As many of you know, I'll be leaving tomorrow for Paradise 2008. And...as soon as I get back from that I'll be taking a week off for a family vacation. Sadly, this leaves me no time to update the site with new Bible studies over the next couple of weeks. If you're new to the site, try some of the earlier stuff we've done...if you've been with us the whole time, please spend some time looking through the rest of 1 John and we'll get back to it when I get back.
If you wouldn't mind...I'm trying to determine how many people are actually using this site so if you could leave a comment to this message letting me know you use it I would appreciate it very much.
Until next time.
Wayne
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
It's All About The Love
Read 1 John 3:10-15
I've always been amazed at the extent that some people and/or churches will go to try and attract other people. It seems that there has been a trend, in the past at least, to try and bait people into the church with programs, activities, or just plain fun. It's like we're trying to offer people entertainment to get them to come to our churches. The problem with this way of doing things is that you've always got to one up yourself. If you put on a big event this time, it's got to be even bigger next time to keep people interested. Another problem with this way of doing things in the church is that most churches just do not have the resources or man power to compete with the world when it comes to entertainment.
So...how...do...we...compete. Well, there's one area that the church has a corner on that the world can't even come close to competing with us in - LOVE! That's right...if you think about it, the one thing that the church can offer (that the world just can't, btw) is the one thing that everyone in the whole wide world wants anyway! We all want to be loved...we all want to be appreciated, valued and cared for! And God designed the church to be the ONLY real place in this world where people can find genuine love!
FAQ:
- Would you say that your church is a place where you feel loved?
- What's more important to the people in your church: programs/entertainment or loving others?
- What is one thing you can do today to demonstrate God's love to another person?
I've always been amazed at the extent that some people and/or churches will go to try and attract other people. It seems that there has been a trend, in the past at least, to try and bait people into the church with programs, activities, or just plain fun. It's like we're trying to offer people entertainment to get them to come to our churches. The problem with this way of doing things is that you've always got to one up yourself. If you put on a big event this time, it's got to be even bigger next time to keep people interested. Another problem with this way of doing things in the church is that most churches just do not have the resources or man power to compete with the world when it comes to entertainment.
So...how...do...we...compete. Well, there's one area that the church has a corner on that the world can't even come close to competing with us in - LOVE! That's right...if you think about it, the one thing that the church can offer (that the world just can't, btw) is the one thing that everyone in the whole wide world wants anyway! We all want to be loved...we all want to be appreciated, valued and cared for! And God designed the church to be the ONLY real place in this world where people can find genuine love!
FAQ:
- Would you say that your church is a place where you feel loved?
- What's more important to the people in your church: programs/entertainment or loving others?
- What is one thing you can do today to demonstrate God's love to another person?
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
I heard a story recently about a father and his daughter who were driving down the road. The little girl was standing up in the back seat. The father told her to sit down, but she refused. He told her again to sit down and buckle her seat belt, but she again refused. Finally he said, "If you don't sit down and buckle up, I'm going to pull over and spank you!" The little girl sat down and buckled her seat belt. A few minutes later she looked straight at her dad and said, "Dad, I may be sitting down, but I'm standing up inside!"
We all know what it's like to obey because we have to, but to still be rebellious and really want to disobey on the inside. There were many times as I was growing up that I did what I was told to do b/c I didn't want to suffer the consequences...not b/c I wanted to do what was right! I know that there are lots of times that my own children do that same thing.
Read 1 John 3:4-10
The first time I read this as a young person I immediately began to think, "Well, I know I sin so I must not be a Christian!" It just stands to reason that if a person who is born of God doesn't sin...and I sin...then I must not be born of God! However, that's not the point John is trying to make here! What John is talking about is that inward attitude of rebelliousness. In other words, he's saying that a person who is geniunely a child of God will not be rebellious against God...we may make mistakes, but in our hearts we'll genuinely want to do God's will and be the person he wants us to be! On the other hand, that person who, deep down inside, doesn't want to do God's will...or doesn't even think about it - they're the ones who are children of the Devil!
