1st John: Thunder and Love                                                    

The Transformation of the Author                                                         #1

The old Apostle John nearing the end of his life did something seemingly unexpected. He began to write. By all accounts the other books of the New Testament were written before John ever began his three letters, his gospel or revelation. We believe most of his writing was accomplished around 85-95 AD, which would have been after the other Apostles had passed on to glory. He was the last leaf on the tree and as it turns out, he has a lot to say.

John was born a Son of Thunder as he and his brother James were called (Mk 3:17), but he would become known to us as the "Apostle of Love." Jesus was central to this transformation. John is every bit a Son of Thunder in two gospel accounts. One event describes where John and his brother James request Jesus to allow them (they must have known Jesus wouldn't do it) to bring fire down on a Samaritan village (Lk 9:54). The second event finds John acting by himself (the only time in Matthew, Mark or Luke he isn't mentioned without his brother James) as he tells Jesus he rebukes a man working in the name of Jesus who wasn't one of the group (Mk 9:38-40, Lk 9:49-50). The Son of Thunder stood ready to call a spade a spade - bringing wrath to an unrepentant village and exclusion to a man casting out demons in the name of Christ. Jesus did not grant him the authority to destroy the village, and rebuked him for stopping the man working in His name.

By the time you get to his gospel and letters, John, uses the word love more than the other gospel writers combined. He got it, but it is important to note that he didn't stop being a Son of Thunder. He writes in absolutes speaking of death and life, darkness and light, lies and truth, etc. John is remarkably black and white in his writings - a Son of Thunder to the very end transformed by Love.

I think the Lord knew that the disciple who would write most authoritatively on the subject of love would have to be steeped in truth and straightforwardness. Not only would he be an example of transformation, but he would stand up for love - John would mirror what he wrote in his gospel about Christ being full of grace and truth (Jn 1:14). One without the other is neither, and both must be found in genuine love. John learned this and as we study his first letter to the church, we'll see evidence of both Thunder and Love.

Interestingly, when John gets around to writing his gospel he must have realized his unique perspective as one of the inner circle of disciples (John, Peter and James were included in activities the others were excluded from). It must have occurred to John that he would have to write about himself. He doesn't write his name instead he merely and sweetly refers to himself as the "disciple whom Jesus loved" (Jn 13:23,19:26,20:2,21:7,20,24). John never got over the love of Christ and it pours from his writings just as much as his zeal or thunder.

I look forward to sharing some thoughts on John's first letter and what we can take away from it today.

Prayer: Father thank You that You can transform us. We praise You for taking our zeal and sprinkling it with grace or taking our meekness and giving us firmness. Bless this devotional series on Your servant John and bless those who read it. Thank You again for the transformational power of Your Son, Jesus. Amen.

1st John:  Thunder and Love

Complete Joy                                                                                     #2

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete. (1 John 1:1-4 NIV)

As John opens his letter we see similar language to that of the beginning of John's gospel. While John's gospel begins with foundational concepts concerning the deity of Christ, here we discover John underlining His humanity (Jn 1:14 addresses His humanity as well - "The Word became flesh..."). The topic of the humanity of Christ was paramount during John's latter years and could have been the principal reason he reached for the pen to begin writing. Gnostic followers were taught a heretical teaching that proclaimed Jesus to only have appeared to have a body (Docetism from the Greek word dokeo - "to seem") or that the divine spirit joined the man Jesus at baptism then cut out before his death (Cerinthianism named after it's contriver Cerinthius). Gnostic teaching denied salvation through Christ, but instead viewed eternal life as an escape from the body, which they viewed as evil. You gained this get out of body free card (sorry) by knowledge (gnosis is Greek for knowledge). In turn, this teaching by default denied grace and put the onus back on self to grow in knowledge. Faith had no place in this realm. Wait a minute, what was that tree called in the Garden of Eden laden with forbidden fruit? Yes, the tree of knowledge.

John says they heard, saw, looked at (more like observed meaning not just to glance upon but to study intently), and touched the Word of Life, Jesus. John would have been one of those that Luke would have interviewed (See Luke 1:1-3), he was an eyewitness to both his divinity and humanity. We have a bit of the same problem as Gnostic teaching today in that we tend to see Jesus as more divine than human. John says He became flesh (Jn 1:14), and Paul stated that Jesus left glory emptying Himself of His very nature being made in human likeness becoming a servant, being found as a man, and humbling himself even unto death (Phil. 2:6-8). John heard Him. John saw all that. John observed closely every detail of the three year ministry of Christ on earth, and yes, he touched Christ. John sat right beside Christ at the table of the last supper (Jn 13:23). John saw how troubled Jesus became as His days on earth grew short (Jn 12:27), and how He cried for his friends and their loss (Jn 11:35). John saw Jesus exhausted sleeping on a cushion in the stern of a boat while the sea appeared to be about to swallow them (Mk 4:38), and he saw plain ceremonial cleansing water turn into new wine before his very eyes (Jn 2:9). John had seen the lame walk, the blind see, the dead raised, the transfiguration, the withered hand healed, the leper made whole, the crowd of over 5,000 fed from a little boy's lunch, the empty tomb, the risen Christ, and the coming of the Holy Spirit.

These events changed John's life. He stopped asking for the choice seat in the kingdom and began serving as was his Master's example. As verse two exemplifies, it wasn't enough just to have seen and heard these things, no, for those who were changed - John says they began to testify and proclaim of Jesus who is the key to Life. Then in verse three John discloses the motivation to tell others. He is not looking to profit from it. He is not looking for accolades, a pat on the back, a seat in the kingdom, or the praise of men. John wants others to come into the relationship of the faithful. He is proclaiming because he can't not proclaim (sorry double negative - but you get my drift). John wants others to have fellowship with, as he puts it, - "us". "Us"not just being church folk, but the Father, the Son and the Spirit.

As we begin his letter ask yourself if you share John's zeal for others? If not don't be as concerned...remember John didn't always have that either, the Master had work to do on him. We are all a work in progress. Maybe one day we can get to a point, like John, where we can claim verse four. On that day we will fully realize the complete joy of sharing the gospel and witnessing others coming into a relationship and fellowship with Christ.

Prayer: Father we praise You as the author of our lives. Create a zest for life in us that points to Jesus, and may what we hear, see, observe and understand swell up in us a wellspring of desire to share You with others. Your love knows no boundaries. Thank You for that truth. Amen.

1st John:  Thunder and Love

Fellowship with the Light                                                                           #3

  This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 

     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. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. 

    My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.  (1 Jn 1:5-2:2 NIV)

One thing you can always count on from the Apostle John is a straightforward response.  He doesn't mince words.  He tells it like it is.  A friend wrote me the other day explaining John writes things that make you say, "Thank you.  I'm glad somebody finally manned up and told it like it is."  In today's passage John "tells it like it is", and bases everything on the biblical truth that God is light - in Him there is no darkness.  When the light is on - darkness is gone.  It can't exist with light.  This makes me think of the old story of the cave who one day ventured out into the light and marveled at the brilliance of the sun.  Feeling an obligation the cave invites the sun down to take a look at darkness.  The sun follows and when they are deep under the earth, the sun asks the cave, "So, where is the darkness?" 

As mentioned, everything starts with the premise that God is light.  John is clear that this revelation was given from Jesus as they "heard" and now "declare".  (Read John 3:19-21)  Consequently, since there is no darkness in light, then darkness is evil.  This paradox is the foundation of John's message. 

After establishing that God is light and evil is darkness, John turns to two more of his favorite absolute terms:  lies and truth.  He exposes two lies:

1)  Claiming to have fellowship with God (light) yet living (walking) in darkness.

2)  Claiming to have no sin in our lives.

First, John deals with hypocrisy, which is by far and away the number one reason people say they don't attend church in our modern day - check out any survey.  Why? Because when we are hypocrites we make our faith counterfeit.  We say it is real, but where is the evidence?  Hypocrisy has no credibility.  You aren't set free (Jn 8:32), but instead are held captive by your deceit even unto yourself.  John says those who  walk in the light are purified from sin.  Simply, to walk in darkness means to continue in sin without repentance, therefore not taking part in the continual new creation caused by walking in the light. Just as there is no darkness in light, our walk with God erases sin (darkness) from our lives, but we must turn away (repent) from those sins.

Next, John moves his sights away from hypocrisy and targets the legalistic.  John points toward two consequences for legalism.  1)  We deceive ourselves and the truth isn't in us, and 2)  we make Him out to be a liar and His word has no place in our lives.  The Gnostics of the day denied their immoral ways and they weren't the only group.  Today these folks still exist, espousing perfection and spewing judgment from their glass houses.  Truly they deceive themselves, but what is worse in my mind is making God to be a liar.  That cuts to the bone making me want to be aware of my failings, shortfalls, and yes - sin.  Legalism seeks no relationship or responsibility, but instead lives to earn the praise of others by perfection albeit under a veil of falsehood.  Essentially the only relationship the legalistic person has is with themselves.  They believe they are without sin, yet see the missteps of others only to walk in blindness to their own sin. 

