God's Greater Witness 1 John 5:9 - Equipped for Battle

The story is told of five blind men who were placed around an elephant. Their task was to describe the elephant as best they could. The first man was at the elephant's side, and he said, “The elephant is like a great wall.” The second man was placed at one of it's legs, and he said, “No, the elephant is like a great tree.” The third man was placed at the front side portion of the elephant's head near it's ear, and he said, “No, the elephant is like a huge leaf.” The fourth man was placed at the very front of the elephant near the elephant's trunk, and he said, “No, the elephant is like a huge hose.” Finally the fifth man was placed at the back of the elephant near it's tail, he said, “No, you are all wrong, the elephant is like a long rope.” Isn't it amazing how all of them had a different description of the elephant. Each of them had some of the truth, however, not one of them had all the truth. Sometimes it is like that for us. We all have some sort of witness about Jesus Christ. Some of those witnesses are good, and some are not so good, but there is one who has a witness of Jesus that is without dispute, and John the apostle shares who that person is in today's verse found in the book of First John in chapter five and verse nine. He wrote:

If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

God has complete knowledge of Jesus. Let this be without dispute. God knows more than any other witness about Jesus, and He bore witness of Jesus being His son on more than one occasion. We find an example of when God made a declaration about Jesus in the book of Matthew in chapter three verses sixteen and seventeen:

And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

We have another example of God bearing witness of His son on what is called the Mount of Transfiguration found in the book of Mark in chapter nine and verses two through seven:

And after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them up into an high mountain apart, And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. For he did not know what to say; for they were sore afraid. And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

People say things about Jesus all the time, but there is no greater witness than God Himself. God, because He can swear by no other, testifies that He has come in the flesh to bring about the redemption of man so that He can have fellowship with him. The question is whether we believe the witness of God or not. Our belief or unbelief will not change the truth of God's witness, but it will determine our outcome when God proves His testimony is so. The scriptures say, “Today is the day of salvation,” and all who read God's witness should take advantage of God's extension of salvation while it is still available.

Next time we take a look at what happens to the person who believes in God's Son, and what happens the person who doesn't believe in God's Son, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore

Spirit, Water and Blood in Agreement 1 John 5:8 - Equipped for Battle

Lately John the apostle has been sharing with us about the fact that Jesus came to the Earth and dwelt as a man. There were some factions in John's day that believed that Jesus was only a spirit, a phantom of sorts, and they often said things like, “when Jesus walked on the seashore, he didn't leave footprints.” Their idea was that nothing material could be pure and holy, therefore Jesus could not have had a material body. These to whom John is referring were known as the “Gnostics”, which in its base form means “know”. In other words, these people were “in the know”, and the implication was that everyone else was “out of the know”. Today's verse found in the book of First John in chapter five and verse eight is another attempt for John to show that Jesus did indeed come in the flesh. He wrote:

And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

John declares a threefold proof that Jesus came into the world. First, he uses “the Spirit”. This is the Spirit of God who bore testimony that Jesus was here. The Spirit descended upon Jesus when He was baptized, and He bears witness within our hearts when we receive Jesus as our Savior. Then John writes of the water and blood. John witnessed the crucifixion and saw as the Roman Centurion pushed a spear into Jesus' side to insure His death. John saw the blood and water flow from Jesus' side, and there was no phantom aspect to that at all.

There are those in the world who doubt Jesus' reality or may only give credit to Him being a “good man” or a “historical figure”, but this is not the reality or credit of God. God sent His Son Jesus to live as we do, in a human body, in a body that suffered, and can relate to any temptation we may incur. Paul the apostle wrote it this way in his book to the Philippians in chapter two and verses five through eleven:

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth; And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus came to identify with all of mankind. He desires to have fellowship with everyone who will simply believe in His sacrifice for their sins. Jesus is and will be exalted by each person as they bow their knees and confess with their tongues that Jesus Christ is Lord. If this is something you have not done, today is your day of salvation. Simply believe in your heart that Jesus died for your sins and was raised from the dead, confess with your mouth of the same, and the Bible says you can be saved. May all who read consider this great offering of the Living Savior Jesus Christ.