It all makes sense to me when I think about it that way b/c I know how it feels to be tempted to sin and my body want to give in to the temptation, but my heart tells me, "Wayne, this is wrong...you don't really want to do this!" Sometimes, my flesh is stronger than that voice inside and I sin, but other times that voice is what keeps me from giving in. That voice comes from a heart that genuinely wants to serve God.
FAQ:
- Are you rebellious against God's ways or are you willing to do what He asks?
- Would you say that you love God?
- Which is easier...to obey someone simply b/c of their authority...or...to obey someone b/c you genuinely love them and care about what they think?
- Which of those two types of obedience would you say you have towards God?
We all know what it's like to obey because we have to, but to still be rebellious and really want to disobey on the inside. There were many times as I was growing up that I did what I was told to do b/c I didn't want to suffer the consequences...not b/c I wanted to do what was right! I know that there are lots of times that my own children do that same thing.
Read 1 John 3:4-10
The first time I read this as a young person I immediately began to think, "Well, I know I sin so I must not be a Christian!" It just stands to reason that if a person who is born of God doesn't sin...and I sin...then I must not be born of God! However, that's not the point John is trying to make here! What John is talking about is that inward attitude of rebelliousness. In other words, he's saying that a person who is geniunely a child of God will not be rebellious against God...we may make mistakes, but in our hearts we'll genuinely want to do God's will and be the person he wants us to be! On the other hand, that person who, deep down inside, doesn't want to do God's will...or doesn't even think about it - they're the ones who are children of the Devil!
It all makes sense to me when I think about it that way b/c I know how it feels to be tempted to sin and my body want to give in to the temptation, but my heart tells me, "Wayne, this is wrong...you don't really want to do this!" Sometimes, my flesh is stronger than that voice inside and I sin, but other times that voice is what keeps me from giving in. That voice comes from a heart that genuinely wants to serve God.
FAQ:
- Are you rebellious against God's ways or are you willing to do what He asks?
- Would you say that you love God?
- Which is easier...to obey someone simply b/c of their authority...or...to obey someone b/c you genuinely love them and care about what they think?
- Which of those two types of obedience would you say you have towards God?
Monday, May 19, 2008
That's Just Weird!
Read 1 John 3:1-3
You won't believe it, but I saw a poor little dog that looked just like this a few days ago at the rest area outside of Jackson. I immediately felt sympathy for the ugly little thing...why would someone intentionally breed animals to make them look this way? Is there no decency? Dogs weren't meant to look like Yoda! That's just weird!
I'm sure you can sympathize with me...all of us have come across stuff that we thought was just crazy! Stuff that really didn't fit in with what we think is normal or even right! Stuff that makes us ask, "What's up with that?"
Well, in verse 1 of 1 John 3, the apostle John tells us that that's exactly how the world looks at those of us who have been born again! In fact, John says that the world doesn't even know us. In other words, they don't understand us...we're weird to them! It's kind of surprising to hear John say such a thing...especially since many of us spend a lot of time trying to fit in with and gain acceptance from those in the world! What's John's point? GIVE IT UP! The world doesn't understand God...didn't understand Jesus...and will not understand what makes a child of God tick either...so...give...it...up! Stop trying to fit in with the world...stop trying to gain worldly people's approval...and embrace your weirdness!
FAQ:
- Are there times when you're ashamed of your faith? Why?
- Do you think that worldly people are ever ashamed of their worldliness?
- Is it possible to be ashamed of someone you're completely in love with?
- Do you love God that way?
"I give thanks unto my God for this; that I am found worthy to be found among those the world hateth." - Jerome
Saturday, May 17, 2008
A Tale of Orphans
It was 1982 when we were introduced, on the big screen, to a little red haired orphan girl named Annie. A girl who wanted nothing more than a real family and who found it in an old cold hearted guy known as Big Daddy Warbucks! It was a beautiful story of a man who had it all taking in a young girl who had nothing and giving her the world!