In closing, John makes it clear that the last exposed lie is not a sin-at-will invitation.  To the contrary, those who sin (all of us since no one is without sin) have an advocate who speaks on our behalf as we repent and own up to our failings.  He did live the perfect life and His "atoning sacrifice" removes the debt of sin, which is death (Rom. 6:23).  John makes it clear that eternal life is available to everyone - for Christ died and was raised to rectify the sins of the whole world.  This is not universalism (though the sacrifice was for all) because we have one step to make and that is faith in Him (Jn 3:16).  And, according to John, once that step is made, the way we live our lives will be evidence of our fellowship with the Light. 

Prayer:  Father thank you for the atoning sacrifice of Jesus which takes away our sin.  Though we deserve death, His holy blood has erased that sentence.  Help us to take every step today and all our days in His wondrous light.  Show us where we are weak and guide us to be strong in Him.  Amen.

1st John:  Thunder and Love

Walking like Jesus                                                                              #4

First John:  Thunder and Love

The Peril of the Kosmos                                                                                                  #6

1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.


Living in the fallen and sinful world around us has always been an issue for the Christian.  I've often heard the phrase, "we are not of the world, but in the world.'  Many think that is scripture, but perhaps a paraphrase of John 15:19 is about as close as I have found.  Yet no one really questions the validity of this thought.  We all know there are dangers about us that look to pull us in and away from God.  John knew this too.  In today's passage he addresses the world (Greek - Kosmos) and fellowship with God. 

Right away John gives us two very simple commands in v. 15.

1)  Do not love the world.
2)  Do not love anything in the world.

What's the harm?  Where is the peril in loving this world?  First, we'll do well to remember there is a "prince" or "ruler of this world" who has a great deal of power.  Now, he stands condemned (Jn. 16:11), but often we underestimate his ability to destroy, and when we venture on our own - we stand susceptible to his ploy.  He'll tell you things like, "You can handle it, just once won't hurt, you aren't hurting anybody...", on and on, lie after lie.  The world is his realm and John warns us about being drawn out into it with love for it in our hearts. 

This world (Kosmos) has been organized by Satan to to be in strict opposition to God's character and desire for us.  Paul warns that the ruler of this world lives to draw people into the cravings of our sinful nature (Eph. 2:2-3).  This battle is not even within us, lest we underestimate the opposition, as Paul says we struggle against the rulers and authorities of this world as well as the spiritual forces of evil. (Eph. 6:12).  Warning number two is really the bait - those things on the hook that the enemy knows we crave by nature.  Money, wealth, pleasures, honor, etc. in and of themselves are relatively without peril, but if you begin to love these things - then consumption is soon to follow.  That is why Paul would point us toward true fulfillment and renewal with this great life verse:

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of you mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing, and perfect will."  Romans 12:2

In short, be consumed by God and His plan for you.  It is the path to true lasting happiness, not the incessant craving for the empty pleasures of this old world. 

John goes on to give us two reasons for giving these commands:

1)  Love for the world pushes God out of our lives.
2)  This world and the desires of this world are not eternal.

Paul believed that there wasn't anything good about our sinful nature (Rom. 7:18).  The world has us focus and centered on ourselves, while God calls us to focus upon Him - then reflect His truth toward others.  The world has us boasting and taking pride in what we have or do, chasing the pleasures we see with our eyes, and being lured by the sinful cravings of our fallen nature.  David was led astray by the beauty of a woman bathing (2 Sam. 11:2). Achan paid the ultimate penalty when he saw a beautiful robe, silver and gold in the plunder from a victory and took them for himself (Jos. 7:21). The Psalmist implores God to turn his heart toward statutes of God and not selfish gain, and preserve life by turning his eyes away from worthless things (Psalms 139:36-37).  God can preserve us, for His word and life through Him is eternal unlike this world which John describes as 'passing by'.  God is eternal from everlasting to everlasting (Pslam 90:2), and we are invited to take part in eternity with Him by doing His will - walking His way, living in His word, and shunning the desires of the world.

Many would take John's words here and remove themselves from the world.  That is not the point.  We are called to be light and salt to this world - to be examples of Christ.  We are 'in' the world for it is where we live, but not 'of' the world because we have a different destination.  We are called to point others to that glorious destination.  Two little prepositions, but two big differences. 

Prayer:  God guide us in the fallen world to turn our eyes and desires from those things that pull us from You.  God evoke a spirit of repentance in our lives, so we can keep our hearts pure.  Fill us up with You so we can pour You out upon this temporary world. Amen.                                                   

1st John:Thunder and Love                                                                   #7

Exposing the Deceiver

Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.  I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist—he denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.  (1 John 2:18-23 NIV)

The popularity of the Christian fictional "Left Behind" series speaks to the interest in the end times.  What happens and when the end takes place has been written about as much as any topic.  In today's scripture, John expresses some concerns about the end times.  Wait, you ask - why would John be talking about the eminence of the end times back in the first century?  Wouldn't he have known there are millennia to go before the end times? 

First of all, Jesus was explicit when he said no one has knowledge of the hour of His return except the Father (Matt. 24:36).  Therefore, if the disciples thought that Jesus would return in their lifetimes - this idea wouldn't be far fetched.  After all Jesus taught that everyone should be ready (Matt. 24:44), so every Christian should live a life in preparation for the return of Christ at any time - this would apply to first century Christians the same as twenty-first century Christians.  Even John himself addressed the idea that Christ would return before his death.  John reaches a ripe old age, and probably brought credence to this idea, but he sets the record strait (Jn 21:23).  It is important to understand that we have lived in the last days since the ascension of Christ and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.  Think of how long the world waited for Christ to come the first time.  In those terms we haven't waited near as long for His second coming, although to think it would be the same time frame would be inaccurate based on no one knowing the hour. 

The "when" of Christ's return really isn't what John is concerned about in today's passage.  He does acknowledge the coming of many antichrists as evidence of the end times, but it is just as clear that his main focus is one of assurance while we wait out these last hours.  John wants to make sure we know those who are against us.  Here is his three-fold plan for exposing any antichrist:

1)  They say they are with us, but don't belong to us.

John gives a very practical premise to identify those not with us.  I find it interesting that these antichrists aligned with Christians at one time, but John says they, "did not really belong to us."  Since they left the fold, then you know they were never really Christian.  For John the debate is never 'once saved always saved', but were you ever saved, are you an authentic Christian.  Satan is determined to infiltrate the church with these antichrists in as many places and as often as he can.  Their existence causes doubt, casts a poor example to the world, brings the world into the church, and brings great discouragement to the faithful.  "I'm never going back to church because of what (so and so) did!"...  "I don't go to church because they are a bunch of hypocrites."  "I don't go to church because it is not relevant."  Those who don't belong to us can dissuade others from being a part of the body of Christ. 

2)  We have an anointing that teaches us the truth.

Okay, if they leave they weren't one of us.  That is clear enough, but how do I know an antichrist before he or she leaves?  First, many great men were anointed so deeply before us with the Holy Spirit that they wrote a guide book called the New Testament.  We are to use it.  It is not obsolete.  In addition, we too have the same Spirit indwelling us.  Jesus promised the Spirit as a helper and one of the main purposes of the Spirit is to guide us into all truth (Jn 16:13).  I love John's words as he says, "I do not write to you because you do not know the truth..", again how practical would that be?  John writes because he knows that "...you do know it and no lie comes from the truth."  The Gnostics were great antichrists of John's day.  They attempted to deceive many and their writings are prolific enough to indicate they were very successful.  John didn't write to keep folks from falling away, as in his first point - if they leave they were never part of us, but instead his point is to make sure you know those who are out to destroy, who are enemies of the truth.  Those simply who are enemies of Christ.  When we rely on the Holy Spirit the mask of the deceiver melts away.  When held up to the Light of truth the false christian fails to measure up. 
3)  Those who deny Jesus is the Christ are antichrists.

In John's day the Gnostics did not accept the deity of Jesus.  To be the Messiah, John and the true disciples knew he would be from "everlasting", from "ancient times" (Micah 5:2).  All the evidence they needed was provided by the Old Testament and what they saw in what Jesus did.  The Holy Spirit revealed these scriptures to them and how they pointed to the deity of Christ.  He is Emmanuel - God with us.  These antichrists are identified just as much by how they live (of the world) as what they profess.  This is why point number two is so critical, if all we had to go on was what people said, then we'd be in a heap of trouble.  However, how they conduct themselves in this world is their profession. 

A good friend of mine once told me something that sounds a lot like something John would say.  He said, "You are either a builder or an under-miner.  You are either looking to edify and build up others or tear them down and destroy them."  He believed his job was to know the difference in the people who surrounded him.  That sounds practical to me.  If I align myself with other builders, we can do great things, furthermore, it is just as important to know who the under-miners are.  They wish to destroy the great things you build.  Know who they are.

Prayer:  Gracious Father thanks for allowing us Your Spirit of discernment.  God help us to rely upon that Spirit and act accordingly.  Give us clear vision to identify those who seek to destroy and undermine Your work in our lives and the lives of others.  May our feet fall on Your narrow path, and our eyes be on Jesus.  Amen. 
 

1^st John:  Thunder and Love                                         

Remaining                                             #8                                   

See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father.  And this is what he promised us—even eternal life.

