Every Child of God Defeats this Evil World
Thank You, Father, for enabling me to get through so much yesterday for Sunday’s services, even with all the distractions. Help me to align myself with You today and to be faithful in all I say and do that it would be pleasing in Your sight. Amen.
1 John 5:4-5 (<<click here)
“For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.”
This portion of yesterday’s scripture also spoke to me, Lord. What stuck out was that “every child of God defeats this evil world.” The world we see about us is surely daunting for evil is rampant! But a child defeats it…if that child is Your child. We, Your children, can be victorious over this evil world only if we place our faith in You and that “believe that [You are] the Son of God.”
Once again, Lord, You have set things in place that help to flesh out Your word. Part of my daily routine is to read the Our Daily Bread devotional. For years I read the paperback version but for quite some time I have used the app on my phone. It is a great asset to my day. Anyway, today’s devotional providentially fits quite well with this passage, too. (Here’s the link if you’d like to read the whole thing yourself: Prepare the Child)
The author noted a “phrase [found] on many parenting websites…, “Prepare the child for the road, not the road for the child.” Instead of trying to remove all obstacles and pave the way for the children in our life, we should instead equip them to deal with the difficulties they encounter on the road ahead.”
As we grow and mature, obstacles provide us with…well, with opportunities to grow and mature. You use literally everything in our lives to work together for our good. Romans 8:28 (<< link))
Lord, help me to focus on You today. May my faith be placed squarely on You and nothing else. May all of my life’s experiences –all the good parts and the struggles and failings – enable me to “defeat this evil world.” May my strength and power be found in my faith in You so that I may “achieve this victory.” Amen.
May 19th, Fri, 5:07 am
Wet Paint
Today looks to be quite full, Father. As I have already prayed, I would ask for Your guidance and wisdom. May the contacts I make bring You glory. Amen.
1 John 5:1-5 (<<click here)
“Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome.” v3
One thing that we, as human beings struggle with is abiding by rules and regulations, Lord. A “wet paint” sign in our brain translates to “touch me”. From the very beginning of time we have listened to the serpent whispering in our ear, “Did God really say…?” Genesis 3:1 And we just fill in the blank. Abiding by the “do’s and don’ts” makes us bristle.
A couple of days ago I looked at the top two commandments according to You, Lord. Loving You and loving others. (Matthew 22:36-40) And in that very last verse You stated,
“The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” v40
All the “do’s and don’ts” boil down to …love. And we love love…right? We are sure obsessed with it. “What the world needs now is love, sweet love” – to quote an old song. But to quote another old song, “What’s love got to do, go to do with it?”
Where the problem lies is that the world’s love is shallow and short-lived. It’s selective. It’s limited. It’s conditional. And quite often it’s just plain selfish.
But Your love? It is deep (and wide!) and it is eternal! It is inclusive. It is unlimited! It is unconditional! And by Your own example, it is not selfish but it is sacrificial.
Lord, may I take upon the mantle of Your love. My I live it out. May I give it out – liberally! To all who will receive…and even those who won’t. Amen.
May 17th, Wed, 7:21 am
Cold World
It is a beautiful morning, Father – another gracious gift, one of an incalculable number of gifts, from Your almighty hand! All praise to my God and Creator! Amen!
Regardless of where we live, north or south, or the season in which we find ourselves, we live in a cold, cold world. So much pain and suffering, so much hate and violence, so much selfishness and greed – we are all chilled to the bone. Sin does that. We, in and of ourselves, can do nothing about it. We are condemned to suffer in a meaningless existence, frozen to the core.
I know it is spring – at least where I live – but all of John’s talk of love has brought this cold to mind.
I don’t recall meeting anyone who did not enjoy a crackling fire. In a fireplace inside or a fire ring outside, there is just something about a fire that draws you in. It is inviting. It is comforting. Regardless of gender, race or age, we like to sit and watch it do its thing, we enjoy basking in its warmth.
Love – real genuine love – does the same thing.
Lord, You are the source of all love, for You are love. 1 John 4:8, 16
“This is real love – not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” v16
“We know how much God loves us, and we put our trust in his love.” v16
“We love each other because he loved us first.” v19
Lord, I may live in a cold, cold world but the fire of Your love within me dispels the cold. Cold has no power of its own – it cannot recreate itself. In actuality cold does not exist, it is merely the absence of heat. May I radiate the heat – the love – that you have placed within me. May I be a comfort to those in need, to the lost, the hurting…and the frozen. May they be drawn to You through me. And may they welcome Your fire in themselves so the cold may be banished in their lives, as well. Amen!
May 16th, Tues, 6:26 am
Practice Makes Perfect
Thank You, Father, for a good day yesterday and a good night’s rest. Another week begins and I am grateful that You walk beside me. Guide all I say and do for Your glory. Amen.
1 John 4:13-21 (<<click here)
The Apostle John is all about love. His Gospel and his Epistles (letters) consistently drive that point. And, Lord, he is fulfilling the greatest commandment as You declared in Matthew 22:36-40,
“You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.”
And the second greatest,
“Love your neighbor as yourself.”
That is a tall order, for sure. To love You with the entirety of our being and to love others as much as we love our own life. It can be overwhelming but this is one of the many wonderful things about our relationship with You, Lord. You’re patient (long-suffering!) and You love us so!
John’s statement here in verse 17 is so encouraging.
“…as we live in God, our love grows more perfect.”
As we live daily under Your guidance and direction our love for You, and others, “grows more perfect.” Practice makes perfect. The more I am loved, the more I love and the more I love, the more love becomes a part of me.
Lord, may this be my life! Amen!
May 15th, Mon, 6:27 am
Only Bible
Thank You, Father, for Your guiding hand and watch care yesterday. Even with all the things on my plate, I got a fair amount accomplished for Sunday’s service. I was also able to get my truck serviced with the accompaniment of my father-in-law and we got there and back safely. Praise You for Your love!
1 John 4:11-12 (<<click here)
Lord, as I read Your word this morning I think of the phrase “Be careful how you live; you will be the only Bible some people ever read.” It is supposedly a quote of a William J. Toms. Regardless of its origins, ultimately its truth is found in this passage of Scripture,
“Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.”
What do people see when the look at me? When I speak, when I act, when they come into contact with me, do they just see me? Or does Your love find “full expression” in me? I realize that I am still I am weak and far from perfect but nevertheless You are able to use me to touch the world. 2 Corinthians 4:7 comes to mind,
“We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.”
I, in my own strength and abilities, am powerless but with You filling me, Lord, I can live out Your love. May my life truly reflect Your presence within me. May I strive to be careful how I live; I will be the only Bible some people ever read. Amen.
May 12th, Fri, 5:26 am