Like Him 1 John 3:2 - Equipped for Battle

Over and over again I hear from the people who know Jesus as their Savior that they desire to be like Him. They, like myself, know that there are ways about themselves that just do not align with the way Jesus thinks, the way Jesus acted or even the way Jesus talked. Whenever anyone really encounters just how marvelous Jesus was and is there always seems to be a shortcoming on their part, and sometimes because of this other people who do not know the Lord Jesus are turned off to Him. Let me begin today by apologizing to those of you who may be reading these words for any behavior that has not reflected our Lord Jesus. John the apostle helps us all in today's verse by showing us there is more to be obtained, and the likeness of Jesus will one day be here. He writes in First John chapter three verse two:

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

First, notice again John's word “Beloved”. This precious apostle wants his readers to know again and again that they are loved, and he emphasizes this love by making the statement he made in the first verse of this chapter by calling us “the sons of God”. God desires a family of children, and His children are loved. Over and over the phrase is repeated and the title is given so that we will not forget it. But then, as though there is a bonus attached, John shares one of the greatest thoughts within the words of the scriptures: “and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him;”

We who have fellowship with God through Jesus Christ have no idea of what the Lord has in store for us. We cannot see it yet, and to try to imagine it all will always leave our minds in a quandary. This much we can know though, when He appears, we shall be like Him. All of our failures, our shortcomings, our sin, and our inability to walk, talk and be like Jesus will be gone. Our lives will be complete, and the finished work of God will be done in our lives. John the apostle was writing this after knowing Jesus for sixty years or so, and if he had a desire to be like him, we are in good company. One day, dearly beloved, we shall be like Jesus.

Why is this so? John answers this question in his next phrase: “for we shall see him as he is.” Although John saw Jesus on the Earth and had a glimpse of the glory of Jesus on the mount of transfiguration (See Matthew 17 and Mark 9), he knew that he would one day see Jesus again “as He is.” Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, will appear again some day, and those who see Him shall be changed into His image and be like Him. There is a glorious appearing of Jesus that will come according to the Bible, and those who see Him shall be changed. Paul the apostle wrote it this way in the book of First Corinthians chapter fifteen and verses fifty-one and fifty-two:

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

There is indeed a change coming for those who are the sons and daughters of God, and those who know this, long for Jesus' return that they may be the complete fulfillment of all He has promised they will be.

Next time we shall discuss what John says should be the result of the knowledge of Jesus coming again. 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 World Says Huh? 1 John 3:1 - Equipped for Battle

Have you ever heard someone ask the question, “How do you know you are a Christian?” They look at your life. They observe your behavior. They listen to your speech, and yet, they just don't get it. In fact, many people don't even understand why there is any need for a relationship with God. They feel that they are alright, and do not understand how anyone could ever believe that they are the sons and daughters of God. In other words when the world hears that we are the sons and daughters of God, they say, “Huh?” John the apostle addresses this dilemma in the third chapter of the book of First John and verse one where he writes:

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knows us not, because it knew him not.

We have been learning how much God loves us. God loves us so much that He sent His Son Jesus to take our place of death on the cross for our sins so that we could have fellowship with Him. Not only did He make a way for us, but by doing so, He also positioned us as His sons and daughters or princes and princesses. When this happens we become unknown to the world. We seem strange to them, and they do not understand. There is a reason for this, they “knew him not.”

When someone doesn't know Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, they “just don't get it”, and they won't “get it” until they themselves receive Jesus. There is in effect a blindness over their eyes until they make this decision. Paul the apostle approached it this way in the book of Second Corinthians chapter four and verses three and four:

But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Paul's answer is simple. They are blinded spiritually so that they cannot see, and the source of this blindness is none other than “the god of this world”. If they were not blind, they would see. When we look around us and see the behavior and thinking of some individuals that so contrasts the thinking of Jesus and the Bible, it makes so much sense when we understand they have been blinded.