I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray.  As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him. 

And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.  If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.  (1 John 2:24-29 NIV)

 The Greek word for "remain" is meno.  In most New Testament Greek transcripts it is found over 100 times.  In the King James Version it is translated "abide" 61 times, "remain" 16 times, "dwell" 15 times, "continue" 11 times, "tarry" 9 times, and "endure" 3 times.  The word has two basic meanings - to remain or abide in something and to wait or await on one.  I think you will agree this is an incredible word.

Within the first definition remain can allude to a place, a time, a state or condition.  John uses the word meno five times in our passage.  We find the word "remain" four times in the first four verses (24-27) and the meaning here is the first definition to stay, remain, abide in reference to a place - in Him or in you concerning what was heard from the beginning and His anointing.  It is important to point out that remaining is not entirely our effort as meno also implies being held, or kept continually.  If what we heard from the beginning remains in us, and our decision to place our faith in Christ is true and not counterfeit (as John points out in v. 27), then the anointing remains in us - continually holding us in Him. 

"My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me.  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish - ever!  No one will snatch them out of My hand."  (Jn. 10:27-28 HCSB)

What a comfort to know that voice, that life, and that hand - holding us (remaining) in place not allowing anyone to snatch us from His grip.  It appears our part is to hold on to the teaching (what we have heard) and stay true to that teaching.  Others will know we are His sheep by keeping (very close to the meaning of remaining) His commands (Jn 13:35).  Jesus said simply, if we keep His commands we will remain in His love (Jn. 15:10).

The last occurrence of the word meno we find in verse 28 translated in the NIV as "continue".  This is the second definition and alludes to time.  Here the verbal image is to tarry, to endure, to carry on, to last, not to perish, to survive, and yes, to live.  Meno is a verb, it is an action.  It is Jesus who holds us in His hand as we cling and remain in His teachings, therefore, here we are to tarry and endure in this life - in Him.  We are to be continually remaining in Him.  Simply put, my eyes are on Jesus - what would He have me do?  What is His will or desire for me?  What doors is He opening and closing?  What path is He pointing toward?  What call is He beckoning?  Look up!  Who needs the love of Christ?

I will end with a poem from Maggie...

Do you know

do you understand

that you represent

Jesus to me?

Do you know

do you understand

that when you treat me with gentleness,

it raises the question in my mind

that maybe He is gentle, too.

Maybe He isn't someone

who laughs when I am hurt.

Do you know

do you understand

that when you listen to my questions

and you don't laugh,

I think, "What if Jesus is interested in me, too?

Do you know

do you understand

that when I hear you talk about arguments

and conflict and scars from your past,

I think, "Maybe I am just a regular person

instead of a bad, no good little girl

who deserves abuse."

If you care,

I think maybe He cares -

and then there's this flame of hope

that burns inside of me

and for awhile I am afraid to breathe

because it might go out.

Do you know

do you understand

that your words are His words?

Your face is His face

to someone like me?

Please, be who you say you are,

Please, God, don't let this be another trick.

Please let this be real.

Please!

Do you know

do you understand

that you represent

Jesus to me?

(sited from "The Unexpected Adventure" Strobel and Mittelburg - pp. 135-136; a letter from Maggie)

Maggie could be anyone.  May we remain, abide, tarry, endure, continue to be who we say we are.  The world needs real Christians.

Prayer:  God we praise You, for remaining in us, for the imperishable inheritance we have through You in heaven.  God enable us to continue and remain in Your love daily so we can shine and reflect You to others.  Amen.   

1^st John:  Thunder and Love

Children of God                                                                                                                  #9

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.  Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.  (1 John 3:1-3 NIV)

I watched Sunday night as Graeme McDowell tapped in a short putt to finish at even par and win the US Open golf championship.  His dad came rushing out on the green to congratulate his son.  The dad was overjoyed – he may have been more excited than the son.  I began to see in that moment some of what John is talking about in today’s passage.

The test had been a tough one.  McDowell had competed upon on of the most difficult golf courses in the world that was purposely set up to challenge and test the world’s greatest golfers.  There was risk and reward on virtually every decision and shot.  Isn’t life a lot like that?  Aren’t we faced with risk and reward in our choices and decisions?  There are sand traps in life.  There is plenty of rough and certainly a plethora of hazards.  We negotiate the course of life and experience great moments of victory and perilous moments of despair.  What an image to think of as we reach the eighteenth green of our life and see the proud Father running out to meet us upon completion. 

“Well done, my good and faithful servant.” (Matt. 25:23)

Throughout John’s fist letter he repeats several themes.  In today’s passage he is clearly instilling confidence regarding our intimate relationship with the Father.  The first two sentences end in exclamation, and point to a love that is not external or distant, but literally lavished on us.  This is an important point - that the Father’s love is not something of a theatrical nature where we gaze upon it marveling like an audience at a show, instead, this love is present with us and in us. 

If the world fails to recognize this love, John tells us not to be concerned, for the world failed to recognize Jesus when He came.  The fact that the world continues to ignore His love should be no great surprise.  “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first”, Jesus said expounding on this fact (John 15:18).  Many times we expect a warm fuzzy reception from the world and when that doesn’t happen we can get discouraged.  Do not worry because the world is merely acting as the world acts in accordance with what Jesus foretold.  This should redirect our efforts toward pleasing someone or something from the world back to the Father.  Let us do our work to please Him, and let the world react as it will, for the world is not our aim, instead we aim to be like Jesus. 

John wraps up today’s scripture telling us that one day we will see Him how He really is.  I’ve often wondered about John and how the transfiguration would have changed him.  When John tells us these things we should do well to remember that he did see Christ as He really is along with his brother James and Peter.  The gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke record this event.  The face of Jesus became like the sun and his clothes as white as the light (Matt. 17:2)  The whiteness of the garments were otherworldly (Mk 9:3).  They were like lightning (Luke 9:29).  John promises we too, shall see this, and His righteousness becomes our righteousness.  His purity is our purity.  What a lavish love indeed to share that with the likes of us.

Prayer:  Father thanks for Your love.  Thank you that this love is not some external and superficial love, but an internal and intimate love.  May every day be Father’s Day. Amen.

1st John: Thunder and Love

Warning Signs                                                                                                          #10

Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.
But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins.
And in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning.
No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.

(1 John 3:4-6)


You're driving down the road in the car and out of nowhere a little yellow light on the dash comes on demanding all your attention.  The messages are varied, but usually fall into either the "check engine soon" or "service engine soon" categories.   If you are like me, you react first in disbelief. 

"The light must be wrong!"

The car is running fine.  What could be the problem?  I deduce that it is all a mistake - that there really is nothing wrong and the light is merely mistaken.  After all there have been no previous warnings.  In the pit of your stomach you get a strange sensation that seems to beg to differ, "What if the light is correct?"  This brings up the second reaction which is more skeptical.

"This thing has been programed by the car company to automatically come on a some point making you bring it back to them so they can get more of your money." 

Again, there is nothing wrong with the car, right?  If you are male, have you ever noticed that your wife reacts to the "check engine light" differently?  Yeah, if up to her, you'd drive it straight to the mechanic and have the motor pulled.  But seriously, I've been told that if the light is on, then something is wrong.  Yes, I know that is a blow for some you.  If the light is on, then seldom if ever is it "nothing" or the sinister car company attempting to drain you of your hard earned money.

For the Christian we sometimes treat sin the same way.  The light of warning goes off and we bang the dash exclaiming, "The light must be wrong - I'm fine!"  John knew the authentic Christian is equipped with an early warning system much like your car. 

"When he (the Holy Spirit) comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment..."  John 16:8

The Holy Spirit leads and guides us into all truth, which includes an inner compass of direction away from sin - even sin we can't see or don't want to see.  Sin holds captive, but truth sets you free, therefore when the warning light comes on the intent is not to condemnation.  The intent is repentance and freedom.  John wants everyone to know that Christ appeared to take away our sins (John 3:17), so we can live an exemplary life reflecting the light to others.  This includes how we respond to sin, for the Christian's life should be characterized by obedience and not sin. 

John is very concerned about those who pay no attention to the "check engine light".  Those who use grace, the greatest word the world could ever know, and cheapen it by using it like some get out of hell free card or license to sin.  This sloppy grace isn't grace at all.  John has repeated the theme over and over:  A continued life in repeated and unrepentant sin is a sign of never having known Christ.  Christ knew we would struggle with sin in our lives that is why He placed Himself within us with the Holy Spirit.  Do you think this presence will just rubber stamp everything you ever do offering no direction rife with tough choices?  Personally the light has gone on for me in the best of times.  Everything appears to be going great and then the inner warning sign shows me a failure that needs attention.  The wise choice is to know that something is wrong, not to claim the Holy Spirit is wrong (how crazy is that?).  The wise understanding is to know that God knows what is best for me and His intentions are rooted in His love for me.  He desires that I walk in obedience.  He is not trying to manipulate me as though the guilt trip will attain some desired result.  No, He is looking for me to heed the warning and make a change.  He wants me to drive the car straight back to Him, pop the hood and get busy fixing the problem with His help. 

