Today’s passages:  Jeremiah, chapters 33-34; Psalm 74; 1 John, chapter 5

Scripture:  1 John 5:1-5 (NRSV) – Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child.  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.  For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments.  And his commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world.  And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith.  Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Observations:  There have been a number of times in 1 John when John has said something like this:  “If we love God, we love people.”  In these verses, John tells us that the converse is also true:  if we love people, we love God.  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.  We cannot truly love anyone else unless we love God first, because God is love; any “love” that does not flow from God is ultimately less than true love.  Human love apart from God is always tinged with an element of selfishness:  I love you because you love me; I love you so you will love me back; I love you, so I want  you to do this, or believe that.  But the love that flows from God is not selfish; it seeks only the best for the one who is loved.  “Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth.  It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.”  (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a, NRSV)

But John reminds us that love is not just about warm, fuzzy feelings; we know that we love when we love God and obey his commandments. For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments.  Satan’s lie from the beginning has been that God’s commands are a burden to us – that we need to “break free” from them and “really experience life.”  God’s commands are an expression of his love for us, not an expression of some desire to control us.  If God had wanted to control us, he could have created us like robots, forcing us to do exactly what he wants.  The state of the world is proof that he has not done that!  Jesus said that if we love him, we will obey his commandments (John 14:15).  Here, John reminds us that we cannot say that we love God if we do not obey him.  God has given us his commands because he knows what is best for us; he created us and knows what we need in order to be exactly what he created us to be.  “Breaking free of God’s commands” is like “breaking free” from the owner’s manual for your car, by not changing the oil, rotating the tires, and doing the other routine maintenance that the car needs.  It will run for a while, but eventually that “freedom” will lead to a breakdown.  The same principle holds true with God’s commands for us.

And his commands are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world.  And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith.  I remember growing up in church and singing “Faith is the Victory,” and I always interpreted this passage the way the song-writer did:  “Encamped along the hills of light, ye Christians soldiers rise and press the battle ere the night shall veil the glowing skies.”   But is this what John means when he says that faith is the victory that overcomes the world? In the context of this passage, and his letter in general, I think it means something else – that faith is the victory that conquers the desires and the pull of the “world” in us.  Ultimately, of course, Jesus and his followers will “overcome the world” in the sense that the song conveys, but I believe that John is closing his letter with the same emphasis that he has carried throughout:  walk in the light, do not sin, love each other.  “Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world; for all that is in the world – the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches – comes not from the Father but from the world.  And the world and its desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God live forever.”  (1 John 2:15-17, NRSV)  By faith we “conquer the world” by overcoming the sinful desires that lead us away from God; by faith we “conquer the world” by showing others that living God’s way is joy and peace.  God does not call us to “conquer” by physical force and domination; if he wanted to do that, he could.  The book of Revelation tells us that in the end, he will.  But for now, he calls us to “conquer” by love.

Applications:  God is reminding me today that our focus is not to be on “conquest,” on “winning battles,” but on love and obedience.  He will use the example of our obedience to show others that there is a better way than the way of the world; he will use our love to welcome them into God’s family. Our battle is not against flesh and blood; we’re to love people, not fight them.  That has always been the way of Jesus.
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Prayer:  Father, thank you for your love for me.  Thank you for enabling me to love others, and for the opportunity to show your love to them. Thank you for the reminder that my faith in you is what overcomes the influence of the world in my life.  Help me today to live in ways that demonstrate your love, and the joy of knowing you, so others may come to know you. Lead me in your ways today.  Amen.

Today’s passages:  Jeremiah, chapters 33-34; Psalm 74; 1 John, chapter 5

Scripture: 1 John 5:1-5 (NRSV) – Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child.  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.  For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments.  And his commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world.  And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith.  Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Observations:  There have been a number of times in 1 John when John has said something like this:  “If we love God, we love people.”  In these verses, John tells us that the converse is also true:  if we love people, we love God.  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.  We cannot truly love anyone else unless we love God first, because God is love; any “love” that does not flow from God is ultimately less than true love.  Human love apart from God is always tinged with an element of selfishness:  I love you because you love me; I love you so you will love me back; I love you, so I want  you to do this, or believe that.  But the love that flows from God is not selfish; it seeks only the best for the one who is loved.  “Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth.  It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.”  (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a, NRSV)

But John reminds us that love is not just about warm, fuzzy feelings; we know that we love when we love God and obey his commandments. For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments.  Satan’s lie from the beginning has been that God’s commands are a burden to us – that we need to “break free” from them and “really experience life.”  God’s commands are an expression of his love for us, not an expression of some desire to control us.  If God had wanted to control us, he could have created us like robots, forcing us to do exactly what he wants.  The state of the world is proof that he has not done that!  Jesus said that if we love him, we will obey his commandments (John 14:15).  Here, John reminds us that we cannot say that we love God if we do not obey him.  God has given us his commands because he knows what is best for us; he created us and knows what we need in order to be exactly what he created us to be.  “Breaking free of God’s commands” is like “breaking free” from the owner’s manual for your car, by not changing the oil, rotating the tires, and doing the other routine maintenance that the car needs.  It will run for a while, but eventually that “freedom” will lead to a breakdown.  The same principle holds true with God’s commands for us.