So how does a person have this blindfold removed? John the apostle wrote in the Gospel of John in chapter one and verse twelve:

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:

And Paul continued in Second Corinthians chapter four verses five and six:

For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

To make the blindness disappear, and to have the knowledge of what it means to be sons and daughters of God, we must receive Jesus into our lives. Through believing that we are sinners who deserve to die for our sins, and understanding that Jesus came and died in our place on the cross and was raised again, our blinded eyes see, and we become the sons and daughters of God. This is a mystery to the world, and until they receive Jesus themselves, they will continue to be blind.

Next time we will share about more benefits to being the children of the Most High 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

Princes and Princesses 1 John 3:1 - Equipped for Battle

One of the greatest quests for most people I know is to discover “who they are.” They question, “Who am I, and what am I doing here?” Their lives are filled with wonder as they try to discover their purpose for being in the first place and then whether or not they are doing what they should be doing. Some of them identify themselves by their vocation or occupation. Others offer their status or wealth. Still more “find themselves” according to their education, level of civic involvement or lack thereof such as a counter-culture group, but nonetheless, each person seems to desire to find their “being state.”

John the apostle helps all who will read his words today with a statement of identity that is second to none. He writes in First John chapter three and verse one:

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knows us not, because it knew him not.

Yesterday we took a look together at the level of love the Father has toward us. His unconditional “agape'” love is extended to all who will receive it. He gave His Son Jesus as a substitute in death for our sins, and now, as though that is not enough, He adds that “we should be called the sons of God.” God's sons; God's daughters...amazing. We're God's kids. We're His children. Children of the Most High God because of what Jesus did for us.

Do we really understand the significance of this? Can we fathom the depth of this fellowship and commitment? I think not, but I shall try to help us. Paul the apostle wrote in the book of Romans chapter eight and verses fourteen through seventeen;

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together.

John says we're God's children. Paul says we're God's children. In fact, Paul uses the word “abba” which means “Daddy” to show the intimacy that has been given.

Let me put it this way – Jesus is called the “King of Kings and Lord of Lords”. So let me ask, “what are kings kids called?” Princes and Princesses right? In other words, you are reading the words of none other than “Prince Ray, son of the living God!”, and I am writing to none other than Prince ______ (You fill in the blank) and Princess _________ (Again, fill in the blank). This is the marvel of who we are. God loves us all so much that not only did He send His Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins, but now because of His sacrifice we become the Princes and Princesses of the Almighty King of Kings! I don't know if I have written anything more exciting than these words. Oh what grace! Oh what joy! Oh what forfeiture of confusion and trouble over who I am and who we are! No one can add to such a stature, and no one will ever be able to remove it! We are the “Princes and Princesses” of God, and all because of God's amazing grace and love toward all who will receive Him as Savior and Lord.

Next time we shall discuss the reaction of the world to our status, 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

Behold I am Loved! 1 John 3:1 - Equipped for Battle

The now famous song, “What the World Needs Now is Love Sweet Love” proclaims a truth in its title that continues today. More and more people desire to be loved above any other human passion. Today John the apostle draws our attention to how much the Heavenly Father truly loves us. In First John chapter three and verse one he writes:

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knows us not, because it knew him not.

John first tells us to “behold”. That is, see it, perceive it, know that the Father loves us. This love is unlike any normal love because the Greek word “agape” is used. “Agape” means unconditional, unmerited love. This love cannot be earned, and no amount of works or ways will gain its advantage. This love that John asks us to consider is a God given love that precludes coming just as we are to Him. There is no “cleaning up my act” as some think. There is no, “when I make a few changes in my life”, but rather just coming as we are to Him and receiving Him as our Savior.

