1 John 2 - 10.9.25

SCRIPTURE: 1 John 2: 1-2; 9-11

S - 2 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. 10 Anyone who loves their brother and sister[c] lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. 11 But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.

O – First John was written to dispel doubts of who God is and to build assurance by presenting a clear picture of Christ. We know we have sinned, but Jesus has already suffered our penalty in our place. You can’t be tried for a case that is no longer on the docket.  Entering history, Jesus was and is God in the flesh and God in focus – seen, heard, and touched by the author of this letter, John the apostle. He was a first-hand witness as he walked, talked, and lived with Jesus. John wrote this letter to no particular church. It was a pastoral letter to several Gentile congregations explaining in simple and practical terms what it means to have fellowship with God. He is urging us to obey Christ fully and to love all the members of God’s family. He presents God as love – giving, dying, forgiving and blessing. God IS love and this truth should motivate us to live close to him. And we can be sure of our relationship with Him when our lives are filled with good deeds and love for others.

A – We are blinded when we look at others and think to ourselves, “Hey, I’m not as bad as all that. Sure, I sin, but they are just little sins. Look at what he/she is doing!”  I am guilty lately of seeing some things on social media that make me cringe…that make me question certain people’s love and commitment to Jesus. Or as Moses said in his comments yesterday, the things I see can also anger me to such a place of disgust and that is NOT love! It actually is just straight out sin. So yay, look at me LOL  God never told us to just love the loveable, to just pray for our fellow brothers and sisters, but to love the whole WORLD and to pray for our enemies. Our enemies are anyone who would lie and say that God doesn’t exist. Love is about self-sacrifice, selfless giving and loving even the difficult ones, perhaps especially them. We need to reach beyond friends to enemies and persecutors. Love should be the unifying force and the identifying mark of the Christian community. Boy does the world need to see us leave our mark right now more than ever! Love is the key to walking in the light, because we cannot grow spiritually while we hate others. Our growing relationship with God will result in growing relationships with each other and with the outside world who is watching us with eagle eyes during these dark times. And the truth is we ALL deserve the punishment of the cross. We need to picture ourselves up on that cross because that is where we should be, and then fall on our knees in gratitude to the one who freed us from such a horrible suffering.

P – Lord Jesus, forgive me for ever looking at someone else’s life choices and having judgmental thoughts and even disgust in my heart. That is not of you, that is not the person you have called me, or any of us to be to be as your children. Help me to be so filled with love for those who don’t know you, those who rebel against you, and those who flat out deny you. Help my life be a SHINING example of the love you have given me by living a holy life that shows my love, devotion and awe over what you have done for ME.

- Crystal Flory

1 John 1 - 10.8.25

Scripture: I John 1:8-9

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Observation

In this world, we are surrounded by sin - there are sinners everywhere. Including right here! We must be careful to not get caught up in noticing the sin in others and forget to examine ourselves. We must be careful to not deceive ourselves into thinking we are better or more worthy than others based on their sin. For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 

Application

If we are not careful, it is easy to judge others based on their lifestyle and choices. Instead of concerning myself with how others live, my new challenge to myself is to try to view everyone that I encounter as someone that Jesus loves and gave his life for. If Jesus loves them, then so should I. 

Romans 3:10 says, there is no one righteous, not even one. But the blood of Jesus purifies us from our sin. And that promise is available to all who believe. 

Prayer

God, thank you for reminding me of your great love. Your heart breaks for those that are lost because of your great love for them. You were willing to send your son as a sacrifice for me and for all those that have yet to come into relationship with you. Thank you for your promise of forgiveness. Fill me with eyes to see others as you see them and fill me with your love. 

- Debbie Dunn

2 Peter 3 - 10.7.25

SCRIPTURE:  2 PETER 3:8 – 11

“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.  The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives.”

OBSERVATION

In this chapter, Peter discusses the last days when Jesus will come again. He reminds everyone that the scoffers will try to dissuade everyone that Jesus isn’t coming back but to not forget “this one thing”  that the element of time is completely different for the Lord. Imagine a place where time is not calculated by the sunrise or sunset, not by seasons, months of the year or anything else except God’s existence. What a glorious thought! God’s time is not our own and we can rest in His perfect plan.

He’s not being slow in His return but is showing His great love, patience, and desire that all come to repentance. This also comes with a warning the Lord will come when you least expect it so be prepared. How should we be prepared? Verse 11 says it all – live holy and godly lives.

APPLICATION

Besides the scoffers that still exist today, there are those who go around saying His return will be on a certain date or even tomorrow. You can Google “end of world predictions” and find documentation on all the failed dates throughout history. There are still predictions coming up later this year. One recent prediction the world would end and the rapture would take place on September 23 or 24. Well, that’s another false prediction that didn’t happen!

Thankfully we have the Bible that tells us the truth about Jesus’ return. In Matthew 24, Jesus explains it all saying to not believe the false messiahs, false prophets or those who say the Lord has returned. In Matthew 24:35 – 36, Jesus tells us the bottom line about His return:

 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

Thank God we don’t need to be concerned with all those crazy predictions about the end of the world or when Jesus will return. All we need to do is be prepared by first making sure our life is right with God. Have you confessed you’re a sinner, asked Jesus to forgive you and come into your life? That’s great if you’ve taken that first step. If you haven’t yet asked Jesus into your life, there’s no better time than the present.

Next, are you living a holy and godly life that shows you’ve repented (turned from your old ways) and now spend time in the Word, in prayer, serving God, and reflecting Jesus’ love and life in all that you do? If you haven’t yet taken the next step of repentance and living a life that glorifies God, you can do that today too!

PRAYER

Lord, thank you for the gift of salvation through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for my sins (and everyone else who receives your gift). The only life I want to live is for you! Help me to always show Jesus in my life to everyone. I’m so thankful that your Word tells us all we need to know about Jesus’ return. Praise God we don’t need to worry about the day or time of His return – we just need to be ready! My heart is full with anticipation of your return. All I can say is “Come Lord Jesus!”  Amen

 - Mary Oberg