen

Follow

Jn. 15: 14-16

If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.

For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

Jesus, the Son of God, humbled Himself and washed the disciples feet. [And yet there was even a greater humbling yet to follow, His humbling to the point of death.] In like fashion, we are to feel toward one another in the same way that Jesus felt toward His disciples, that is being willing to humble ourselves to the level of foot washing. In our society foot washing isn't done, and to me it seems awkward and yucky! Yet the attitude behind it isn't. Complete humility, seeking the good of another before our own, caring and loving as Christ loved! We must do this because if we don't, we are putting ourselves on a higher plane than Jesus Christ. No one would ever say that, but our actions would reveal that. How foolish on our part not to think about what our actions are saying. If Jesus states it explicitly, it is important. Humility is an integral part of our Christian walk even though it is counter-cultural in America. 

In America, someone who is humble is considered a doormat, someone easily manipulated. We are given the mindset from an early age to go after what we want, to get ahead, to be the best, and to excel over others. None of these mindsets encourage humility. Just as our salvation was counter-cultural so is our Christian walk. God's word must now become our mandate, our way of life, and our new mindset. We must follow Him walking in His footsteps all the time. 1 Peter says those footsteps include suffering, things that are way worse that washing another brother's feet. John 13 goes on to say, If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. Do I want a blessing? Yes. Then humility is the path that I must take. I must be aware of every step that I take so that it aligns with Jesus Christ. 

Father,

Help me walk in Your way. Give me a heart of humility, one that seeks not else but walking as Jesus did. I confess to having pride in my life, to having a heart of insensitivity, and to having a mouth with unkind words. Forgive. And give me Your grace!

In His name,

Amen

Foot Washing

Jn. 13:10

Jesus said to him, The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not everyone of you.

After Jesus washed the feet of the disciples, He makes some weighty statements. But first Peter, in typical fashion, declares that he wants his hands and head to be washed as well. But Jesus says no. The one who is clean, that is the one who has been saved and redeemed, bought back with the blood of Jesus, has no need to be washed anymore than his feet. Why? Because he has been made clean by Jesus' blood. But why the feet? Because the feet are what we use when we walk through this world. The feet are the parts that come in direct contact with the dirt and the grime of this world. Metaphorically, the feet refer to our daily sins, the ones that must be confessed continually. We are saved eternally, nothing can change that, but the constant cleansing because of our contamination with the world must be ongoing. We are no longer in bondage to sin, but we still sin. Not that we want to sin, but in the moment, the flesh seems to entice us to change our wants and desires. 

Speaking of the world and the flesh, 1 Jn. 2: 15-16 is helpful. Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life--is not from the Father but is from the world. The world is comprised of the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes and the pride of life. Desire and pride! What a combo! These are the things that take us down. These are the things that need constant confessing. Even though we are saved eternally with the indwelling Holy Spirit, we are still in the body of flesh, a body that is very weak and prone to cave. That is why in Scripture, we have the warnings, Be alert! Watch and pray! Be vigilant! As good soldiers of Jesus Christ, we must be on guard! Watching constantly for the next roadblock! Always concerned that are feet are clean! And if not, washing them. 

Father,

Help me to have a heart of ready confession and repentance. Help me not to brush off things as nothing when they are something, when they are sin. Thank You for bathing me in the blood of Jesus and saving me eternally. 

In His name,

Amen

Obedience

1 Jn. 2: 5-6

but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

If we sin, we have an advocate with the Father, someone who pleads our case. That someone is Jesus Christ the righteous. God Himself has chosen us to be His sending His Son to die a sinless death and fulfill the righteous requirement of the law. This unbelievable sacrifice allowed us to be covered in His righteousness. The proof of our salvation of our being chosen is our obedience to the Word. If I say I know Jesus [and then the Father also] and do not obey His words, then I am a liar. How strong! But this is what the word does. Heb. 4 12-13 says, For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. It is this two-edged sword that pierces our hearts and reveals the truth, that is we are liars if we do not obey the Word, or if we do disobey, we confess that sin and get right before God. 

Jesus is the light and His light shines in us not only saving us but sanctifying us. To do that we must listen and obey all that He says. Example in point, loving our brothers and sisters. If we say the love of God is in us and we hate our brothers and sisters, we are fooling ourselves. This is an impossibility! The love of God does not breed hatred or condone it. Hatred means walking in darkness with no light of Jesus. The darkness has blinded their eyes making them unable to see where they are going. How sad! Is any injustice, unkind word or action, or any other such thing worth eternity? The warning is to examine your life. Are their things that shouldn't be is the light of Jesus is shining in your heart? Make it right, or are you really His? 

