day 20 1John 3:1-3

1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. Today's passage is packed with many great truths. I have a relationship to God as his child. This sonship is grounded in His love for everyone. But while God loves everyone and shows general goodness to everyone he reserves a deeper love and fellowship for those who live in a covenant of faith with Him. This deeper love gives us adoption into the family of God. I am a son of God because Jesus has died for my sins. God's love is shown in the fact that Jesus dies for us while we are unsaved, rebellious enemies and not after. This closeness means that I get to know God. And knowing Him means living in obedience to His laws. Jesus says that if we love him we will keep his commandments. His law is good and not bad. My greatest problem is not the law of God but sin. Sin is when I live in opposition to God's law while righteousness means trusting God and living in obedience to his instructions. In Jeremiah 31 and Ezekiel 36 we are told that the new covenant leads to a life transformed. God cleanses us from sin, gives us a new heart, writes his laws on it, and gives us the Spirit. This is so awesome. God's grace in given to those who put their faith in Jesus death on the cross and his resurrection. The sign of the new covenant is the fact that we receive the Spirit of God. So every single day we are being transformed to be more and more like Jesus. But it never stops until the day when we see Jesus. One day we will be gathered together with Him upon His return and when we see Him so clearly we know him fully. This clarity brings us to our goal. I need to strive to be like Jesus as much as I can. This bears with it a great reward in that I may come to please my Father in heaven. I need to make sure that I am not resisting the Spirit transforming me to be more like Jesus. This has to be on my daily list of things to do as part of my daily submission to the Father. I long to be like Jesus. To live a life that is greatly influenced by God's law and instructions. I know that many who call themselves believers would disagree with me but living according to God's law is filled with blessings. It is not about trying to be nit picky about infinitesimal small details centered around what I can get away. Instead it is about, in trust, giving my self fully to Him. He leads me like a good shepherd and I willingly follow him. I might clash with some denomination, or those theologians who wrongly think that God has replaced Israel with Christian believers, but I feel confidence that God's law is awesome. I'm always finding new applications to my life and new ways to please the Father. He has surely poured out his love on me since he has given me His word and law. Since Adam and Eve he has always given his instructions to those who live in covenant with Him. Peace

day 19 1 John 2:28-29

28 And now, little children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink away from him in shame when he comes back. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you also know that everyone who practices righteousness has been fathered by him. It is very important for a believer it is very important to remain alert and ready for the return of Jesus at any moment. The truth that Jesus, with his angels and in glory, will one day come back to this earth should be a motivation to my daily commitment to God. I need to be reminded that as I daily lay my life in the hands of and under the control of God, that take every opportunity to be ever more prepared. Jesus said that if we love him then we will live in obedience, and that this is the way in which we remain in him. It is impossible for the believer to do anything of any real meaning, if he or she does not remain in Jesus. By remaining in him we gain strength and power to live out the new life, of salt and light, that we are called to. Without remaining in him we cannot resist sin and temptation. Without remaining in him we could easily end up religious and that is very sad indeed. The return of Jesus is supposed to be an encourgement and a source of empowerment to live for God. It should not make us afraid but is a desire to see him and to be with him. I long to see the Kingdom of God break out as the entire Earth comes under the rule and regin of God. This is why sharing the good news wiht as many people as possible is of utmost importance. it might look different from person to person but it is not an option for anyone. If somone has small children at home then teach them the ways of God. This is as evangelistic as standing on a corner and talking to strangers. Share with your friends and family. But if they say no and reject the good news then love them. You need to respect their decision even when it keeps them in their sin and away from God. When that day comes we want to greet our Lord with faces turned towards him. But for that person who has not been a good steward and has not really believed in his coming that day will be a day of shame. John writes this so that we avoid standing there as small children who have disobeyed their father. I remember as a small child, how much I dreaded my mother's return to the house, when I knew that I had disobeyed. As I awaited her arrival I had a growing sense of doom. I didn't get happier as the time approached but more and more axious. It was totally different when I had done something that was good. I couldn't wait until my mother came home. Even though it was not going to be very long before she walked through the door, my excitement got the best of me. I was just ready to burst with expectation. It is this second situation that John wants the believers to have. So how is it for you? Do you really want Jesus to come tomorrow? I know that even if it means that those who are very close to me might be lost for all of eternity I would so cherish the return of Jesus tomorrow. It is not because I want to see non-believers judged but just the fact of being able to spend such intimate time with God is what my heart is longing most for. So let us live lives of righteousness and holiness and obedience. This, transformed life, is the result for every true believer in Jesus. It is a life that is consistent with the Word of God as it imitates the life of Jesus. God desires us to live this way. If you are part of a Christian group but are not being encouraged and assited in your obedient following of the life of Jesus then you might want to find another group. The Christian life is not a stagnant or religious life, but a dynamic life of constant growth and transformation. As a Christian leader I need this in my life as well as power from God to help the fellowship to go in that direction. Every believer lives in a state of dependency for the power of God, in order to be the salt and the light that Jesus calls us to. If you need help in this area then let someone know whom you trust ask them to walk beside you as you grow in grace. be blssed

