"Everyone
who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves
the father loves his child as well."
I John 5:1
I
love my children! They are my life. If you want me to like you, then love my
children. If you want to make an enemy
of me, mistreat one of them. Do you feel
the same way? We parents have that
protective instinct that causes us to guard our children against all threats,
whether real or perceived.
In
today's verse is a similar comparison.
If you love God, you must love
his child. That may seem like a minor
point. But in truth, it is the most
important point of all. Jesus is the way
that the Father has provided for salvation. Many religions believe in God, but
they vary on the way to be in right relationship with God. This verse is one of the ones that makes it
clear that the two are a package-deal.
You cannot separate the Father from the Son. Neither can you separate the Holy Spirit from
the other two. They are all One. The Trinity of the Godhead is a mystery that
we accept by faith.
If we
believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One, then we are
born of God. If we minimize his
importance to that of only a great teacher or prophet, we miss the mark. It was the Father's good will that Jesus be
his Sent One, the One who would purchase salvation and bring reconciliation
through his sacrificial death on the cross.
As
Christians, these are important truths we can never waver on. Further, these truths must be proclaimed,
that we may win others to Christ. It is
good to be tolerant and respectful of other people's opinions, but not to the point
that we submerge truth. Jesus is the
way. He is the mediator. He is God and he was man. He and the Father are one, and in him we have
redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Today,
take time to marvel on the beauty of the Godhead, the absolute unity in
purpose, character and action. Reflect
and rejoice!
Thank you Father, for the gift of your
precious Son. Thank you for loving me
that much. Let me life be a daily
affirmation of my love for you. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Sherri
"Dear
friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they
are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This
is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that
Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. But every spirit that does not
acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of antichrist, which you
have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You,
dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in
you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak
from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God
listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth
and the spirit of falsehood. Dear
friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and
knows God. Whoever does not love
does not know God, because God is love.
This is how God showed his love: He sent his one and only Son into the
world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one
has ever seen God; but if we love one
another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. We know that we live in him and he in us, because
he has given us of his Spirit. And we
have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the
world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him
and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in
God, and God in him. In this way, love
is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of
judgment, because in the world we are like him.
There is no fear in love. But perfect
loves drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in
love.
We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is
a liar. For anyone who does not love his
brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this
command: Whoever loves God must also
love his brother.." I John 4:1-21
Today's
passage has a relational/directional aspect to it. If we say we love God (vertical), then we
must love out brother (horizontal). If
we hate our brother (horizontal) it precludes our ability to love God
(vertical). It would almost stand to
reason that the two relationships discussed are going in different directions,
and therefore, do not impede each other.
But, when combined, they make the shape of a cross. When Jesus died upon
the cross, he was make the sacrifice upward to God for our atonement, and he
sent the benefits of that sacrifice outward to us.
If we
want to be right with God, we must be right with man- at least as far as loving
them goes. We do not have to like everything they do; nor do we have to condone things that we feel
are wrong. We do not have to allow
people to abuse or mistreat us, but we must love.
So
how does that look in application? It
means we can choose to have a different opinion, but not reject the
person. It means we can erect boundaries
in relationships, but not harbor ill will in our hearts toward them. To love, we must esteem them as a child of
God. We have to want the best for them
and be able to pray for them. Loving
them may mean we pray that God convicts them of the abusive way they treat
people. Loving them may mean smiling in
their direction while continuing to do what you feel you must do.
Oftentimes,
we go in one extreme direction or the other.
We feel that in order to love people, we have to let them dump on us and
do whatever they want. Or we go in the
opposite ditch and say, they are hateful; therefore, I hate them. This comes down to something I once heard Joyce Meyer say, "We must
separate our who for our do."
This
means that we need to love the person no matter what. But their actions? We do not have to accept that. We do not have to like it or pretend that we
do. When someone sins against you, it is
godly to explain to them how it makes
you feel. We just have to be careful
that we do not attack their self-worth.
Love
is a complicated matter. It is an
exercise we will practice every day in this life until we are finally and fully
rejoined to our ultimate Love Source.
Can you come up higher today in
loving people?
Dear Lord, expose my heart to me. Show me the people in my life that I am
falling short in loving, and help me to love them in the right way. In
Jesus' Name. Amen.
Sherri
"Dear
friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they
are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This
is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that
Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. But every spirit that does not
acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of antichrist, which you
have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You,
dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in
you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak
from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God
listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth
and the spirit of falsehood. Dear
friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and
knows God. Whoever does not love
does not know God, because God is love.