Next time we will look at the witness of men and the witness of God about Jesus Christ, so read ahead and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore

God in Three Persons 1 John 5:7 - Equipped for Battle

The witness of one person is considered valuable for testimony, however, when two or three people give their witness of an event or circumstance, the testimony is much stronger. The Bible makes reference to this in the book of Deuteronomy in chapter nineteen and verse fifteen where it says:

One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sins: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.

Today our teacher John the apostle makes reference to this idea when he writes about Jesus coming in the flesh. He wrote in the book of First John in chapter five and verse seven:

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

John declares that there are three that “bear record” or give their witness about Jesus: The Father, the Word – whom John declared was Jesus in the gospel of John in chapter one, and the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit. The Bible gives an account of all three being at the baptism of Jesus ( See Matthew 3; Mark 1; Luke 3; John 5) where Jesus was the one being baptized, the Holy Spirit descended like a dove, and the Father spoke from Heaven saying, “this is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”

Most of us have difficulty in trying to imagine with our finite minds how God could be three person's in one, and many people try to explain this concept, however, Paul the apostle probably put it best in his book named First Timothy in chapter three and verse sixteen. He wrote:

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

But rather than getting caught up in the discussion about the trinity of God, let us concentrate upon the idea in today's verse that John desires that we know. There are witnesses about Jesus coming in the flesh, and these three witnesses are the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. These three bear witness in Heaven and John declare they are unified - “are one.”

Jesus indeed did come in the flesh to dwell among people, so that we may have a relationship with the Heavenly Father. Once again John is emphasizing how much God desires to have fellowship with us. There are no greater witnesses to this fact than God Himself, and His witness is one without flaw, without disunity, and without respect or preference for any one person above another. God desires to have fellowship with everyone, everywhere, and He awaits our turning to Him by faith in the simple fact that He loves us dearly.

Next time we shall take a look at what John has to say about three witnesses that are on the Earth, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore

Jesus Christ by Water and Blood 1 John 5:6 - Equipped for Battle

In the days of the disciples, there was a group of people called the Gnostics who did not believe that anything material could be holy. Therefore, they surmised that Jesus did not come in a human body but rather was only a spirit. They would say when Jesus walked on the seashore He wouldn't leave any footprints because a spirit doesn't leave footprints. John the apostle refutes this line of thinking, and being one who actually was with Jesus, John should know. He shares with us in today's verse found in the book of First John in chapter five and verse six:

This is he that came by water and blood, [even] Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.

Jesus was born of a woman, Mary, and this is a reference to being born of water. But John goes on to say “by water and blood”. When Jesus died on the cross, a Centurion guard for the Roman army pierced His side with a spear. The Bible tells us that “out flowed blood and water” which doctors tell us is an indication that Jesus died from a ruptured heart. John could be referencing this in Jesus' death as he was at the foot of the cross, (See John 19:25-27) but the main emphasis from John is that Jesus lived in a body as we do, and this was even witnessed by the Spirit of God.

John tells us over and over again about the Spirit of God's witness of Jesus in his gospel named after him. He said in John chapter fourteen and verses sixteen and seventeen:

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; [Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knows him: but ye know him; for he dwells with you, and shall be in you.

And again in John chapter fifteen and verse twenty-six:

But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, [even] the Spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father, he shall testify of me:

And once again in John chapter sixteen and verse thirteen:

However when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Jesus did come in the flesh, and He knows what it is like to live like us. Not only did John the apostle testify of this fact, but the Spirit of God did as well. Because Jesus knows what it is like to live in bodies as we do, He can relate to us fully in whatever we encounter. Our part is to realize this about Him, and enjoin Him in fellowship as we share together every day.

Next time we will take a look at what John says the three witnesses in Heaven, so read ahead, and we shall share together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore

Who Overcomes the World? 1 John 5:5 - Equipped for Battle

Jesus asked an interesting question of His disciples when He was on Earth. He asked, “Whom do men say that I am?” The disciples' answer was “some say you are John the Baptist, others say Elijah or one of the prophets”. Then Jesus asked a very pointed question, “But whom do you say that I am?” Peter his disciple answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” This same question is relevant for us today. Whom do we say that Jesus is? John the apostle has been writing about who Jesus is and how this relates to having victory and being overcomers in the world. Most of us desire this way of living, and regardless of our circumstances we can live in this state, however, there is a key to this victorious living and John shares it with us in today's verse found in the book of First John in chapter five and verse five. He wrote:

Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

John gives his answer in the form of a question. The implication is that there is really no other way to be one that overcomes the world. The world has its troubles. The world has its trials, and as long as we live we will travel from one place of needed victory to the next. The world for us is temporary, and the difficulties that we endure here on Earth are only for a little while. However, there is a way to live among the trials that exemplify a life who trusts in God, believes in Jesus, and relies upon His power to live through whatever comes our way.