Prayer:  Lord we have Your Spirit within us.  Teach us to know that truth and measure the steps of our lives by that truth.  Teach us to rely on You for the future steps and seek You for the right path.  God forgive us when we step off the path, for surely we will - because the way is tough, but just as surely make the misstep known to us.  And, may we act according to Your word.  Thank You for Your grace - may we never misuse it, but instead be found giving it away to those who are in need of it. Amen.

1st John: Thunder and Love

Family Resemblances                                                                                  #11

Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.  (1 John 3:7-10)

Have you noticed that getting comfortable with John's writings is almost impossible.  At one point he spins great hope in assurance and the next moment he becomes the Son of Thunder again - bringing you out of your comfort zone with his teaching.  Today's passage is some of that tough love. 

Consistently John has impressed upon us the absolute truth of how we live our lives and what that says about our alliances.  Simply, John would say that our actions reveal if we are with God or not - or perhaps God is with us or not.  In the context of today's message do not miss the first verse.  In John's day the Gnostics were leading great numbers of people astray with their heresy.  Their beliefs in gaining salvation by what you know is plain proof of their alliance with Satan, for he always works in our power of self as opposed to the surrendered reliance on the LORD.  John is cautioning us, and we would do well not to underestimate the power of the enemy.  Jesus, while clothed in flesh, felt this power when He met Satan face to face in a showdown in the desert (see Matthew and Luke chapter 4).

Satan attacked Jesus with temptation to ease his current condition (that of hunger for he had fasted 40 days), cure any future worries by ruling the whole world (Satan usually works in power not love), and finally the most biting temptation was testing God's care (after all Jesus was being sent to die).  You can almost hear the same question posed to Jesus that was posed to Eve in the garden at the beginning...  "Did God really say...?"  Does it have to be this way?  Jesus answered correctly, but what about us?

Daily we are faced with enticing temptations from the devil, who has been sinning from the beginning (for more on that topic see Isa. 14:12-14 and Ezek. 28:11-15 for examples of Satan's fall through depiction of earthly kings).  Satan's goal is to drive a wedge between God and man; to separate God from His most treasured creation.  Christ came to destroy that work by offering Himself as the sacrifice paving a way (the only way) back to the Father.  As John says, Christ then plants the seed within the believer.  The seed is none other than His Spirit, the Holy Spirit.  As stated in our last devotion, one of the purposes of the Spirit is to convict us of sin.  Therefore, this passage doesn't say the Christian will not sin, but will not continually repeat sin that the Holy Spirit exposes and brings conviction.  You could say that how we deal with sin indicates our family resemblance.  For John and his world of absolutes, we are either children of God or the devil based upon whether our lives are characterized by obedience or sin.  The true Christian is convicted of sin and strives to repent of that sin.  The child of Satan gives in to the sin listening instead to Satan's lies... 

"You can handle it." 
"You can control this."
"You aren't hurting anyone." 
"Just once more." 
"Everyone else is doing it." 
"Hey, you're already forgiven, so have your fun."

There are many more and many more lies being formed.  In our own power we are defenseless.  Jesus showed us how to deal with these temptations.  In the desert He clung to the Word of God to battle the devil.  Each temptation was answered with the truth of scripture.  I think that process still works.  We can allow the Holy Spirit to lead us to the truth of the Word of God so that we resign our power (where Satan has power), instead denying ourselves taking up our cross daily and following Jesus (Lk. 9:23) - probably the most non-manipulative invitation ever given.   

I'll conclude today's tough lesson of thunder with love.  John says in verse 10 that love is a key component in family resemblances.  The child of God is a child of love - plain and simple.  Loving God and loving one another is the formula.  Satan has no power against Godly love.  More on love in our next installment.

Prayer:  God thanks for how You've loved us.  How You chose us to be different.  God enable us through the conviction of Your Spirit to seek out our wrongdoings and know Your truth.  Lead us to live a life that honors You.  May we resemble You.  Amen.

1st John: Thunder and Love

Love and Hate                                                                                                                             #12

This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous. Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him. (1 John 3:11-15)


In today's passage John takes us back to three different places in time concerning three related messages.  First, we go back to the last night of the earthly ministry of Jesus.  Second, he takes us all the way back to Genesis to contemplate the relationship of Cain and Able, and finally he takes us back to the Sermon on the Mount.

John was captivated by the last night of the earthly ministry of Jesus.  No other gospel writer devotes more words to that night.  John uses chapters 13 through 17 to document the night before the sacrifice of Christ.  On that night Jesus said, "A new command I give you: Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know you are my disciples, if you love one another." (Jn 13:34-35)  Remarkably, this is not a new command (see Lev. 19:18), but what makes it different and definitely new is the love of Christ.  There is no more powerful phrase in this passage than, "As I have loved you..."  The love of Jesus changes everything, and the expectation is that we as Christians love each other likewise.  How are you doing with this?  It is no small task loving others as Jesus loved us.  You'll have to look over countless faults, insensitive comments, lack of understanding, hurtful actions, misguided passions, and self centered motivations.  Why on earth would you do this?  Because this short list of things to look over represents what Jesus looks over and loves us anyway - rest assured there are many more faults than my short list. The disciples must have frustrated Jesus greatly.  It seems they never quite get things right and then they banter about like school boys wanting to know who is the greatest all the time.  Matter of fact Luke records that the who is the greatest debate breaks out on the night of the last supper (Luke 22:24).  In spite of their actions, Jesus loves them anyway - He lays down His life for them, for us.  That is the kind of love that will let everyone know you are a follower of Christ.

The story of Cain and Able has no happy ending, and essentially neither does hatred.  When we hate others this passion can flourish to the point where taking a life might become a viable option for someone.  Just the other day I listened as a friend of mine told me of a bizarre scene at his 10 year old boy's soccer match.  In the middle of a blowout a father goes to console his son who is crying on the field.  The coach approaches on crutches to let the father know he has everything under control.  The father turns and loses his mind, beating up the maimed coach.  He doesn't stop either - it takes numerous other people to basically save the life of the coach.  Does that sound irrational?  Of course, but it is the path that hatred will lead you.  One day a man just hates another and keeps that fact to his inner circle of friends, the next day he is on top of the man he hates in front of hundreds of people (and his crying son) punching away as though he intends to kill the man.  I don't know if the coach's actions were righteous, matter of fact I doubt it, but this is what can happen when hate rules our day. 

On a hill near Galilee very early on in His ministry, Jesus spoke some of the most provocative words He would ever utter.  In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus takes murder, which the law stated as killing another without cause,  and equates it to hating your brother.  Jesus knew what hate could cause, and where it is seeded...in the heart.  He did the same with adultery - equating that to lust.  Jesus took the law a step further, and it is a big step - a step from the actions of reality to the innermost desires of our heart; the things we think and don't say;  the actions we contemplate, but don't do...Jesus says they matter for He knows Satan can fan the flames of hate, and the most vile thoughts become reality.

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus tells us to settle all differences quickly, to seek out our brother and make things right (even before we offer our gifts to God - you do that weekly, right?) - Matt. 5:23-25.  How much better would life be if we lived this way?  Now, you might have to come to agree to disagree with more folks, but that would be a better result than tip toeing around saying one thing and meaning another loaded down with remorse in your heart.  The truth will set you free. Therefore be truthful in love with your brother - I bet you'll mend more fences than you break.  I bet you'll find more agreement than disagreement.  ...but it won't be easy.  Loving like Jesus loved us shouldn't be easy.  It wasn't for Him.

Prayer:  Father, I marvel at how You love us.  Your grace shown us is nothing short amazing.  Enable us to love others by the example of Christ.  Amen.  

First John:  Thunder and Love

What is Love?                                                                                                    #13

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.  If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?   Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 

God > Our Hearts                                                                                      #14

This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 

(1 John 3:19-20) NIV

The heart is the battleground isn't it?  There is a war of grand magnitude that is waged in the heart, and consequences abound.  Consider...

The heart is led by what we value, or treasure (Mt. 6:21).  Those things that mean the most to us will demand our heart and our heart will follow.  When Jesus responded to the question of the greatest commandment He said it was to love the LORD with all your heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30).  The heart comes first - therein lies the seed of belief.  It all starts in the heart.

The "pure in heart" are listed in the Beatitudes with the promise that they will see God (Matt.5:8).  You could deduce that a pure heart is what it takes to see God.  In contrast to the pure in heart, Jesus would expose that a vile heart brought guilt equal to action, stating that committing adultery in your heart was no different than the actual act (Mt. 5:28).

When the world had to be destroyed by flood, Moses wrote that the hearts of every man were inclined to evil all the time.  This grieved the LORD that He'd ever made man (Gen. 6:5-6).

I could go on and on for the Bible is rife with scripture of both caution and joy when it comes to the heart.  John was concerned for the Christian that our hearts would condemn us.  That we would beat ourselves up for not being more perfect.  He was right, because out of that sentiment would spawn things like legalism, loss of salvation, and eventually even universalism.  It is important to remember that for the Christian God does not condemn us, instead it is the enemy.  The word Satan means "Accuser" in the Hebrew and I think it describes him to a tee.  John would later write about a loud voice from heaven that uses this name for Satan in Revelation 12:10...

