The Greatest Love

 

I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake. (1 John 2:12)

Why should we emphasize that God loves, forgives, and saves “for his name’s sake” — for his own glory? Here are two reasons (among many).

1) We should emphasize that God loves and forgives for his own glory because the Bible does.

I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins. (Isaiah 43:25)

For your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great. (Psalm 25:11)

Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name’s sake! (Psalm 79:9)

Though our iniquities testify against us, act, O Lord, for your name’s sake. (Jeremiah 14:7)

We acknowledge our wickedness, O Lord, and the iniquity of our fathers, for we have sinned against you. Do not spurn us, for your name’s sake; do not dishonor your glorious throne. (Jeremiah 14:20–21)

God put [Christ] forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:25–26)

Your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake. (1 John 2:12)

2) We should emphasize that God loves and forgives for his own glory because it makes clear that God loves us with the greatest love.

Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory. (John 17:24)

God loves us not in a way that makes us supreme, but makes himself supreme. Heaven will not be a hall of mirrors, but an increasing vision of infinite greatness. Getting to heaven and finding that we are supreme would be the ultimate letdown.

The greatest love makes sure that God does everything in such a way as to uphold and magnify his own supremacy so that, when we get to heaven, we have something to increase our joy forever: God’s glory. The greatest love is God’s giving himself to us for our eternal enjoyment, at the cost of his Son’s life (Romans 8:32). That is what he means when he says that he loves us and forgives us for his own name’s sake.

The Forgiveness Cycle

 

“And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.” (Luke 11:4)

Who forgives whom first?

On the one hand, Jesus says, “Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.” (Luke 11:4)

On the other hand, Paul says, “As the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” (Colossians 3:13)

When Jesus teaches us to pray that God would forgive us, “for we ourselves forgive,” he is not saying that the first move in forgiveness was our move. Rather, it goes like this: God forgave us when we believed in Christ (Acts 10:43). Then, from this broken, joyful, grateful, hopeful experience of being forgiven, we offer forgiveness to others.

This forgiving spirit signifies that we have been savingly forgiven. That is, our forgiving others shows that we have faith; we are united to Christ; we are indwelt by the gracious, humbling Holy Spirit.

But we still sin (1 John 1:8, 10). So we still turn to God for fresh applications of the work of Christ on our behalf — fresh applications of forgiveness. We cannot do this with any confidence if we are harboring an unforgiving spirit. (Remember the parable of the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18:23–35. He refused to forgive his fellow servant who owed him ten dollars, though he claimed to be forgiven ten million. He showed by his unforgiving spirit that the king’s mercy had not changed him.)

Jesus protects us from this folly by teaching us to pray, “Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us” (Luke 11:4). That’s why Jesus says we ask for forgiveness because we are forgiving. This is like saying, “Father, continue to extend to me the mercies purchased by Christ, because by these mercies I have been forgiven, and I forsake vengeance and extend to others what you have extended to me.”

May you know God’s forgiveness afresh today, and may that grace overflow in your heart in forgiveness toward others. And may that sweet experience of grace in your life give you added assurance that, when you go to God to experience fresh, blood-bought forgiveness, you will know that he sees you as his forgiven and forgiving child.

ALL THINGS WE HAVE ARE ENTRUSTED TO US BY GOD!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 02, 2022.

SUBJECT : ALL THINGS WE HAVE ARE ENTRUSTED TO US BY GOD!

Memory verse: "For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not received? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?" (First Corinthians 4 vs 7.)

READ: Psalm 50 vs 10 - 12; James I vs 17:

Psalm 50:10: For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.

50:11: I know all the birds of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.

50:12: If I were hungry, I would not tell you: for the world is Mine, and all its fulness.

James 1:17: Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variation, or shadow of turning.

INTIMATION:

All things are created and owned by God—the whole world and its fullness belongs to Him. We are only managers of those things that are entrusted to our care and management. Even the children born by us are His. The Scripture says, “Behold children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward.” (Psalm 127 vs 3.) If then the children are a heritage, it is obvious originally we are not the owners, but rather inherited them from the Owner. 