Consider what Paul the apostle wrote in the book of Romans chapter five and verse eight:

But God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

God loved us so much that He proved it by sending His Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins while we were still in our state of sinfulness. The two verses before this one says this:

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

Some people wonder, “Does anyone really love me?” They search for love, but they don't find it. They look for love on websites, in bars, in churches, in chat rooms, but it seems that there is just no love to be found. Some people have had rough examples of love from their parents, and maybe others have had people hurt them so badly that they think they will never be able to find anyone anywhere who will just love them for who they are. Please allow me to bring you good news today...God loves you. God loves you with an everlasting love with which no one will be able to compare. Only God can fill the need for love within you the way you truly need to be loved, and His love is unconditional. He proved it by giving His Son Jesus to die in our place, and when we realize that there is no greater love than this, we will receive the Lord Jesus into our lives and forever be the sons and daughters of the Most High God.

Maybe some who read this will remember one of the greatest verses ever written. In the gospel of John chapter three and verse sixteen John writes:

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.

I'll leave you today with one more Bible reference. It's found in the book of the gospel of John chapter fifteen and verse thirteen:

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

God loves us, and as amazing as that is, our part is simply to receive Him and enjoy the fact that we are His children.

Next time we shall discuss the idea of being His children, so read ahead, and we'll 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

Who Is Righteous? 1 John 2:29 - Equipped for Battle

Throughout this book John the apostle has been sharing with us how we can have fellowship with God and the barriers to that fellowship. In the last few verses he shared with us as a spiritual father to his little children about those he called antichrists. Those who are opposed to or alter the teachings of the Bible about Jesus being the messiah - the Son of the Living God, and the only way to have fellowship with God, are “anti-christs”, and we should be aware of their presence. We do so by the Holy Spirit of God leading us every day by the teachings of the Bible. In keeping with the context, John shares even more insight with us today about those who are righteous and those who are born of God. John writes in First John chapter two and verse twenty-nine:

If you know that he is righteous, you know that every one that does righteousness is born of him.

God is righteous. God is holy. God never has and never will do anything wrong. He never lies, steals, cheats or does any other sin that we are accustomed to seeing men and women do. He is indeed righteous. Those who read the Bible and discover bit by bit whom God truly is, find Him ever so holy and find themselves ever so unholy. When the prophet Isaiah saw the throne of God in the book of Isaiah chapter six and verse five we read:

Then said I, Woe [is] me! for I am undone; because I [am] a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

When Daniel the prophet saw God in the book of Daniel chapter ten and verse eight we read:

Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.

When John the apostle himself saw the Lord Jesus in His glorified state, we read of his reaction in the book of Revelation chapter one and verse seventeen:

And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

In other words, those who truly encounter the living God know that God is righteous. He exudes righteousness, and those who continue in fellowship with Him know how important righteousness is within their own lives. The continual exposure to God and His righteousness begins the process of making a person more righteous today than he or she was yesterday, and the process of righteousness proceeds day after day after day.

When we come to know Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, our speech and language change. Our actions and activities change. Our attitudes change, and many of us who were miles away from the righteous standard of God become more and more like Jesus every day. This is how we know those who are righteous and born of God and those who are not.

Let our standard of righteous be equivalent to David the King of Israel from long ago when he wrote in Psalm chapter seventeen and verse fifteen:

As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

Next time we begin a new chapter in First John, chapter three, where John talks about God's love and being strangers in this 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

Abiding in Confidence 1 John 2:28 - Equipped for Battle

If there is anything that I run into these days when it comes to knowing whether a person has eternal life or not, it is a lack of confidence that they truly will be saved when their death occurs. After holding the hands of many people from all walks of life and varying age groups as they left this world, there is usually two things on their minds just before they leave: “I am just about to see God. What is that going to be like, and “What is going to happen with my family?” Rarely ever have I encountered anyone who was worried about their education, money, possessions or fame. They were exclusively concerned about meeting God and what would happen with their family. So, how do we have confidence in our relationship with God? Is there really a way to know that everything will be okay when we meet Him? Today the apostle John answers those questions in the book of First John chapter two and verse twenty-eight:

And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

This is the fifth time in this chapter alone that John has referred to his readers as “little children”. Remember, John was about ninety years old when he wrote this book, so to him all the followers of Jesus who came after him are as his little children. He is now directing his children as a loving father to abide or continue in their walk with Jesus. Antichrists offer other ways. False teachers and religions offer seducing doctrine and pernicious paths, but John says continue in the faith that he has shared. Don't waver. Stay with it. Continue in the faith, and for we who do, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Jesus at His coming.