And his commands are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world.  And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith.  I remember growing up in church and singing “Faith is the Victory,” and I always interpreted this passage the way the song-writer did:  “Encamped along the hills of light, ye Christians soldiers rise and press the battle ere the night shall veil the glowing skies.”   But is this what John means when he says that faith is the victory that overcomes the world? In the context of this passage, and his letter in general, I think it means something else – that faith is the victory that conquers the desires and the pull of the “world” in us.  Ultimately, of course, Jesus and his followers will “overcome the world” in the sense that the song conveys, but I believe that John is closing his letter with the same emphasis that he has carried throughout:  walk in the light, do not sin, love each other.  “Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world; for all that is in the world – the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches – comes not from the Father but from the world.  And the world and its desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God live forever.”  (1 John 2:15-17, NRSV)  By faith we “conquer the world” by overcoming the sinful desires that lead us away from God; by faith we “conquer the world” by showing others that living God’s way is joy and peace.  God does not call us to “conquer” by physical force and domination; if he wanted to do that, he could.  The book of Revelation tells us that in the end, he will.  But for now, he calls us to “conquer” by love.

Applications:  God is reminding me today that our focus is not to be on “conquest,” on “winning battles,” but on love and obedience.  He will use the example of our obedience to show others that there is a better way than the way of the world; he will use our love to welcome them into God’s family. Our battle is not against flesh and blood; we’re to love people, not fight them.  That has always been the way of Jesus.

Prayer:  Father, thank you for your love for me.  Thank you for enabling me to love others, and for the opportunity to show your love to them. Thank you for the reminder that my faith in you is what overcomes the influence of the world in my life.  Help me today to live in ways that demonstrate your love, and the joy of knowing you, so others may come to know you. Lead me in your ways today.  Amen.

​Today’s passages:  Jeremiah, chapters 31-32; 1 John, chapter 4

Scripture: 1 John 4:1-6 (NRSV) – Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world.  By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God.  And this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming; and now it is already in the world.  Little children, you are from God, and have conquered them; for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.  They are from the world; therefore what they say is from the world, and the world listens to them.  We are from God  Whoever knows God listens to us, and whoever is not from God does not listen to us. From this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

Observations:  Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God.  That sounds very simple, very cut and dried.  But as I was reading and reflecting on this, the thought came:  “What does it mean to confess Jesus?” Our natural first response would be, “If I ask someone if Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, and they say ‘yes,’ that means they’ve confessed Jesus.  But is it really that simple?

As I thought about that, I thought about John’s Gospel, and the importance of belief in that Gospel.  “Believing” in the Gospel of John is never just about what someone says; it’s about what’s in their heart:  “When he was in Jerusalem during the Passover festival, many believed in his name because they saw the signs that he was doing.  But Jesus on his part would not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to testify about anyone; for he himself knew what was in everyone.” (John 2:23-25, NRSV)  We know that what is in our hearts is what comes out of us; Jesus said that it’s not what goes into a person that makes them unclean, but what comes out of them, because what comes out is based on what is in their heart.  So it cannot be enough to just say that Jesus is Lord; we have to live that Jesus is Lord.

That’s the sort of lesson we get from Jeremiah’s prophecy, too.  The people of Judah had “confessed” God all along, but their actions told the real story:  sacrifices to idols and failure to obey God’s commands demonstrated that they really weren’t serving God at all.  And in the same way, we are called to not just say that Jesus is Lord, but to live as though Jesus really is our Lord.  As Jesus himself said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15, NRSV)

Applications:  There are a lot of discussions about “spiritual” things in our world today – but not everything that is “spiritual” is connected with God.  That’s why we’re called to test those spirits – to examine first what they say, and second how that is confirmed in what they do.  That doesn’t mean that we are to “judge” them – it’s not our job to condemn anyone – but it does mean that we should not entrust ourselves to those who do not “confess” Jesus in word and deed.  We will know them by their fruit – and we should make sure that our fruit is consistent with our words, too!

Prayer:  Father, help me today to bear fruit which reflects the presence of your Spirit in my life.  Your Word says that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control; may that fruit be evident in me, today and every day.  Help me to bear witness to Jesus, and to confess his Lordship by my actions and my attitudes, so others may come to know him.  Lead me in your ways today, that I may bring glory and honor to you.  Amen.

