Kerry really had some great words for these verses. I agree with her that it seems (to our sinful nature!) that God's laws are MORE than burdensome; but thankfully it is not the case. Truly, God enables us by faith to have the desire and strength to follow his commands and to find them somehow easy and light and we are joyful to follow them! It's not always this way, when we let the world or our sinful nature guide us, but when we come back in repentance to our Lord and ask for him to realign our heart and our purposes with him, we overflow with power from the Holy Spirit. It is really amazing. I so want to stay and live in the light so as to keep this power from Christ to follow him!! :)
We overcome through faith (vs. 4-5). Initially we did, when we were baptized and believed, and we do always daily overcome through the war we wage in Christian living, by the grace of God! My NIV footnotes did a great job of explaining these verses. What a great pick-me-up, encouraging, empowering section of Scripture in these few verses! John drills into us over and over what we ought to do as Christians, namely love God and others, and we can get to a point where we wonder if we can do it, WHY we should do it when it's rarely easy and there's so much sin in the world. Here he gives us the how and why. He reminds us we already have what we need to serve the Lord with our lives. Christ did not just save us and then leave us to our own efforts. How thankful I am for that!! God knew we would daily and always NEED him by our side to empower and encourage our walk, to give it purpose.
We're getting to the end of our study session, many of you are nearing the end of a semester (excited for you!!) and all of us have probably struggled with sickness of some sort, schedule overload at work or home, and worldly stress from the holidays. Today the Lord encourages us, and refreshes us with helping us to realign our priorities, and rest on him if we are weary or discouraged. "I can do ALL things through him who gives me strength!" (Phil. 4:13)
Love you girls,
~Cait
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011
1 John 5:1-15
I got a little behind again, but I would still like to highlight a few portions from chapter 5 that have captured my attention.
“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God” (1) Everyone who believes this has his or her faith placed correctly. I found it especially comforting to remember that people from every nation, tribe and language will enjoy life everlasting in heaven, regardless of the denomination to which they belong. Of course, God commands us to watch our life and doctrine closely, and we want to understand and teach his Word clearly and correctly. We want to run far away from any distortion of God’s truth. Not all denominations profess the truth as God reveals it in his Word. But despite our human flaws and errors, the Spirit is still working faith in hearts worldwide, a faith that proclaims that Jesus is the Christ. He is the one thing needful.
“And his commands are not burdensome” (3) My sinful nature just balks at this one. Not burdensome? Ha! If only I could do what I wanted, instead of being constantly weighed down by these oppressive laws. But the Holy Spirit drives me back to the words of Psalm 119:24 (though the entire psalm is packed with similar acclamations of love for God’s law) – Your statues are my delight; they are my counselors. And I do love the law; I love that it drives me despairing back to the cross to cling only to my Jesus.
“Who is it that has overcome the world? Only (s)he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” (5) Take that, world! The troubles, cares and pleasures in which you revel cannot suck us in. We women have already overcome in Christ. We are no longer chained to material goods or earthly successes or man’s opinion. The truth has set us free to truly live for Him who died for us.
“We accept man’s testimony, but God’s testimony is greater…” (9) I liked this verse because it reminds me of how we believe, though we have not seen. With our limited human understanding, not everything the Bible proclaims makes sense. And we don’t fret about it – because God’s testimony is greater than our reason. We simply believe because the Spirit enables us.
“If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us” (14) Glorious, glorious comfort. He hears me when I cry out to him. And when I ask those things which are a part of his will (a heart to love his people better, patience, stronger faith, forgiveness) his answer is yes! Though sometimes he gives us what we ask through trials, so be careful what you pray for… :)
Keep asking for all those godly gifts! Your Father delights to give them to you.
Enjoy these final days of November and the beginning of the Advent season.
“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God” (1) Everyone who believes this has his or her faith placed correctly. I found it especially comforting to remember that people from every nation, tribe and language will enjoy life everlasting in heaven, regardless of the denomination to which they belong. Of course, God commands us to watch our life and doctrine closely, and we want to understand and teach his Word clearly and correctly. We want to run far away from any distortion of God’s truth. Not all denominations profess the truth as God reveals it in his Word. But despite our human flaws and errors, the Spirit is still working faith in hearts worldwide, a faith that proclaims that Jesus is the Christ. He is the one thing needful.
“And his commands are not burdensome” (3) My sinful nature just balks at this one. Not burdensome? Ha! If only I could do what I wanted, instead of being constantly weighed down by these oppressive laws. But the Holy Spirit drives me back to the words of Psalm 119:24 (though the entire psalm is packed with similar acclamations of love for God’s law) – Your statues are my delight; they are my counselors. And I do love the law; I love that it drives me despairing back to the cross to cling only to my Jesus.
“Who is it that has overcome the world? Only (s)he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” (5) Take that, world! The troubles, cares and pleasures in which you revel cannot suck us in. We women have already overcome in Christ. We are no longer chained to material goods or earthly successes or man’s opinion. The truth has set us free to truly live for Him who died for us.
“We accept man’s testimony, but God’s testimony is greater…” (9) I liked this verse because it reminds me of how we believe, though we have not seen. With our limited human understanding, not everything the Bible proclaims makes sense. And we don’t fret about it – because God’s testimony is greater than our reason. We simply believe because the Spirit enables us.
“If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us” (14) Glorious, glorious comfort. He hears me when I cry out to him. And when I ask those things which are a part of his will (a heart to love his people better, patience, stronger faith, forgiveness) his answer is yes! Though sometimes he gives us what we ask through trials, so be careful what you pray for… :)
Keep asking for all those godly gifts! Your Father delights to give them to you.
Enjoy these final days of November and the beginning of the Advent season.
