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Showing posts from April, 2008

We Effect Others

3 John 1-3 The Elder, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth: 2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 3 For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. What an awesome affirmation for Gaius. I wonder if he was feeling a bit discouraged or questioning his ability. Maybe Gaius wasn't sure if he was doing the right thing. In any event, this letter from John clarified Gaius's calling--he was doing God's will. Every now and then, all of God's servants question their calling. Satan worms his way in and points out all our flaws, errors in judgement, and mistakes. Our Heavenly Father refuses to give Satan this power, and He gives us earthly affirmations of His direction in our lives. It's not that His servants are looking for pats on the back, but it helps to know that God i

Waiting for Jesus

2 John 12-13 12 Having many things to write to you (that also means me) , I did not wish to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, that our (mine to) joy may be full. 13 The children of your elect sister greet you. Amen. I get excited when I read these verses. I think how the church must felt when they received this encouraging letter, and to read at the end that John wanted to visit. He wanted to rejoice and worship with them. I like to think the church began to prepare for his arrival as soon as the words were read. Arrangements put into place for his lodging and food. The sweet ladies that made sure everything was clean and in order. The prayers that went up for his safe journey and quick feet for a hasty arrival. How the members would glance down the roads to see if today was the day of his arrival. This is the way we are to wait for Christ. We are to be prepared, excited, longing, and always watching for the exact moment. Just as John's

Guard Your Heart

2 John 7-11 7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist . 8 Look to yourselves (myself) , that we (I) do not lose those things we (I) worked for, but that we (I) may receive a full reward. 9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He (me) who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you (me) and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your (my) house nor greet him; 11 for he (me) who greets him shares in his evil deeds. As I ponder these verses, my mind recalls many men who have started movements based on their twisted and warped personal belief they themselves are Christ Incarnate. Unfortunately, many of these movements grown into modern day religions. John's words are clear and unmistakable. We are not to even socialize with these nay sayers . We are to prote

Mend Fences

2 John 4-6 4 I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children (the church body) walking in truth, as we (I) received commandment from the Father. 5 And now I plead with you, lady (the church) , not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we (I) have had from the beginning: that we (I) love one another. 6 This is love, that we (I) walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you (I) have heard from the beginning, you (I) should walk in it. Here John is pointing out that some of the church body is living a true Christian life, but not all. He pleads with them to love each other and reminds them this is the way God intended a church to be. God wants the church to love each other so they may be able to show love to those outside the church. I pray today you will be able to mend fences so that others will see Christ in you.

God Loves His Church

To my dedicated readers: please forgive my recent absence. Battles with Satan have been wearing me down. I can say that I have missed this time in God's Word. Thank you for your prayers and patience. 2 John 1-3 The Elder, To the elect lady (church) and her children (church body) , whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those (other Christians) who have known the truth (Christ) , 2 because of the truth which abides in us (me) and will be with us (me) forever: 3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you (me) from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. When first reading this passage, it may appear to modern man that a special lady and her children have been elevated to a special status and is being blessed. This is not so. The 'elect lady' John is referring to is the church. 'The Elder' is the leader of the church, while 'the elect lady' is the church itself and 'her children' are t

Where There Is Danger

I John 5:18-21 18 We (I) know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he (I) who has been born of God keeps himself (myself) , and the wicked one (Satan) does not touch him. 19 We (I) know that we (I am) are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. 20 And we (I) know that the Son of God has come and has given us (me) an understanding, that we (I) may know Him who is true; and we (I am) are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. 21 Little children (me) , keep yourselves (myself) from idols. Amen. Once again, we are reminded that we are God's children. God protects us and keeps us from harm, but we are still vulnerable to sin. Verse 21 reaffirms this. It states, "keep yourself," not 'try to keep yourself.' It's sort of like telling your kids to be careful as they are heading out the door. It's just one last warning of where the danger lies. Today I pray you have

Prayer and God's Will

I John 5:14-17 (NKJV) 14 Now this is the confidence that we (I) have in Him, that if we (I) ask anything according to His will, He hears us (me) . 15 And if we (I) know that He hears us (me) , whatever we (I) ask, we (I) know that we (I) have the petitions that we (I) have asked of Him. 16 If anyone sees his (my) brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he (I) will ask, and He will give him (my friend) life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he (you) should pray about that. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death. Prayer is an awesome tool. It helps us to see His will, and gives us the opportunity to converse and commune with God. One thing it isn't, a magic spell for us to conjure anything we want. In this passage, it specifically states, "ask anything according to His will." That doesn't mean you'll get anything and everything you ask for,

The Witnesses

I John 5:6-13 6 This is He who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one. 9 If we (I) receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. 10 He (Me) who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself (me) ; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. 11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us (me) eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He (me) who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 These things I have written to you

Faith In God

I John 5:1-5 Whoever (me) believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. 2 By this we (I) know that we (I) love the children of God, when we (I) love God and keep His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we (I) keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-- our (my) faith. 5 Who is he (I) who overcomes the world, but he (I) who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This passage has such a simple message. If you have faith in Jesus, who is God's son, you will overcome the world. The world, which is Satan, can't defeat you, or take you from God's hands. Sure, the world at times can be depressing, devastating, miserable, and intolerable, but you must remember, this is not your final destination. It's just a stop on your journey to eternity. I pr

You Must Love

I John 4:20-21 20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we (me) have from Him: that he (me) who loves God must love his (my) brother also. Chapter 4 ends with a commandment from God: if you love God, you "must love" your brother. That doesn't mean only your blood relations, rather all mankind. We must have compassion, and empathy for everyone. I pray today you will set your heart straight with God and your fellow man.

God is Love

I John 4:17-19 17 Love has been perfected among us (in me) in this: that we (I) may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we (am I) in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We (I) love Him because He first loved us (me) . As I've worked my way through I John, I've found the major theme to be love. It appears 21 times in the book of I John, five in this passage. That doesn't include varients of the word. Makes me think John was trying to convey a message here--God is love. That is a very simple and basic Bible truth that many of us either take for granted or forget. Most of us have heard this from childhood, so why don't we believe it? Why do we question God's motives? All because of sin. It's our nature to ask why. If Eve hadn't questioned what she believed, she would never have tasted that one piece of

Filled With Love

I John 4:12-16 12 No one has seen God at any time. If we (I) love one another, God abides in us (me) , and His love has been perfected in us (me) . 13 By this we (I) know that we (I) abide in Him, and He in us (me) , because He has given us (me) of His Spirit. 14 And we (I) have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. 15 Whoever (that's me) confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him (me) , and he (I) in God. 16 And we (I) have known and believed the love that God has for us (me) . God is love, and he (me) who abides in love abides in God, and God in him (me) . This passage explains how God's love flows through us and onto others. It proves His love is unconatainable. When you're filled with God's love, you can't help but to let others see it. You want to do for others, you want to help the down trodden, you want others to see God in you. That's how God's power is. I think of the childre

Jesus Is Our Payment For Sin

I John 4:7-11 7 Beloved (me) , let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us (me) , that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we (I) might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we (I) loved God, but that He loved us (me) and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our (my) sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us (me) , we (I) also ought to love one another. This passge caused me to run to dictionary.com. The word, propitiation , puzzled me. I was pretty sure I knew what it meant, but I wanted to be completely sure. Propitiation took me to propitiate and on to conciliate. When I boiled it all down, propitiation in this context means appease . Christ died for us in order to appease God for our sins, or wrongdoing. This was the only payement God would receive in lieu of our own death. Tod

Proof Jesus Was God's Son

I John 4:1-6 Beloved (me) , do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you (I) know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you (I) have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. 4 You (I am) are of God, little children (me and you) , and have overcome them, because He who is in you (me) is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They (false prophets) are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. 6 We (I am) are of God. He (that's me and you) who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we (I) know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. It's amazing how God points things out as you read

Evidence of the Holy Spirit

I John 3:24 24 Now he (me) who keeps His (God) commandments abides (lives with) in Him, and He in him (me) . And by this we (I) know that He abides in us (me) , by the Spirit whom He has given us (me) . This simple little scripture gives evidence of the Holy Spirit. God lives in His children via the Holy Spirit. It also tells us that we must want Him to live in us. In order to keep God's commandments, we must want to. Living in the world and going with the flow is easy, but living for God isn't. It's a choice that we make. I pray you make the choice to abide in Him.

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Christ's Ultimate Sacrifice

I John 3 :16-23 16 By this we (I) know love, because He laid down His life for us (me) . And we (I) also ought to lay down our (my) lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever (that's me) has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 My little children (me) , let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19 And by this we (me) know that we (me) are of the truth, and shall assure our (my) hearts before Him. 20 For if our (my) heart condemns us (me) , God is greater than our (my) heart, and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our (my) heart does not condemn us (me) , we have confidence toward God. 22 And whatever we (I) ask we (I) receive from Him, because we (I) keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 23 And this is His commandment: that we (I) should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as

Murder Is Not Of God

I John 3:10-15 10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we (Rhonda) should love one another, 12 not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother's righteous. 13 Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you (me) . 14 We (I) know that we (I) have passed from death to life, because we (I) love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. The verse that stand out to me the most is 15. I can't take my eyes from it. In fact, I sat here arguing with God because I really didn't want to address this topic, but I feel I must. He is leading me to do so. I've al

Experiencing God's Grace

I John 3:4-9 4 Whoever commits sin (that's all of us) also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. 5 And you know that He (God) was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. 6 Whoever (that's me) abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. 7 Little children (Rhonda) , let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God (Jesus Christ) was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever (me) has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him (I) ; and he (I) cannot sin, because he (I) has been born of God. At first these verses appear a contridictory. How can you sin, but not sin? The answer is grace. This is the eample that comes to my mind. Say your child breaks a lamp, confesses and apologizes. That doesn't suddenly cau