Read 1 John 3:1-3
Have you ever thought about the fact that before you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, you were a spiritual orphan? It's true! While every one of us was born with a physical mother and father, b/c of our sin we were born into a spiritual orphanage. In fact, every person who doesn't have Christ is still living in that orphanage today...and it's a sad place! Praise be to God that His love for us was so great that He chose to pay the price to make us His children by sending His only Son to a cruel and horrific death! Jesus died so we could be adopted into the family! What kind of love is that?
FAQ:
- When was the last time you thanked God for adopting you into His family?
- What are some of the responsibilities that come with being a child of God?
- Why is salvation so valuable?
“Salvation is the work of God for man; it is not the work of man for God.” - Lewis Sperry Chafer
Read 1 John 3:1-3
Have you ever thought about the fact that before you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, you were a spiritual orphan? It's true! While every one of us was born with a physical mother and father, b/c of our sin we were born into a spiritual orphanage. In fact, every person who doesn't have Christ is still living in that orphanage today...and it's a sad place! Praise be to God that His love for us was so great that He chose to pay the price to make us His children by sending His only Son to a cruel and horrific death! Jesus died so we could be adopted into the family! What kind of love is that?
FAQ:
- When was the last time you thanked God for adopting you into His family?
- What are some of the responsibilities that come with being a child of God?
- Why is salvation so valuable?
“Salvation is the work of God for man; it is not the work of man for God.” - Lewis Sperry Chafer
Friday, May 16, 2008
In It For The Long Haul
Read 1 John 2:24-28
"In it for the long haul." Most of us have heard that phrase before, some have even used it. In the trucking industry there are short hauls (loads that are carried relatively short distances) and then there are long hauls (loads that are carried for thousands of miles and may even takes days or weeks to accomplish). A long haul trucker has to deal with issues that a short haul trucker doesn't...things like how to deal with mechanical problems, making sure he has enough fuel, making sure he get's enough rest along the way so he can complete his trip, making sure he has spare tires and other parts that might give out during the trip, etc. Long haul trucking is a career that requires a considerable amount of commitment on the part of the trucker! He could be gone from family for long periods of time and the job places demands on him physically, emotionally and spiritually! If he's going to do the job, and do it well, he's got to make sure he's in it for the long haul b/c you can't just get halfway to your destination, decide you want to quit and just leave your truck sitting on the side of the road!
John says that the Christian life is pretty similar. It's a commitment to a lifestyle, not just a church or an hour of worship each week. It's not easy being a Christian and there are demands placed on those who follow Christ...physically, emotionally and spiritually! It's not a lifestyle for the faint at heart...in fact, the only way you'll be successful at it is if you're determined to be in it for the long haul! Each follower of Christ must count the costs of discipleship and decide for himself if it's a price he's willing to pay (Jesus called that "taking up your cross"). For those who stick with it, John points out that there is a huge payoff - ETERNAL LIFE!
FAQ:
- Have you counted the cost of what it means to be a Christian?
- How is being a Christian costly?
- What are the benefits of following Christ?
"The ability to stand by one's principles, to live with integrity and faith according to one's belief—that is what matters, that is the difference between a contribution and a commitment." - Howard W. Hunter
"In it for the long haul." Most of us have heard that phrase before, some have even used it. In the trucking industry there are short hauls (loads that are carried relatively short distances) and then there are long hauls (loads that are carried for thousands of miles and may even takes days or weeks to accomplish). A long haul trucker has to deal with issues that a short haul trucker doesn't...things like how to deal with mechanical problems, making sure he has enough fuel, making sure he get's enough rest along the way so he can complete his trip, making sure he has spare tires and other parts that might give out during the trip, etc. Long haul trucking is a career that requires a considerable amount of commitment on the part of the trucker! He could be gone from family for long periods of time and the job places demands on him physically, emotionally and spiritually! If he's going to do the job, and do it well, he's got to make sure he's in it for the long haul b/c you can't just get halfway to your destination, decide you want to quit and just leave your truck sitting on the side of the road!