Father,

Thank You for Your words no matter how strong they are. Help me to be aware of sin and deal with it immediately. Help me get my priorities in line and be focusing where I should be.

In Jesus name,

Amen

What Sort of People?

2 Pet. 3:11-13

Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming day of the God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to His promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 

The day of the Lord will come! It is a fact! The scary part is that it will not be expected. It will be as a thief seeking to plunder. But when that happens, events will be set in motion. The heavens will pass away with a roar burning up the heavenly bodies. And the end result will be the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed!  There will be no hiding place! Sure and swift judgment will follow. 

Peter's plea is to those who know Jesus. In light of all this [everything Peter has written], what kind of person will you be? What kind of person will I be? Will I be living a life of holiness and godliness as I wait for Jesus to call me home? Will I be sharing the gospel so that the day of the Lord will come quickly? Or will I be enjoying my time on earth so much so that I have lost my focus? Are my feet so firmly planted that I am sluggish for Jesus? I so hope not! Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by Him without spot of blemish. And count the patience of our Lord as salvation...Thankfully God is so  patient and loving. But I can't take advantage of that. I must be diligent!

I think back in this small letter to certain phrases. Make every effort, Be all the more diligent, But do not overlook this fact,  what sort of people ought to be be, and finally Therefore, be diligent.  These phrases speak of energy, of dedication and forward thinking, and of complete obedience. These phrases speak of the Christian I want to be and should be!

Father,

Through Your grace and strength give me the desire and the means to be obedient to Your words. Help me to speak out boldly and share your love and salvation. 

In Jesus name,

Amen

This One Fact

2 Pet. 3:9

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Why is the Lord so patient toward men? This verse says because He wants to allow time for men to repent to embrace Jesus as their Lord and Savior. But why make this statement now? What is the context? Peter is refuting the false teachers who were touting as their big reveal that the Lord hadn't come yet, and no doubt wouldn't come in the future either. They claimed that everything was as it was in the beginning. But so very untrue! Things are not the same. The world was destroyed once by water. Sin has matured and wreaked havoc on humanity and the world! The course of life has continued. The gospel has been spread to many nations, but still there must be others that God wants to bring into His fold.

Peter does not want us to overlook this fact, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. Time as we know it is not the same as God's time. He views all of recorded time, the time before time began, and the time that is yet to be. So we can content ourselves with this fact. God's timing will win out! No amount of saying it isn't true will change that fact! No amount of saying He isn't coming back will change the fact that He is coming back! The only thing that needs to be changed is the heart of man, our hearts and the hearts of those yet to be saved. Our mission is to spread the gospel so that the last soul might come to repentance. And then KABOOM! Jesus will come parting the heavens, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and the trumpet of God! We will ascend and see Him as He is because we will be like Him. 

Father,

Open my eyes to see those that You want me to share the message with. Grow me in self-control, steadfastness, and godliness. Help me to reflect Jesus Christ. Conform me to His image.

In His name,

Amen

Rescue or Not?

2 Pet.2: 9

The Lord how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment.

Praise God for this! How many times have we seen the evil flourish and the righteous put down. [Saeed] One could get discouraged were it not for the precious and very great promises. Nothing takes God by surprise! He knows how to rescue those who are His own, and He knows how to save the unrighteous for a special day that God has just for them, judgment day. So when we think a trial has gone on too long, we must remember He knows! He knows what I need because I am His child. A parent knows!

Why would it seem that no rescue is in sight? Perhaps it is a Lazarus situation. When Jesus heard how sick and close to death Lazarus was, He stayed away 2 days longer. Funny response from a friend! Jesus' purpose was not just healing or even resurrecting. His purpose was so the people could see the great power of God and then give the glory to the Father. What better way than to raise Lazarus from the dead! In the case of Saeed, we all want him home and reunited with his family immediately. Yet, despite the prayers and the pleadings with governments, he is still in a vile, wicked prison enduring horrible abuse. But since God knows how to rescue him, we must trust that God has a different plan in place. When times are hard and human longings are strong, we must rest in what is true about God. In this case, God knows!