Paul the apostle also spoke about living victoriously In this life. He wrote in the book of Romans in chapter eight and verses thirty-seven through thirty-nine:

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

When we believe that Jesus is the Son of God, we tap into the love of God Almighty, and there is nothing that we face upon this Earth that shall separate us from His love. Nothing. In fact Paul says that “we are more than conquerors through him that loved us”. We not only obtain the victory, but we also are even greater than that. We are “more than conquerors”, beyond what conquerors obtain, and victorious beyond what we can even imagine.

Perhaps today some of the readers are living “defeated lives”. Perhaps there are a few who are so troubled that they wonder if anyone cares or if there really is a way to live as an overcomer. I believe John is writing to us who need encouragement that victory lies within the relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ, and once that fellowship is enjoyed, no matter what comes along, He will provide the strength to not only endure it, but to be victorious over it.

Next time we will take a look at what John says about the way Jesus came into the world and the Spirit that enjoined Him, so read ahead, and we shall share together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore

World Overcomers by Faith 1 John 5:4 - Equipped for Battle

Is there really a way to live in the adversities within the world whereby we can be overcomers? With all the tragedies, disruptions, destruction and demise, is there a way to live victoriously? What about all the economic concerns, health woes, and constant onslaught of disease that threatens, is there a way to live above all those? John the apostle says there is in our verse for today found in the book of First John in chapter five and verse four. He wrote:

For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, [even] our faith.

John has been sharing with us the importance of having a relationship with God. He has told us over and over again how much God loves us, and that those who love God in return are those who are “born of God” or born again. Now John points us to one of the benefits to being a child of the living God – we overcome the world. Oh, this isn't like a world dominating conquering as in taking over governments or powers, but rather it is living in a manner that no matter what the world places in our paths, we can be victorious over it. Pain, suffering, loss, trials, hurts, difficulties, disruptions, and even death, no matter what the obstacle may be, we who are born of God overcome it.

From where does that source of victory come? Where do we who are born of God find this sort of strength? What is the power from which we draw that helps us to overcome? Unlike many who turn to mind altering chemicals who “drown” themselves or “shelter” themselves from the realities, we who are born of God find our victory in our faith. This faith is not in ourselves, but rather in an Almighty God who is a loving, caring and helpful Heavenly Father who knows far more about events and situations which we endure. God is powerful, and nothing is impossible with Him. Nothing shall separate us from His great love. Paul the apostle said it this way in the book of Romans in chapter eight and verses thirty-one thru thirty-nine:

What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? [It is] God that justifies. Who [is] he that condemns? [It is] Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John as well as Paul say that we can overcome the world by our faith. We obtain this victory by fellowship with God through Jesus Christ His Son. Perhaps there are those who are reading this entry who do not know this ability to overcome? Perhaps there are some who would like to know how much God desires to give this gift to all who will receive it? Perhaps today is the day when some reader declares, “I'm tired of living defeated. I am tired of being conquered. I want to live a victorious, overcoming life. Today I receive Jesus, God's Son, into my life, and my victories are just ahead.”

Next time we will see specifically how this ability to overcome is derived directly from a relationship with Jesus Christ, so read ahead, and we shall share together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore

How Do We Know that We Love God? 1 John 5:3 - Equipped for Battle

Is there a way to know whether we love God or not? Is there some measure by which we must abide that will determine that we are indeed lovers of God? Is there some feat that we must accomplish that will give us the status or crown that we are God lovers? We have already learned that God loves us, but do we really love Him? Do we have Him as the priority in our lives, and do we now we live our lives governed under His mighty hand? Today John the apostle brings us all to the answers to these questions and more in the book of First John chapter five and verse three. He wrote:

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

John has been teaching us a lot about the love that God has toward us and the love we should have for one another. In this fifth chapter of First John he now directs his attention to the relationship between the law of God and the love of God. It appears that what we do reveals our true state. If we love God, we will keep His commandments. Jesus Himself said it this way in the book of the gospel of John in chapter fourteen and verse fifteen:

If ye love me, keep my commandments

There is indeed a direct connection between our love for God and keeping His commands. Love is exacting. It is demanding. Love doesn't say just do any old thing we desire. It has boundaries. It has rules. For example, which of these is love: Allowing a child to play anywhere he or she desires even if it is in a busy street or a bear cage full of bears, or saying “you cannot play in the street, and I will not allow you to go into that bear cage?” Oh the child may think the parent is mean because the parent will not allow total autonomy, however, the parent knows the potential dangers that are in those places. The parent has rules, limitations, boundaries because the parent loves the child, and the parent knows better.

