Agree with God

Posted on November 29, 2022 by Pete

One of the tricky things about reading Job is trying not to snooze when the other guys are speaking. You know, the other guys — the “friends”, the “counselors”, the “comforters” — those who knew a thing or two and so decide to share a thing or two. Their narrative, at a high level, is that Job is suffering great suffering because Job must have sinned a great sin. So confident are they in their assertion, they rotate among themselves in speculating on what nature of sin must be at the core of Job’s sorrow. And yet, we know from the opening chapters of Job (as does Job) that Job was “blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil” (Job 1:1,8; 2:3). So, when one of the amigos grabs the mic, the temptation is for the reader to tune out as they “blah, blah, blah” and “yada, yada, yada.”

But here’s the thing. These guys do know a thing or two. Sure, they misapply it most of the time, but broad misapplication doesn’t equate to total misinformation. So, when reading Job, we’d do well to have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying, even if it’s through these schmucks.

Case in point, Eliphaz’s last discourse in Job 22. There are gems to be mined and truths to be seen in this continuing diatribe by one of Job’s miserable friends. There’s stuff worth chewing on here.

For example, Eliphaz encourages Job to “receive instruction” from the mouth of God and to lay up God’s word in his heart (22:22). Who’s gonna argue with that? And, this confused counselor is right on when he exhorts Job that the Almighty is better than gold or silver and that Job should “delight yourself in the Almighty and lift up your face to God” (22:25-26).

But here’s the treasure that was worth the price of admission for me this morning.

“Agree with God, and be at peace . . . ”

(Job 22:21a ESV)

That’s it. Just those seven words. Chew on them for a bit and tell me they don’t satisfy; that they don’t bring you to a place of contentment regardless of the circumstance.

Want peace, says Eliphaz? Agree with God. Literally, be familiar with God and you’ll be whole. Know intimately the Almighty and you’ll be complete, wanting nothing more. Show harmony with the Creator and shalom is yours.

Sounds too simple? Maybe. But savor it for a bit and you know it rings true.

If God says He rules over all heaven and earth (1Chron. 29:11-12), agree with God and be at peace. If you can be as familiar with His promise to “never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb. 13:5) as you are with your own right hand, you’re gonna be whole. Know intimately the God who has makes Himself known and believe He really will make all things beautiful in their time (Eccl. 3:11) and shalom is not far away.

Know God, then you will be able to rest in God. Agree with Him, trust Him, find refuge in Him, and hear Him say to the raging seas of life, “Peace! be still!” (Mk. 4:39)

Agree with God. And be at peace with life — all of life.

By His grace. For His glory.

Posted in Job | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Lord, Will I?

Posted on November 22, 2022 by Pete

Okay, the problem with being captivated with the first part of a passage is that it kind of sets you up for the next part.

Yesterday, I was in awe of a Sovereign who would bow at His subjects’ feet as a Servant. Of a King who would towel-up and before His followers bend down. Of a Creator who would condescend to clean His creations’ feet. Peter’s words reverberated with awe and wonder yesterday, “Lord, do You?”

This morning, have been set up yesterday, I am compelled to chew on another question, “Lord, will I?”

When He had washed their feet and put on His outer garments and resumed His place, He said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.”

(John 13:12-15 ESV)

You also ought to wash one another’s feet . . . do just as I have done to you.

A command to obey; underline it in purple. An example to follow; don’t just color it, do it!

Lord, will I?

Will I take off the fancy schmancy garments of persona I’ve been so careful to put on and want to make sure are seen by others? Will I wrap the towel of servitude about my waist, bow at the feet of another — even if it’s one just waiting to betray me — and wash their filthy feet and touch up their tainted toes? Will I do what I really want others to do for me, but really want very little to do for others?

Even if, in my heart, I don’t want to esteem others better than myself (Php. 2:3), will I? Even if, everything in me wants to put my interests above others (Php. 2:4), will I? Even when I find the flesh within me wanting to act out of “selfish ambition or conceit” but hear the Spirit within me saying, “No sir, follow Jesus’ example”, will I?

I want to, Lord. Because I love You.

When I fail to (oh, You know I’m gonna fail to), in Your kindness, Lord, lead me to repentance . . . again. Meet me at the cross . . . again. Cleanse me . . . again. Let me know Your everlasting love and your limitless grace . . . again. And speak to me, “Follow My example, do just as I have done to you” . . . again. And remind me of the power of Your life in me which is able to live out Your command to me . . . again.