Ultimately, God is the Owner of all things and has entrusted everything we have to our care and management, and we must give account of them to Him. First of all, God gave you life. Only the living can say I have this or that, or I am this or that. You didn't cause yourself to exist—you were created by Him (Genesis 1 vs 26). And for every single thing God has given you, including your life, you must give account of them; “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14 vs 12). This also includes the idle words you speak; “But I say to you that every idle word that men may speak, they will give account it in the day of judgment” (Matthew 12 vs 36).

You may have been thinking that God didn't give you the money and possessions you have, you have worked for it. You can say, “I earned it.” May be you work from morning till night, or you may be working two jobs, or you have scrimped for years to get a little savings, and so the money you have accumulated seems like the result of your own efforts. I understand that way of thinking, but, in reality, it isn't true.

In the Scripture we read, the apostle James enumerated the giving nature of the Lord; "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." (James 1 vs 17.) Therefore, the source of all we have or received; the money, possessions, good health, talent, wisdom, knowledge and so on, are all gifts from God.

In Deuteronomy 8 vs 17 - 18, the Bible says, “Then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’ And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.” God not only gave us physical life, but also, He is the source of your possessions, wisdom, talents, and abilities. He is also the reason you were born at this time in history and into the family you are born into. 

So, even though you are working hard at your job, God is still the source of all your success. Without the blessing of God in your life, you wouldn't even have the ability to prosper. In times of plenty, we often take credit for our prosperity and become proud that our own hard work and cleverness have made us rich. But I say to you It is an error; God has given you all things that you have. And it is easy to get so busy collecting and managing wealth that we push God right out of our lives. But it is God who gives us everything we have, and it is God who asks us to manage it for Him.

The Bible tells us that the Lord has made all things for Himself (Proverbs 16 vs 4), and, "For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things” (Romans 11 vs 36). God, in His love Nature, has given to us all things; "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8 vs 12.) God gracefully gave us all things, not that we merited it, but out of His lovingkindness. 

The apostle Paul knew and experienced the giving grace of God that he said, "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." (First Corinthians 15 vs 10.) All we have are by the grace of God, and we need to understand that we are stewards of all God has given us, not owners of them. He has entrusted these things to us to manage for Him while we live. And rightfully, we should give account of our stewardship at the end. May the grace for effective and acceptable stewardship rest upon us, in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer: Abba Father, I remain ever grateful to You for all You have entrusted to my care and management as Your steward. I pray that Your grace toward me will not be in vain, and I will rightfully serve You with all You bestowed on me, in Jesus' mighty Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

GREAT POWER IN THE WORD!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 01, 2022.

SUBJECT : GREAT POWER IN THE WORD!

Memory verse: "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4 vs 12.)

READ: Isaiah 55 vs 8 - 11:

55:8: "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. 

55:9: For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.

55:10: "For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater,

55:11: So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

INTIMATION:

The Word of God and God is One (John 1 vs 1). The Word is the revealed Will of God (Hebrews 10 vs 7). The written Word (Logos) is the message from the Lord, delivered with His authority and made effective by His power. The spoken Word (Rhema) is God’s Word put into work with His power available to perform it. 

The word of God is living, life-changing, and dynamic as it works in us. It reveals who we are and what we are not. It penetrates the core of our moral and spiritual life. It discerns what is within us, both good and evil. The demands of God's Word require decisions. We must not only listen to the Word, we must also let it shape our lives.

The significance of Rhema (spoken Word), as distinct from Logos (written Word) is exemplified in the injunction to take "the sword of the Spirit, which the Word of God,” (Ephesians 6 vs 17); here the reference is not to the whole Bible as such, but to the individual Scripture which the Spirit brings to our remembrance for use in time of need, a prerequisite being the regular storing in the mind with Scripture. This underscores the need for regular reading, meditating, and memorizing of Scripture.