Do we have such a loving relationship with God that we desire to keep his commandments? Can we with our finite minds understand that God has our best interest in mind when He limits us, directs us, shares rules or commandments with us? Perhaps if we come from this perspective we shall better understand the latter part of John's verse today, “and his commandments are not grievous.” When we truly realize how much our Heavenly Father loves us, keeping His commands will be an honor rather than a chore for which we never seem to fulfill. May God's Spirit lead us, guide us, and help us to keep His commands and be in love with Him.

Next time we will learn how we can be victorious in the world, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore

Loving the Children of God 1 John 5:2 - Equipped for Battle

How do we know if we really love others as Jesus said to love them? Is there some kind of measure that gives us indication? Is there a chart of approval that should we comply with certain standards it would make us know that we are indeed lovers of the children of God? If we have been reading and studying the book of First John for very long at all we know that we should love God and love others, but how do we know when we accomplish this? Today John makes it very clear in the fifth chapter of First John and verse two. He wrote:

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

Here is how we know that we love the children of God. First, “when we love God.” Do we love God? Really, do we love God? Is He foremost in our thoughts first thing in the morning? Do we think of Him during our days? Is He the last thought as we go to sleep at night? Do we live our lives according to the way He desires for us to live rather than our own? Are we God directed or self directed? More than likely each of us needs to examine ourselves in these areas to discover the truth, and indeed we would do well to do so.

Secondly, do we “keep his commandments”? When we ascribe to love God and others, the commandments of God are directly involved. Take for example, the ten commandments. The first four have to do with our relationship with God..

1. You shall have no other gods before me.
2. You shall not make unto yourselves any graven image.
3. You shall not take the Lord your God's name in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.

Following these commandments shows our love for our Heavenly Father. The next six commandments have to do with our relationships with others.

1. Honor your Father and Mother.
2. You shall not kill.
3. You shall not commit adultery.
4. You shall not steal.
5. You shall not bear false witness.
6. You shall not covet.

Keeping or breaking each of these commandments will show us whether we love others or not. For example, if we love our parents, we will give them honor. We would not dare dishonor them. If we love another person, we will not want to kill him or her, nor would we desire to commit adultery with him or her. If we love others, we will not steal from them or lie about them, and rather than be desirous of what they have, we will be happy for them. These six commandments become a measure for how we are doing in our love toward others.

Let's face it. Today John has challenged us all with this verse, and may we examine our lives to determine whether we truly love God and love others as He has commanded us to do.

Next time we will examine the complexity of God's law and whether it is difficult to keep or not, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore

How to be Born of God 1 John 5:1 - Equipped for Battle

Many people wonder what it means to be “born of God.” Sometimes there has no explanation given, and other times they have been misinformed. In today's verse found in the book of First John in chapter five and verse one, John the apostle helps us to understand who can be born of God and what this means. He wrote:

Whosoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loves him that begat loves him also that is begotten of him.

Let us first notice to whom this is available - “whosoever”. This word makes it abundantly clear that everyone, everywhere who will believe may be born of God. But John doesn't leave us with just the whosoever, he makes it more specific. John says “believes that Jesus is the Christ”. It is not as though we may believe anything that comes along. No, rather those who are born of God are specifically those who believe that Jesus is not only the Christ but their Christ as well.

This word Christ in the Greek language is “Christos” which means “messiah.” John says that for us to be born of God we must believe that Jesus is the messiah. Now I realize that many people do not believe that Jesus is the messiah, but nonetheless, John has written that He is. Just because someone doesn't believe something is true makes no bearing upon the reality of the truth. Jesus is the Messiah, the anointed one of God, and “whosoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.”