1 John 5: 1-2
Good morning! :)
Chapter 5 in 1 John in my Bible is titled Faith in the Son of God. I am once again urged by the Lord to remember the indisputable link between faith and love toward God and other Christians. John also talks about how great an evidence it is of being a true Christian when we believe Jesus is the Christ that came down from his Father in heaven and died for our sins. I find it hard to imagine that some believe in GOD, but not in JESUS. It would be an entirely different faith, a sad and emptier faith without belief and love for Jesus as much as God the Father. I can't understand those that don't believe Christ is who he is and did what he did, but I do know that it's a gracious and undeserving gift - a mystery - how the Holy Spirit creates and keeps the faith in our hearts that is able to believe in Jesus as the Triune God. It's important we pray for and watch for witness opportunities to reach out with the truth in love to those that don't know Jesus as God, and don't appreciate what He did out of great love for them. They need enlightenment by the Holy Spirit, something we should never take for granted!
So, this week, as I go back to work and out into the world for my varying obligations and activities, I pray to remember these lines from John's letter, coming back to us again and again, about loving others and God with our lives. It must be concrete evidence, not just talk, which is hard sometimes and I know I am guilty of that. We CAN live like this, by the power of God in our hearts, an amazing power that He sees us worthy to take part in. We are blessed! And so equipped to do what he asks and inspires us to do!
Lots of love to you all :)
Cait
Chapter 5 in 1 John in my Bible is titled Faith in the Son of God. I am once again urged by the Lord to remember the indisputable link between faith and love toward God and other Christians. John also talks about how great an evidence it is of being a true Christian when we believe Jesus is the Christ that came down from his Father in heaven and died for our sins. I find it hard to imagine that some believe in GOD, but not in JESUS. It would be an entirely different faith, a sad and emptier faith without belief and love for Jesus as much as God the Father. I can't understand those that don't believe Christ is who he is and did what he did, but I do know that it's a gracious and undeserving gift - a mystery - how the Holy Spirit creates and keeps the faith in our hearts that is able to believe in Jesus as the Triune God. It's important we pray for and watch for witness opportunities to reach out with the truth in love to those that don't know Jesus as God, and don't appreciate what He did out of great love for them. They need enlightenment by the Holy Spirit, something we should never take for granted!
So, this week, as I go back to work and out into the world for my varying obligations and activities, I pray to remember these lines from John's letter, coming back to us again and again, about loving others and God with our lives. It must be concrete evidence, not just talk, which is hard sometimes and I know I am guilty of that. We CAN live like this, by the power of God in our hearts, an amazing power that He sees us worthy to take part in. We are blessed! And so equipped to do what he asks and inspires us to do!
Lots of love to you all :)
Cait
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Little Note
Hi gals!
The husband and I just got home a bit ago from family visits for Thanksgiving in MN and northwestern WI - we left on Tuesday and drove home today after church. It was a *long* time away, in a good way, in the way that home feels delectable, our own bed, and a kitchen and bathroom :) I'm sure you all can understand that! But we have so much to feel and BE thankful for, to remember how blessed we are. I always think of that when I come home after being away - coming back to see all the earthly blessings the Lord has given in His grace. We have what we need and a whole lot more.
He will provide even when we don't see what's around the corner.
I just wanted to pop in since I missed out on this whole week of study, and say that I might just pick up where I left off tomorrow instead of trying to play "catch up". I figured all of us were probably on Thanksgiving break this week, so maybe we'll all still be on the same page? If not, that's fine too :) Because we're already only a couple short weeks away from the end of 1 John! I am praying that the Lord would instill in us all a hunger for Him as we finish, and the quiet fortitude to finish the commitment we made, and to savor. all. the. words. because they are LIFE to us.
As the days get busier with Christmas just zipping our way so fast, I want to savor the moments I have with God in his word and prayer. Keep the quiet times if nothing else can fit into the day. It's most important.
Love you all! I truly hope you had a great Thanksgiving and are able to feel refreshed for a new week back at it! :)
And if we all could say a prayer for Jessica to feel better, that would be wonderful (she is my little brother's girlfriend, and I and my family just absolutely ADORE her, and the poor thing was sick over Thanksgiving - but she was such a trooper! In such good spirits! Jess - you radiate the joy of the Lord! Your influence is contagious - in a good way! haha)
The husband and I just got home a bit ago from family visits for Thanksgiving in MN and northwestern WI - we left on Tuesday and drove home today after church. It was a *long* time away, in a good way, in the way that home feels delectable, our own bed, and a kitchen and bathroom :) I'm sure you all can understand that! But we have so much to feel and BE thankful for, to remember how blessed we are. I always think of that when I come home after being away - coming back to see all the earthly blessings the Lord has given in His grace. We have what we need and a whole lot more.
He will provide even when we don't see what's around the corner.
I just wanted to pop in since I missed out on this whole week of study, and say that I might just pick up where I left off tomorrow instead of trying to play "catch up". I figured all of us were probably on Thanksgiving break this week, so maybe we'll all still be on the same page? If not, that's fine too :) Because we're already only a couple short weeks away from the end of 1 John! I am praying that the Lord would instill in us all a hunger for Him as we finish, and the quiet fortitude to finish the commitment we made, and to savor. all. the. words. because they are LIFE to us.
As the days get busier with Christmas just zipping our way so fast, I want to savor the moments I have with God in his word and prayer. Keep the quiet times if nothing else can fit into the day. It's most important.
Love you all! I truly hope you had a great Thanksgiving and are able to feel refreshed for a new week back at it! :)
And if we all could say a prayer for Jessica to feel better, that would be wonderful (she is my little brother's girlfriend, and I and my family just absolutely ADORE her, and the poor thing was sick over Thanksgiving - but she was such a trooper! In such good spirits! Jess - you radiate the joy of the Lord! Your influence is contagious - in a good way! haha)
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