This is how God showed his love: He sent his one and only Son into the
world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one
has ever seen God; but if we love one
another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. We know that we live in him and he in us, because
he has given us of his Spirit. And we
have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the
world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him
and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in
God, and God in him. In this way, love
is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of
judgment, because in the world we are like him.
There is no fear in love. But perfect
loves drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in
love.
We love because he first loved us." I John 4:1-19
Have
you ever been attracted to someone who did not know that you were alive? Do you remember watching him/her, looking for
ways to get their notice? When we are
infatuated with someone, we look for ways to be near them. We get interested in what they are interested
in. We try to go to places we think we might run into them. We improve our appearance, get a new haircut
or a new outfit, all in the name of love.
It is so rewarding when we realize that they return our feelings. And so disheartening when we find out that
they don't.
I
wonder how long the Lord had his eye on you before you returned His affection?
Perhaps you are still flirting with Him, but not sure you want to make a commitment. No matter when you realized that you loved
the Lord, He loved you first. He has had
a loving eye on you since you were a tiny speck in your mother's womb. He has
watched every triumph and every failure.
He has cheered you to success and cried over your failures. Even if you did not realize that He was
there. When we decide to love Him, it is
only because He has wooed us, that we noticed
Him. It is because He pursues us
and watches for opportunities to make His presence known, that we know He is
there. We love Him, because He first
loved us. The invention of love what His
idea, coming from His character to you.
And me.
In my
early work years, I worked for Children & Families. I noticed the saddest thing. Some of the foster children were placed in
loving homes, with doting parents who dearly wanted them. They were showered with gifts, affection and
expensive clothing. Yet some of them still
pined after their "good for nothing" parents. The ones who sexually abused them, exploited
them and raped them. They longed to be
reunited with the ones who drank up the grocery money and forgot to feed
them. What a slap in the face of those
who were trying so much to make a home for them! How about you? Are you denying the Lord in favor of a cheap
substitute? Are you chasing an abuser
rather than receiving the love of One
who has loved you from the start?
Thank you, Lord, for loving me
first. Thank you for loving me despite
my filth and sin. Help me to return Your
love in a way that brings joy to Your heart.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Sherri
"Dear
friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they
are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This
is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that
Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. But every spirit that does not
acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of antichrist, which you
have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You,
dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in
you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak
from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God
listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth
and the spirit of falsehood. Dear
friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and
knows God. Whoever does not love
does not know God, because God is love.
This is how God showed his love: He sent his one and only Son into the
world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one
has ever seen God; but if we love one
another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. We know that we live in him and he in us, because
he has given us of his Spirit. And we
have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the
world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him
and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in
God, and God in him. In this way, love
is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of
judgment, because in the world we are like him.
There is no fear in love. But perfect loves drives out fear, because
fear has to do with punishment. The one
who fears is not made perfect in love." I John 4:1-18
This
is one of those passages of Scripture that I have studied, camped on and
claimed. I have had some things in my
life occur that caused me to feel fearful for extended periods of time. Because of that, I basically developed a
"fear habit." Do you know what
I mean? The more we are controlled by fear, the more we are controlled by
fear. Once we start the vicious cycle,
it can quickly become engrained in our minds.
So much so that fear becomes our "home page" and we automatically
respond to situations with fear.
But
this passage says that there is no fear in love. What does that even mean? For me, it means that fear happens when I
feel uncertain about the outcome of a certain situation. When that happens, I am basically saying that
I am afraid God will not protect me and provide for me. In other words, in that situation, I am not
receiving the love the God has for me.
But when I truly recall how deep, resolute and unchanging his love for
me is, I gain confidence in my safety in Christ. Knowledge of his love for me dispels that
fear. Sometimes I have to meditate on
what his love means to me. I do not just
mean sentimentally, but in actual practice.
Because God loves me, he works all things for my good. Because he loves me, he hurts when I
hurt. Because he loves me, he will not
let my needs go unmet. Because he loves
me, he cleans up my messes. Because he
loves me, he forgives me. Because he
loves me, he makes my enemies to live at peace with me. Because he loves me, he is my
vindicator. Because he loves me, he is
my shield and defense.
As
you are probably aware, most of all the declaration I just made are paraphrases
of what the Bible tells me the Father will do on my behalf. Talk to yourself. Do as David did- encourage yourself in the
Lord!
"Fear
has to do with punishment."
Another version says "fear has to do with torment." Fear is indeed linked to both punishment and
torment! Fear makes me think something
awful is going to happen to me because I
deserve it. Fear is also very
tormenting. Oftentimes our fear of what
may happen is worse than when the event actually occurs.