Next John continues his theme of love by saying “and every one that loves him that begat loves him also that is begotten of him.” John says that we who love God, “him that begat”, will also naturally love others who are the “begotten of him.” Once again remember that this is John the beloved disciple of Jesus. He is well into his years when he wrote this. He walked, talked, spake and ate with Jesus. He has not only known the Lord Jesus personally, but he also has been tortured, imprisoned and martyred for Jesus' name. He now as a blessed fatherly teacher is sharing some of the deepest insights into the relationship with God, and his emphasis continues to be “Love God and Love others.” Those who will believe that Jesus is the Christ are born of God. They love God, and from this they naturally love others.

The question for today is, “Do we believe that Jesus is the Christ, our Christ?” If so, we are born of God. We love God and others. If not, perhaps you are a candidate to do just so.

Next time we will take a look at evidence that we truly love others and don't just proclaim it. So read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore

A Love Commandment 1 John 4:21 - Equipped for Battle

We have been learning a lot in the book of First John from John the apostle about God's love for us and our love for others. God indeed loves people, and He has made every provision for us to have fellowship with Him. This love that God has shown is so vast and complete that rarely could any writer fabricate words that could describe it much less myself, but nonetheless we take pleasure in knowing that God love us. This love according to John should now pass through us and be relayed in and through our lives to others. Our love is being perfected by God when we receive Jesus as our Savior and Lord. Because Jesus is Lord, we are to obey Him, and John gives us in no uncertain terms today what Jesus shared as His commandment for us about love. John wrote in the book of First John chapter four and verse twenty-one:

And this commandment have we from him, That he who loves God love his brother also.

Notice with me first of all that John writes, “this commandment.” It is not a suggestion or a happenstance event, but rather it is a commandment from Jesus. If we love God, we are to love our brothers also. There is no exception given, nor is there any excuse provided. There is not a clause within this scripture that says, “if someone did you wrong, you are exempt.” It doesn't say, “if someone is from a different race, religion or creed this does not apply”. It doesn't say, “if the person cheers for an opposing team, you do not have to do this”. No rather it says, “he who loves God love his brother also.”

Now we certainly realize that people differ from one another. Some like one thing, and others enjoy the opposite. Some people have their preferences in sports, lack of sports, music, political parties, etc., but the overriding theme is that we are to love everyone, everywhere. Divisions that are caused by preferences often turn people against one another, and the things that we have in common with others make it much easier to love them. However, the commandment from Jesus is, “love one another”.

I suppose we would all do well to stop our busy lives for a while to consider our love life. Do we really love God? Do we reflect that love in our love for other people? How do we do when others wear the colors of another team or brandish the symbols of another party? May the Lord Jesus Himself help us by His Holy Spirit to recognize when we do not love others because of their uncommon attachments, and may the love of God be spread throughout the world by our personal examinations.

Next time we move on to the fifth and final chapter of the book of First John, and we will begin the discussion about Jesus being the begotten Son of God. So, read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore

Hate Somone? You Don't Love God 1 John 4:20

“I hate him.” “I hate her.” “I hate them, and I hate that group too.” Have we ever heard or maybe said these words? Is there an individual who has wronged us, or maybe a group of people who have maligned us, and now we “hate” them for it? Today's verse from John the apostle is about as challenging a verse for us as there is in the Bible. For we who have lived on the Earth for any time at all have encountered those people or that person who has mistreated us or someone we love. Now, hatred seems natural, and loving them may be the furthermost proposition within our being. John the apostle says in First John chapter four and verse twenty that there is a big problem with us hating others. He wrote:

If a man say, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar: for he that loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?

We have all heard that we must live a life that is consistent with what we say otherwise we are being hypocritical. However today John steps that up a notch. John says if we say we love God, and hate our brother, we are liars. If we have hatred toward anyone, anywhere in our hearts, we are lying about our love for God. Many people say, “I love God”, and this is very understandable. God is so loving, but when it comes to people, and their fallibility, now what is our behavior? What is our attitude? In other words, John says we must love our brothers, (and this means any other person) or we are lying about our love for God.

John goes on to give an explanation to this difficult charge. He writes with a question of reason: “for he that loves not his brother whom he has seen”. We have seen others with our eyes. We have encountered them personally. We may have had a relationship with them at one time or another, and now we are distant. Maybe they hurt us, and hurt us badly. Maybe they conducted themselves in a manner that seems worthy of hatred, but John says “How can he love God whom he has not seen” when we hate someone whom we have seen.