Father,

We always desire Your will. But You know our hearts want Saeed released. If possible, make that happen. I know that You have the power to do so, but I also now that you have a plan, an eternal purpose. So we leave it with You. Comfort the hearts of his wife and children and all those around the world who have been praying.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Well-Being and Calamity

Jer. 51:56 c

for the Lord God is a God of recompense; He will surely repay.

I think it is amazing how God uses heathen nations in the discipline and punishment of Israel and Judah in the Old Testament, but yet those very nations will come under the wrath of God later for what they did to Israel and Judah. God can use anyone, people, nation, or things that He chooses. He has the right as Creator of this world. Is. 45:5-7 says, I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me, that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the Lord, who does all these things. These nations do not need to know God themselves to be used by God. As the author of all things, He calls the shots. What an amazing lesson! 

Man is so puffed-up with himself thinking he can control his own life. How foolish! All God needs do is speak a word and all nature responds, earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, etc., and yes, even wars and invasions. Sadly, many times Christians think that they call the shots in their own lives. No, no, no...It is not true. Only God directs the lives of His own children. Lam. 3: 38 says, Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come? But the verses we can cling to are earlier in this same chapter, The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning, great is Your faithfulness. What a powerful God we serve! 

Father,

Thank You for being so involved in my life, for helping me yesterday when I fell, and for helping me find my phone. In the grand scheme of things a phone is inconsequential, but to me it was big. Thank You! I praise You for hte great God that you are!

In His name,

Amen

Battle Directions

I Pet. 5:8-9

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 

What an exhortation! Get ready for the battle. The enemy, the devil, is a fierce opponent. He won't take it easy on you. He wants to take you down Not only take you down, He wants to devour you. He has an appetite for Christians. They are his candy! But we need more than just being alert, we must resist and be firm in the faith. So when a temptation comes, say NO! Immediately! Make no excuses or rationalizations, just say NO. Give no allowances for our flesh, our weaknesses, our fleshly memories. Don't fall backwards. Resist. The flesh is like a bad habit. It lurks around testing you where you are weakest. But in the strength of Jesus we can say No. We can walk in a different way. We can walk in the way of our faith! We can fortify ourselves in the Word and grow in Jesus in and through His grace and power, we can stand strong and true. 

Is it a comfort to know that fellow believers around the world are suffering? Perhaps it would be if we were suffering too. But even in America, Christians are beginning to suffer. Case in point the school shooting in Oregon. "Are you a Christisn? Then in 1 second you will meet your God." And it was over. Case in point, Saeed, an American in an Iranian prison. Abuse, beatings, internal injuries with no end in sight. It makes us long for heaven and shows us the heinousness of the flesh and this worldly system. But God promises, And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. There is an end in sight! Heaven awaits! Our citizenship will finally be realized. No more alien, pilgrim, and sojourner!

Father,

Teach me to stand firm in the faith and to say No to temptation. Be with believers around the world and in America. Comfort the hurting hearts, and if you will, release Saeed. Bring him home to his family.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Humility

1 Pet. 5:6 

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you.

Humility, who can understand it and make it happen? So important and yet so illusive. But oh so important to God. We humble ourselves under God because He is God, divine, eternal and we are human, temporal, and mortal. Quite a difference, and yet the pride of man exalts himself above God! How foolish! Peter gives two reasons for humility. One being God can than exalt you at the proper time. What time is that? Who know? But that is up to Him, and that is something well worth waiting for. 

Two being that when we are humble, we can actually cast our anxiety on Him. As long as pride is in control, we think we can do it ourselves, or we fall into a pool of self-pity which is just inverse pride. Either way are we giving it to God? No. We hang on seeking control and creating anxiety. In essence we are saying that God can't control this as well as I can. Anyone who truly believes this is foolish! Many times I have thought I knew best, but in recent history, I do know that I don't. [Maybe older age has taught me something!] I still have trouble relinquishing control, but whenever I see that happening, I know pride is operating. 

The other problem I have is when worry is absent from the equation. When I neglect to cast each moment on Him, I am still operating in pride. Often without thinking, I operate on auto-pilot. Well, auto-pilot is still me! God is not my default until I get to heaven. I must consciously give to him my moments, my decisions, my actions, my thoughts, and my attitudes, all I am and have. 

Father,

Help me to talk to You constantly all throughout the day. Open my eyes to see who is piloting my life. Teach me humility. 

In Jesus name,

Amen

Trusting

1 Pet. 4:19

Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. 

