1 John 2:9-11

Reading these words warning against hating our brothers and sisters reminded me of a book I reread last week. It's called "The Theology of the Cross", written by Daniel Deutschlander.

May I share the quote which jumped to my mind? The author writes, "You are one for whom Christ died and rose again and so am I. For you, no less than for me, he rules all things in heaven and on earth. If I can just keep that reality in mind, what respect, what dignity, what honor you have in my eyes! To use you or take advantage of you for my own ends should never even occur to me. I wouldn't dream of hurting or harming you. I cannot imagine speaking ill of you or insulting you. My fondest ambition is only this, to love and serve you. For in loving and serving you, I love and serve Christ, who lives in you (Mt 25:40). If you are sad or depressed, I want to cheer you up by reminding you of the reality of your status and of the reality of my love for you and my eagerness to serve you. If you are in need, it is an honor for me to be able to help you in any way that I can; for in helping you, I come as close as I can to giving the infant Jesus a blanket against the cold Judean night. In serving you, I wipe his tortured brow on the way to the cross. Even if you are in error, have fallen into sin or even into self-righteousness, I can only ache until I have done all that I can to call you back to the love and grace and mercy of Christ."

It's a beautiful example of how we love our brothers and sisters, and my prayer for each of us as we reflect on what God has been teaching us this week.

1 John 2:9-11....Reflection

Most of our readings for this week immediately, for me, brought on the awareness that "there's no way I'll do what God's saying perfectly" - so does that mean I live in darkness?...or that I am not His?...It's what our fearful Old Man would have us wonder.
It's very sobering to see God's standards so clearly laid out for us here in 1 John, as well as many other places in the Bible. Consequently, it's very easy to write them off a bit with the huge letters G-R-A-C-E and reminding ourselves that Jesus saved us from all that.
But like I was taught again and again in childhood catechism classes, in Bible classes these days, and as my husband learned so fervently in studying to be a pastor over the last 5 years, God presents heavy Law for a reason. - So he can rescue us, beaten-down and needy, with the light and beautiful Gospel of how much he loves us and forgives us!
That's been happening for me in little bursts over and over again this week. I know I've said it before, but I am just so thankful for my additional study guide of the commentary I use. (It's by Paul E. Kretzmann - an older book but I love it's beautiful wording!) This morning this sentence put this week's lesson in perspective for me:
"If a person professes to be a Christian, men have a right to expect a corresponding conduct from him, one which agrees with the will and character of Christ, one which is conspicuous for its show of brotherly love."
No amount of grace or repetitive reminders of Jesus work for us in faith or dying on the cross should allow us to think our willful actions and behavior patterns don't matter - or don't affect our witness. Paul was fervent about this in Romans 6: "Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" Our Father cannot bear pretense, faking it, showing off, hypocrisy...as Christians. It's the real deal or not. It's that black and white with God. However, I am comforted to know he sees my heart, when I sin again and again, even though I try and try not to. We're like Paul when he said in Romans 7:19 "For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing." He isn't referring to decision-based, willful, sinful lifestyle choices and acts of the heart. Instead he puts to words the struggle all true Christians face daily - hourly - to put off their Old Man. It's an intense battle and an often one, but we wage war on it with Christ's strength and because we desire to know God more and be more truly His. This is a blessed battle!! (Hard to believe, but true!) 


My thought now is of Proverbs 4:23 that says "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." With the power of God and his truth on our sides, girls, we can guard our hearts and pray to have eyes that see with His light any darkness that tries to creep in, any hatred or prejudices, anything evil! Because it tries all the time, to squeeze into the little spots where we are distracted or unaware. I am praying today for all of us to wear firm and strong armor of all of God's Words to help us fight off the devil and this world, so that we can better love each other and better praise the Lord with our lives! 