The questions that loom for us today is “Do we really love God?” Is our love toward others consistent with our love for God? Do we have anyone in our lives whom if we were to be honest we would say we hate them? If so, we must take our hatred before our God who loves us so completely. We must confess this hatred before Him, and ask Him to remove the hatred from our hearts. The result will be that our love for Him will be genuine and true, and the title of “liar” will be removed from our name.

Next time we shall look even further into what John has to say about loving others and our relationship with God, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore

God First Loved Us 1 John 4:19 - Equipped for Battle

One of the greatest privileges we have is to read the Bible. The Bible is like God's love letter to us. It shares with us God's great redemption plan for man and how God desires to have fellowship with every person. God is love, and God loves people. His word, the Bible, is worthy of not only of our reading and studying, but also for us to memorize. Today's verse is a wonderful scripture to put to memory, and the idea that John the apostle conveys is worthy of our appreciation and perspective for all the days of our lives. John wrote in First John chapter four and verse nineteen:

We love him, because he first loved us.

We must remember this, God loved us first. God is the initiator, and we are the responders. God began the process, and we react to His offer. God's love stands ready for anyone who will turn from their sinful ways and ask Him to forgive them. He is willing to begin a relationship with them. He started it, and He is more than willing to finish it. He continually waits for people to believe that He sent His Son Jesus to die as His provision for their sins, and when we confess with our mouths the Lord Jesus and believe in our hearts that God has raised Him from the dead, we shall be saved. There is no greater love than this. God indeed loves us, and He loves us first.

As a natural response to God loving us first, we love Him. When we discover, and as we discover, who God really is, we will love Him. Most people who do not love God, do not know Him. If they did, they could not help but love Him. Sometimes people have been disappointed with God, or maybe things didn't work out for them the way they had planned, and now they do not love God and some do not even believe there is a God. It's too bad, really, because if they were to search diligently the scriptures within the Bible, they would find the most loving being they have ever known.

Jesus said it this way as recorded in the book of the gospel of John in chapter fifteen and verse thirteen:

Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Jesus gave His life for us. Jesus died for our sins. Jesus loved us even when we seemed unlovable, and now His desire is that we have fellowship with Him and love Him for all He did.

Next time we will look at another question about love that John the apostle presents to us, so read ahead and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore

No Fear in Love 1 John 4:18 - Equipped for Battle

The story is told of a little girl who was afraid in the middle of the night. She cried out for her mother, and when her mother came to her room the little girl said, “Mommy, I am afraid. I am in here all alone.” The mother smiled at the young lass and responded, “Honey, haven't I told you that you are not alone. Jesus is always with you. Jesus is here.” The little girl rose out of her bed, grabbed her dolly and said, “Well, then you stay here with Jesus. I'm going to sleep with daddy.” There is nothing like being afraid. Phobias are as abundant as a person could want, and most people have something of which they are afraid. We all have fears, and when it comes to the context of our readings from John the Apostle, judgment before God may be the greatest fear of all. John addresses our fears in our verse for today which is found in the book of First John in chapter four and verse eighteen. He wrote:

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear hath torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love.

We have been learning about how much God the Father loves us, and His love towards us then leads to us loving others. Our love is being perfected by our relationship with God, and because of His Son Jesus' love toward us even in our sinful state, we now are learning to love others in the same manner. When we have this type of fellowship with God and others, we know God and His love abides within us. We dwell in God, and God dwells in us. God is love, and therefore love dwells within us.

Now John says, “there is no fear in love” and he lets us know that “perfect love casts out fear”. In other words, when we have God dwelling within us, we have nothing to fear. Even the judgment is nothing to fear because God has taken care of that issue. He “casts out fear: because fear has torment.” There is nothing so tormenting as fear. Fear is a real or perceived inability to handle a situation or object. Fear can grip us so tightly that we can hardly move. Just let a fearful situation occur such as a child who stays out too long at night, or a phone call at three o' clock in the morning, or a horrible letter giving notice about a law suit or foreclosure, and see how fear is very close by. However, our spiritual father, John the apostle, writes that we who are being perfected in love do not have to fear.