John says that the Christian life is pretty similar. It's a commitment to a lifestyle, not just a church or an hour of worship each week. It's not easy being a Christian and there are demands placed on those who follow Christ...physically, emotionally and spiritually! It's not a lifestyle for the faint at heart...in fact, the only way you'll be successful at it is if you're determined to be in it for the long haul! Each follower of Christ must count the costs of discipleship and decide for himself if it's a price he's willing to pay (Jesus called that "taking up your cross"). For those who stick with it, John points out that there is a huge payoff - ETERNAL LIFE!
FAQ:
- Have you counted the cost of what it means to be a Christian?
- How is being a Christian costly?
- What are the benefits of following Christ?
"The ability to stand by one's principles, to live with integrity and faith according to one's belief—that is what matters, that is the difference between a contribution and a commitment." - Howard W. Hunter
Thursday, May 15, 2008
A Word From Our Sponsors
I hope you all are finding these devotions useful and enjoyable. Please remember to leave comments, questions or insights that God gives you as you study along with these. You never know how God may use something you think of to minister to or teach someone else! Thanks!
What are you against?
The prefix, anti, literally means against. People who are antiabortion are against abortions. People who are antiguns are against guns. People who are antiwar are against war. And...people who are antiChrist are against Christ.
Read 1 John 2:18-23
Now I know you're thinking, "Wait a minute, Wayne, I thought there was just one Antichrist who was supposed to take over the world and try to destroy all the Christians!" Well, you're right...the Bible does seem to make it pretty clear that at some point in the future there will be an Antichrist who will do all of that (note the big "A"). But according to John there are many antichrists running around right now - all an antichrist is is someone who doesn't believe in Jesus...and who may try to get you to think the same way he or she does (any of your biology teachers pop into your mind?) Here's the deal: this world literally filled with people who deny that Jesus is who He claims to be and there are even those who deny the existence of God altogether - this world is swimming with antichrists!
Want to know what's even scarier? They want to convince you to think the way they do, so they come up with their own theories of how the world got here, ideas about what's right and wrong and why, and concepts of what it means to be human...and then they try to convince you they're right! Why's this so important? B/c yesterday John revealed to us in 2:15-17 that there is a worldview that is completely opposed to God and his Church and we have to be very careful not to buy into that worldview...now he's telling us in 2:18-23 that a great way to determine whether we should believe something that someone is telling us is to find out what that person thinks about Jesus...if they don't believe in Him then you really can't trust ANYTHING they say! John is trying to get his readers to understand that they must always be on the lookout for lies that the enemy is trying to sell them! Our world today is no different...everywhere you look, there is someone with an idea they want you to buy into! Our job is to make sure we don't allow ourselves to believe anything that conflicts with what the Bible says...that means you've always got to be on the lookout for the antichrists of this world!
FAQ
- Can you identify someone in your life who's tried to get you to believe something that goes against what God says is true?
- How did you respond to that person?
- How does knowing that there are people in the world who want to convince you to believe lies make you feel? Why?
- As you pray today, pray that God would open your eyes to the lies of this world and help you to have a firm grip on His truth.
"Faith is reason grown courageous." - Sherwood Eddy
Read 1 John 2:18-23
Now I know you're thinking, "Wait a minute, Wayne, I thought there was just one Antichrist who was supposed to take over the world and try to destroy all the Christians!" Well, you're right...the Bible does seem to make it pretty clear that at some point in the future there will be an Antichrist who will do all of that (note the big "A"). But according to John there are many antichrists running around right now - all an antichrist is is someone who doesn't believe in Jesus...and who may try to get you to think the same way he or she does (any of your biology teachers pop into your mind?) Here's the deal: this world literally filled with people who deny that Jesus is who He claims to be and there are even those who deny the existence of God altogether - this world is swimming with antichrists!