"You will not have to fight this battle [alone]. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you... Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you." 2 Chronicles 20:17 - -LOVE THIS! :)


Praise God for his presence in our daily struggle and for his Grace that covers our multitudes of sins!
Love in Him (and have a relaxing weekend, girls!),
~Cait

We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

Today's words bring the constant reminder of how our work as Christians is never done, that everyday our focus needs to be on keeping his commands and living our lives the way Jesus did. We have to keep that in mind when dealing with unpleasant situations, including professors, patients, clients, other drivers on the road, whatever we come into contact with. Sometimes it is a little (or more than a little) difficult to behave like Jesus did when we're in these difficult situations. I pray that I may keep this in mind when I deal with unpleasant patients, work situations, silly arguments and family issues.

1 John 2:1-8

God in the flesh in our advocate before God. Old Testament believers like David knew God is our only defense, our only possible refuge:

"Awake, and rise to my defense! Contend for me, my God and Lord. (Psalm 35:23)

The book of Psalms must have been on my mind a lot the last few days, because as I read the final verses of this section about obeying God's commands and living as Jesus did, Psalm 119 came to mind. 176 verses just filled with thoughts about delighting in His decrees, loving His laws, obeying His word. And this love affair with the Word happened centuries before God fulfilled his Garden-promise to send a Savior. How much more beautiful His words are to me now, knowing that my Jesus lived and died for me, rose and ascended, defends and protects not only me but His beloved bride, the Church.

My prayer is that these honey-sweet Gospel promises nourish us and make us bold to be His witnesses to the world, for "the true light is already shining."

"Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell." (Psalm 43:3)

1 John 2:7-8

Thinking today about the old, old command God gave for us to love and how much more that means to us now after we saw the most amazing example of love in Jesus' dying to save us. I believe that God planned this as the greatest example of love to also motivate us to better love each other.
No one, not even I, deserve anything, but God wants me to love everyone (and yes, even myself!) in a manner likened to how much Jesus loved us.
I am asking God today to bring me creativity, humility, and patience to love others in a way that brings the body of Christ greater unity and in a way that witnesses how much He truly does love and care for us as a Father for his children.

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!" 
1 John 3:1


Have a wonderful day ladies,
Love,
Cait :)

Encouraging Sermon

Hello,

I was really encouraged by the verses in chapter 2 and by your comments. I need this truth in my heart and mind throughout the day. The struggle many of us have empathized about lately is this constant distraction by the world, its pulls and lies, and the lies with self that we struggle with. I want to share our sermon from this week (which a couple of you heard, but I know I could be encouraged by it again), because it reminds me that faith is ultimately about Jesus and what he's done for us. This simple, but profound promise. If you find a minute, this is a great sermon...

"The Best Kind of Faith Wants to Know Christ"

http://www.cosrock.org/home/140000244/140000244/docs/Philippians%203.4b-14%20P%2016%20A%20%202011.pdf?sec_id=140000244

Catch Up

If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 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. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

I, like Cait, have found other things need "priority" in life and as I sit here tonight, I am ashamed that I have been so neglectful of the word and reflection. I am hopeful that after we get things settled, I will be better about it, but it seems like things are always popping up...so frustrating.

On to reflection, I think about these verses and how they flow together so nicely and perfectly. Ed (my husband) and I are taking the New Life in Christ class at our church and we talk every week about how perfect God has made the world. We are constantly reminded of our sin and how Jesus died to save us! It's so incredible to think about and it seems so silly to think about and focus on all the trivial things that occur during the day that take up so much of our time and energy when there's such an amazing phenomenon right in front of us. I pray that I continue to remember that Jesus has atoned for my sins, that God has created this relationship with him for me and that I am not perfect, he is, and only my recognition of my imperfections and asking for forgiveness can save me. Thank you Jesus, I love you!