Lord, will I?

I will.

By Your grace. For Your glory.

Posted in John | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Lord, Do You . . . ?

Posted on November 21, 2022 by Pete

It did not compute. Nope, didn’t make sense. Try as he might, Peter couldn’t wrap his head around Jesus wrapping the towel around.

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside His outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around His waist. Then He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around Him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?”

(John 13:3-6 ESV)

Jesus knew Himself, He knew who He was. That He was in charge of everything. That He had come from the source of glory and would soon return to the fullness of glory. He knew what was to befall Him in but a few short hours and that prayer-born preparation would soon need to be made for Himself in order to drink the cup appointed for Him. But in this moment, He would love His own, and “He loved them to the end” (Jn. 13:1).

And so, just as He had laid aside His unearthly glory some thirty-three years earlier (Php. 2:6-7), this night He laid aside His inglorious earthly robe and lowered Himself again a notch. He took a towel, tied it around His waist, poured water into a basin, and Jesus — the king of Kings and the Lord of Lords (Rev. 19:16), the Creator and Sustainer of all things (Col. 1:16-17), the Fullness of deity in bodily form (Col. 2:9) — bowed Himself at the dirty toes of His creation.

And Peter said, “Lord, do You wash my feet?”

Pause. Full stop. Lord, do You wash my feet?

Chew on that for a bit and you’re full! What more can be taken in?

Lord, do You . . . ?

Do You come as God in flesh? Do You come as the Lamb of God? Do You come as the Good Shepherd? Do You come and call me friend?

Do You love me with an unbounded, unending love? Do You view me as part of Your spotless, unblemished bride?

Do You bear the debt of sin I could never repay? Do You clothe me in Your righteousness which I could never deserve?

Do You abide in me, really? Do You perfect me, perfectly? Do You claim me as Your own wholly and eternally?

Lord, do You . . . ?

Chew on that.

Be filled with His grace. Be free to give Him the glory.

Posted in John | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Rerun Week – Day 4

Posted on November 18, 2022 by Pete

Feeling a need to ponder and pray more and produce less during my morning devos this week. So after my readings, my plan is to go back through my archives and let the thinking of the past minister to me in the present. That which particularly sticks with me I’ll share with you. Here are some thoughts from 7 years ago.

It must have been a pretty impressive sight. The burning fiery furnace, big enough to hold multiple full size adults, glowing red hot as it was heated to seven times its normal temperature. And in it, four men walking in the midst of the fire. Astonishing, not just that they were unscathed by the raging fire around them and were moving about, but that there were four of them–for only three had been delivered to the flames and to what should have been certain death. But four there were. And four remained untouched by the furnace. And then the three emerged. The hair of their heads unsinged, their cloaks not harmed, not even a hint of the smell of the fire upon them. The evidence was irrefutable–the fire had not had any power over the bodies of the three men.

Like I said, a pretty impressive sight. An “all glory to God” sight as the king who had sentenced them to the furnace now looked beyond the men delivered from the flames and realized something about the God who had delivered them.

Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants, who trusted in Him, and set aside the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. . . . for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.”

(Daniel 3:28, 29b ESV)

I’m hovering over that last phrase this morning, there is no god who is able to rescue in this way.

And I’m thinking, Nebuchadnezzar, you ain’t seen nothing yet!

For sure, no god could rescue from the flames as did Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s God. But their’s was but a warm up act (pun intended).

These three were already devoted to God. They had already determined to remain faithful to the Almighty and were ready to lay down their lives for the King of Heaven. Makes sense to fight the flames on their behalf.

But what about those who are indifferent to God? Or those who shake their fist at the Almighty? Or those who stand in opposition to, and are counted enemies of the King of Heaven. Can they be delivered from the eternal flames of hell? Can they be freed from their bondage to sin? Can they be rescued from themselves? Is there a god who can rescue in this way?

My God is able to rescue!

And He rescues through the Fourth Man. The One who saves, not from afar, but by entering the arena of the flames. Experiencing the heat as any other man would, yet without blemish or spot. Giving Himself to the flames of judgment on behalf of those He comes to save. Delivering unscathed those who put their faith and trust in Him.