In Acts 20 vs 32, the Bible says, "And now I commend you to God, and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified." The Word builds the Christ nature, and the Father’s love nature into the believer. In other words, God is building Himself into us, making Himself a part of us as the Word dominates, rules, and satisfies our spirit man. Just as the Nature of God; immortal and all powerful, so is His Word; powerful and abides forever. For we know that all things are created by his Word, therefore, the creative ability and power is in the Word. 

We bring the power of God to bear in any circumstance or challenge of life when we bring the Word to bear in that circumstance or situation. Consequently, we become overcomers by the Word, as it is written, "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony...”(Revelation 12 vs 11). When the Word is built up in you, the exploiting power of God is readily available to you, and you are an overcomer in any life's circumstances you face. This is because whatever you ask for the Lord is done for you.

The Bible, in Colossians 3 vs 16, says, "Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom..." This counsel of the apostle Paul to believers in Colosse is one of the most striking sentences in his epistle. It means giving the Word—the message of Christ—plenty of room in your life. It is not only committing the Word to memory, which is valuable, but letting that Word become an integral part of our beings, that is, letting the Word live in and rule you that you may live a life of exploits. 

The Word dwelling in you is equivalent to Christ personally being in you. Jesus Christ says, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." (John 15 vs 5.) And "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you." (John 15 vs 7.) We can only dwell in Christ and Him in us through His Word, and it’s only in the indwelling of Christ in us, that is, the Word in us that we are hopeful of the glory of God (Colossians 1 vs 27). And It is in the Word dwelling richly in us that we are enabled to do all things through Him that strengthens us (Philippians 4 vs 13).

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit of studying and meditating continually on Your Word, that it may dwell richly in me, and I will live a life of exploits, in Jesus' Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Included in the Covenant

 

“There I will make a horn to sprout for David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed. His enemies I will clothe with shame, but on him his crown will shine.” (Psalm 132:17–18)

Who will benefit from the promises God made to David?

Here is Psalm 132:17–18 again: “I will make a horn to sprout for David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed. His enemies I will clothe with shame, but on him his crown will shine.”

Now connect that with Isaiah 55:1, 3, “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! . . . And I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.”

From this side of the cross, here’s how I would paraphrase that promise: Whoever comes to God through Jesus Christ, his Son, thirsting for what God is for us in Christ, rather than depending on who we are or what we do, God will make with that one a covenant.

Remember how the Bible comes to an end in Revelation 22:17? “Let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.” This is not just the Jews of Isaiah’s day. This is anyone who comes to Christ to satisfy the thirst of his soul. “I will make with [that one] an everlasting covenant!”

What covenant? A covenant defined and secured by God’s “sure love for David.” Isaiah 55:3, “I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.” I take that to mean that I am included in the Davidic covenant. What David gets, I will get in Christ Jesus.

And what does that include?

A horn will sprout for me. That is, great strength will fight for me and protect me. There will be a God-prepared lamp for me. That is, light will surround me and darkness will not overcome me. There will be a crown for me. That is, I will reign with the Son of David and sit with him on his throne. “The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne” (Revelation 3:21).

It is an astonishing thing that we will benefit from the promises made to David. God means for us to be astonished. He means for us to leave our devotions astonished at the power and authority and surety with which we are loved by God.

THE GRACE TO LIVE HOLY!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY JANUARY 31, 2022.

SUBJECT: THE GRACE TO LIVE HOLY!

Memory verse: "For God did not call us to uncleanness but in holiness.” (First Thessalonians 4 vs 7.) 

READ: First Peter 1 vs 13 - 16:

1:13: Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

1:14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;

1:15: but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 

1:16: because it is written, “Be Holy, For I am holy.”

INTIMATION:

Grace, as undeserved (unmerited) favor, is one aspect of grace, we are probably most accustomed to hearing about, and it is wonderful. But we have also seen that grace is power—the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives that enables us overcome our problems. It is the power of God available to meet our needs without cost to us. There is nothing more powerful than grace, and it is received by believing rather than through human effort.