Want to know what's even scarier? They want to convince you to think the way they do, so they come up with their own theories of how the world got here, ideas about what's right and wrong and why, and concepts of what it means to be human...and then they try to convince you they're right! Why's this so important? B/c yesterday John revealed to us in 2:15-17 that there is a worldview that is completely opposed to God and his Church and we have to be very careful not to buy into that worldview...now he's telling us in 2:18-23 that a great way to determine whether we should believe something that someone is telling us is to find out what that person thinks about Jesus...if they don't believe in Him then you really can't trust ANYTHING they say! John is trying to get his readers to understand that they must always be on the lookout for lies that the enemy is trying to sell them! Our world today is no different...everywhere you look, there is someone with an idea they want you to buy into! Our job is to make sure we don't allow ourselves to believe anything that conflicts with what the Bible says...that means you've always got to be on the lookout for the antichrists of this world!
FAQ
- Can you identify someone in your life who's tried to get you to believe something that goes against what God says is true?
- How did you respond to that person?
- How does knowing that there are people in the world who want to convince you to believe lies make you feel? Why?
- As you pray today, pray that God would open your eyes to the lies of this world and help you to have a firm grip on His truth.
"Faith is reason grown courageous." - Sherwood Eddy
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
The Red Pill Or The Blue Pill
In the 1999 move, The Matrix, a computer programmer known as Neo discovers that the world he thinks he sees is not as real as he thinks. He's offered a red pill or a blue pill by a character named Morpheus. If he takes the red pill, he'll know the truth...the blue pill, he'll go back to living life as he knew it before. Neo, of course, takes the red pill and discovers that the reality he thought he knew to be true was actually a lie formulated to make him a slave!
Sounds pretty crazy doesn't it! Well, it's not as crazy as you think...
Read 1 John 2:15-17
Obviously, John is not talking about nature or even humanity when he uses the term "world". He's refering to a way of thinking or worldview. John wants his readers to understand that there is a worldview out there that is diabolically opposed to the worldview they hold as a result of knowing Jesus Christ. He wants to warn them that buying into this other worldview is not just dangerous, it makes one an enemy of God. John knew that everything is not as it seems in the world. There is an ever present evil trying to root its way into every area of our lives and change the way we think about the world, ourselves, and God! It's present in the television we watch, the music we listen to, the things we read, the conversations we have with other people, our education system, our work places, and even our homes... At its root is its author, Satan, whose goal is to lead us to believe that we can indulge in sin and still be right with God...the same line he fed Eve way back in the Garden! The great news is that we have a red pill...the Word of God! When we look at the world around us through the lens of scripture we see the real truth of the way things are and we understand our role in freeing other people from the slavery of a Satanic and secular worldview.
FAQ:
- What are some areas in your life where you've been led to believe the lies of Satan?
- What does God's truth have to say about that thing?
- What are some of the tools that Satan uses to blind people from God's truth?
- What can you do to help others know and experience the truth of God's Word?
"Society is one vast conspiracy for carving one into the kind of statue it likes, and then placing it in the most convenient niche it has." - Randolph Bourne
Sounds pretty crazy doesn't it! Well, it's not as crazy as you think...
Read 1 John 2:15-17
Obviously, John is not talking about nature or even humanity when he uses the term "world". He's refering to a way of thinking or worldview. John wants his readers to understand that there is a worldview out there that is diabolically opposed to the worldview they hold as a result of knowing Jesus Christ. He wants to warn them that buying into this other worldview is not just dangerous, it makes one an enemy of God. John knew that everything is not as it seems in the world. There is an ever present evil trying to root its way into every area of our lives and change the way we think about the world, ourselves, and God! It's present in the television we watch, the music we listen to, the things we read, the conversations we have with other people, our education system, our work places, and even our homes... At its root is its author, Satan, whose goal is to lead us to believe that we can indulge in sin and still be right with God...the same line he fed Eve way back in the Garden! The great news is that we have a red pill...the Word of God! When we look at the world around us through the lens of scripture we see the real truth of the way things are and we understand our role in freeing other people from the slavery of a Satanic and secular worldview.
