The past few days, I’ve written a lot about asking God to help us identify sin, flee from it and rejoice in His forgiveness. But the vast majority of those around us rarely give this a thought. So many, who hold on to this world, think they have many, many chances left to think aboutContinue reading “Felix’s Last Chance?”
Tag Archives: live the Word
Did you fall to sin yesterday?
Did you blow it yesterday? Did sin raise it’s ugly head in you again? Did something you thought you had mastered, master you? Didn’t we just talk about fearing God yesterday on this page? Are you disappointed in yourself? Friend, it’s a great date for a clean slate. And this day IS a clean slate,Continue reading “Did you fall to sin yesterday?”
“Who said anything about safe?”
What an amazingly MERCIFUL God we serve! Indeed, He is so good and faithful to forgive our sins when we confess and turn from them. He even says, He remembers them no more (Heb 8:12) and that causes my heart to love Him even more. What RIVERS of grace! But as we remember His amazingContinue reading ““Who said anything about safe?””
Help to prepare our hearts for Easter
Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.” (1 Cor 3:16-17) If you are a Christian, you (fill in your name)Continue reading “Help to prepare our hearts for Easter”
Ridiculous Grace AND Hard Truth
He came for the messed up sinner. I think a lot about that as Easter approaches in just a couple of weeks. We love that He ran after the prodigal, ate with the tax collectors, and stepped in to prevent the stoning of the woman caught in adultery. We love that He left the 99Continue reading “Ridiculous Grace AND Hard Truth”
Don’t be taken down by a desire to be lifted up!
I love how the Bible sugarcoats everything and only tells the simple, pretty stories. Except it doesn’t. The Bible is real. God shows us the proclivity of humans to see Him do amazing things and then turn right around and blow it. After Lot and his two daughters had been supernaturally rescued from Sodom andContinue reading “Don’t be taken down by a desire to be lifted up!”
The study is ending —but we’ve got a Savior to keep seeking as we need Him every moment!
Oh my goodness! I don’t want my study of First John to end. Oh, I’m sure the Lord will bring me back to this living, breathing, part of the Bible. He has so much more to teach me. But once again, I’ve come to the close of a book of the Bible with an increasedContinue reading “The study is ending —but we’ve got a Savior to keep seeking as we need Him every moment!”
He’s still good. Even in this uncomfortable thing to discuss.
Just after John writes about praying with confidence and believing God hears our prayers, John writes about seeing sin in the lives of other believers. Surely you’ve seen sin in others, and surely others have seen sin in us! When this happens, we have to resist the urge to talk to others about this beforeContinue reading “He’s still good. Even in this uncomfortable thing to discuss.”
Where else would I go?
This is hard stuff. Are you ready for some hard stuff? I’ve been paused on this verse for several days. I’ve been wrestling. I’ve been reading commentaries and thinking about all I’ve seen God do and know Him to be. Still, I can’t fully wrap my mind around these words God had the beloved disciple,Continue reading “Where else would I go?”
You are an OVERCOMER if you BELIEVE this…
And YOU are an overcomer…if you are born of God, if you believe— “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:4-5) InContinue reading “You are an OVERCOMER if you BELIEVE this…”
Want to love others well? Obey God.
One way we love others,yes LOVE others well,is by loving Godand OBEYING Him. “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” (1 John 5:2-3) Our sinContinue reading “Want to love others well? Obey God.”
Don’t leave others wondering at your funeral. Live like you love Jesus!
We love Him because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19) This love for God is a result of Him loving us first. But this result, this love for God, should be tremendously apparent in our lives. No one should be left to wonder at your funeral if you loved God or not. Our loveContinue reading “Don’t leave others wondering at your funeral. Live like you love Jesus!”
How easily are you offended?
If I know God, I ought to live like I know Him. I should live with a confidence but also with love and grace toward others. “By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that theContinue reading “How easily are you offended?”
Have you seen God?
If someone tells you they’ve actually seen God, this is a big RED FLAG this person is not speaking truth. Our human eyes could not behold Him and live. John reiterates this when he clearly says, “No one has seen God at anytime.” (1 John 4:12) But we can often see God in others, can’tContinue reading “Have you seen God?”
Truth. Not just a wishful hope!
“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4) ❤️ It’s not you “will” overcome them. You HAVE overcome! This isn’t a motivational speech. It’s truth! It’s a done deal.It’s certain.It’s finished. Not because of youContinue reading “Truth. Not just a wishful hope!”
Are you really helping others if you never speak truth?
John keeps going on about loving others and he reminds us of how Jesus loved us —“He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” (1 John 3:16). Now, you likely won’t be asked to die for someone else, but John says if you seeContinue reading “Are you really helping others if you never speak truth?”
Loving & Forgiving Others is part of Following
John says if you don’t practice righteousness, you’re not a child of God. He then goes on to say in that same verse “nor is he who does not love his brother” (1 John 3:10) John is emphasizing that loving others is an absolute basic characteristic of a Christ follower (1 John 3:11). He pointsContinue reading “Loving & Forgiving Others is part of Following”
Uncomfortable Truth
The beloved disciple of Jesus, John, seems to be repeating himself, but perhaps he is reinforcing this very big point…you can’t keep on walking in sin as if it is no big deal. If you can, you may not be a child of God— Remember, John’s audience is the young church—believers. But, as in anyContinue reading “Uncomfortable Truth”
What could make a Christian ashamed?
John urges believers to “abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming” (1 John 2:28) What might make me ashamed as a Christian standing before the One who died for me? Perhaps if I’ve lived my life for me instead of Him? WeContinue reading “What could make a Christian ashamed?”
Yes, you need to pursue Jesus every day!
As we continue in 1st John, let’s slow down and not breeze past things we’ve read just because they may be familiar. In 1st John 2:12-14, John calls his audience—“little children”, “fathers”, and “young men”. As Christians, we can be as— “little children” -thankful for God’s forgiveness for our sins because of Jesus. “fathers” -whoContinue reading “Yes, you need to pursue Jesus every day!”
Kim Jaggers Ministry 