John and the other apostles expected Jesus to return at any time. We read in the book of Acts chapter one and verse eleven where the angels asked:

Which also said, You men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven.

After Jesus' death and resurrection, He dwelt on the Earth for forty days. He then went to the Mount of Olives where His disciples were gathered unto Him, and He ascended into heaven. (For extra reading about this look at the book of Acts in chapter one verses one through eleven.) The disciples went back into Jerusalem, began to pray, and wondered when Jesus would return. They had no idea that it would be as long as it has been since he left, but they lived in expectation that Jesus would return at any time. This is why John wrote, “and not be ashamed before him at his coming.”

Since it has been two thousand years since the angels made their proclamation, many people doubt that Jesus will return. However, we should look at it this way, unless some miracle drug that prolongs life comes along, Jesus will return to receive each of us within the next one hundred years. For some it might be this year. For others it might be five, ten, twenty or fifty, but He will indeed come. The question is, “Will we be ashamed before Him at His coming or are we abiding in Him so that we need not be ashamed but welcoming Him at any time?”

Next time we shall finish chapter two of this fantastic little book by looking at how we become righteous and how to know when others are righteous too. 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 Anointed Teacher 1 John 2:27 - Equipped for Battle

John the apostle has been sharing with us about having fellowship with God. God's desire is to have a relationship with every person who lives, and yet, some will not, some have not realized the barrier of sin that separates them from God, some simply do not know that God sent His Son Jesus to remove the barrier of sin so that any person who believes and trusts in Jesus' sacrifice may now have fellowship with God. The difficult part in all of this is, “How does a person come to know whether all of the things of the Bible about the salvation plan of God are true?” How do we know deep within our souls that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life according to the gospel of John chapter fourteen and verse six? Today John helps us by sharing about the anointed teacher who will instruct us. In First John chapter two and verse twenty-seven he writes:

But the anointing which ye have received of him abides in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

Whenever we see the word “but” in the Bible, we can realize that whatever was said just before “but” will now be superseded by this next statement. If you recall, John has been sharing with us about the spirit of antichrists that are in the world to seduce us away from the truth about Jesus Christ. Many people have been deceived who believed these offerings, and therefore have rejected the teachings of the Bible. John now lets us know that there is an “anointing” which we have received, and this anointing lives within us. This is who the Bible refers to as the Holy Spirit. Let's look at what Jesus Himself said about the Holy Spirit in the gospel of 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 show you things to come.

The Holy Spirit is the Divine Teacher. Jesus gave us the promise that even though He would physically leaving the Earth, He would leave behind “the Spirit of truth” and His function would be to guide us into all truth, not speak of Himself, and speak whatever He heard, and show us things to come. John repeats this idea in our verse for today. The Holy Spirit of God is our teacher.

First, He comes along side of us to share with us the truth of God's salvation plan for our sins. Next, when we receive Jesus as our Savior He comes to live within us, and we begin our journey of walking with God. Finally, He comes upon us to give us the ability to live a Christian life in a manner that others are drawn to God by our lives. The Holy Spirit teaches us all things, is truth, and is no lie, and we benefit greatly by listening to Him, especially as we read the Bible. We then abide with Him in our daily lives. This is how we know whether those “antichrists” and their doctrines are true or leading us away from fellowship with God.

Next time we shall share together about the benefits of abiding in fellowship with the Holy Spirit, 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