"...For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down."

It is what he does.  Satan accuses us before God both day and night.  When we are convicted of sin (one of the purposes of the Holy Spirit) it is Satan that uses sin to drive a wedge between the heart and God.  Spirit-led conviction in the heart instead draws us closer to God through repentance.  There is a big difference there.  The one thing John wants us to know is that God knows the heart and is greater than the heart.  Once very early in the ministry of Jesus while in Jerusalem Jesus would not entrust Himself to some men because He knew their hearts (Jn. 2:23-25).  The Creator of our inner-most being, our soul, knows us warts and all, and even though we don't measure up He died for us anyway.  Thus, He gives us His righteousness not that we deserve it, that wouldn't be grace.

This should be a great and liberating comfort to know that the accuser has no grip on the true believer's heart.  We all fall short of the perfection of Christ.  If that were to consume us we would be miserable the whole time.  In truth however, we receive great joy in knowing that God is greater than our hearts and the battle that wages in our hearts.  The key as Jesus pointed out in Luke 9:23 is to surrender that heart, take up that cross, and follow Him.  It is a daily process.  This surrender brings great freedom.  This surrender releases the bondage of the heart. 

Prayer:  Father we are eternally thankful that You are greater than our hearts.  Help us to be pure of heart and focused upon Your desires for our lives.  Thanks for sending Your Spirit to fill our hearts with You.  Enable us with that power to go and do Your good, pleasing and perfect will.  Amen.

1st John: Thunder and Love

Anything We Ask                                                                       #15

First John:  Thunder and Love                                                                         #16

Testing Spirits

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

1 John 4:1-4 NIV

Today, John gives us a field guild for testing spirits. False prophets have always been a problem, but in the dawning days of the first church this was a primary tool of the enemy. Sure you had incredible churches in Jerusalem, Antioch, and Ephesus, but mostly you had churches meeting in houses comprised of 20-30 people, and there weren't enough emissaries to get around to all churches. This is why the letters of Paul, John, Peter, James, Hebrews and the Gospels were so important. Satan, a deceiver by nature, flourished with false prophets (still does). Jesus knowing what would happen, forewarned people of false prophets (Matt. 7:15, 24:24).

Essentially John's litmus test for spirits identifies them into only two categories: Those from God and those not from God. Sounds easy enough, huh? Actually, he simplifies the process of testing even further by giving the dividing sign. True to form, John's dividing sign rests upon the public acknowledgment that Jesus Christ came in the flesh from God. Most scholars agree that 1 John was aimed at the Gnostics and today's scripture gives that thought credence, for they (Gnostics) thought that Jesus had a spirit of God come upon His body at baptism and it departed at the cross. Therefore, God the Son didn't die on the cross but merely a body of God the Son. Many were led astray.

In our day some of the same principals apply. First, we know the true Spirit of God by our association with that Spirit in our hearts (Rom 8:16). The only problem, as we proved earlier, our hearts are the battle ground for spiritual warfare. In the same vein as John, Paul stated we should test everything and hold on to what is good (1 Thess. 5:21), so we can look for good in these spirits as an indicator for further clarification. Jesus stated we'd know them by their fruit (Matt. 7:16). In addition, one of the primary functions of a prophet is to foretell of things to come, and in the old testament, Moses gives us a guide on how prophecies should be evaluated. If they speak of other gods or state prophecies that do not come to pass, they should not be listened to (Duet. 18:20,22). Using this method would have kept a lot of people from straying, consider...

...the former Presbyterian, Charles Taz Russell prophesied Armageddon in 1914. When that didn't come to pass they prophesied the end of the world to be 1925. In 1926 they stopped predicting these things, but the cult (Jehovah's witnesses) flourishes to this day. If people had held to both the standard of Moses and John (they deny the deity of Christ), then this movement would have never gotten off the ground.

Joseph Smith, the father of Mormonism, made several prophecies that never came to pass, but is given a pass on those. Also, Mormons will tell you to pray and ask to know the truth and you will get a warm feeling in your bosom - thus proof they are correct. Not once in all of scripture does the God's word say to pray to test a spirit by a feeling. I guess that feeling can cause multitudes to ignore other scripture and go with the feeling. Sad, but true. Can you see why testing spirits is so important?

Prayer: Gracious God we give thanks for the guide we have in scripture to test the many deceptions of the enemy. God I pray more people will allow Your word to expose these spirits of heresy, so that we may truly live guided by Your Spirit alone. Amen.

First John:  Thunder and Love                                                                 #17

The God in Our Corner

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

1 John 4:4-6  (NIV)

Times are tough.  Last night we had a first with the street ministry.  As we checked a local known homeless campsite in the woods off I-20, we found a family with a three year old daughter.  They had started just south of Syracuse, NY, making there way down the eastern seaboard looking for work, but finding nothing permanent. They eventually lost their car then rode by truck from South Carolina to Mobile, AL.  The trucker paid for a bus ticket to Jackson where a brother from Texas was to meet them, but he wasn't there.  They walked down Galatin Street to the truck stops on I-20 and when they didn't find another ride they met some of our friends who frequent the woods staying for the night.  Today they start all over again trying to make their way west.  The little girl, Danny, was as happy as any kid you'd encounter.  I can still hear her sweet voice piercing the dark.  We prayed with them and for them. 

Last night put this morning's passage in a different perspective.  We are in this world and certainly subject to the trials of this world, but our God is greater than our circumstances.  As bleak as our situation can be He orders our steps in spite of our troubles.  Jesus didn't sugar coat the future for the disciples on that last night before His sacrifice as he told them they would find trouble in this world, but to take heart for He had overcome this world (John 16:33).  Therefore, we should be different.  We should look to the future regardless of our plight and believe that in God's timing we will be delivered.  Consider Job - no one went through a rougher time nor lost more than Job, but God restored him to an even greater status than before his loss, and he was as wealthy as anyone in the nations before that loss. 

The truth is from the world's viewpoint what we saw last night was a tragedy of faith.  How someone who has nothing could be thankful, faith-full, and expectant of the future is beyond the world's understanding.  John says those of the world apart from God just don't get us, but nonetheless we drop seeds in our actions and love to show them the greater reality of the One not of this world.  A homeless man named Alan once told us, "I don't know about believing in God.  I haven't seen Him come through too much for me, but I believe in you people."  What an overwhelming statement.  He couldn't understand God, but he could understand the few of us who show up to offer him water, a sandwich, and a conversation.  It is a start, isn't it?  The truth is God breaks through into this world all the time and prefers to use the broken vessels he has called to reflect His grace on a world that doesn't get it.  But the truth is there are people out there who will get it, at our jobs, in our families, in homeless shelters, hospice facilities, high schools, sport's fields, etc.  In verse six, John identifies the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.  We, all of us who profess to be Christians, are agents of truth penetrating a wounded world full of folks crying out for love. 

Knowing God is in your corner, what shall you do today?  How do you approach this day differently than a person void of that hope?  Who is hurting out there?  Who has the world kicked to the curb? 

"I know nothing, except what everyone knows - if there when Grace dances, I should dance." 
The poet W.H. Auden

Prayer:  Father we know You are in our corner.  No matter what happens we cling to You and Your love.  Enable us to be Your agents of grace and walk in Your truth before the world. Amen.

First John:  Thunder and Love                                                      #18

How God Showed Love

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

(1 John 4:7-9 NIV)

The word "love" as it exists in various forms in the Greek language, is found an unprecedented 43 times in First John. Between 1 John 4:7 and 1 John 5:3 we find it 32 times. So over the next few devotions we are going to look at love. In today's passage John tells us how God showed love to us. The greatest manifestation of love ever displayed is the sending of the one and only Son into the world. He didn't have to do this, so why did He? Love is the only word that makes sense of this action.

In the very beginning God did something else that didn't make a lot of sense - He created beings that had the option to reject Him. God didn't desire mindless creatures for that would be nothing more than a fish tank, and it is impossible to have a relationship with a tank of fish. He loved so much that even the angels could reject Him and some did, thus evil was born out of free will and not created by God. As God's most treasured creation we failed and fell into sin. But God wasn't about to leave us there, so He allowed His Son to come to earth and take on flesh, to be one of us. The plan had been in motion from the beginning. Depending on how you count them, there are 61 prophecies in the Old Testament that point to Jesus and His coming, His life, His sacrifice, and His resurrection. God knew this act of love would repair the damage done and offer the opportunity for mankind to be redeemed back to the Father.

Can you recall the moment you were saved? The moment when you realized the God of heaven stepped out of that realm and took on flesh for you though you deserved nothing of like. Do you remember? John, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, penned the most recognized verse of the entire bible - John 3:16.

For God so loved the world...

Love is the root of this verse, it is where it all starts. To send His son into the world God only had one motivation - love. World here is Kosmos, which is all inclusive, everyone. Salvation would be available to all... and a thief on a cross who only spent his last few moments on earth believing in Jesus is granted eternal life because of that belief in those last few moments. God's love is available to all the kosmos.

...that He gave His one and only Son...

