The Devotional –Measureless and Strong

The Devotional –Measureless and Strong

Comment: Over the last twelve to fourteen days we have looked at God’s love, not only for His children, but also for the world in which He alone created. The events of creation are not “cataclysmic” as in a devastation by some violent act. Creation was and is an expression of God’s attribute of LOVE. The apostle John understood this love of God and he expressed this message in his gospel report and in his two epistles. All of us would do well to study his doctrinal teaching as he shares this thought. “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son, 2 John 1:9. 

Devotional: Someone could be saying. “So what is the doctrine?” “Now the ‘purpose’ of the commandment is LOVE from a pure heart, a good conscience and sincere faith; Paul’s first epistle to Timothy 1:5. There are many verses of scripture that call God’s children to this truth, we would all be wise to search them out. Here are just a few. Matthew 22:36-38; Mark 12:27-31; John 13:34; John 15:12; 1 John 3:23; 1 John 4:21 and 2 John 1:5-6.

John 14:1-4 – The disciples of Jesus Christ have followed Him for the last 3 plus years. He has taught them much about the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom is a kingdom of love, joy and peace. They, including Jesus have developed close relationships. Matthew a tax collector, and the others; fishermen. Bonds of friendship are not easily broken. Yet, in a week their fellowship with the LORD will physically be shattered.

Jesus warns “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” 

Thomas, one of the eleven (Judas had departed) makes an all too familiar comment. “LORD we do not know where You are going and how can we know the way? Jesus answers, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, No one comes to the Father except through Me.” For “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” See the context of John 3:11-21 and John 14:1-6.

The love of God is pure, measureless and strong, yet there are people who by the choice in their own heart refuse to accept God at His Word. The result of this choice is the second death – John 3:36.

The Devotional - Propitation

The Devotional –

Comment: Well, I’ve never done that before!!! The Devotional went out on the blog, but when I sent it by email, I sent a blank page. Certainly I do apologize for that, but “old people” do strange things that make younger people “fear” growing old. Most waited patiently, but my wife quickly let me know what happened, so did a brother in Christ as well. Thanks to you both for your help. Laughter is the best medicine for the body, but always; it will be the Living Word of our Holy God that will provide His Statutes for our soul to rejoice and stay spiritually healthy. As King David says by the Holy Spirit… “The statutes of the LORD are RIGHT, rejoicing the heart/soul. Psalm 19:10”.

Devotional: John 13 – What might drive a man to a voluntary death? Have you thought much about this? The apostle Paul answers the question in Romans 5:6 with these inspired words. “For while we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly” If you are saved than you know that you now have “strength” to live, strength not of your own, but strength given to you. Why? Notice Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own LOVE toward us, in that while we were still sinners (without strength), Christ died for us.

The apostle John in his first epistle writes in chapter 4:10 – In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Propitiate is a big word even for the apostle John who writes plainly for our understanding. The best way for me to understand the word is by example. If someone is in danger of death, and you stand in that persons place, you become the propitiation for that person to live while you die.

The apostle Paul in Romans 5:7 says “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.” This action can be a force of love, as it is a reaction of the soul. It is often found on the battlefields and in the face of terrorism. God will reward those who do this because of the love of God in them.

Many sermons and rituals find a resting place in John 13 and much wisdom has been extracted from the chapter bringing people to Christ. Yes Jesus is the Servant who cleanses away sin and death, He is our “propitiation”. Also in this chapter Jesus identifies His betrayer, verse 26 and 27. However the section I wish to highlight this morning is verse 31 through 35. What good would it be to wash the feet of people, or reveal a betrayer and a denier if the two were not treated equally as all the rest with LOVE?

To receive Jesus is to receive God, Jesus is God, but those who betray Him take from Him, His love rejected; for material gain, such as Judas. His love accepted is; for Spiritual gain, such as Peter. Notice: When he had gone (Judas), Jesus said, (please read) John 13:31-35. Greater love has no man than this, that He should lay down His life for His friends, see John 15:13 and John 13:36-38. Both disciples reveal the Love of God in real life. Even today there are the rejecters and the accepters, which one are you?

The Devotional –The entry

The Devotional –The entry

Comment: The perfect storm, the snowball rolling down hill, the out of control locomotive and the bullet you do not hear coming. All of these dangers are NOTHING compared to the pending JUDGMENT on our nation as we march blindly into IDOLATRY and IMMORALITY. Ignoring this is not BLISS, we are distracted though. We are distracted by corrupt politics and liberal laws that by evil ingenuity circumvent the Holiness and Righteousness of living in TRUTH, the Truth provided by our Creator GOD. Nationally we are laughing and cursing at God as we watch officials within local communities’ fine and penalize their constituents who seek to live by FAITH in God’s Holy and Righteous Precepts. God calls His children to face this problem, to heed His promise or suffer the consequence, one such warning and promise is found the Book of Proverbs. Proverbs 1:20-33.

Devotional: John 12 – Is a turning point in the Life and Ministry of our LORD, He is now focusing on His death, within the week ahead He will prepare His disciples for His departure, yet they will not understand. He will explain many spiritual truths to them but and because they do not have the Spirit of God in them at this point they will not fully understand the WAY and the TRUTH.

The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, John 12:12-19 marks one full week before the LORD Jesus is crucified for the SIN of the world. We are all sinners, even from birth; even as David, king of Israel said when he was confessing his sin to God. Psalm 51:5 – “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me”. The sin of man is passed from generation to generation through the loins of the father, so all are sinners in the eyes of the LORD.

For us to think about this is not at all confusing is it? “If we say we have not sinned we make Him a liar and His Word is not in us”. Those words are found in the First epistle of John and are simple and readily understood, but not readily believed. To believe God we must believe that He is God and that by believing we may have LIFE in His Name. Not the life that Jesus gave up for our sins, but the eternal LIFE He alone can provides through His death and resurrection. NOTICE!

Creator GOD is glorified by those who come to FAITH in Jesus Christ, notice John 12:27-32, “and I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” Praise the LORD, yes the LORD was lifted up and YOU and I know this. 

Knowing and believing are separated by FAITH, if you fail to have a personal faith in God’s Son than you fail the test of God’s report and promise. John 12:37-41. In the Light of God’s Word, we live in TRUTH, and in the darkness of this world we die in the LIE, for in this lie we love the praises of men more than the praise of God.