1 John 1:8-2:6

Good morning :)

I hope you don't mind me re-hashing what most of you have already been over for the sake of my catching up a bit. I spent this morning firstly dragging myself out of bed to make the coffee, husband's lunch and see said husband off to work, then secondly arranging myself in a quiet patch of sunlight at our kitchen table to sit and just be held by God's words. I remember Paula said "I stand weak and wanting at Jesus' feet this morning" and I am in a similar place too.

"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins, and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says 'I know him', but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. That is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did."

I read and re-read these 9 verses this morning, urging every ounce of meaning out of them that my frail heart needs so badly. I inwardly prayed for forgiveness and understanding from our Defender, pleading that he would open my eyes to know what to do and think next. I wrote out my worksheets like homework and still, the inside-praying continued. I grasped for any bit of change God would bring to my shaky, wanting heart. I want emboldened truth to replace all the lies and pride and vacillating feelings.

I am seeing how full-to-the-brim these 9 verses are with equal amounts of evidence that we have sinned, boundlessly and will again - but Christ has grace, glorious boundless grace for those yearning - aching - for more faith. There simply are times when our faith seems toned and strong...and times when it appears to be as small as that mustard seed Jesus spoke of. What good am I with faith so small? we wonder. we question our purpose. we, in bewilderment, ask God how we can serve him with such a messed-up life? It all looks wrong sometimes, but I believe God's love and grace is blindingly the more beautiful then, we find in time he is sufficient for us. After all we are from dust, and he knows that. That is why he planned to send Christ. He knew he would find his faithful on occasion in a heap of despair and questions and apathy. He even planned THEN how he would help us in these times NOW.

This is no excuse, or cause for pity. I am just beginning to see again, and be astoundingly full of gratitude, that he rescues my heart again. In this awful-beautiful cycle we run in, of sin and confession, of trying and failing, of time as the prodigal and time as the daughter of a King...he loves us. Of course, he wants us always close and always obediently his. But he knew this would not be the case - and glory be to God for his plan of salvation for us needy mankind!!

I am praying today for the strength to stay His, to know Him better and how to better obey him. And I am praying for greater gratitude for his endless, somehow so patient, grace.

Love to you girls,

Thank you for enduring my transparency. :)

~Cait

Writing this post reminded me of this video I posted last year. Not too ironic it's appropriate again...?:)

Too Long Away...

Hi girls,
I'm sorry I've been away for the last few days. I have been spending a bit of time finishing a devotional/marriage book with my husband. But otherwise I have allowed unexpected work responsibilities, excess worry and so-very-human falterings step in front of my need for comfort and peace in God's Word. I miss it and I miss Him. It's been a few days too long and I owe you all an apology. But I also need to request a small little prayer that I have peace. A lot of things have come swirling through my life just recently, and have kind of hit me upside the head. I have spent the last few days reeling from uncertainty and a certain element of sadness intermingled with ignoring whatever it is I'm feeling. I have been trying to focus on truth and not my feelings, but have been hypocritical in my faith. It's so easy to comfort others and remind those I love of God's promises, but somehow they come across hollow and hard to understand or believe when applied to myself.
I will be back soon, I promise. I just wanted to check in and ask for a little prayer sent heaven-ward - I really am thankful for sister like all of you that I can trust to care and speak the truth in love.
Thinking of you all. :)
Love,
Cait

1 John 1:8-10

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

When I read these verses at the end of last week, I was struck by the phrase "if we claim to be without sin". My instinctive reaction was - when would I ever claim to be without sin? But as I reflected more on God's words here, I thought of all the "little" sins I neglect to confess and root out of my life. Or perhaps worse, the so-called gray areas I keep at arm's length, not taking the time to see what God's will is (as Paula was writing last Tuesday).

And so, many confessions later, with a humbler attitude, I read these words again and just reveled in God's faithful forgiveness. He never lies. He triumphed over sin, even my sin.

My prayers have been filled with thankfulness for this mercy shown us, and for the opportunity to day by day bury ourselves in the heart of God and listen to his voice in the Word.