Faithfully Yours Forever

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+4%3A1-12+&version=NIV
Passage: 1 John 4:1-12 (NIV)

We are cautioned, at the beginning of this passage, to test the spirits to see whether they are from God [v. 1] or not.  What does the Scripture tell us about how to recognize when the Spirit of God lives within another person?  This portion of Scripture mentions two noticeable factors that are seen in those who are from God.

• Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God [v.2]
• Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God… because love comes from God [v. 7]

This gives us a couple of simple attributes we will see in those who are from God.  Let us be careful not to judge those that have yet to find their way to God.  However, let us be on guard for those who deny the incarnation of Jesus… as God coming to us in the flesh.  May we be able to discern the Spirit of God from the spirit of darkness.  May we acknowledge Jesus as part of a triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit… three in one.  Because God loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins [v. 10]… we also ought to love one another [v.11].  May we more easily be able to show our love for others.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+3%3A11-24&version=NIV
Passage: 1 John 3:11-24
Verse: 1 John 3:18 (NIV)
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

So what do we read of in this passage of Scripture?  We read that:

• we are not to be surprised when those we know choose to mistreat or hate us
• loving one another is directly connected to having eternal life
• knowing what love is… is seen in the actions of an individual
  • do [or would] they lay down their lives for another
  • do they help others in need, if able to do so
  • in actions and in truth, not merely in words or speech, they show their love for others.

We also read that even when our hearts condemn us, that God is greater and knows all.  He provides us a way for us to be redeemed.  May we believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us [v. 23].  May we be reassured in knowing that the one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us [v. 24].  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+2%3A28-3%3A10&version=NIV
Passage: 1 John 2:28-3:10
Verse1 John 3:1a (NIV)
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!

Is there a difference between being one of God’s children and being a child of God?  Everyone is one of God’s children, but being one of the children of God required a decision be made.  The child of God has chosen to put their hope and faith in Jesus Christ.  In this passage of Scripture we are told to continue in him…to continue in our belief of Jesus as Lord, Savior, and Redeemer.  It also tells us that all who have this hope in him [Jesus Christ] purify themselves, just as he is pure [v.3].  This command should have practical implications for how we choose to live our lives.  May we do what is right in His eyes.  May we turn from anything that is sinful.  May we love our God and love others in a way that is honoring to Him.  May we be more than just one of His children; may we be a child of God… and one who follows in His ways.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+5%3A1-20&version=NIV
Passage: Ephesians 5:1-20
Highlights from Ephesians 5:1-20 (NIV)
Follow God’s example:

• walk in the way of love
• there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed
• nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving
• Let no one deceive you with empty words and do not be partners with those who are disobedient
• live as children of light… which consists of goodness, righteousness and truth
• find out what pleases the Lord
• have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them
• understand what the Lord’s will is and make the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil
• do not be foolish
• do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery
• be filled with the Spirit… speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit
• sing and make music from your heart to the Lord
• always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+13%3A1-13&version=NIV
Passage: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Verse: 1 Corinthians 13:13b (NIV)
But the greatest of these is love.

Faith, hope, and love… but the greatest of these is love.  Think about it!  We know how important faith and hope are, but we are told that the greatest of these is love.  Earlier in the passage it states, if I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal [v. 1].  Our words mean nothing unless they are motivated by love.   If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing [v. 2].  Possession of any or all of the spiritual gifts… without love… is of no value.  If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing [v. 3].  It is a matter of the heart.  May our hearts be filled with a Christlike love for others.  May our love be expressed in absolute devotion to God.  May God’s mercy and grace allow us to experience the love that He intends for us, as His children. (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+8%3A1-13&version=NIV
Passage: Hebrews 8:1-13
Verse: Hebrews 8:10-12 (NIV)
This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel
   after that time, declares the Lord.
I will put my laws in their minds
   and write them on their hearts.
I will be their God,
   and they will be my people.
No longer will they teach their neighbor,
   or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
   from the least of them to the greatest.
For I will forgive their wickedness
   and will remember their sins no more.

Our relationship with God is a holy covenant.  This covenant relationship should not be taken lightly or for granted.  The Lord will be our God.  He provides, cares, loves, guides, and protects us.  We are to be His people.  We are to love, honor, and obey Him.  The Lord is faithful in fulfilling His part of this covenant relationship.  May we fulfill our part.  May we truly know Him and His ways.  May we desire to follow Him and to live a holy life – a life that honors Him for who He is and for what He has done for us. (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+11%3A23-31&version=NIV
Passage: Proverbs 11:23-31
Verse: Proverbs 11:25 (NIV)
A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed

The book of Proverbs seems to contain many practical and spiritual truths.  These truths may be honoring of those who choose to do good things… or condemning of those who choose to do harm to others.  Our God is a just God.  He will reward the righteous and punish the wicked.  In a letter to the Philippians, Paul urged them to be gentle, at peace, and to guard their hearts and minds.  Sometime we tend to focus upon negative things, but in Philippians 4:8 it states whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.  In Proverbs 11 we are reminded, and I choose to think on:

• The desire of the righteous ends only in good…
• One person gives freely, yet gains even more…
• A generous person will prosper…
• People… pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell needed goods to others
• Whoever seeks good finds favor…
• The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives.

May we be able to apply these truths to our daily lives.  As we do the will of the Father, as we follow Jesus, and as we are guided by the Holy Spirit, may we prosper and be refreshed.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+4%3A1-13&version=NIV
Passage: Ephesians 4:1-13
Verse: Ephesians 4:13 (NIV)
… until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Is there someone that you know or work with that you wonder if you will ever be able to really get along with?  This passage of Scripture has some helpful reminders for us to consider when we find ourselves in the type of situation described earlier.  We are to remember that there is one body and one Spirit… one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God, and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all [v. 4-6].  We need to be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love [v. 2].  We need to be of one mind and at peace with each other.  This state can be very difficult to attain and draining to maintain.  However, we also learn that we have been given sufficient grace to fulfill God’s purposes.  Even so, we may also wonder how long we are to keep this up?  We are told to continue in our work for the Lord until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ [v. 13].  I think we probably know what that means – until the Lord takes us home to be with Him.  May we be faithful to the calling we have received.  May we look to the Holy Spirit to equip and sustain us until our work here is done. (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)