If we are constantly in fear, it simply identifies that our love is not made perfect as yet. John wrote, “He that fears is not made perfect in love.” The question today for all of us is, “What do we fear, and is that fear an indicator that we are not made perfect in love as yet?” If we are fearful today, no matter what that fear may be, then let us consider once again the mighty love of God that dwells within us, and nothing is more powerful than He.

Next time we shall take a look at a special precursor to us loving God, so read ahead, and we shall share together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore

Boldness in the Day of Judgment 1 John 4:17 - Equipped for Battle

One of the greatest wonders of mankind is “what happens after death?” Do we just cease to exist? Do we vanish into space and become nothing more than memories in others' minds? Do we go on living beyond these bodies, and is there really a spirit that continues to live on after we take our last breath? John the apostle helps to answer some of those questions in today's verse that is found in the book of First John in chapter four and verse seventeen. He wrote:

Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

John has been sharing with us about the love God has for us and how we should have love for each other. He has over and over again repeated these themes throughout his book named First John, and today he brings us to a path and reason for having each of these aspects in our lives. First, he writes about the way our love is being perfected, and we learned from yesterday's verse that when we know and believe God's love, He dwells with us and us with Him. Now God is perfecting His love within us.

Secondly, because He dwells within us and is perfecting His love within us, we may now have “boldness in the day of judgment.” The “day of judgment” is presumed known by John's readers. In the book of Hebrews in chapter nine and verse twenty-seven the writer declares:

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

According to the Bible, the next event that occurs after our last breath is taken is “the judgment”. Paul the apostle wrote about this in the book of Romans in chapter fourteen and verses ten through twelve:

But why do you judge your brother? or why do you show contempt for your brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, [As] I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

Everyone will give an account to God some day. For some of us it will be soon, for others later, but we shall all give an account. John our beloved teacher and spiritual father says that we can have boldness on that day. The reason is because we have known and believe that God has sent His Son Jesus into the world to pay the price for our wrongs, our sins, and when we appropriate that sacrifice by receiving Him as our Savior, we shall have no worries when we stand before Him someday. Only those who reject Jesus as Savior and Lord have something of which to be concerned.

One last thought, Jesus Himself said in the book of Matthew in chapter twelve and verses thirty-six and thirty-seven:

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words you shall be justified, and by thy words you shall be condemned.

I don't know about you, but I am so glad that Jesus has taken my place of death on the cross. I suppose none of us would want to give an account for all the many idle words we have used in our lifetimes. Praise be unto God for His Mighty redeeming plan.

Next time we shall share together about how love and fear are related, so read ahead and we will visit together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore

Knowing and Believing God's Love 1 John 4:16 - Equipped for Battle

Some news is so good that we desire to tell it over and over again. Suppose a young lady gets engaged. Does she usually announce it only once? Or if our team wins the world series or the championship, do we only tell it once? Not usually. No rather, we broadcast the joyous news over and over and over again. John the apostle gives a wonderful example of this repetition of good news in today's verse found in the book of First John in chapter four and verse sixteen. He wrote:

And we have known and believed the love that God has to us. God is love; and he that dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him.

Throughout the book of First John, John has been sharing with us about how much God loves us. Like a loving spiritual father, he is directing us to the knowledge that God truly loves His kids. He loves us, and today John shares two aspects for realizing that love. First, he declares “we have known”. The idea to to know by experience. How many times in our lives have we experienced the love of God? If we think about it long enough, there have been many times. Times when advantage and protection came out of no where, and we didn't really know who it was who provided them for us. Times when we experienced pain or suffering and there seemed to be a comfort that was invisible. As John, we too have known the love of God if we think about it long enough, but if we are having a difficult time recalling, simply realize the fact that God allowed us to exist in the first place is a very loving act.

Secondly John says, “believed the love that God has to us.” This is the element to fellowship with God that many omit. They simply do not believe. They do not believe that God loves them, and they do not believe God cares. Oh, they may be able to recall an event or situation where it seems that an answer came out of no where, but this is usually credited to happenstance or fortuitous occurrences rather than a loving God who cares deeply for His children. But the truth is stated in the next part of this verse, “God is love”, and He does care for every person who lives and has lived on this Earth.