Are
you being tormented by fear? Do you have phobias that control you? That is not
God's will for your life. That is a
wrong mindset and does not originate with God.
Begin to meditate on this verse and ask God to allow his perfect love to
drive out your fear today.
Dear Lord, I do not want to fear. Please break any chains of fear that are
attached to me. Help me to fully
understand and accept your love. Thank
you for being my deliverer. In Jesus'
Name.. Amen.
Sherri
"Dear
friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they
are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This
is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that
Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. But every spirit that does not
acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of antichrist, which you
have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You,
dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in
you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak
from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God
listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth
and the spirit of falsehood. Dear
friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and
knows God. Whoever does not love
does not know God, because God is love.
This is how God showed his love: He sent his one and only Son into the
world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one
has ever seen God; but if we love one
another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. We know that we live in him and he in us, because
he has given us of his Spirit. And we
have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the
world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him
and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in
God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us
so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in the world we
are like him." I John 4:1-17
Standing
before the Lord in judgment is such a terrifying thought that I imagine it
would make an incredible Sci-Fi film. Or
a suspense thriller. But I doubt anyone
could fully capture the absolute terror of the unsaved on the day that they
stand before the Great White Throne of Judgment. On that
day, no one will be deluded into thinking he is not the One True Way. No one will doubt his utter holiness and
righteousness. Everyone will confess him
as Lord. But not everyone will be
adjudicated "not guilty."
I am
so grateful for the love of God that covers us and washes away all guilt. As Christians, we are so blessed to know that
we will not have to fear the judgment, but rather, have an eager expectation of
reward. Imagine the contrast between the
Great White Throne Judgment and the Judgment Seat of Christ! Thank
God we can look forward to that day with confidence, rather than fear.
Pause
and reflect on the part of today's passage that says, " ...because in the world we are like
him." This is true in many ways. We are like him, because we are his
representatives in this world. We are like him, in that we were created in his
image and for his glory. We are like him
because we are not of this world- our home is in heaven with Christ. We are like him in that we carry out his
mission, declare his message, and perform his signs and wonders. (Or at least we should!)
In
the world we are like him. That is a
powerful mandate as well. In the world,
we are not like the world. We do not
think as they think, dress as they dress, desire what they desire or pursue the
things that they pursue. Jesus and the
world are polar opposites. Because of
that, what treatment should we expect?
Being misunderstood? Hated?
Persecuted? "Because in the world
we are like him," is true in more ways than we can imagine.
Further,
we are to choose to be like him. We
mimic those we respect. We emulate those
we admire. Love is made complete among
us, giving us confidence on the day of judgment because of our likeness to
Christ. Do you look just like your
Father? If not, what can you do to
change that?
Father, help me to conform to your
likeness and that of your own, dear son.
Help me to live as he did and to draw others to you. Thank you for granting me confidence before
you on the day of judgment. In Jesus'
Name.. Amen.
Sherri
"Dear
friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they
are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This
is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that
Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. But every spirit that does not
acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of antichrist, which you
have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You,
dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in
you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak
from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God
listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth
and the spirit of falsehood. Dear
friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows
God. Whoever does not love does
not know God, because God is love. This
is how God showed his love: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we
might live through him. This is love:
not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an
atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear
friends, since God so loved us, we also
ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his
love is made complete in us. We know
that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father
has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that
Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And
so we know and rely on the love God has
for us. God is love. Whoever lives in
love lives in God, and God in him." I John 4:1-16
What
a mouthful today's verse is! I could
camp out on this verse for days, gleaning so many nuggets of truth to
contemplate. I particularly like the
part about "relying on the love God has for us." Reliability is difficult to find these days. People can- and ultimately do- let us down. But we can count on the love God has for us.
His love is vast, limitless and without end.
It is unconditional, pure and all-encompassing. Praise God for the love he has for us!
Not
only does God have love for us, he is love.
I have found myself meditating on that quite a bit these days. Love motivates us to care for people and meet
their needs. Love compels us to act in
the other person's best interest.
Because he is love and because he has
repeatedly emphasized in his Word the love that he has for us, it must
be a pretty important concept to grasp.
When I truly connect with the reality that he loves me so fully, it increases
my faith. I can then believe that he
will take care of me, walk beside me, works things out for my best and anything
else I can think of. Because love
defines him, his ways are always
beneficial, pure and good. Thank you
Lord, for such lavish love!