day 18 1 John 2:18-27

18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. 20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.4 21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Messiah? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. 24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he made to us — eternal life. 26 I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him. In verse 18 the word translated as last,ἐσχάτη, means the last in a series or the lowest in rank. So if you think of this as the "final countdown" then what John seems to be doing is to shake up his readers and make them alert. If one knows that the enemy is coming you don't go around acting as if everything is okay. you are alert and ready for action. If you want to know if this is the final hour or season then stop speculating because the proof is now here. but the proof is not that the opponent of the Messiah is coming externally but through a form of treason. John talks about those who went out but not from us. Jesus says that a tree is known by it's fruit and that the only way to tell the difference between what is planted and what is a weed is to wait until the fruit becomes evident. verses 18-19 made me stop and think. It is so easy to become disappointed by people who say that they are believers but in reality have not shown any fruit of righteousness in their life, and have hurt you or done something that is obviously not in accordance with God's word or the life of Jesus. When this happens some people may decide to leave the community of the faithful. But John seems to be saying that taking my clues from these "believer" will lead me astray. what will help me in this time? verse 20 starts with καὶ ὑμεῖς χρῖσμα ἔχετε ἀπὸ τοῦ ἁγίου καὶ οἴδατε πάντες - and all of you have charisma from the holy one and you perceive/ observe/pay attention to/ examine everything. It is this thing that believers have from the Holy One that will help them to not be lead astray. Jesus said that one of the functions of the Holy Spirit is to lead us into all truth, John 14:26. In John 14:15-17, Jesus says that the world cannot receive the Holy Spirit. I want to have the Holy Spirit in my life in such a way that truth is an integral part of my life and ministry to others. And as the Spirit reveals truth then I will get to know Jesus and the life of Jesus will be imitated in my life. I think that denying Jesus is more than just saying that he is made up or that he didn't die for our sins. that is definitely denying him. There is another level of denying that involves those who say that they are believers without the life of Jesus being magnified in them. For being a believer in name only is very dangerous. It gives false hope and security. To confess the Son is to acknowledge him in word and deed. Both are necessary. This is a finger that I must first point at my heart, allowing its condition to be examined. Where do I deny Christ? Do I refuse to help the poor or my brothers and sisters in the faith? Am I too busy to commune with God through his word and prayer? Do I disdain teaching from the Word or is my heart so callous that I now longer lift up praise to Him who is worthy of all praise? Like in John's day there are people in our day who conscientiously or unconscientiously lead us away from the truth. We need to be faithful to that which God has already revealed to us. So I want to be dependant upon the Holy Spirit and not on any teacher, regardless of how great their teaching is. I want God to rule and reign in my life and keep me alert so that I never get complacent. It is only by abiding in Jesus that I can hope to be faithful until the end of my days. For without Jesus there nothing of worth that I may accomplish. Only in Him can I live and breath and flourish. peace

day 17 1 John 2:15-17

15Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world.
17The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

This presents the reader of 1 John with a very strong choice to make. Either love God or love the world. You cannot have both. Choosing the world automatically pushes away loving the Father. In the Message Bible it says that loving the world squeezes out the love of the Father. It is as though each person's heart can only contain enough room for one or the other.

Yeshua/Jesus said that to love him is to keep his commandments.