What’s more, not only are those who are rescued delivered from the flames, but they emerge as new creations. Not who they were . . . not what they were. The Fourth Man replacing spiritual deadness with eternal life. Exchanging sin-stained cloaks for His own robe of righteousness. Replacing hearts of stone with hearts of flesh. Making blind eyes see and deaf hears hear. Converting enemies of God into children who cry, “Abba, Father!”

Is there a god who is able to rescue in this way? Only my God!

Able to rescue? Yes He is. So testifies one who has been delivered from the flames . . . one who has been extricated from the furnace . . . one who has been made new . . . one who, by God’s grace, desires to give God glory.

All praise and honor to the God who is able to rescue.

Amen?

Posted in Daniel | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Rerun Week – Day 3

Posted on November 17, 2022 by Pete

Feeling a need to ponder and pray more and produce less during my morning devos this week. So after my readings, my plan is to go back through my archives and let the thinking of the past minister to me in the present. That which particularly sticks with me I’ll share with you. Here are some thoughts from November, 2012.

Never fails to happen . . . there is always a joy and excitement about hitting the book of Daniel . . . like when the kids come home from Christmas . . . it’s familiar territory to them . . . they like finding things decorated and in place as they’ve always been . . . but there’s a freshness, a wide-eyed re-encounter that puts a bit of electricity in the house. The themes in these opening chapters of Daniel are familiar, touchstones that have been used to ground my life for years . . . like purposing in my heart to not defile myself with the kings food (1:8) . . . like being reminded that Daniel’s favor with men and his meteoric rise to the top of the class was less about him and all about God’s divine hand upon His life (1:9, 17) . . . like being repeatedly told that God is the God of heaven (2:18, 19, 28, 37, 44) . . . and finally, of being reminded that my God is the Revealer of Mysteries (2:28, 47).

A Revealer of Mysteries. The One who can make known the unknown. He who can take the hidden thing and bring it to light. That’s our God.

Usually what captures me about this thought is that, by His grace, I have been the recipient of such revelation of mystery. Through the Word of God . . . by the illumination of the Spirit of God . . . I have been allowed some level of understanding into the mysteries of God. True enough . . . but funny how I tend to think about me. This morning my thoughts tend to be more about Him, the Revealer.

What has my awe-o-meter kicking over to the right hand side is that He is the God who knows the mysteries. He is the Revealer because, in many cases He is the Author. He is the Revealer because, in all cases, He is the One who knows everything . . . my God is omniscient . . . the God of heaven is all-knowing. And there’s something about that alone which inspires worship . . . and brings about peace.

Sure, I like to know “what’s behind the curtain.” I want to be brought into the inner circle. I, as much as the next guy, like to have things figured out. But, as I sit hovering over this story of a king with a bad dream, a bad attitude, and a sad bunch of magicians, enchanters, and sorcerers, I’m grabbed less by the revelation then I am by the Revealer. That He knows . . . that His realm of understanding and insight so dwarfs that of kings and prophets and this guy sitting in this chair . . . that He is the Possessor of all truth and Knower of all secrets. He is . . . the Revealer!

Amazing God!

So this morning, though there are many mysteries I might like to have made known to me, I rest in that I know the Revealer of Mysteries. Whether He chooses to allow me to “interpret the dream” or not, it’s enough to know that He knows . . . and to trust in Him even when I don’t know . . . and to rest in Him who will reveal mysteries according to His will . . . and in line with His perfect timing . . . and all for His glory. Amen?

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
to Whom belong wisdom and might.
He changes times and seasons;
He removes kings and sets up kings;
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to those who have understanding;
He reveals deep and hidden things;
He knows what is in the darkness,
and the light dwells with Him.
To you, O God of my fathers,
I give thanks and praise . . .

(Daniel 2:20-23a ESV)

Posted in Daniel | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Rerun Week – Day 2

Posted on November 16, 2022 by Pete

Feeling a need to ponder and pray more and produce less during my morning devos this week. So after my readings, my plan is to go back through my archives and let the thinking of the past minister to me in the present. That which particularly sticks with me I’ll share with you. Here are some thoughts from November, 2019.

Maybe 2020 will be the year. The year I dig deeper into Ezekiel.

Wrapped up the book in this morning’s reading. A lot of it I think I get. A lot of it, not so much.

The apocalyptic unveiling of the glory of God captures the imagination. The departure of the glory of God is heart-breaking. The return of the glory of God, hope inspiring.