Because
Christians come to live within the body of Christ, we will have to constantly
be in love. We cannot be in him and not be in love! How does a person in love act? They are full of affection, good thoughts,
desires to know more about the other person, desiring to be with them all the
time. Challenge yourself to love God in
that way. Don't let the luster of new
love wear off of your relationship with him!
Dear Lord, thank you that I can rely
on you. Thank you for showing me what
love looks like and sharing love with me.
Help me to return your love with the same passion that you show. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Sherri
"Dear
friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they
are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This
is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that
Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. But every spirit that does not
acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of antichrist, which you
have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You,
dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in
you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak
from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God
listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth
and the spirit of falsehood. Dear
friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows
God. Whoever does not love does
not know God, because God is love. This
is how God showed his love: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we
might live through him. This is love:
not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an
atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear
friends, since God so loved us, we also
ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his
love is made complete in us. We know
that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father
has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and
he in God." I John 4:1-15
We
all like to be acknowledged. Have you
ever been in the position that someone who knew you pretended that they did not
know you? It is very painful to be
overlooked by someone. At one point in my life, I had someone who was very
close to me, look right through me. And
then they left the place pretending that they had never seen me there. It was crazy!
That was the most hurt and rejected I have probably every felt in my
life. To be publicly ignored by one of the
most important people in my life was devastating.
I wonder if the Lord sometime feels that way
about us. There are times that we are
not as quick to acknowledge him as we are at other times. There have been situations in my younger
years, when I wanted to blend in with my friends and so I would leave the Lord
unacknowledged. Perhaps I would choose
not to pray over my meal because no one else prayed. Other times I have heard people making fun of
Christians, but I have not always interrupted them and acknowledged that I
belonged to him. I wish I had those moments
back! I love the Lord so much. The idea of
me ever failing to give him the place in my life that he deserves, hurts me to even think about.
We have to acknowledge the Lord if we are truly
born again. We have to know him, who he
is, what his character and heart are all about.
We have to know him as Savior,
Lord, the Son of God and the Son of Man.
We have to know him as the Lamb of God and the Lion of Judah. And after knowing him, we must choose to
align ourselves with him.
We
cannot deny the one who saved us! If he
is living on the inside of you, you have to give him the place and honor that
he deserves. This acknowledgement is
proof that your relationship with God is right.
As a
girl who was infatuated, it was very exciting when this very cute guy (now my
husband) noticed me. It was even more thrilling when he asked me out on a
date. But, when the day came that he
asked me to be his girlfriend, and later his wife, I felt so ecstatic! Being acknowledged as someone he loved and
wanted to spend his life with, was very affirming to me.
Jesus
is the Lover of my Soul. It is my duty, my joy and delight, to acknowledge him
before men! He is he Son of God, to fail to acknowledge that, is to fail to know him at all!
Dear Lord, help me to acknowledge you in all that I say and do. Help my life honor you and my love for you. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Sherri
"Dear
friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they
are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This
is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that
Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. But every spirit that does not
acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of antichrist, which you
have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You,
dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in
you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak
from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God
listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth
and the spirit of falsehood. Dear
friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and
knows God. Whoever does not love
does not know God, because God is love.
This is how God showed his love: He sent his one and only Son into the
world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and
sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one
has ever seen God; but if we love one
another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. We know that we live in him and he in us,
because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the
Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world." I John 4:1-14
Oh
what a testimony the disciples had! Just
imagine walking daily with Jesus, hearing his teaching, his opinions, his
heart... Imagine watching his
interactions with the hurting. The joy
of being in the "in" crowd with the most influential man of your time
(and for all time to come!) What John, and
his contemporaries, did was just testify to what they had seen. And of course,
to their knowledge that Jesus is the Savior of the world.
What
stories the disciples could tell. Such
influence they must have experienced! Such
curiosity from all they encountered!
Surely it was easy to win converts with that kind of testimony. But what about me? What kind of testimony do I have? How can I win someone for Jesus?
I
think we get too hung up on making witnessing about having the right technique,
or the most dramatic testimony. We are
basically given the same call as the early disciples. Go and tell what you have seen and
heard. If you are a believer, you have a
story to tell. Maybe you were not
delivered from crack cocaine. Maybe you
were not delivered of 7 demons. You
still have a testimony that will reach people who are just like you! Firsthand accounts are so much more
interesting and thrilling than second hand information.
It is
good for us to know key scripture passages to share with people about how to
know Jesus as their personal Savior and Lord.
These are things we should strive for.
But certainly, we must always remember the simplicity of the gospel.