FAQ:
- What are some areas in your life where you've been led to believe the lies of Satan?
- What does God's truth have to say about that thing?
- What are some of the tools that Satan uses to blind people from God's truth?
- What can you do to help others know and experience the truth of God's Word?
"Society is one vast conspiracy for carving one into the kind of statue it likes, and then placing it in the most convenient niche it has." - Randolph Bourne
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
We Have A Love/Hate Relationship
Have you ever heard anyone say that before? When someone claims to have a love/hate relationship, what they mean is that they simultaneously feel love and hate towards a person or object at the same time (check out the wiki ). Have you ever thought about that concept though...love and hate are two polar opposites. It's virtually impossible to love someone and hate them at the same time. That would be like something being empty and full at the same time or something being above you and below you at the same time - it just can't happen!
Read 1 John 2:9-11
John agrees that it's impossible for love and hate to peacefully coexist in the same person. It's impossible for the love of God to fill a person and flow out of a person while that person is hating someone else. In fact, John says that scenario is as impossible as someone simultaneously walking in an area that is light and dark! Those two are polar opposites! And if you remember from just a few days ago, according to John God exists in light (or holiness) while sinners exist in darkness (sinfulness)...the point: if you claim to love God, yet hate or act hatefully towards other people your living in conflict with your own self! If you truly love God, then His love will flow through you and...just as light drives away darkness...God's love will drive away all hate in your life!
FAQ:
- Can you identify someone in your life that you hate or act hatefully towards?
- Should you consider a change in attitude towards that person?
- Is there something you need to do to make that relationship right?
"Love is always bestowed as a gift - freely, willingly and without expectation. We don't love to be loved; we love to love." - Leo Buscaglia
Read 1 John 2:9-11
John agrees that it's impossible for love and hate to peacefully coexist in the same person. It's impossible for the love of God to fill a person and flow out of a person while that person is hating someone else. In fact, John says that scenario is as impossible as someone simultaneously walking in an area that is light and dark! Those two are polar opposites! And if you remember from just a few days ago, according to John God exists in light (or holiness) while sinners exist in darkness (sinfulness)...the point: if you claim to love God, yet hate or act hatefully towards other people your living in conflict with your own self! If you truly love God, then His love will flow through you and...just as light drives away darkness...God's love will drive away all hate in your life!
FAQ:
- Can you identify someone in your life that you hate or act hatefully towards?
- Should you consider a change in attitude towards that person?
- Is there something you need to do to make that relationship right?
"Love is always bestowed as a gift - freely, willingly and without expectation. We don't love to be loved; we love to love." - Leo Buscaglia
Monday, May 12, 2008
The Standard Faith Test
1 John 2:3-6
What's the best way to tell if something is very acidic? Well, you could taste it and see if it made your mouth pucker...or you could pour it on your skin to see if it burned...you could sniff it and see if it stings... All of these are rather dangerous ways to test acidity though. The best (and safest) way is to use a little thing called a litmus test. It's very simple...you simply place a litmus strip in the liquid and if it's acidic the strip changes color.
John says that there is a similar test for our salvation...our actions! According to John, if you're truly related to the Heavenly Father - if you've really come to know Him, your actions will demonstrate that. In fact, John even says that the person who claims to know God, but whose actions don't prove it, is a liar! OUCH! For John, the test of true Christianity is how a "Christian" lives?
FAQ:
- What about you...if a person were to follow you around for a week (except church days) with the sole purpose of deciding whether or not you were a Christian based on your actions alone, what would they decide?
- Can you identify one area of your life where you need to change your actions to more closely match your identity as a Christian?
What's the best way to tell if something is very acidic? Well, you could taste it and see if it made your mouth pucker...or you could pour it on your skin to see if it burned...you could sniff it and see if it stings... All of these are rather dangerous ways to test acidity though. The best (and safest) way is to use a little thing called a litmus test. It's very simple...you simply place a litmus strip in the liquid and if it's acidic the strip changes color.
John says that there is a similar test for our salvation...our actions! According to John, if you're truly related to the Heavenly Father - if you've really come to know Him, your actions will demonstrate that. In fact, John even says that the person who claims to know God, but whose actions don't prove it, is a liar! OUCH! For John, the test of true Christianity is how a "Christian" lives?
FAQ:
- What about you...if a person were to follow you around for a week (except church days) with the sole purpose of deciding whether or not you were a Christian based on your actions alone, what would they decide?
- Can you identify one area of your life where you need to change your actions to more closely match your identity as a Christian?
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Take A Load Off
1 John 1:9-2:2
Have you ever had a desire to load up your backpack with as many bricks as you can stuff in there and wear it around all day? No? Neither have I. Why? Because we don't like to be burdened down! There's nothing fun about carrying around a heavy load...in fact, we have a word for that - WORK! It's hard to work to carry out something that is heavy and and the longer you do it, the heavier it feels and the more weary you get!
What's sad is that while most of us avoid physically carrying around a heavy load, many of us willingly carry around a spiritually heavy load of unconfessed sin! And...it...wears...us...down! Even to the point where we lose all of the joy that should come as part of our salvation.
John gives us some good news! We don't have to carry that sin b/c if we will just confess it and give it to God He would love to take away its burden! In 2:1, John states very clearly that his desire is for his readers not to sin, but if they do...they have someone waiting to take care of the burden!
FAQ
- What unconfessed sins are you allowing to burden you down?
- Why haven't you confessed your sin and allowed Jesus to take it?
- Pray now and ask Jesus to take the guilt of that sin and its burden away and replace it with the peace that comes from a right relationship with God!
"Forgiveness is the answer to the child's dream of a miracle by which what is broken is made whole again, what is soiled is made clean again." - Dag Hammarskjold
Have you ever had a desire to load up your backpack with as many bricks as you can stuff in there and wear it around all day? No? Neither have I. Why? Because we don't like to be burdened down! There's nothing fun about carrying around a heavy load...in fact, we have a word for that - WORK! It's hard to work to carry out something that is heavy and and the longer you do it, the heavier it feels and the more weary you get!
What's sad is that while most of us avoid physically carrying around a heavy load, many of us willingly carry around a spiritually heavy load of unconfessed sin! And...it...wears...us...down! Even to the point where we lose all of the joy that should come as part of our salvation.
John gives us some good news! We don't have to carry that sin b/c if we will just confess it and give it to God He would love to take away its burden! In 2:1, John states very clearly that his desire is for his readers not to sin, but if they do...they have someone waiting to take care of the burden!
FAQ
- What unconfessed sins are you allowing to burden you down?
- Why haven't you confessed your sin and allowed Jesus to take it?
- Pray now and ask Jesus to take the guilt of that sin and its burden away and replace it with the peace that comes from a right relationship with God!
"Forgiveness is the answer to the child's dream of a miracle by which what is broken is made whole again, what is soiled is made clean again." - Dag Hammarskjold
Friday, May 9, 2008
Oil And Water
1 John 1:5-7
I once had a two liter bottle that i filled half-way with colored water and then filled the rest of the way with vegetable oil. It was really calming to move it back and forth and watch the colored waves slosh around in the bottle. The only reason it works is b/c, as you know, oil and water don't mix!