Today’s passages:  Jeremiah, chapters 21, 24, 27; Psalm 118; 1 John, chapter 2

Scripture: Psalm 118:1-9 (NRSV) – O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever!  Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”  Let the house of Aaron say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”  Let those who fear the Lord say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”

Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.  With the Lord on my side I do not fear.  What can mortals do to me?  The Lord is on my side to help me; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.  It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in mortals.  It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.

Observations:  (1)  Out of my distress I called on the Lord.  That doesn’t mean, “I called on the Lord when I couldn’t figure it out on my own”; it doesn’t mean, “I called on the Lord when my friends couldn’t help me”; it doesn’t mean, “I called to the Lord when the government wouldn’t do anything.” When we are in distress, we are to call upon the Lord!  If he chooses to use other people to help us, that’s certainly within his power – but we need to look to him first.  When we do, we won’t have to look anywhere else!  Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.

(2)  It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in mortals…than to put confidence in princes.  In a time when everyone seems to want to look to the government for help – regardless of what help they’re looking for – we need to remember that our strength, our hope, our refuge, and our confidence is in the Lord.  Again, God sometimes uses earthly rulers and governments – just as he used Nebuchadnezzar, as we see in today’s readings from Jeremiah – but that doesn’t mean that we should put our trust in them.  It also doesn’t mean that we should assume that because God is using them that God approves of them.  The Bible makes clear that God honors and approves of those who obey him. As our reading from 1 John 2 says, “Now by this we may be sure that we know him, if we obey his commandments. Whoever says, ‘I have come to know him,’ but does not obey his commandments, is a liar, and in such a person the truth does not exist; but whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has reached perfection.” (1 John 2:3-5a, NRSV)  Now, this doesn’t mean that we’re supposed to go around telling people that they don’t really know God.  It simply means that we should be “as wise as serpents and as harmless as doves.”  We need to be aware enough to recognize the difference between those whom God is using for his purposes, and those who are truly following God.  If we’re not, we risk being led down the wrong paths.

Applications:  God is reminding me today of the importance of staying grounded in the Word, and walking in obedience.  When we do that, it becomes obvious to us when others are really following God.  It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in mortals…than to put confidence in princes.  We need to stay focused on the only One who deserves our confidence!

Prayer:  Father, thank you for reminding me that when we call on you, you answer us.  Even when the answers are not necessarily what we’re looking for, we can trust that they are the best answers.  Lead me in your paths today, that I may glorify you by my obedience.  May your Kingdom come and your will be done today, by me, by all your children, on earth as in heaven.  Amen.

​Today’s passages:  Jeremiah, chapters 48-49; 1 John, chapter 1

Scripture:  1 John 1:1-4 (NRSV) – We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life – this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us – we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.  We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

Observations:  I’m struck this morning by the passion which John displays from the very beginning of this letter – a passion to declare to you what was from the beginning.  That phrase “from the beginning” harkens back to the opening verses of John’s Gospel:  “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” (John 1:1-2, NRSV)  “What was from the beginning” is the relationship between the Father and Son – a fellowship that we have been called to join.  Jesus demonstrated the depth and the power of that fellowship during his earthly life – while he “pitched his tent among us” (see John 1:14) – by demonstrating the peace that can only come from that close relationship with God.  John had the privilege of hearing and seeing, and touching Jesus during his earthly life – but he has no doubt that his testimony about Jesus will be powerful enough to invite others into that fellowship with the Father and the Son.

Three times in these four verses John uses the word “declare”; in addition, he also uses the word “testify” once.  Four times in four verses – that gives us the motivation for John’s writing.  And it reminds us of our motivation to declare to others what we have heard, and seen with our eyes, and looked at, and touched with our hands.  Even though we haven’t had the privilege of seeing Jesus “in the flesh,” we have the Biblical accounts of his life and ministry, and we have our own personal accounts of the ways that God has worked in our lives through the saving, transforming power of the blood of Jesus.  Each of us is an “in the flesh” demonstration of that power!

What we are called to is “fellowship” – a day-by-day relationship, an ever-deepening friendship with God.  God hasn’t done what he has done just to give us a “get out of jail free” card.  Jesus didn’t come to die for us just to manage our sins; he came to forgive us and to cleanse us.  “If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9, NRSV, emphasis added)  No wonder John was passionate about declaring this message!

Applications:  God is reminding me that we need to be passionate about declaring this message, too! The message of forgiveness is a message of hope – and so is the message that Jesus will cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  We can’t just tell people about sin; we have to offer them the hope of forgiveness and cleansing that Jesus has made possible.  In a world that seems to be driven by anger and fear, people need to hear the message of hope that Jesus brings!

Prayer:  Father, thank you for reminding me today of the hope that I have in Jesus.  Thank you for also reminding me of the importance of sharing that hope with others.  Help me today to live in ways that demonstrate that hope, and so to lead others to you.  Lead me in your ways today.  Amen.