Did you get that? Christ was given. This love is a gift of grace. It is not your birthday, it's not because you deserve it, or you are holy. It is because you are loved! Isaiah knew this and foretold of it. "For to us a child is born, to us a son is GIVEN." (Isaiah 9:6) For what Abraham couldn't do, and God didn't require him to do in the sacrifice of Isaac, but provided a ram instead, God the Father would send the Son to be the atoning sacrifice. Put the scapegoat away, shut down the burnt offerings for the atoning sacrifice is made. Interestingly, that within a generation these Jewish customs to deal with sin stop after Jesus. God has given, but what is required of us?

...that whoever believes in Him...

It doesn't matter where you come from, who or where you are... a thief on a cross, a homeless guy under a bridge, a prostitute strung out on crack, a man with bloody murder on his hands, etc. Whoever really means whoever - this is that kind of love. To be honest, I'm uncomfortable with that, but the truth is that if those listed don't have access to belief, we all don't. Sin is sin to God - the smallest of which is a pure abomination to who He is. Do you feel His love, now? The requirement is merely belief, but it is a life saving belief. It is knowing that you are correct in responded to this kind of love, knowing with confidence that God did give His son as a ransom for you. You know there is a receipt in heaven stamped - "PAID IN FULL". Praise God!

...shall not perish...

God so loves us that He wants us around for eternity with Him. That which waits for those who don't believe as eternal punishment, is not a destination for us. God, by loving us and giving His Son, shows us that He wants us to be with Him. We deserve to be separated from Him for the wages of sin is separation from Him, but a Son was given.

...but have eternal life.

God's love in the given Son is our ticket back to a heavenly party that goes on for the limitless time of eternity... a thousand years will seem as but a day. So, do you feel the love? Paul could. His life was radically changed on a lonely road to Damascus, and he never got over it. I believe he may have put it best when he said, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom. 5:8).

That about sums up the love God showed us. John implores us to respond to that love by our actions toward one another. We should show love because of the love shown to us. Hold on to that!! Daily!!

Prayer: God how you loved us is beyond our grasp. That Your grace is extended to us, sinners, is beyond our ability to understand sometimes. Thank You for loving us. Enable us to Love others as you have Loved us. Amen.

First John:  Thunder and Love                                                                 #19

First Love

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 

(1 john 4:10-12 NIV)

God loved us when we didn't deserved to be loved.  As sinners we are an abomination to a perfect and Holy God, but He loved and loves us anyway.  God is the initiator of love.

Consider a single sheep who wanders away from the flock.  The Shepherd decides to leave the flock numbering 99 and search diligently for the one who is lost.  The Shepherd is overjoyed with finding the lost sheep and returning him to the flock (Matt. 18:12-13).  How often do you wander off from God searching for something...maybe something that fulfills some want or need.  Perhaps you have backsliden and don't feel like you can return to the flock. Just remember while you are searching or lost, He is searching for you, reaching out by the Spirit to spark conviction in your heart.  What a comfort to know that God just doesn't count you as loss, for nothing can snatch you from His hand once He (the Good Shepherd) has you (Jn. 10:28).

Consider the a servant with a debt so large, literally millions of dollars, that is so large he can never hope to repay it to the king.  The servant cries out for patience and offers to pay the debt over time, but there isn't enough time in his life to pay the debt, so the king completely erases the debt.  Even though great mercy and forgiveness has been shown to the servant, he can't to the same to his fellow man.  The unmerciful servant had taken the love initiated by the king for granted.  The servant was offered love, but did not reciprocate.  The king is angered and turns the servant over to the jailers (Matt. 18:22-34).  The King didn't have to pay the debt penalty, but He did.  Jesus died on a wooden cross bearing the sins of humankind.  Jesus was the love offering, once and for all, paid in full, cancellation of the debt.  Our response to His love (as John implores time and time again) is to love others.

A feast goes on into the night as a father celebrates the return of a son he figured long lost.  Years ago that son had requested his inheritance before the father's passing and left the farm.  Squandering all that he was given, the son finds himself dining with pigs, a far cry from the treatment even the lowly servants enjoy at the father's farm.  The son decides to return believing even to be a disowned son, but yet a servant would be better than the shape he is in now.  The father will have none of the servant business - no, he is beside himself with joy that the son that was lost has returned.  All is forgiven.(Luke 15:11-32)  No matter how far we stray our Father is there.even though we may have disowned Him by our lives, actions and words.  

A lady loses one of her ten coins.  She lights a lamp and searches the house day and night until she finds the coin.  When she finds the coin at long last, she calls her friends, neighbors and family together and announces with great enthusiasm, "Rejoice with me!  I have found my lost coin!"  Jesus said in the same vein, when a one sinner repents, there is great rejoicing in all of heaven by God and the angels. (Luke 15:8-10)  Jesus keeps searching, thank God! 

The woman is frightened beyond telling.  It is early in the morning, and she has hardly any clothes on trying to cover up as she is surrounded on every flank by an angry mob.  She was the pawn in a grand plan to trap a prominent Rabbi.  Having been induced into adultery, she now stands before Jesus and her fate is in His hands.  "The law of Moses says to stone her.  She has been caught in adultery, now what do you say?"  Men hold stones ready to be delivered.  Disciples look on in anticipation.  Jesus calmly begins to draw in the dirt with His finger.  Some have speculated he is writing down a list of sins - lying, stealing, cheating, murder, lust, greed... on and on - perhaps.  The trap is set.  If Jesus condemns her to be stoned, then He is in trouble with Rome, and if He pardons her, He is in trouble with the law of Moses.  Jesus then simply turns the tables and directs a command back to the mob...

"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone..."

Silence.

Then, the sound of stones falling to the ground are heard and the crowd is dispersed.  The trap has failed.  Those who aimed to condemn are gone, and shockingly - Jesus says, "...neither do I condemn you.  Go now and leave your life of sin."  Can you imagine how she felt.  In an instant she is given back all her future days when she saw no future surrounded by angry eyes and gripped rocks.  (John 8:2-11)  We don't know what became of the woman, no one tells us, but we do know who reached out to her and loved her by granting her forgiveness. 

I don't know where you are right now.  You may be facing a certain stoning, or perhaps you've made a bad decision years ago leaving you in that pig pen.  Maybe you have a debt load that you keep saying one day you'll make it right, or maybe you are just as lost as that one sheep on the ridge or the coin under the sofa.  It could be that you just don't feel loved.  Trust me when I say this:  The God of heaven is searching for you right now!  And, if you are one of the flock whom He has already found, then consider helping Him search.  Share His love - "love one another."

There was once an Irish priest who was walking the glorious green country side of his native Ireland along an ancient road. In the distance he saw a man on the ground near the road.  He begins to rush toward the fallen figure fearing he has been hit by a wagon or cart.  When the priest arrives he sees that the man, a common peasant, has not fallen, but that he is kneeling praying fervently to God.  The priest is very impressed saying, "You must be very close to God."  The peasant looks up from his prayers and with a broad smile he replies, "Yes, He is very fond of me." 

The peasant knew if was God who had drawn near.  We only need to turn around (repent) and receive His love.  We are God's first love.

Prayer:  God we marvel at how You love us.  We praise You for how You search for us, find us and love us.  May we never take that love for granted.  Amen.

First John:  Thunder and Love                                                                        #20

The Spirit's Testimony

We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.

1 John 4:13-15  NIV

The gift of the Holy Spirit is a very special thing. The disciples weren't so sure when Christ first talked about the coming Spirit on that last night before His sacrifice.  I sympathize with them, after all, they had Jesus in the flesh with them for three years.  However, Jesus was emphatic that He must go away to make way for the Spirit. (Jn 16:7)  The disciples wouldn't fully understand this until the day of Pentecost when the promised Spirit came.  They were radically changed by that event.  We must remember that the Spirit was unleashed on that day - before, as we find in the Old Testament, the Spirit had come upon people - after Pentecost the Spirit began working within the masses indwelling believers - even a strict Christian-hating Pharisee named Saul.  Later it was that same man (later known as Paul) who wrote:

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit the we are God's children.  (Romans 8:16) NIV

The Father sends the Son.  The Son returns to the Father and the Spirit is made available, who in turn testifies of the Son on our behalf to pave the way back to the Father.  It is the path of salvation.  Consider the role of the Spirit chronologically given in John's gospel...

We are not alone.

When Jesus promised the Spirit He said, "I will not leave you as orphans:  I will come to you." In addition, the Spirit would not just live with us, but in us - indwelling our very soul. (see John 14:16-18)  It is the still small voice, the whisper in the wind, the peace and comfort that is there in the most troubling of times.  It is the Spirit of God in us, and as John points out in v. 15, us in Him.  Do you live your life daily completely aware of this incredible gifted arrangement?

We have access to the greatest teacher.

Jesus instructed that the Spirit was teach all things.  This comes with the peace of Christ reminding us of God's Word as we go about our days.  Whatever hardship we face the Spirit will remind us of God's promises.  What ever triumph we celebrate the Spirit will ground us in humility reminded us of God's Word.  The Spirit is there to take away the worry if we let Him.  He vanquishes trouble from the heart and quells the fear being used by the devil. (See John 14:26-27)

The Spirit draws us to and reveals Jesus as Savior.