Exodus 20:6 - God shows mercy to those who love Him and keeps his commandments
Leviticus 19:18,24 - we are to love the stranger and God's people like we love ourselves
Deuteronomy 6:5 - we are commanded to love the Lord our God with our entire self
" 7:9 - God is faithful to and keeps His covenants with those who love Him and keeps His commandments
" 10:12,13; 11:1,22; 30:16 - the Lord requires that we fear Him and walk in His ways, serve Him with our whole heart and love Him through keeping His commandments
Psalm 119:127 - we are to love God's commandments more than the purest gold

Matthew 10:37 - Loving God is to be the highest priority in our life
Matthew 22:37-39 - the two greatest commandments tell us that we should love God and our neighbor as we love ourselves.
Luke 6:32-35 - shows us that the love that God wants us to have leads us to love even our enemies
John 14:15 - loving Christ means keeping His commandments,which are the commandments of God

These verses along with many other help to understand that this love of the Father is not a emotional response to God but a steadfast and loyal resolve to follow God regardless of the circumstances.

day 16 young men part 2

I write to you, young men,

Because you have overcome the wicked one.

I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.

we ended part 1 with a focus on one of the two characteristics that St. John brings up. I talked about the mature believer's strength. now I'm going to talk about a new trait.

The other characteristic of this more mature believer is the word of God abiding in them. The importance of the word of God cannot be stated enough. The word is a foundation for every believer’s life. It is the light which illuminates the path of life. By I can see the enemy’s pitfalls and avoid them. John 12:46 says that following Jesus keeps us from remaining in darkness. Luke 8:21 – those who hear the word of God and do it are those who are closest to Jesus

Luke 11:21 – those who hear the word and keep it are blessed

Acts 6:1-7 – as the word increased then the church multiplied in growth

Acts 19:5-20 – here Paul and his company labor by spreading the word of God. They are so effective that within two years every one in the province of Asia had heard the gospel. The end result it that God’s word brought people to repentance and into maturity.

As we have already read in Ephesians 6:17 the sword of the Spirit is the word of God. This word of God is most powerful indeed. Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

The word of God is living and active. This is the power that is in the “young men”. Listen you cannot live a life that honors our God apart from his word. This word is to read on a regular basis. It is not only to be read but obeyed. If the word says it then adjust your life and thoughts accordingly.

The difference between a baby Christian and a more mature one has to do with the word. Getting the word into you is so important for maturity. You have to take it in and let it spread to your whole body. It has to affect your thoughts, your deeds and you words. Without a firm foundation in the entire word of God, not just the New Testament, you are easy prey for the devil and evil people. You will be led astray. You will be deceived.

St. John says that these young men have overcome the wicked one. Just imagine the feeling of knowing the devil is overcome. Jesus demonstrated the significance of abiding in the word and the word abiding in us during his temptation. Jesus could have used power to vanquish the devil but he chose God’s word. Three times he as tempted and three times he answered it is written. Our ability to see the devil defeated in our lives rests in the word of God.

How we need people today who are able to uncompromisingly teach God’s holy word. We need to encourage our fellow believers, regardless of their level of maturity to get into the word. We should be known as the generation of doers of the word of God.

Let us mature in Christ

Peace on your heads

day 15 the young men part 1

¹² I write to you, little children,

Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.

¹³ I write to you, fathers,

Because you have known Him who is from the beginning.

I write to you, young men,

Because you have overcome the wicked one.

I write to you, little children,

Because you have known the Father.

¹⁴ I have written to you, fathers,

Because you have known Him who is from the beginning.

I have written to you, young men,

Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you,

And you have overcome the wicked one.

The reason behind what he has written and what he writes is the same. There is a difference between a father and a young man. A father has a commitment to look out for, lead and provide for his family, this is others. He has less freedom than a young man and lives a life of greater sacrifice than the life of a young man.

A young man has a greater opportunity to serve in a radical way because he ultimately is responsible for himself. If we keep to the idea that St. John is writing about the different stages of Christian maturity, then the young men most likely refer to the middle stage of development. According to some commentaries this is a term for those in the 25-40 age group.

These believers have met the wicked one and defeated him. The Greek word for overcome, nikáō means to be victorious, to prevail, to conquer and to win. So this would suggest that in battling with the wicked one these more mature believers are not defeated but actually win.

These believers are strong ,ischuroi, physical strength and ability is one of two characteristics that leads to the believers being able to overcome. Romans 12:21 says that we are to overcome evil with good. No one can live the Christian life as God wants without God’s help. It is a manifestation of God’s grace that we can accomplish his will. Paul writes that he worked more than the other apostles, not by his own might, but his work is the result of the grace of God in him.

