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