It has been granted to believers to suffer [Phil. 1:29-30], a grant, a gift. What kind of thinking is that? We all embrace the idea of growing up in to Christ who is our head and of being conformed to His image, but I think we forget how that process takes place. It is through following the steps of Christ in suffering that growth begins and matures. Consequently, Peter is encouraging believers about this suffering they may be in now or soon will be experiencing. He says, Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though some strange thing were happening to you. Notice Peter does not say 'if' but 'when'. It is a surety. Suffering will happen so just remember it is supposed to! Notice he describes it as a fiery trial. That describes a fair degree of intensity! Still instead of bemoaning our fate, Peter says to rejoice in it. Rejoice? How can that be? Maybe endure but rejoicing takes it a step farther. We can rejoice now because when Jesus comes, we will be glad when His glory is revealed.

As long as we are insulted for the name of Christ, it is good. But if we suffer for doing evil, that is an entirely different matter. If we are following the dictates of our flesh, then we deserve to suffer. What we have done is shameful, but what is shameful can not be attributed to suffering for Christ! In fact, the spirit of glory and of God rests on us when we suffer. Could that make the suffering sweet? Could that turn pain into rejoicing? Certainly, in suffering we cry out to God. We depend on Him. We cling to Him. So yes! It is sweet and joyous to be so close to Jesus and the Father.

In a way this is a warning. Believers, listen up! Why are you suffering? Is it for our own fleshly foolishness or is it for Jesus? For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God, Peter warns. Confess, repent, and go in a new direction. So when we suffer for Jesus according to God's will, we can  entrust our souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. Who else could be responsible for my soul? No one but the one who created me!

Father,

Make me aware of my foolish choices that lead me into sin. Open my eyes to see so that I may confess and repent. Help me Lord to trust You constantly. Help me to rejoice when I suffer for Jesus.

In His name,

Amen

Gifts

1 Pet. 4:10-11

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks the oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves the the strength that God supplies--in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To Him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen

The main point: Whatever I have, do, think, say, I do it through Jesus, in and through His wonderful grace. What God has blessed me with , I need to use to bless others. Jesus was a servant to all, and He wants me to serve others too. If I don't use what He has given me, then I am not a good steward of His grace. What exactly does that mean? How does it related to using our gifts. 

I am reminded of the parable of the servants. Each was given a gift of the same amount. One went and increased his gift from 10 talents to 20. Another went and increased his gift from 10-15. But one servant hid his talent in the ground because he was afraid of the master, or so he said. Maybe laziness? When the master came back, each was rewarded accordingly. The servant who had hidden his talent had his taken away, and consequently, lost his position as a servant altogether. Jesus has given believers gifts [talents] as well. Grace is the power that enables us to use those gifts properly. If we are not good stewards of the grace, we are not using grace in such a way that allows us to have adequate power to use our gifts. So through the grace of God, we use our gifts increasing them as much as we can so that when our Master [Jesus Christ] returns, He can say to us, Well done, you good and faithful servant. Then God will be glorified through Jesus Christ. 

Father,

Thank You for Your amazing grace. Help me to be a good steward of it. Teach me how to use my gifts for you without my own strength. I want to use it through Your grace so that you may be glorified. 

In Jesus name,

Amen

Finally...

1 Pet. 3:8-9

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

Finally, this is the conclusion of the matter. Perhaps for a woman, the outworking of her hidden person of the heart, her gentle and quiet spirit which is precious to God. But for men and women, for all of the body of Christ unity is of huge importance. Eph. 4 says, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace and later in that same chapter it says, until we all attain to the unity of the faith of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. How important!

Sympathy would be the caring heart, seeing the burdens of others and coming alongside them. Phil. 2 pairs sympathy with unity as well, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord. Perhaps sympathy helps us understand the position of others and thus contributes to unity. Brotherly love is that love that exists between believers, brothers and sisters in the body of Christ. It is this love that Christians should have as their identifying mark. John 15 says, These things I command you that you love one another. Loving one another was an issue that was very important to the heart of Jesus and should be to our hearts as well. 

A tender heart speaks of softness toward the promptings of the Spirit, leaning in to hear His still, small voice whether He is prompting us to love one another or to confess a sin that is blocking our way to growth. Whatever it is we need to be tender to Him and to God's word. A humble mind is of ultra importance. 1 Pet. 5 says, Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you. Humility is to be openly observable, our clothing, that which protects our tender heart. It is to the humble that grace is given. Pride blocks the way! Pride keeps God from exalting you which is abundantly better than self-exaltation. Yet humility seems impossible. The heart of man is programmed with pride. It takes a mighty work of God and His Spirit to chisel away the hard and stony ground and make the heart tender. It is the proud heart that wants to give back in kind, to return evil for evil and reviling for reviling. It is the proud heart that rises up and thinks how could you do this to me. But the humble heart prays for the evil revilers. It is the humble heart that leaves retribution with God. 

Quite a meaty finally. So much to absorb and pray about. So much to consider as we seek the heart of God, as we seek to grow in him, as we seek to shed our protective coating of pride and opt out for the tenderness and sympathy. When I consider the condition of my heart and my ever present tendency to sin, I identify with Rom. 8, and groan for the coming of the Lord, groan for that time when my heart will be made 100% His, groan for that time when my hope will be made reality. 

Father,

Change my heart. Root out my pride and grow in its place a full crop of humility, tenderness, and love. I confess so many times I am not what I should be when my flesh takes over.

Help me.

In Jesus name,

Amen

The Hidden Person of the Heart

1 Pet. 3:4

but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. 

1 Pet. 3:1-7 is a classic passage for husbands and wives. Wives be subject to your own husbands,and husbands live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. In and of themselves these are great principles as well as commands to be obeyed. But v. 4 talks about something that is much deeper, perhaps it is the how-to for women.

The whole concept of wives submitting to husbands is not really an easy sell. Who wants to be the one that has to follow the will of the other one? Who doesn't want to have things their own way? I certainly do. Yet, God says no. He has placed authority in a certain order. So how do we follow this order? God says look at your heart. Do not just be concerned about your external adorning, clothing, hair, jewelry. Not to say those things aren't important. [Just look at the huge industries centered around each of these three areas.] If our concentration is not on the external, it has time to be on the internal.  Peter says our adorning should be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. A hidden person in our hearts? Who knew?

This hidden person is our relationship with God, our inner life where we think, meditate, pray, read, study, memorize, form attitudes, and the list goes on. It is where our true character is formed and then becomes the source of our external actions. If our external includes griping, nit-picking, mean-spirited actions, laziness, lack of focus, etc., then we know that our internal is not right. We are not growing that gentle and quiet spirit that God thinks is precious. We are not honoring God in what He really desires. Notice that the hidden person of the heart is not synonymous with church attendance. It can grow at church, but it can't be replaced by church. It must be that one-on-one time that we have with God. 

This hidden person of the heart has a huge influence. It says that an unsaved husband can be won by the conduct of the wife without even her saying a word, that is if her hidden person of the heart has been fed and grown. If not, there are wedges and wall built. Stress and tensions run high, and the home becomes a battleground not a haven. Such wisdom! But can women give up their desire to run the show? Can they trust God to keep them safe and protected? The holy women of old were our examples. Sarah trusted Abraham even after he pawned her off as His sister twice. In spite of Abe's actions, God protected her. Verses 6 says, And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening. It might be frightening to trust our husbands, to go with their ideas and plans even when you know the end will not be good, but is God bigger than all that? Yes. Do His plans supersede all the foolish plans of man? Yes. 

Father,

Help me trust You above all. Help me to be more concerned with my inner hidden person that running the show on the outside. Give me Your strength to trust You above all.

In His name,

Amen

Following in His Steps

1 Pet. 2:21

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps.

Our calling is one of suffering. Since Christ suffered for us, we must follow in His steps, steps that are hard and painful. Previous to verse 21 Peter explains how it is a gracious thing in the eyes of God when we endure sorrow when suffering unjustly. How counter to our thoughts and our flesh is that! When we suffer unjustly, we want to rise up and proclaim loudly the injustice. We want to cry out to our friends and convince them of our innocence. But this is not the way of Christ. Everything that Christ endured was unjust! Yet He endured graciously. 

Following verse 21, Peter explains in detail how Jesus suffered graciously, and Peter would know, he was there! Jesus suffered without committing sin, without reviling in return, without threatening or seeking to return evil for evil. How could He do this? Was the strength coming from a source within Him? No, in verse 23 it says, He continued entrusting Himself to Him who judges justly. He let God handle it! For we know who said, Vengeance is mine, I will repay. And again, The Lord will judge His people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.  [Heb. 10: 30-31] God is a far better judge than any man could ever be, yet we care so much what man thinks of us. We are so fearful of what man can do to us. Why this need for human vindication? Shouldn't we care more how God sees us? 