Finally for our benefit, John says once again, “he that dwells in love, dwells in God, and God in him.” This is the determining factor as to whether we are in fellowship with God. Are we loving - Not only to ourselves, but to others? Is our very makeup, our core being, our inner self concerned as much for others as we are for ourselves? Do we spend as much time caring for the needs of others as we do our own? If so, God's love is manifested throughout our lives, and if not, perhaps we should visit the pages and verses within this book over and over and over again until we know and believe the love that God has to us.

Next time we shall look at how we can have boldness when the day of judgment comes, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore

Agreeing With Jesus 1 John 4:15 - Equipped for Battle

Throughout the book of First John our teacher the apostle for whom this book was named has been sharing with us about loving God and loving others. As of late we have been learning how we are to accomplish the task of loving people even when they are different than we, and by God's Spirit living within us we may accomplish that task. But just to whom is this Spirit of God available, and how do we receive this Spirit of God? How does God begin to dwell within us? John the apostle answers those questions in today's verse which is found in First John chapter four and verse fifteen. He wrote:

Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells in him, and he in God.

Notice with me first that John uses the word “Whosoever.” This means that the indwelling Spirit of God is available to everyone. Every man, woman, boy and girl can receive the Spirit of the living God abiding in them. Jesus said this in the Gospel of John in chapter three and verse sixteen:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Let us be clear with Jesus and John about this. The good news or gospel of Jesus Christ is available to anyone who confesses that Jesus is the Son of God. The idea of confession is not simply to say so with our mouths, but it literally means “to agree with, trust in, rely upon and cling to”. Many people “say” that Jesus is their Savior with their mouths, but their lives tell directly the opposite story. One person said it this way, “your actions are speaking so loudly that I cannot hear a word you are saying.”

When we confess that Jesus is the Son of God, our lives change. Sin is put away, and we go in a completely opposite direction from the behaviors we had before we agreed with Him. (Remember “sin” is to miss the mark, and we all have missed the mark.) We are in the process of being perfected, and although we do occasionally sin because we have that nature within us, we do not live unbridled lives that demonstrate that God is not living within.

God desires fellowship with us, and He wants to live within us. He desires that we live within him, and as we walk together He refines us, changes us, and forms us into His image. Our old lives are passed away, and our lives now have become new. Paul the apostle wrote it this way in the book of Second Corinthians in chapter five and verse seventeen:

Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Basically if we confess that Jesus is the Son of God, we trade our old lives for new ones, and the life that we now live enjoys the Spirit of the living God within us who is directing our every word, our every action and our every move as He refines us day, by day, by day.

Next time we shall look once again at the proof that God is living within us, so read ahead and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore

The Indwelling Spirit of God 1 John 4:13 - Equipped for Battle

Today we shall regress just one verse in First John to discuss a very important component to loving other people. How do we really love others as we have been commanded by God? How do we ever reach the level of love, agape – unconditional love, that Jesus told us to obey? Is there any way to love others, especially those who are different than we, the way the Bible tells us to love them? These are very difficult questions to answer. However, our teacher and loving father in the faith, John the apostle, shares with us the the equipping answer in today's verse which is found in First John chapter four and verse thirteen. He wrote:

Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

John's proof to us that we live with God and He lives with us is that He has given us of “his Spirit.” The key to loving others as John has been sharing with us throughout this chapter is to have the Spirit of God living within us. God loves us, and God loves others – all others. The only way that we will ever be able to love like God does is to have “His Spirit” living within us. His Spirit must replace ours. His Spirit must take over where we come up short. His Spirit empowers us to love in a manner that we never thought possible.

In the book of Zechariah which is in the Old Testament of the Bible there is a verse in chapter four and verse six that is helpful to us in this matter of loving others. It says:

Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This [is] the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

In the context of this verse, the Israelites were wondering how they would ever be able to rebuild the temple of God. The task seemed daunting, and humanly there was no way it could ever be done. God's word to Zerubbabel the prophet was that it was “not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit” that this awesome task would be accomplished. In other words there was no human might or power that could accomplish this great feat, but with a super-natural power, God's Spirit, God's power, the task could be completed, and it was.

John the apostle says God has “given us of his Spirit” and if we have received Jesus as our Lord and Savior we now have His Spirit and His power, His super-natural power is living within us to do that which seems impossible – loving others. If we want to be like God we must love everybody, help everybody and forgive everybody, and only by God's loving Spirit will we ever be able to obey that which He has commanded us to do.

Next time we will find out even more about the reason that God sent His Son into the world, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore