Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness.

1 John 2

Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. v9

Hate implies anger and other emotions that harden our heart.  Any hardening of our hearts prevents us from loving God and loving others - the two most important commandments in the Bible.

As I posted Saturday, we are to live as Jesus did so that others can see Jesus in us and we can draw others to Him.  Bottom line, we exist to glorify Him and for His purpose.

They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor. Isaiah 60:21

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You are love - everything You are and all that You do is out of love...perfect love, perfect justice...yet You chose me, knowing everything about me, then suffered and died for me so that I can find freedom from the sting of sin and death and eternity in Heaven with You.  What a great God You are!  I am not worth such love....I am lazy, selfish, and I worry.  Please forgive me and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself strength and wisdom.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, the church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

1 John 2

This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. v5-6

Challenging words indeed from John - John wants us to live in the light and for us to live in the light and in Him (Jesus), we must live as Jesus did.  A very high standard indeed.  A great place to start is with Jesus' two most important commandments:

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed a great God and You lived a sinless perfect life then willingly laid down Your life for me so that I would be freed from the sting of sin and death and so that I would have eternal life in Heaven with You.  How awesome are You!  Thank You Jesus for doing all that You have done and for doing all that You do.  I know my worship is but filthy rags I offer it with the hope that You will accept my life as a living sacrifice.  Please.  Forgive me for not being all that You desire for me.  I am selfish and I desire my comfort far too often.  Please forgive me and help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Help me serve You, my family, the church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

1 John 1

We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. v3

Yesterday, I posted about God wants us to "snatch" others from the fire...to bring others into God's Kingdom.  This morning, this message is reinforced by John who encourages us to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to others as well.  

We should feel compelled to tell others about Jesus.

As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard. Acts 4:20

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, indeed I am witness to Your miracles in my life, in the lives of others around me, and in the world.  You are all powerful, all knowing and full of love, compassion and mercy for me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love and compassion. I worry...too much.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do. Help me grow in my faith.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

Jude 1

Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. v22-23

Jude warns us how people claiming to be believers weaken our church by openly sinning against God - despite their claim to be believers.  We see this today in the church and so Jude's warning is just as relevant today as it was when it was written.  Yet our role is not to be judge but instead to encourage others to repent and believe - to be saved.

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

My Prayer: Lord, You indeed are a great God, full of mercy and compassion for me.  You loved me while I was still sinning and You chose me...adopted me as Your son, going to the cross for me.  What love!  I am not worth such love.  I worry and I am weak and disobedient.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves.

Malachi 4

But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves. v2

Malachi delivers a message of both victory and defeat, for He describes the coming the Lord at the end of times (Revelation).  For those of us who believe in Jesus and trust in Him as our Lord and Savior, this is a victory...a final victory over sin and death.  Yet Christ provides victory for us daily and has given us a great task to bring others to Him (Matthew 28). 

 Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. Jude 1:22-23

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God, full of love, compassion, and patience for all of Your children.  You loved us and saved us while we were still sinners. Amazing.  Thank You Jesus for such mercies and compassion!  I am not worthy such love and blessings.  I am impatient, and I worry, among my many sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, the church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I the Lord do not change.

Malachi 3

I the Lord do not change. v6

God is perfect in all ways, He loves, and He always keeps His promises.  When we see change (some good, some bad) all around us, we should be comforted by knowing that we have a God who is the First and the Last, will always love us and is faithful.  This cannot be said of people. Nor can this be said of things. 

It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. Psalm 118:8-9

The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:17-19

 
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matthew 6:19-20

Our faith and trust should rest in the firm foundation of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. Psalm 62:1-2

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed my firm foundation and I know that You will never change and I can rest on You.  Thank You Jesus!  What a great God You are!  I am not worth such a God.  I worry...too much.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights on a day of battle.

Zechariah 14

Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights on a day of battle. v3

In "this world", as believers we are surrounded by sinful influences, and at times it can be overwhelming.  In chapter 14, Zechariah prophesizes about challenging times indeed. Yet, we don't need to worry because God will fight for us and He will give us victory...in this life or in Heaven.

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14

You are my King and my God, who decrees victories for Jacob. Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes.  I put no trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame. In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever. Psalm 45:4-8

 

But the Lord is righteous; he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked. Psalm 129:4

 

My Prayer: Lord, You are a great God indeed.  You protect me from my Satan and give me victory over sin and death - what a great God You are!  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such a God.  I continue to sin...worry, impatience, envy, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and savior. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.