Author Archives: Kim Jaggers

When you don’t have the perfect picture

We are a people desperate to be reminded of the hope we have. Our flesh forgets. Our souls become downcast. Our eyes forget to look beyond the here and now. We struggle to remember God can make a way when our limited imaginations can’t fathom any possible way. And we, who possess eternal hope, spiralContinue reading “When you don’t have the perfect picture”

We shouldn’t be shocked when the world hates us as Christians, but….

John has explained the difference between those who are children of God and those who are not, and goes into great detail about the practice of righteousness and the practice of sin (see 1 John 3:4-10 and yesterday’s post about this). BUT THEN, John, inspired by God, adds a short, but tremendously important, phrase “norContinue reading “We shouldn’t be shocked when the world hates us as Christians, but….”

You can know if you’ve been saved or not.

God is not a god of confusion. I believe He wants to make Himself clear to us. He does not want any of us to be confused as to whether or not we have been saved. God used His servant John to help us know the difference. Let’s read his words: “Everyone who makes aContinue reading “You can know if you’ve been saved or not.”

So, are we all children of God?

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us that we should be called children of God. (1 John 3:1) Stop a minute. Don’t just breeze past those words. Behold what God has done for those those who have been saved by the blood of His Son. God didn’t just save us, HeContinue reading “So, are we all children of God?”

These hard days may get harder, but….

It’s getting pretty tough to live in this lost world where so many deny Jesus is the Christ. They seem to reason ,” If I refuse to believe Jesus is the Christ, then he can’t be “boss” of me, I can reject his ways, and go my own way”. But they are lying to themselves.Continue reading “These hard days may get harder, but….”

Is the antichrist among us?

As a little girl, I remember listening while my older relatives talked about the Antichrist. Honestly, it scared me. As I’ve grown up, I’ve searched the Scriptures, watched the news, and tried to figure out who it could be, and if he has appeared on the scene. John tells us, it is the last hourContinue reading “Is the antichrist among us?”

There will always be things about God I don’t understand.

There will always be things about God that I don’t understand. Things I can’t explain. Right now, in my life, in the lives of those I know and love, there are hard things happening that just don’t make sense to me. I can’t write the devotional and tell you just how God is bringing beautyContinue reading “There will always be things about God I don’t understand.”

Have you wondered this about God?

For years, I’ve felt like I’ve had this down-“Do not love the world or things in the world.” (1 John 2:15) I’m not into the culture or cling to its’ immorality. I love my church. I read my Bible. I don’t watch bad movies. You know, I feel like I don’t love the world andContinue reading “Have you wondered this about God?”

Up? Down? Regardless, know this.

John knew those who would read his letter. He knew their varying spiritual states. He knew as we pick up his letter, all these thousands of years later, that we would also find ourselves in different spiritual states. (1 John 2:12-14) And I don’t know about you, but anytime I see a list of categories,Continue reading “Up? Down? Regardless, know this.”

You can’t do this and have joy!

You simply cannot be in the light (walking as Christ walked) and hate your brother. “He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, becauseContinue reading “You can’t do this and have joy!”

How can you know if you really know Jesus?

The Apostle John told us we can know if we truly know Jesus. He says, “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps HisContinue reading “How can you know if you really know Jesus?”

When the sin is yours-remember this, forget that.

The Apostle John is making it clear that Christians still sin, but he is writing to us so that we would live with a desire not to do so and to urge us to never to be okay with sin as a lifestyle. God always, always, makes a way out! “No temptation has overtaken youContinue reading “When the sin is yours-remember this, forget that.”

Tough stuff? This will help you.

I sat with Dad this week as he lay waiting for his blood thinners to get out of his system so his surgeon could work on his fractured hip. His arm is also broken and in a sling. He would drift off to sleep, but every little movement would cause him to cry out inContinue reading “Tough stuff? This will help you.”

Be motivated by THIS!

BUT… “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 8-9) If we confess our sins, He cleanses us from every ugly thing!Continue reading “Be motivated by THIS!”

Do we love each other enough to speak truth anymore?

Does anyone love anyone enough to tell them the truth anymore? The Apostle John did. He opens his letter with words we all like, talking about “full joy” but then, he says, “This is the message we have heard from him” (The God Man) “and declare to you, that God is light and in HimContinue reading “Do we love each other enough to speak truth anymore?”

Hey! Is your JOY full?

The purpose of this letter from the beloved disciple and friend of Jesus is so our “joy may be full” (1John 1:4), and it is no coincidence that John starts off by talking about where we can find that JOY- in a relationship with his friend and Savior, Jesus the Christ, the Son of theContinue reading “Hey! Is your JOY full?”

Would you like your JOY to be FULL?

He was a fisherman, the son of Zebedee, the brother of the Apostle James, and some scholars believe he was the son of Salome and cousin of Jesus. (This is not John the Baptist as yours truly used to think when she first started reading the Bible). The Savior had nicknamed this John and hisContinue reading “Would you like your JOY to be FULL?”

When Father’s Day is Hard

My heart breaks this Father’s Day weekend for all those who have scrolled through the Father’s Day posts and feel like they have no one to thank. Do you know children, who grow up without a father in the home, are much more likely to end up poor, drop out of school, be in prison,Continue reading “When Father’s Day is Hard”

I’m having trouble moving past this…

I wrote this a year ago. Still, I just can’t seem to move past this passage without feeling it all over again… The rich young ruler walked away, sorrowful, but unwilling to part with his great possessions to follow Jesus.(Luke 18) I’ve wondered again and again if I’m holding anything too tightly or counting onContinue reading “I’m having trouble moving past this…”