Jesus trusted His Father. He knew that God would be true to His word and to His character. Whatever God asked Him to do, He was willing to do. He is our example of trust. God asks us to trust Him as well. Even though we might not understand or enjoy our calling of suffering, can we trust Him? Can we trust that He knows what is best for us? Can we trust Him to enable us to endure sorrow? He doesn't ask us to suck it up and tough it out. No, He asks us to depend on Him, His strength and His grace. Through His power, we can endure sorrow when suffering unjustly. Through His power we can follow in Jesus' steps. Through His power we can entrust ourselves to Him who judges justly. 

Father,

Fill me with Your grace and power to endure sorrow and follow in the steps of Jesus. Help me to entrust my life into Your hands realizing that I might not understand why until I am in heaven with You. I love You Lord. Thank You, Jesus for walking these steps of suffering and sorrow. You are my Savior and my Lord. 

In His name,

Amen

Silencing Foolishness

1 Pet. 2:15

For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.

Doing good in the face of the accusations and actions of ignorant people, hm...what an interesting idea! I wonder is it doing good in general or doing good to those specific people? I am sure that to have its greatest effect, it would have to be to those specific people. So every time I am greeted with a foolish statement or an action, I should think of something good I can do. Perhaps the time and effort I put into thinking of something good would cancel out my fleshly response to that person. A little replacement theory! And of course, it would have the blessing of God because it would be in obedience to His word. 

The very next verse says, Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. I am free in Christ, free from my bondage to sin, not free to do whatever fleshly, foolish think I want. I need to abstain from having the necessity for a cover-up for my sin, a sin which would be in context to the last verse, that is doing evil. The more good God can do through me as His servant, a servant who has willingly submitted to Jesus Christ, the more that I can silence the ignorance of foolish people. Living in the flesh is just fodder for the mouths of foolish people! The more they see Christians living sinfully, the more they can voice loud and clear their ignorant thoughts. Why ignorant? Because they don't know what it means to be a Christian. They don't know it means that Christians are just saved sinners who are prone to the flesh just like they are. Instead they take their preconceived notions and use them as a lens with which to view all things Christians. No wonder it comes out ignorance!

Father,

Help me to do Your good in Your strength and in Your will and way. Teach me to live as Your servant. That is who I desire to be.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Great Blessings

1 Pet. 1: 3-9

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,

so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

We bless God because of the great blessings He has given us. We love Him because He first loved us. We reach out to Him because He first reached out to us. Get the pattern! Everything I have in Christ is because God reached down to me first. All I have is from the top down, from His great mercy, love and grace. The blessings are manifold:

• born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead-nothing I did or initiated. All from Jesus!
•  to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,-He has given me a future, sonship, joint heir with Christ, and an eternal inheritance kept safe for me.
• who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.-Through His grace and nothing I have done, I am guarded through the gift of faith [no faith of my own] for my complete and eternal salvation to be revealed when Jesus comes back for me. 
•  In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,  so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. -I rejoice in this salvation even though in this life I have trials, trials that test the genuineness of my faith, to ensure that I am not a fake or trying to sneak in on my own works. My end result will be praise, glory, and honor when Jesus returns. How do I endure these trials? Through His grace and strength. He gives me the trials and the means to endure and the reward at the end! It is all of Him. 
• Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.-I love Him though I don't see Him. I believe by faith, the very gift of faith from the Father. I rejoice with inexpressible joy, a joy that is unfathomable by the world. It makes no sense to them! And finally, the salvation is complete! I will see Jess as He is and be like Him, glorified and eternal. Praising Him for all eternity!

Such as this is my life! My joy! My all! Such as this has come down from the Father who has chosen me to be His own precious child. He has given me His divine nature and all things pertaining to life and godliness. He has given me His precious and very great promises that by them I might live in newness of life and in resurrection power. He has given me Jesus and His Spirit to indwell, guide, lead,and intercede for me. Such a life as this is mine!

Father,

As I read this passage this morning, my heart is blessed, and I bless You the giver of all good things. I have only a paltry 'thank you' to give in return. You have transformed my life according to Your great promises. You have been faithful and true. Help me to live for You faithfully and truly, but only through Your great grace. Make me steadfast according to Your steadfast and unfailing love. I bless You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I know I am elect because of the foreknowledge of God, according to the sanctification of the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ through the sprinkling of His blood.

In His name,

Amen