There is judgment under an old covenant and the promise of a new covenant. The weakness of the old exploited by idolatrous, rebellious hearts. The strength of the new found in divine intervention and the making of new, truth-bearing hearts.

There is also the temple destroyed, the city razed, and the land of promise laid bear. But then, a vision of a new land, a new city, and a new, glorious temple. And, whatever the new temple in the new city in the restored land is referring to, it’s intriguing. To be taken literally? Figuratively? I know what I was taught as young man, but not sure how it all fits. I know what others think it may be, but not sure how it all fits in that scenario either. So, maybe 2020 will be the year . . .

But for all the stuff that Ezekiel leaves you not knowing, it concludes with something that is sure . . .

“And the name of the city from that time on shall be, The LORD Is There.”

(Ezekiel 48:35b ESV)

When all is said and done . . . when all is done and said . . . The LORD Is There. Jehovah-Shammah.

There in the place He has promised. There in the kingdom of His coming. There in the midst of the people He has redeemed. There in the temple which houses His glory. Jehovah-Shammah. The LORD Is There.

And however the details of Ezekiel’s prophesied future state play out, what I do know is that those details have begun to be rolled out in our current state. A rebellious people redeemed. A scattered people called into community. A kingdom established in and through them. A reigning King over them. Under a new covenant. With new hearts. Longing for the final state.

Not yet in the place of promise but sojourning to that city whose designer and builder is God (Heb. 11:10). Yet, with God in their midst and with the temple that bears His glory in place –even the people of God. Living stones being built up into a spiritual house (1Pet. 2:5). Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone. Joined together. Growing into a holy temple in the Lord. A dwelling place for God by the Spirit (Eph. 2:20-22). And Jehovah Shammah. The LORD Is There.

A lot I still don’t really get about Ezekiel . . . maybe next year we do the deeper dive. But this I do know: where God’s people are The LORD Is There.

Where they gather, His glory resides. Where they worship, His Son presides.

My dwelling place shall be with them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

(Ezekiel 37:27 ESV)

By His grace. For His glory.

Posted in Ezekiel | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Rerun Week – Day 1

Posted on November 15, 2022 by Pete

Feeling a need to ponder and pray more and produce less during my morning devos this week. So after my readings, my plan is to go back through my archives and let the thinking of the past minister to me in the present. That which particularly sticks with me I’ll share with you. Here are some thoughts from 2018.

Last couple of readings in John 11 I’ve been identifying with Martha. This morning, as I hover over my reading in John 12, I’m longing to be more like Mary. I have seen the Savior’s patience in taking Martha’s deep faith even deeper. But this morning I’m a bit in wonder as I meditate on the Savior’s acceptance of Mary’s extravagant worship as a precursor to His burial.

In wonder, in part, because of a single word that I don’t think I’ve ever stopped to really noodle on before. A word that every bible teacher who has ever taught me about how to read the bible says I need to take note of. So that, when I see the “therefore”, I ask what it’s there for?

Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for Him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with Him at the table. Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

(John 12:1-3 ESV)

Only the ESV and Young’s Literal Translation translate the word as “therefore.” All my other translations use the English word “then.” As in, “Then Mary took . . . and anointed the feet of Jesus.” Giving it more a sense of chronology than causality. Martha served, Lazarus reclined, then Mary anointed.

But what if the better translation really is “therefore”? Then, I should spend a bit of time chewing on what it’s there for?

What if accordingly Mary anointed the feet of Jesus? What if consequently she seized the opportunity to worship extravagantly? What if, because these things were so — her sister serving as she had always done, her brother breathing as he had almost always done (except for those horrific 4 days) — what if, because of looking about and recognizing these somewhat mundane realities, these few moments of normality, she broke the bank and filled the house with an undeniable fragrance of her love for the Master?

If it’s really a “therefore” and not a “then”, and if that’s what it’s there for, then what am I to take from it?

Perhaps something about worshiping in the moment. Something about responding to the mundane and normal, even when recent events have been anything but normal, and when what will be is just as unpredictable.

Mary’s recently been through a lot. Not just a near death experience, but an actual death experience. One that played out unimaginably well, but who could have imagined her brother’s death in the first place? And then, her dead guy walking has incited the high priest of the Jews to put out a hit on the One who brought her brother back from life, her much loved Lord (11:49-54). What’s more, in just a few more verses, they’re going to put out a contract on her brother as well “because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus” (12:11).

