Overcomers...(Part 1)

1 John 5:4-5 "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith.  Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?"

John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

1 John 4:4 "You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world."

“Overcome"... A powerful word, an emotional word, a hopeful word, an encouraging word.  Embedded within its DNA is danger, threat, conflict, suffering, loss, struggle, victory.  It is associated with disaster, disease, distressing environments, desperate conflicts.  It invokes visions of courage, strength, determination, perseverance, resiliency.

The Apostle John uses the word throughout his writing to describe Christians.  He applies that moniker to you and me!  Although I love the idea of being a victor, I really don't relish the requisite conflict.  Nonetheless, God (through John) tells me conflict is unavoidable.  Aligning myself with Jesus sets me in direct opposition to Satan and the society under his control.  Like it or not, we are at war, a war that will last a lifetime.

The bad news is that with war comes suffering and loss.  The great news is that ultimate victory is a sure thing! The key to being an overcomer is trusting Jesus completely, every day, in every aspect of my life.  He is the Commander-in-Chief.

Not until this morning did I connect Johns words in his Gospel and Epistle with what he wrote in the book of Revelation. Here John describes the rewards that will come to Overcomers, and for some reason I did not identify myself with them.  As I look at these promises with fresh eyes today, I am blown away by what I read.  I can hardly wait to delve more deeply!

Revelation 2:7 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.'

Revelation 2:11 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.'

Revelation 2:17 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.'

Revelation 2:26-28 'He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS; AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON, AS THE VESSELS OF THE POTTER ARE BROKEN TO PIECES, as I also have received authority from My Father; and I will give him the morning star. (cf. Rev 22:16)

Revelation 3:5 'He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

Revelation 3:12 'He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.

Revelation 3:21 'He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

Revelation 21:7 "He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.

Dear Father, THANK YOU, not only for these awesome promises, but also for the sure victory that comes through trusting Jesus as my Lord and Saviour.  I am overwhelmed by Your mercy and grace.  I trust You to overcome through me today. Amen.

Keeping My Balance...

Proverbs 3:3  "Do not let mercy and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.  So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man."

Micah 6:8 "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"

I remember as a child practicing to be a tight rope walker.  My friends and I had been to the circus and we were inspired by the marvelous feats of those amazing performers. We set up a 2x4 on a couple of boxes in the back yard and pretended that we were 50' above the circus floor, with thousands of admirers holding their breath as they anxiously watched us traverse the span.  Our dreams of fame quickly evaporated as we realized how difficult it was to maintain our balance on a 2" wide piece of wood.  How could we ever hope to walk across a taut rope?! 

Keeping my balance is a challenge I still face today.  It's not so much physical (although the older I get, the more it becomes an issue), as it is spiritual.  How do you walk the tight rope between justice and mercy?  The prophet tells me to "do justice", but to temper it with mercy.  Solomon commands that I make them both ("truth and mercy") an integral part of who I am ("write the in the tablet of your heart").

On which side do you fall when you lose your balance?  Do you tend toward justice or mercy?  It is simple to keep things "black and white", to go by the letter of the law.  That's what the Pharisees did.  When you throw mercy into the mix, it becomes a little more complicated.  To consistently favor mercy over justice erodes the standard and, before long, there is no basis for righteousness.

So, how do I do both? How do I temper justice with mercy?  I look to Jesus as my example.  He upheld the Law, but He also understood the spirit, the intent, of the law.  Over and over again He challenged the Pharisees to look beyond the commands and to apply the rules mercifully.  His encounter with the woman caught in adultery is the first example that comes to mind.  

I must keep God's Word fresh in my heart and seek counsel from the Holy Spirit, the "Spirit of Truth".  In so doing, God will help me to apply His Truth from a heart of love and compassion.

Dear Lord, I struggle every day to balance mercy and justice.  Thank You for not leaving it up to my wisdom.  Thank You for giving me an Example to follow, Your Word to teach me, and the Holy Spirit to guide me.  Please help me to successfully walk the tight rope today.  Amen

K.I.S.S....

God's Word is Life-changing...: K.I.S.S....: 1 John 3:23  "This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded ...

K.I.S.S....

1 John 3:23  "This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us."

Matthew 22:37-39. "And He said to him, " 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' This is the great and foremost commandment.  The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.'"

It's funny what sticks in your mind.  I have a difficult time recalling details of significant events, yet things like K.I.S.S. pop up every now and then.  I was exposed to that acronym in a 7th grade English class.  We were writing our first-ever research paper and mine was so overrun with facts and references that it was difficult to follow the story.  That's when she laid the big K.I.S.S. on me.  She said the key to successful writing and speaking was to "Keep It Simple, Stupid".  I have never forgotten that advice and it has served me well over the years.

Jesus was a "K.I.S.S." sort of teacher.  The Pharisees asked Him what was the greatest commandment in the Law, expecting a long theological discourse. Instead he said, "Love God, love your neighbor."  John boiled down into one simple phrase what it takes to please God: "Trust Jesus, love your brother."

Yes, living a Christian life is pretty simple.  But don't confuse "simple" with "easy".  Those basic commands run counter to my natural inclination.  If I am brutally honest, I  confess that I tend toward self-sufficiency and self-centeredness.  I fight a daily battle.  Each morning (and throughout the day) I must consciously choose to trust Jesus, to seek His counsel, to listen carefully to the Holy Spirit's advice.  When I do that, it follows more naturally to put others' needs before my own.

 I try each evening to "review the tape" of my day.  Sometimes it is pleasant and I sense God's pleasure.  Other times I find it embarrassing.  Each time it drives me to my knees.

Lord, thank You for making things simple.  It gets awfully complicated and confusing when I take control.  Please help me to focus on the basics today.  I do trust You and I need You to love my brothers through me.  Thanks, again!  Amen..

Abiding….

I was blessed last week to officiate at the wedding of a dear friend's son.  Eric is 44 and has finally found the love of his life.  As he and Jen gazed into each other's eyes, they spoke words of life-long commitment to each other.  They proclaimed an enduring, abiding love… a love that would grow and flourish… a love without end.  

According to God's Word, the marriage relationship mirrors that of Christ and the church.  That same abiding, growing, life-long love should characterize my relationship to Jesus.  John, the "beloved disciple", uses the word, "abide" more than any other Gospel writer.  He postulates that abiding (staying put, remaining, enduring) is the foundation of our relationship with Christ.  Abiding in Him speaks of total commitment, a life built upon and centered in His Word.  Here are a few of the truths John teaches about "abiding"...

Abiding in the Word is a mark of a disciple Jn 8:31

Abiding in Jesus produces fruit Jn 15:5

Abiding in Jesus, His Word abiding in us = answered prayer Jn 15:7

Obedience to the Word facilitates abiding in the Jesus' love Jn 15:10; 1 Jn 3:24

Abiding in Jesus produces a Christ-like lifestyle 1 Jn 2:6

Abiding in the Word produces spiritual strength 1 Jn 2:14

If the Word abides in us we will abide in the Son and in the Father 1 Jn 2:24

Abiding in Him keeps us from habitual sin 1 Jn 3:5, 9

The Holy Spirit in us assures us that we abide in Him 1 Jn 3:24; 4:13

Abiding in Jesus results in confessing, talking about Him 1 Jn 4:15

Abiding in God produces enduring, mature love for each other 1 Jn 4:12, 16

In the marriage ceremony I reminded the bride and groom that loving each other is a choice, a commitment that transcends emotions.  There will be times when they don’t “feel” in love, times when they may not like each other very much.  It is in those times that their love will be tested and stretched; it is as they honor their commitment to each other that their love will grow.

It is the same in my relationship with Jesus.  Abiding in Him, in His Word is a choice.  If I am truly to be a disciple, I must consistently, daily spend time with Him, even when “I’m too tired”.  It is those times, when I don’t feel like reading the Bible or praying, that reveal my heart.   Consistently honoring my commitment to Him shows that I am abiding in Him and He in me.

Dear Jesus, it amazes me that You would choose to live in me!  Thank You for the indwelling Holy Spirit, for Your Word that fills my heart and mind and guides my thoughts, words, and steps.  Please reveal Yourself in and through me today.  Amen.

Loving things & using people or Using things & loving people?

1 John 2:15-17.  "Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.  The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever."

