The Simplicity and Depth of Love

Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness;  he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.

I John 2:9-11

The simplicity and the depth of what the Apostle John said is amazing. On the surface he points out the simple difference between hating and loving. Below the surface he reminds us that hating our brother blinds us. 

One of the things that impresses me about my pastor is that he gets along with other pastors and has a deep partnership with so many in the community. Let's be honest, loving some people is not easy. But, the issue is that Jesus loved us, when we didn't love him and we are supposed to love some people even when they don't love us. The simplicity is that the question to ask about how we deal with others is: Is it in love? When you think the other person is in the wrong do you respond in love? When you are in a hurry do you wait in love? Think about how often God waits for you, is patient with you, tells you the same thing again and forgives you. 

The love of God is simple in its' truth and deep in its' application. Hate others and be blinded by the darkness. Love others and walk in the light. 

Father, help us to live in the light as you are in the light. Praise be to you in us today!

Know You Are In Christ

We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, "I know him," but does not  do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. 

I John 2:3-6 

Many moons ago I attended Capernwray Bible School, in England. One of my roommates was from Kenya and every afternoon he would go through a little karate routine. One day one of the fellas asked him, "Do you really know karate? OK, hit me!" He said he didn't want to hurt anyone, so this guy from Canada went at him and knocked him down. After that every time the kid did his little routine someone would would go at him shouting, "Show me some karate!" It was obvious he didn't really know karate no matter what he said.

In the same way just because we call ourselves Christians, read the Bible, go to church, sing songs and go through all the motions, that doesn't make us Christians. The danger of course is that the enemy will just come at us and knock us down. Just like the seven sons of Sceva in Acts 19:13-17 were beaten by the man with the evil spirit we might be beat up if we really don't know Christ. I don't want to be judgemental here. Because I believe if God can save me and his Spirit can move in me, God can work in anyone. My point is that at some point we should be able to say that we love others because Christ loved us first. Our love will be imperfect but, covered by his grace, it will cover over a multitude of sins.

Father, help us to love as you loved us. Praise be to you in us today!

Look At Christ, Not Your Sin

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have on who speaks to the Father in our defense - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but for the sins of the whole world. 

I John 2:1-2 

John says it pretty much like it is: We don't want to sin, but sometimes (maybe more often than we like) we do sin. That is just the way it is. The good news is that God has even this weakness covered in Christ. 

The goal is to have fellowship with Christ and each other. Christ's blood purifies us, not our management of sin. We were not saved so that we can have another chance at not sinning. This is a truth that we must understand. Christ did not die on the cross for just the sins we committed before knowing him. He died for ALL our sins. Yes. All. He died to purify us from "all unrighteousness". 

Think about this: if you are concentrating on your sin, even it is in an attempt to not sin, you are still focusing on yourself. 

We are called to walk in the light, to have fellowship with Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. 

I am not condoning sin or saying we shouldn't acknowledge our sin. But, if we focus on our sin, and dwell on our sinfulness, sin is still controlling us. In contrast to this is the joy and thankfulness of being forgiven and the fellowship of living in the light of Christ. Then we are not focused on ourselves but on Christ and others in Christ.

Father, help us to live in the light as you are in light and to have fellowship with one another. Praise be to you in us today!

It's How You Deal With It

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9 (NIV)

Sins happens. I wish it didn't. I wish I didn't. But, it does. The truth is that God knows this better than we do. That he sent his one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins proves that to be true. So, God is not surprised when we do sin. 

I have noticed two inner voices when I sin. One condemns. The other convicts. Condemnation is not from God because it leaves you no way out except sinless perfection, which isn't going to happen. Conviction tells you it was wrong and you need to confess that it was sin and ask God to forgive you. 

The truth is that what God wants us to do is walk with him by faith. He doesn't want us to deal with our sin. That is sin management. We can't manage our sin. The only way to deal with sin is to kill it. That is why Christ died on the cross. 

Father, help us to walk with you by faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Thank you for your forgiveness. Praise be to you in us today!

Bumping Heads

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

I John 1:7

I have a couple friends of mine who had a disagreement a couple months ago. They did not handle it well.  I still don't know exactly what happened except for the little part that I just happen to catch my self in the middle of. Both were too concerned about what bothered them or about being right to actually allow any reconciliation. Then after the initial dust settled, a handshake and an, "I'm sorry" wasn't enough. 

I think this relates to the passage because there will be issues. We will bump heads and offend each other, even in church. The intention is that when we interact with each other we act Christlike. We humbly deal with each other knowing that Christ forgives all our sins and still loves us. We, in the same way, forgive each other. Not only do we forgive which is reactive but we serve each other, which is proactive. 

Today we ask ourselves: How can I serve those I come in contact with today? Do I need to forgive someone?

Father, help us to serve each other proactively and forgive each other and you have forgiven us in Christ. Praise be to you in us today!

Should You Be Afraid?

Should you not fear me?” declares the Lord.
   “Should you not tremble in my presence?
I made the sand a boundary for the sea,
   an everlasting barrier it cannot cross.
Jeremiah 5:22 (NIV)

Every now and then we need to just stop and remember that God is the Almighty and he answers to no one. All must answer to him. 

Sometimes we forget that God is the Sovereign Judge of all. Every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Every person who arrogantly speaks as if they will question God with some foolish question will realize his own folly. 

As a Christian sometimes we just need to sit down in God's Presence and humbly remember that we need to fear him and tremble in his Presence. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Although I do believe that my salvation is all of grace, I also believe that I should not mess with the grace of God. God is being gracious and merciful to me because he chooses to, not because he has to. 

Father, we come before you and confess that we are sinners. We need you grace and call out for your mercy! Teach us to walk humbly before you. Praise be to you in us today!

OK, Break It Up

“Break up your unplowed ground

   and do not sow among thorns. 

Circumcise yourselves to the Lord,

   circumcise your hearts,

Jeremiah 4:3c-4a (NIV)

I am not a farmer, but, I have had a garden. I did learn that you have to plow the ground before you sow the seeds. As a Christian, sometimes I do need to break up the hardness of my heart. I think self examination, confession and thankfulness are tools we can use to allow the Spirit of God to break up the hardness of our hearts.

By self examination I mean taking an honest look at yourself in prayer and while reading the Bible. 

We are all sinners. Our best is like filthy rags. Get real. Get honest. God is just waiting for you to get real. (See I John 1:9)

Be thankful. I believe true thankfulness is laced with humility because I know how sinful I am and how holy God is. 

Father, help us to allow the Spirit to break up the unplowed ground of our hearts. Praise be to you in us today!