Month: July 2021

Scripture: 2 John 1: [6] And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

Observation: I want to obey God and to obey Him I must walk in love, yet I don’t. I struggle with not hating my brother-in-law. I feel he is a liar and a thief and has treated his sister, my wife, with no respect. I can’t think of him without hateful thoughts and I know that does not honor God. There is no excuse for me I must love him if I want to honor God, but it is a struggle for me.

Application: God has not given me any exceptions to His will, to love Him I must love others. I need to look at my brother-in-law as God’s child and nothing else. This is my thorn and I must overcome my hatred and honor God by loving him.

Prayer: Dear Lord I need your strength, love and compassion to be obedient to you. I’m a sinner and I have hateful ways, fill my heart with your love and guide me so that I may be obedient to you in all things.

Scripture: 1 John 5: [3] This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,

Observation: I know to love God is to obey Him, but I didn’t think that it wasn’t going to be a burden. Everything He asks of me is for my own good and the good of others. and when I’m obedient I feel the Holy Spirit and joy. God has never asked anything that difficult of me and all I need to do is humble myself and put God desires above my own.

Application: God asks so little of me and I need to take this time He has given me to be used for His glory. I need to stay in the word and prayer to know God’s will and do it with a cheerful spirit, a spirit others may see and desire for their own.

Prayer: Dear Lord I owe you everything, yet you ask so little of me. May I always serve you with a cheerful spirit, in a way that pleases you. Please Lord use me until it’s time to come home.

Scripture: 1 John 4: [21] And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Observation: It would have been easier if Paul says that God recommends or strongly suggests, but he said must. This means to receive unconditionally, to care for, even above your own needs putting your brother first. Why if God commands it, that it is so hard for me to love unconditionally. When I first see someone normally my first reaction is of judgment, not love, I criticize in my mind something about that person and search out negative things.

Application: I need to think about all the negative things about me and there is a lot, yet God loves me and sees nothing but good because of Jesus. There is no reason to compare anyone with anything but to look at others through God’s eyes, His child and creation and if I look in judgment, then I’m judging God’s work. I do love God and to love is to obey and love what is His.

Prayer: Dear Lord soften my heart and show me how to love others as I love you. I love because you first loved me, now may I share that love with others in your name.

Scripture: 1 John 3: [24] Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

Observation: How often to I obey God’s commands? He puts things on my heart, but doesn’t force me to do it, but uses the Holy Spirit to confirm what He wants. It’s so easy not to do the things of God because He doesn’t force us, but wants us to do it out of love for Him. You would think with how much God loves me that I would jump at the opportunity to please Him. How selfish I am, a child of the best Father ever you would think I would want to please Him.

Application: Ask for guidance from the Holy Spirit and not be afraid of doing what is required of me. To do all things out of love and not obligation, to be obedient because He is my Father. Listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit and ask for help when I need it.

Prayer: Dear Father I don’t want to come home and see the disappointment on your face because of a disobedient child. Use the Holy Spirit to correct and guide me on what is left on this journey so when it is time I will be able to run into open arms and know that you are well pleased.

Scripture: 1 John 2: [6] Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

Observation: I do claim to be a Christian and I want to be the best one I can be in my heart, but I also know I don’t walk as Jesus did. I still have not died to myself and until I do that I can’t walk as Jesus did. Jesus walked to know the will of God and made that is number one priority. Unfortunately I’m my number one priority and until I change my focus I’ll always fall short of glorifying God.

Application: It’s time I pick up my cross and follow Jesus. It’s time I share the gospel and help others see the salvation of Christ. It’s time to stop wanting people to be impressed with me and point them to the cross of salvation. I know how Jesus walked, I need to follow His footsteps.

Prayer: Dear Father give me the heart of Jesus, that I may love your children as He did. That I would stop being so concerned about me and focus on how Jesus pleased you. May I hear your words, “this is my child with him I’m well pleased.”

Scripture: 1 John 1: [7] But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Observation: Am I walking in the light or do I stray from time to time? I do want to walk in the light at all times, but my sinful nature takes me off the path way too often. I seem to be full of anger so much of the time and at work I treat my customers with disregard. I wander if you asked them what they would say about my character. If I walk in the light I should be reflecting it to others as well and too many times my light is under the bushel of anger and pride.

Application: I should live my life in a way that people can see the love of Jesus in my life. I need to treat everyone as they could be Jesus himself. I need to look at my customers as the possibility of entertaining angels. I’m an ambassador for Jesus and not a representative for myself and I need to act like one.

Prayer: Dear Lord forgive me for the terrible way I treat your children at times. Give me the right words and attitude to treat others in a way that they will feel loved. Take this pride from me and show me how to humble myself to others in your name.

Scripture: 2Peter 3:3 First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.

Observation: The people of this world have become so bold in denying God it’s becoming overwhelming. The government is allowing groups like the ACLU to take down crosses and questioning anything that has to do with God and Christianity. The worst part is that we as Christians are allowing it to happen. We shrug our shoulders and tell each other how wrong it is, but we don’t stand up to the scoffers we very silently oppose them.

Application: I’m not sure how to start, but it’s time that I stop becoming the silent majority and make myself heard. I need to use the righteous anger that Jesus had and make it known God is alive and the scoffers will be judged. I need to stand up to ridicule or persecution and let others see me stand strong and to gather with other Christians and tell others what God has done for us.

Prayer: My Lord forgive me for my silence when this world turns it back on you. Give me courage to stand up to those who oppose you and give me the words to say that will turn their heart or at least make them think. Use me as a vessel to stand up to the scoffers and be a light in this world.