"He who dies with the most toys wins".  As I walk our dogs around the neighborhood, that mantra seems to be alive and well.  Driveways are full and most of them overflow onto the street in front of the houses.  Few people park their vehicles in the garage.  They can't... The garages are packed with "toys" and accumulated "stuff".

Each June a local realtor facilitates a neighborhood garage sale so we can free up space.  How long does the newly discovered real estate remain uncluttered?  Until the next "must have" catches our eye.

It is so easy to get caught up in the ways and values of this world.  We are continually bombarded with messages selling the lie that by purchasing their product we will find the happiness that eludes us. How easily we are deceived!

God's Word shatters that illusion and brings everything back into focus.  It reminds me that for the most part, things are distractions.  They monopolize time, attention, and conversation.  They shift our attention from the Provider to the provision.  They distort our priorities and dissolve our contentment.

Dear Lord, I confess that I like "things", and that I am often too easily drawn into the false worldly way of thinking.  Thank You for continually bringing me back to Yourself.  Thank You for restoring my focus and realigning my priorities. Please help me to find my worth in You and to be content and thankful for Your provision.  I love You.  Amen.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating...

1 John 2:3 - 6 "By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked."

My wife, being from the UK, loves most things British, particularly chocolate.  She'll tell you that there's not much that can match the taste of Cadbury's chocolate. So it follows that she was excited one Christmas to find Cadbury bars on sale at our local grocery store.  She bought enough to stuff everyone's stocking and could hardly wait for Christmas.  When the Morning finally arrived and she popped a piece of chocolate into her mouth, a look of confusion and disappointment filled her eyes.  It didn't taste right.  A close examination of the wrapper revealed that the bar was made in Pennsylvania! The Hershey company had bought Cadbury and, using their recipe, but with American ingredients, had begun producing "Cadbury" chocolate.  The label may have said "Cadbury's chocolate", but what was inside told a different story.

So it is with me sometimes.  My "wrapper" may declare that I am a Christian, but when you peel back the paper, something just doesn't taste right.  If I am transparently honest, my actions and attitudes don't always reflect those of Jesus.  Fortunately, God knows me well.  He knows my imperfections and shortcomings, but He also knows my heart and my desire to serve Him.  He is quick to forgive and to restore me when I fall short of who I should be.

It is my intention to walk in Jesus' steps.  I want others to see a genuine follower of Christ...not an imitation.  My "wrapper" declares that I am a Christian, but as the old English proverb says, "The proof of the pudding is in the eating."

Dear Lord, I want to serve You well today.  Please, Holy Spirit, control me, guide me, use me... Help me to walk in such a way that others see more of Jesus and less of me. Amen.

Inscrutable...

John 3:16 "... For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever would believe on Him might have eternal life."

1 John 2:2  "...and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world."

2 Corinthians 5:21  "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

Isaiah 53:4-6. "Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted.  But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.  All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him."

Isaiah 53:11- 12. "As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, as He will bear their iniquities.  Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the booty with the strong; because He poured out Himself to death, and  was numbered with the transgressors; yet He Himself bore the sin of many, and interceded for the transgressors."

Once a year at Easter I watch Mel Gibson's movie, The Passion of the Christ.  This film so graphically portrays what Jesus endured on my behalf that I cannot bear to watch it more often.  The physical suffering is so brutal that I I have to force myself to keep my eyes open.  Yet, what the Roman soldiers so sadistically did to the Chosen One of God pales in comparison to His spiritual ordeal.

Isaiah says that the totality of guilt of all our sin was placed on Him; Paul states that the Sinless One became sin on our behalf.  In an instant, as He hung dying on the cross, Jesus was completely estranged from His Father; God turned His back on His Beloved Son.  Thus Jesus' anguished cry, "My God, why have You forsaken me?"

I cannot fathom such a love.  That the Creator of the universe would even take notice of me defies comprehension; it is inscrutable.   But I gladly, wholeheartedly embrace it.  I don't understand it, but I feel it, and it has become the all-encompassing, driving force of my life.  My primary goal is to show Him my gratitude, to have Him be proud to call me His son.

Dear Jesus, as the realization of Your love washes over me, I am overwhelmed with the need, the desire to serve You today.  I desperately want to share that same love with those I encounter,  but I feel so inadequate.  Holy Spirit, please live and love through me.  Amen.