The Lord made the good news easy enough for a child to understand. We do not have to be theologians- we just
need to be real people, with real problems, who found The Real Solution!
Dear Lord, help me to be a faithful
witness, to be willing to go and tell what I have seen and heard. Make it obvious to me when you are opening a
door of opportunity and grant me boldness to obey. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Sherri
What's
Your Story?
"Dear
friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they
are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This
is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that
Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. But every spirit that does not
acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of antichrist, which you
have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You,
dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in
you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak
from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God
listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth
and the spirit of falsehood. Dear
friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and
knows God. Whoever does not love
does not know God, because God is love.
This is how God showed his love: He sent his one and only Son into the
world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and
sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one
has ever seen God; but if we love one
another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. We know that we live in him and he in us,
because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the
Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world." I John 4:1-14
Oh
what a testimony the disciples had! Just
imagine walking daily with Jesus, hearing his teaching, his opinions, his
heart... Imagine watching his
interactions with the hurting. The joy
of being in the "in" crowd with the most influential man of your time
(and for all time to come!) What John, and
his contemporaries, did was just testify to what they had seen. And of course,
to their knowledge that Jesus is the Savior of the world.
What
stories the disciples could tell. Such
influence they must have experienced! Such
curiosity from all they encountered!
Surely it was easy to win converts with that kind of testimony. But what about me? What kind of testimony do I have? How can I win someone for Jesus?
I
think we get too hung up on making witnessing about having the right technique,
or the most dramatic testimony. We are
basically given the same call as the early disciples. Go and tell what you have seen and
heard. If you are a believer, you have a
story to tell. Maybe you were not
delivered from crack cocaine. Maybe you
were not delivered of 7 demons. You
still have a testimony that will reach people who are just like you! Firsthand accounts are so much more
interesting and thrilling than second hand information.
It is
good for us to know key scripture passages to share with people about how to
know Jesus as their personal Savior and Lord.
These are things we should strive for.
But certainly, we must always remember the simplicity of the gospel.
The Lord made the good news easy enough for a child to understand. We do not have to be theologians- we just
need to be real people, with real problems, who found The Real Solution!
Dear Lord, help me to be a faithful
witness, to be willing to go and tell what I have seen and heard. Make it obvious to me when you are opening a
door of opportunity and grant me boldness to obey. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Sherri
"Dear
friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they
are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This
is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that
Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. But every spirit that does not
acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of antichrist, which you
have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You,
dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in
you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak
from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God
listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth
and the spirit of falsehood. Dear
friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and
knows God. Whoever does not love
does not know God, because God is love.
This is how God showed his love: He sent his one and only Son into the
world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and
sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one
has ever seen God; but if we love one
another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. We
know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit."
I John 4:1-13
The
Holy Spirit is given to us as a "seal". His presence is proof that we have received salvation from Christ. Just as when
you go in an amusement park, or concert,
a stamp proves you have paid and have a right to be there; the presence
of the Holy Spirit is proof we are born again.
I am
so grateful that we do not have to walk alone.
Jesus comes to live in our heart.
He sends us the Holy Spirit to be a constant companion, teacher and
comforter. What a power package
salvation is! We are in the body of
Christ, he is in our heart. All of those
wonderful prepositions show us our position in Christ. So much of it is a marvelous mystery that I
am convinced we will only fully understand when we reach heaven.
There
are many times in life that I am tempted to doubt my salvation. I fail, sin, or fall short and the enemy of
my soul begins to whisper that I am not really saved; that I am not really
right in God's eyes. It is at those moments that I am so grateful
for the ministry of the Holy Spirit, who confirms to my Spirit that I am indeed
in Christ and he is waiting to forgive and restore me fully. His
Spirit reminds me of passages that tell me that I am the "righteousness
of God in Christ Jesus." The Holy
Spirit is a powerful teacher and counselor, always directing me in the way that
I should go.
Do
you struggle with condemnation, feeling constantly unworthy and unsaved? Begin to heed the voice of the Holy
Spirit. If you have strayed, he will
convict you and guide you back to the path of righteousness. If you are in
right standing with God, he will grant you confidence of your position. The Holy Spirit is your ally. He is your resource. He is your helper. He is Almighty God! Take time today to appreciate the presence
of the Holy Spirit in your life.
Dear Lord, thank you for the gift of
your Holy Spirit. Thank you for all of
the messes you spare me from and for all of the direction you provide to
me. Help me to live open to your voice. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Sherri
"Everyone
who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves
the father loves his child as well."
I John 5:1