The Spirit goes out from the Father in His will and testifies that Jesus is Savior. (Jn 15:26)  Matter of fact, Jesus said no one will come to Him unless drawn by the Father. (Jn. 6:44)  Therefore, it is the Spirit doing the work on earth now that seeks the heart to testify of Jesus to the glory of the Father.

The Spirit convicts us.

As part of the drawing process the Spirit convicts the world of guilt in regard to sin, righteousness, and judgment.  None of us are worthy of Christ, that is why grace is grace and not mercy or clemency - those suggest a deserved response.  We are sinful creatures and the Spirit helps us realize that apart from Christ, by not believing in Christ, we are doomed by this sin.  However, our judgment due to sin, because of His righteousness, is overturned and he prince of this world, the devil stands forever condemned - eternally powerless to those who believe on Christ. (John 16:7-11)

The Spirit guides us into all truth.

By having the Spirit, we have access to a powerful guide.  As though a compass in an uncharted land, the Spirit points us always to truth as a compass always points north.  The Spirit speaks to us straight from the Father revealing the will of the Father so we'll know the path to take, the door to walk through and the pitfalls to avoid.  Simply put, Jesus said, "He (Spirit) wil bring glory to me by taking from what is mine (all the Father has given) and making it known to you."  (see John 16:13-15)

Prayer:  God we praise You and glorify You for sending us the Helper, the Counselor, the Holy Spirit.  May His voice be clear to us as we make our way knowing we are not alone, we have access to the greatest teacher, being convicted and drawn to you - guided into all truth.  What a gift!  What a Savior!  Amen.

First John - Thunder and Love                                                                  #21  

Love that Drives out Fear

First John:  Thunder and Love                                                                                          #23

Overcome - Past and Present Tense

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.   (1 John 5:1-5)

Through our faith in Christ we have the chance to overcome this world we live in for He overcame it first on our behalf (Jn.15:33)  The word "Overcome" in Greek is nikao (long "o" on the end), which means to conquer or to carry off the victory.  It is most often translated as overcome in the New Testament, but on two occasions it is translated as conquer, once as prevail, and once as "get the victory".  It basically means - you win.  The victory of Christ becomes the basis for your own victory. 

John wrote the word two different ways in today's passage:  overcomes and has overcome.  One is present tense and the other is past tense.  The past tense victory is the victory of Christ.  His overcoming of the world paves the way for us.  We have overcome (past tense) the world when we surrendered this life and placed our faith in Jesus. No matter what happens to us here we have ultimate victory over death.  This grants us the ability to overcoming daily this world in which we live.  How?  By winning the real battle.  No, it is not winning that big project at work, successful investing, the league championship, or the getting the big house.  It is way more profound than that.  It is the battle with sin.  This day-today victory is nothing more than carrying out His commands,and the burden is light as Jesus once said:

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."  (Matt.  11:28-30)

We don't know much about yokes in our modern day, but this is an illustration that the multitudes following Jesus would have gotten in their day.  Work animals had to be trained and the way this was done was by yoking them with a much more experienced animal.  In the same yoke the more experienced animal would carry the heavier load and lead by example the lesser experienced animal.  Jesus says to yoke with Him, for He will take the heavy weight from you and place it on His shoulders.  It is a wonderful illustration of the Christian life.  We conquer because we are yoked with Jesus.  He directs our steps, convicts us of wrongdoing and shows us the right way.  However, we are not harnessed, be can bolt from the yoke at any time falling victim to sin, but the true child of God always has a spot pulling the plow. 

Sin will erode our ability to overcome (present tense) this world even though we have overcome (past tense) the world by faith in Christ.  Just stay in the yoke and the victory will take care of itself.  No team would practice all week to disregard what they worked on during the game.  No, the game plan is everything.  Sure adjustments will have to be made for the adversary is no push-over, but the One in the yoke with us is undefeated.  Let's go with Him.

Prayer:  Father we praise Jesus for His yoke is easy and His burden is light.  Help us to turn from our own power and let Him lead us.  Enable us to stay in the yoke and follow His commands.  What a bountiful harvest awaits!  Amen.

First John:  Thunder and Love                                                             #24

Water, Blood, and Spirit

This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. We accept man's testimony, but God's testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

(1st John 5:6-12  NIV)

John identifies three aspects of testimony to Jesus:  Spirit, water and blood.  In the face of the heresy from the Gnostics, John is offering a defense of who Jesus is based on the testimony of His life.  The Gnostics believed Jesus did not attain a divine Spirit until his baptism by John and just before His death that same Spirit departed Him.  This heresy denies God in the flesh - the true nature of Jesus being born of a mother's womb (water) by divine means (Spirit).  John put it plainly in his gospel message:  "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us." (John 1:14a)  Jesus entered the world a small defenseless infant totally dependent on a young teenage mother.  He literally lived among us in houses made by hands from the very earth He created.  He walked in the desert under the hot sun that He hung in the expanse of the universe.  He felt hunger, temptation, sorrow, joy, and the range of emotions we experience. He became one of us and lived a perfect life.

Water is symbolic of not only birth, but purification.  Baptism is a symbol of a new creation and the Jews used water to clean themselves or purify them from being unclean.  This prophetic verse from Ezekiel underlines the use of water and a foretelling of the coming Spirit:

I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.  (Ezk. 36:25-27)

"God is Spirit", Jesus once said to a lady by Jacob's well (John 4:24).  This is His nature and Jesus as the Son of God doesn't betray that image.  The Spirit of God testified to the truth of the Son of God.  Hearts are drawn to Him.  His will is revealed in this way.  This truth that comes via the Spirit to our own hearts is then our testimony to the truth, but make no mistake it originates from the Spirit, the Spirit of truth. 

Finally, the blood testifies of His sacrifice which makes the purification possible.  Under the old Jewish system ritual washing jars were used to bring hands clean before a feast.  These are the exact jars that Jesus chose to turn ritual water into the very best wine - symbolic of the blood.  (Jn. 2:1-12).  The blood had to be spilled, the sacrifice had to be made to grant us the great reunion with the Holy Father. 

The testimony is complete each time a person accepts Christ.  We are born of water, we acknowledge our sinful nature accepting the sacrifice of blood spilled for our sins, and we receive the Spirit.  The testimony of the water, blood and Spirit carries on everyday.

Prayer:  Father we are astounded by how Jesus came in the flesh born of water and lived among us experiencing what we experienced living a perfect life.  How thankful we are that He laid down His life and spilled His precious blood for the likes of us.  Oh how grateful are we that within each of us as believers we carry His Spirit - leading, guiding and enabling us in Your good, perfect and pleasing will. Amen.

First John:  Thunder and Love                                           #25

Confidence Before God

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

(1 John 5:13-15  NIV)

In verse 15 John provides one of the main reasons his letter has been written and sent out - so believers may know they have eternal life.  It has been said that the mother of confidence is knowledge or knowing.  For example, if little Jimmy and little Molly are super outgoing first graders who want to answer every question the teacher asks, the only thing that would dissuade their enthusiasm to share the answer would be if they didn't know the answer.  John wants you to know!  He wants you to proceed through this life with confidence in Jesus knowing that whatever may befall you - Jesus is the answer not only in the next life, but here and now. 

This confidence is part and parcel to our prayer life.  In knowing that Christ gave His life for us, and that we share in His righteousness, we can come before an all Holy God because our salvation was His plan, His design.  This gives us conference with the Creator, who is flanked by Jesus.  At this present time it is Jesus who is praying on our behalf (Hebrews 7:25 & Romans 8:34).  So, to give you even more confidence, realize that Jesus has already prayed you in there.  They have been expecting you!  It is always God's will that you conference in confidence with Him. 

Our confidence is stoked even further in knowing that as we approach God, He grants us our desires that conform to His will.  The other conditions, in which John has already outlined is obedience in doing what He commands, what pleases Him, and having a heart that doesn't condemn us (1 John 3:21-22).  James said we have not because we ask not (James 4:2).  God has more planned for us than our feeble minds could ever comprehend or our inept hands can ever construct upon their own.  So we should seek His will and go before Him in confidence asking for what He already wants to give us.

I would like to conclude today by surveying four verses that provide many answers in asking. They are found in the book of James.  I will list them then summarize:

1. James 1:5
   If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
2. James 1:6
   But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
   
3. James 4:2
   You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God.
   
4. James 4:3
   When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.  

When asking...

Know He is waiting and wants you to ask.
Know that God gives generously without regard to our failures and faults.
Know that you must believe and not doubt.
Know that when you don't receive you either have not asked or are asking with the wrong motives.

Prayer:  Lord, blessed are we who can come before You in confidence because of Jesus.  Help us to daily realize the conference we can have with You.  Thank You that You desire this conference and may we be diligent to meet with You asking whatever we want in confidence as Your Word instructs us.  Amen.

First John:  Thunder and Love                                                #26

Prayer for Wrongdoing

If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that. All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.
(1 John 5:16-17 NIV)

This is a passage that is troubling.  Is John saying not all sin is equal?  If so this would appear in contrast to other teachings.  He exhorts us to pray for our bothers and sisters who we see in sin.  Seeing being understanding or realizing.  However, if their sin is the sin that leads to death, John seems to be saying, "Don't waste your time."  What could he be writing of here?