When John talks about light and darkness, he's really refering to holiness and sinfulness. His point is that God is completely holy and there is absolutely no possibility of sin existing in Him at any point. So if we claim to have a relationship with Him, yet our life is characterized by a sinful lifestyle we're are lying to ourselves and to others. Basically, John is saying that if you claim to be a Christian, your walk better match your talk... John doesn't expect that we'll be perfect b/c if you read on, in verse 9, he talks about the fact that God forgives us of our sin. What he's talking about is lifestyle of sin.
In other words, it's as impossible for a true Child of God to live a lifestyle of sin as it is impossible to successfully mix oil and water - the two just don't go together.
FAQ:
- Can you identify an area of your life where you tend to "walk in the darkness"?
- What needs to happen for you to be able to step out of the darkness and into the light?
"The first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want." - Ben Stein
I once had a two liter bottle that i filled half-way with colored water and then filled the rest of the way with vegetable oil. It was really calming to move it back and forth and watch the colored waves slosh around in the bottle. The only reason it works is b/c, as you know, oil and water don't mix!
When John talks about light and darkness, he's really refering to holiness and sinfulness. His point is that God is completely holy and there is absolutely no possibility of sin existing in Him at any point. So if we claim to have a relationship with Him, yet our life is characterized by a sinful lifestyle we're are lying to ourselves and to others. Basically, John is saying that if you claim to be a Christian, your walk better match your talk... John doesn't expect that we'll be perfect b/c if you read on, in verse 9, he talks about the fact that God forgives us of our sin. What he's talking about is lifestyle of sin.
In other words, it's as impossible for a true Child of God to live a lifestyle of sin as it is impossible to successfully mix oil and water - the two just don't go together.
FAQ:
- Can you identify an area of your life where you tend to "walk in the darkness"?
- What needs to happen for you to be able to step out of the darkness and into the light?
"The first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want." - Ben Stein
Thursday, May 8, 2008
They Joy Of The Story
Read 1 John 1:1-4
John said three interesting things in this passage. First, he says that he and others have experienced Jesus (verses 1-2). Second, he says that his purpose in telling others about what he's experienced is so that they may have fellowship not just with him and the other Christians, but with God (verse 3). Finally, he says something that kind of startling..."We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete!" John found joy in sharing the story of Jesus Christ!
At first that sounds really weird b/c most of us are scared to death to tell the story of Jesus and what he's done in our lives...but John had experienced the overwhelming joy of seeing people begin a relationship with Jesus b/c of his story... And so, he looked forward to the joy that would come from people hearing the story of Jesus and being saved!
FAQ:
- How does the idea of telling your Jesus story make you feel?
- Who is one person you know who could benefit from what you know about Jesus?
- What's keeping you from telling that person about Jesus?
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself" - Franklin D. Roosevelt
John said three interesting things in this passage. First, he says that he and others have experienced Jesus (verses 1-2). Second, he says that his purpose in telling others about what he's experienced is so that they may have fellowship not just with him and the other Christians, but with God (verse 3). Finally, he says something that kind of startling..."We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete!" John found joy in sharing the story of Jesus Christ!
At first that sounds really weird b/c most of us are scared to death to tell the story of Jesus and what he's done in our lives...but John had experienced the overwhelming joy of seeing people begin a relationship with Jesus b/c of his story... And so, he looked forward to the joy that would come from people hearing the story of Jesus and being saved!
FAQ:
- How does the idea of telling your Jesus story make you feel?
- Who is one person you know who could benefit from what you know about Jesus?
- What's keeping you from telling that person about Jesus?
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself" - Franklin D. Roosevelt
Welcome Everyone
Hello everyone and welcome to Revolve's Daily Devo page. Here you'll find a daily devotion that you can use each day in your time with God. There'll be scripture, a few thoughts, and maybe a bit of application to help you in your relationship with God. Feel free to leave comments...insights...pretty much anything as it pertains to the devo for the day! Questions or ideas for future devos...send em in!
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