As we grow in maturity we become more aware of the fact that all that we accomplish is because of Christ and that without him we truly cannot do anything of significance for the Kingdom.

Ephesians 6:10-19 might shed some more clarity about this strength that allows us to obey God and follow his will.

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ^{16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17} Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

We are told to be strong in the Lord and his mighty power. It is not about trusting in one’s self, methods or the accumulation of knowledge, but in a recognition of God’s power and our dependency upon it. It is God’s armor that makes a believer strong enough to stand against the flaming arrows of the evil one. Because of his armor we can firmly stand and not be easily moved. There is no question that evil days will come, believe me they will come to everyone who wants to live a life pleasing to God, but about being prepared and ready when they do come. Now when we have this information from God then there is no excuse for a believer to be caught off guard. Living in his power and by the equipping that he gives us will keep us alert and in prayer.

I’m sure that many of us do not pray enough or very regular. This will not suffice for the believer, who wishes to live according to God’s will and mature. There is so much more to write about when it comes to the strength of believers. I believe that many are not living a victorious life just because they refuse to do the things that the stronger believers do. They refuse to live in the truth that they are dependant upon God’s strength. They make up rules and regulations and often focus on superficial things as a way of compensation but they are deceiving themselves. They think that they are strong but in actuality are weak. They think that they are ready to go to battle and that is why many get defeated. I know that this sounds harsh but it is not. If I love you then I have to tell you the truth.

I wish that these weak believers would open up their eyes and realize the truth and then allow the Holy Spirit to lead them toward maturity in Christ. As John Bevere writes in his book, Driven by Eternity, “The keys are first to seek God in faith; second, get planted in the local church God shows you; and third, forsake the entanglements of your life”. Our lives must be centered upon God.

peace on your heads

day 14 - 1 john 2:12-14 - to the little children

12 I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.
13 I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, dear children, because you have known the Father.
14 I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you,
and you have overcome the evil one.
The New International Version, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House) 1984.

in these three verses St. John is saying quite a lot. many scholars think that the apostle is referring to the various stages of maturity one may find in a local church. In this pericope he is makes reference to three groups, dear children, fathers and young men.

the Greek word that is translated here as dear children, is teknion. It literally means small children like in nursery school, but in fact is a term of endearment. whether he means this a term of ones maturity or level of innocence I do not know.

what St. John does say is that he writes to them because of the fact that by the name of Jesus they have their sins forgiven and that they have known the Father. this is the basic security of all believers. we are saved because of Jesus and now there is no need to fear death. no believer should ever worry about the ability of God to secure one's salvation. The other step is to know the Father. It is impossible for a believer to grow if they do not know the Lord.

Titus 1:16 says that they profess to know God but by their works they deny him. This aspect of knowing God is a form of obedience. if you know God then you will live in obedience to him.

Galatians 4:8 when they did not know God then they practiced idolatry.

Colossians 1:10 good works is the result of knowing him.

2 Thessalonians 1:8 those who do not live in accordance with the gospel of Jesus Christ will face punishment.

i just wanted to use the verses to show that what I am saying is in harmony with the Scriptures.

there is a definite connection between being a Christian and good works. Many times we can be so focused on sinners making a confession and saying a prayer of receiving Christ that we forget to inform them of the cost of following Christ or of the fact that God still expects his children to live righteously before him.

Now that we have had our sins forgiven this one monumental act should be a motivator for the Christian to do good works. Don't get me wrong works do not save you but that does not in any way mean that there is a free for all when it comes to sin, Romans 6:1-7. When some one is new to the faith then they need to be instructed in the ways of righteousness. They are called to take upon them a new nature and person. This most definitely means living the lifestyle of the new person which is after Christ.

Forgiveness is part of the central doctrine of Christianity. There are over 83 direct Bible passages, 48 of them in the New Testament, dealing with forgiveness. Jesus' teaching on this subject it that we are forgiven in accordance with how we forgive others. I believe that this means that the forgiveness of God, while free and generous, implies that we forgive others just as generously and freely, Matthew 6:12, 13-14; Mark 11:25-26.

The basic level av living a Christ centered life is a life lived in surrendered obedience and generous forgiveness. Helping believer to develop this discipline should be the first steps in walking with them towards maturity in Christ.
I sure hope that I am this kind of leader and motivator.

the peace of God in abundance