Here are some possible answers.

Jesus said in Matthew chapter 12 that blasphemy will be forgiven unless it is against the Holy Spirit (Matt. 12:30).  He goes on to say that we could speak against Jesus himself and be forgiven, but not against the Holy Spirit in this age or the next (v.31).  Part of the work of the Holy Spirit is the conviction of belief in the Son.  Therefore in John 16:9, Jesus says that in regard to sin the Spirit convicts those who don't believe.  It could be that the sin of disbelief in Jesus is the primary convicting work of God's Spirit, for that sin certainly leads to separation from God and death.  Paul also mentions in 1 Corinthians 11:30 that some have "fallen asleep" due to partaking of the bread (Lord's Supper) continually without seeking forgiveness for sin.  Even here, I believe, this is the convicting work of the Holy Spirit helping the believer understand failings before taking of the bread and wine.  The elements of the Lord's Supper symbolize His atoning sacrifice for us and our hearts should be clean while walking through that practice as Paul warns. 

According to John, those who are committing sin that leads to death may be beyond our prayers.  Instead we should focus on those among us who are struggling and failing with sin in their life.  Regretfully, this is often not the case.  Too many times we respond to our brother and sister in struggle by ostracizing them.  John says a better response would be to pray for them, continue in a relationship with God on their behalf.  This is what people who love each other do. 

Having worked for years in the homeless ministry I have encountered those who have been ostracized, those who have been told to beat it, get out, and never come back.  I prayed with them, for them and they have prayed for me.  They crave prayer, I think, because in their struggle the very thought that someone else would be praying for them regularly goes against the grain of what they have experienced.  Why don't we change that and take John up on his advice.  This doesn't mean we condone sin and that is not what John is saying.  Surely Jesus loves us through our sin, why shouldn't we love our brothers and sisters through theirs?  We should.  Be there not only in prayer, but be that wise voice of counsel or that shoulder to cry on.  This is how a family loves one another.

Prayer:  Gracious and merciful God we commit to pray for those we understand to be in the struggle of sin.  Hear our prayers Lord and deliver those by Your Holy Spirit through conviction to return to walk in Your way. Amen.

First John: Thunder and Love                                                    #27

What We Know

We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him. We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true—even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

1st John 5:18-20  NIV

This concluding set of "We know" statements before the final verse indicate John may have had the Gnostic audience in mind as he wraps up his letter.  Since they believed what you "know" led to salvation, John explains that it is "who" you "know" not necessarily "what". 

The first "We know" takes dead aim at the Gnostic belief that sin was of no moral consequence (Licentiousness).  John points out that those born of God, His true followers, the elect, avoid continuing in sin.  It is Christ who keeps us safe from sin, therefore as we focus on Him the desire to sin is diminished.  He keeps us safe from the evil one, who does use sin as a tool to dissuade people from God.  The Gnostic believed that sin was inconsequential, so there was no compelling reason to avoid it, or be concerned by what those actions conveyed to possible those around them. The libertine Cerinthian form of Gnosticism lived with no moral restraint.  If early Christians would have lived life with no regard to sin, then the movement would have ended.  It didn't because Jesus protected those of the flock, He still does.  This is an important truth to understand - that when confronted by temptation instead of relying on our own willpower, instead turn to Christ.  He is your protector.  The Spirit will help convict you of sin and Christ will enable you to avoid repeating it.

The second "We know" explains that we are children of God.  The Gnostic believed that God was spirit only - immaterial and distant.  God could only be known through secret knowledge of Him.  There is nothing intimate about this idea.  John says we are His children, which indicates an intense level of intimacy, care, love, and connection.  A father teaches, loves, guides, consoles, and disciplines his child wanting a good life, an abundant life, for that child.  God is not some immaterial force of nature, but a personal entity grounded in relationship.  Sure, there are times of distance, but those are times when we step away for whatever reason.  If we keep the relationship viable through prayer and study of His word, God is faithful to His child.  He promises never to leave or forsake us.  The good Shepherd keeps the flock.  We can count on God to be there and live by this truth.

The third "We know" addresses what we know.  The Gnostics believed knowledge gained saved you.  As you acquired this knowledge you could escape the body which they viewed as evil and treated it as such.  Instead of asking us to escape our body, Jesus send the Spirit to our bodies, to indwell us to the core of our being, our very soul.  Jesus called the body a temple, not to be treated harshly, but cared for because it houses the Spirit.  Our knowledge, our understanding, comes not from ourselves, instead John says we know the Christ has given us understanding to know the truth of God.  We can rest daily in the assurance of what we really know, which has come from Him. 

Prayer:  Father we acknowledge that what we know is from You.  Thank You Father that you have drawn us to know You, and through You we understand our purpose.  Thank You for protecting us from this world and evil one.  Guide us deeper into Your truth and place our steps on the paths of righteousness.  Amen.

First John:  Thunder and Love                                                  #28

The Last Message

Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.  (1 John 5:21 NIV)


Idols.  You can't walk into any city, village, town, outpost, hut, or camp in the world and not find them.  By definition they are hand crafted images that symbolize a tangible form of worship.  They are cast as deity, demon, fallen ancestors, spiritual entities, animals, kings, queens, on and on. The rampant use of idols may be proof positive that we were created with a need to worship something, and if the one true God will not do, then we place other idols in His place.  As I think about this fact, I still can't escape the one question that appears obvious to me:  Why is John issuing this warning as his final salvo in his letter?  It is not eloquent.  It is not a standard farewell.  It doesn't leave you with a warm fuzzy feeling.  It is the Son of Thunder though.  I imagine John as the sort of guy who just before he would leave you, he'd pull you aside and give a heartfelt warning. 

"Dear son, watch your eyes. Don't let them wander in lust."

"Dear daughter, love your husband.  Do not hinder him, but be an encourager in love."

"Dear father, don't exasperate your children, but show them the one true God."

"Dear mother, don't forget to pray. Be obedient, asking for your desires as God wills."

All these quotes of fiction, I could hear John saying to someone as he leaves the room, the village, the church, or someone he just met at a market.  You could say it is a gift.  There is no doubt that those who read this letter called First John would remember his final message. 

Dear children...

John spoke in love, didn't he?  He softens his words of hard teaching with terms of endearment driven by his love for others.  When Jesus said, "Love one another", John got it, remembered it, and never stopped doing it.  He is known as the Apostle of Love because words of love are always upon his lips and they drip down to the point of his stylus - etched upon parchment and papyrus.  In the Greek this is not two different words, but the same one twice.  Teknion meant little child.  It would have been heard as "Precious dearest children".

...keep yourself...

After the words of love, John then brings his thunder of truth.  John never mellowed, he just found love, he just found Christ.  The word he uses here is phylasso, and it means to guard yourself, avoid, flee from, protect, stay away from, etc.  It is simple language, another trait of this great man called John. 

...from idols.

The word for idols is eidolon in the Greek, and the Greeks knew it well.  When Paul fled from Berea to Athens on his second missionary journey he had plenty of time to walk around while he waited on Timothy and Silas.  Luke says Paul was literally troubled and distressed to see that Athens was full of idols.  Interestingly, depending on translation, you only find the word idol in the New Testament 11-14 times.  Whereas in the Old Testament the word is everywhere translated as such over 150 times, spoken of as early as Exodus and mentioned by nearly every prophet in warning.  Jesus is not recorded in the Gospels to have ever uttered a word about idols. So, why is John ending his letter with this warning?  We are more likely to remember final thoughts before earlier precepts, so why? 

I think John wanted us all to know that we should only focus our worship toward God.  The Greek word (eidolon) meant more than crafted image, it also meant false god.  John was saying keep yourselves from that which is false or that which would take your eyes off Jesus.  In our modern lives it comes as many distractions, desires, and treasures.  Jesus didn't have to utter the word "idol" because He went deeper, to the "heart" of the matter if you will.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.  (Mk. 12:30)

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  (Mt. 6:21)

Therefore, idols are heart problems.  John urges that your heart remain healthy, and the only way to do that is to daily place Jesus on the throne of your heart.  Then we are guarded, protected, and kept from the idols that scream at us in this life. 

Thank you for allowing me to share some words about the letter of First John.  I pray some of the perspectives offered blessed you in some way.  I see myself as merely a conduit - just passing along what John has already written.  The words weren't always easy, but John didn't intend to only write of easy things, he was committed to the difficult in order to help us through those issues.  I for one am extremely thankful that the elder John, late in life, endeavored to share what the Holy Spirit would have him write.  His words transcend the ages and speak with the same thunder and the same love as the time they were written.  So, my dear brother and sister in Christ, in the inspiration of John, I implore you not to just read these words of truth and love, but to apply these words of truth and love.  That, dear friends, would be the greatest tribute to John - of which he would deflect to the his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Prayer:  Father thank You for Your word and how you have protected it and handed it down to us over time. Thank you for Your servant John.  He speaks to us Your words and we pray we are good soil to receive those words.  Amen.