What is holiness? Holiness is being "separated to God,"—being consecrated or set aside for sacred use. It is standing apart from sin and evil. It is a separation that should result in "conduct befitting those so separated." It is the characteristics or nature of God especially the third person of the "Trinity." Holiness is a demand on us by God. We are to separate ourselves from the world's sinful values, and be devoted to God's desires rather than our own, and carry His love and mercy into the world.

God's plan for us ab initio, is to be like Him, hence His creating us in His own image and after His likeness (Genesis 1 vs 26). He wanted us to live like Him. Unfortunately, sin separated us from Him. In His love, mercy, and grace He sent His Son, as a propitiation for our sins (First John 4 vs 10), and through His blood reconciled us back to Himself, to live for Him and be like Him. But while God wants us to be holy, He realizes our weakness and inability. He knows that without help we can never be what He desires for us to be or wants us to do. That is why He has sent His Spirit to help us to fulfill His design and purpose for us.

Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us, and the Holy Spirit has been sent to prepare us for that place. That is not a Scripture, but it is scriptural; that is, a truth based on the Word of God. This process through which the Holy Spirit makes us holy, or leads us into holiness is called sanctification. Sanctification therefore, refers to the process that God uses to do a work in us by His Holy Spirit to make us more and more holy until finally we become just like His Son Jesus. It is God's grace (the power of the Holy Spirit) we receive that enables us to meet the need of sanctification—the transformation process to holiness.

In Hebrews 10 vs 14, the Bible says, "For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified." We have been made perfect, yet we are being sanctified (made holy). Through His death and resurrection, Christ once for all, made His believers perfect in God's sight. At the same time He is making them holy (progressively cleansed and set apart for His special use) in their daily pilgrimage here on earth. We should not be surprised, ashamed or shocked that we still need to grow. God is not finished with us yet.

Sanctification is a progressive venture. The finality of that process will never occur while we are in these earthly bodies. But we don't need to be concerned about that. The only thing we need to be concerned about is progress. The question we must ask ourselves is: “are we making progress toward holiness?” “Are we cooperating with the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to do what He wants to do in our lives?” 

As believers we are not to be anxious about holiness or the process of sanctification ('be anxious for nothing' (Philippians 4 vs 6)), but we are to be serious about it. We are to recognize that it is God's Will for us. We are to desire and thirst for it with all our hearts, and sincerely ask God for it in our fellowship with Him. We are to make every effort to cooperate with the Holy Spirit Who is working to bring it to pass in us day by day.

Prayer: Abba Father, in Your loving kindness, and the riches of Your grace You saved us from the bondage of sin and Satan to live for You, and be like You. I thirst for, and surrender myself to, the sanctification by Your Spirit to enable me lead a holy life as You desire, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Five Purposes for Suffering

 

For those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

We seldom know the micro reasons for our sufferings, but the Bible does give us faith-sustaining macro reasons.

It is good to have a way to remember some of these so that, when we are suddenly afflicted, or have a chance to help others in their affliction, we can recall some of the truths God has given us to help us not lose hope.

Here is one way to remember: 5 R’s (or if it helps, just pick three and try to remember them).

The macro purposes of God in our sufferings include:

Repentance: Suffering is a call for us and others to turn from treasuring anything on earth above God. Luke 13:4–5:

“Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

Reliance: Suffering is a call to trust God and not the life-sustaining props of this world. 2 Corinthians 1:8–9:

We were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.

Righteousness: Suffering is the discipline of our loving heavenly Father so that we come to share his righteousness and holiness. Hebrews 12:6, 10–11:

“The Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” . . . He disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Reward: Suffering is working for us a great reward in heaven that will make up for every loss here a thousandfold. 2 Corinthians 4:17:

This light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.

Finally, Reminder: Suffering reminds us that God sent his Son into the world to suffer so that our suffering would not be God’s condemnation but his purification. Philippians 3:10:

. . . that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings.

So, it is understandable that the Christian heart would cry out in suffering, “Why?” since we don’t know most of the micro reasons for our suffering — why now, why this way, why this long? But don’t let that ignorance of the micro reasons cause you to overlook the massive help God gives in his word by telling us his macro purposes for us.

“You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful” (James 5:11).