But for right now, for this moment, Martha is serving, Lazarus is reclining, and THEREFORE Mary worships. Places herself in that sweet spot she’s known before, at the feet of Jesus. Breaks open the bottle of precious perfume she had saved a year for (12:5). Pours it on Jesus’ feet. Then wipes His feet with her hair in an act of unreserved humility and adoration. Worshiping in a way that would be spoken of for centuries, if only because all was so very right in that moment.

Her sister serving, her brother reclining, and so, she is worshiping at the feet of Jesus.

I’m thinking that’s what the “therefore” might be there for.

Extravagant worship in response to reminders of “mundane, normal” grace. So that God might receive the glory.

Amen?

Posted in John | Tagged | 1 Comment

Do You Believe This?

Posted on November 11, 2022 by Pete

It’s a question for the ages. One of those questions that’s going to get asked multiple times throughout our lives. The question that, in a sense, overrules all other questions.

Her brother was dead, she was distraught, and for days Jesus had been distant. Now He was there, but now the request was different. No longer was it sufficient for her and her sister to ask the Lord to come quickly because their brother was ill (Jn. 11:3), now the ask had to be, Call on God, Lord, for our brother is dead (Jn. 11:21). But, as Jesus so often is wont to do, before acting He determined to use this terrible moment as a teachable moment. And it centered ultimately on a question.

Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

(John 11:23-26 ESV)

Do you believe this?

Isn’t that the question we need to come back to again and again in order to keep on keepin’ on in this weird world? Isn’t that the reset we need to repeat when things get really hard and don’t make sense? Isn’t it the question that punctuates every truth we’re presented, or re-presented, about the awesome nature of God, or the grand scope of the gospel, or the benefits of weakness, or the precious promise of a sin-free, sorrow-free day to come? I’m thinkin’!

Last night, at our class on Union with Christ, we considered the implications of the ascension (Acts 1:1-11). That Jesus right now is bodily somewhere doing something. That “somewhere” is heaven at the right hand of God. That “something” is manifold: He is Sitting (Col. 3:1; Jn. 19:30; Heb. 10:10); He is Reigning (Acts 2:33, 36; 1Pet. 3:22; Rev. 1:5); He is Mediating (Heb. 6:19-20); He is Relating (Heb. 2:17-18, 4:14-16); He is Advocating (Heb. 7:23-25; Rom. 8:26). And yet, while bodily in heaven, He is equally present with us on earth (Matt.28:20b). Because we are “in Him”, while He is living in heavenly realms He is also “in us”, living in and through us (Gal. 2:20). As we talked through the mind-stretching realities and implications of our union with the ascended Christ, bottom line is we were left to answer but one question: Do you believe this?

Run the list of what you know about the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. Ponder again the promises of God you’ve highlighted in the word of God. Remind yourself of what’s above even as you deal with what’s below. No matter how long, or how short your list is, at the end of it, it still comes down to one simple, four-word question. Do you believe this?

It’s a question for the ages. A question we can anticipate being confronted with as we enter this day.

Martha models for us the right answer.

She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I believe . . . ” (John 11:27a)

By His grace. For His glory.

Posted in John | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

A Holy Tension

Posted on November 10, 2022 by Pete

John doesn’t make it easy on us. He doesn’t talk in grey terms but speaks in black and white terms. Yet it feels like a grey area. Holy tension, Batman!

That’s what I’m feeling as I’m chewing on my reading in 1John 3:1-10 this morning.

No one who abides in Him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen Him or known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as He is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.

(1John 3:6-10 ESV)

How clear is that? Pretty clear. You’re a believer? You cannot keep on sinning. Nope, can’t happen. Being born of God and practicing sin are mutually exclusive. End of discussion.

Okay. But what about 1 John?

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. . . If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

(1John 1:8, 10 ESV)

Okay, maybe there’s a difference between “no sin” and “practicing sin.” But when does “some sin” cross the line and become “keeps on sinning?” How much sin is “acceptable” until we are in the “nope, not a believer” category? I’m thinking the answers to those two questions are: 1) it crosses the line when sin becomes unrepented of, unconfessed, and un-cleansed of sin; 2) none — no amount of sin is acceptable sin.

So, if that’s true, and given the weakness of the flesh and the battle that wages each day between the old man in us and the Spirit of God in us, wouldn’t we expect that we’d be frequent flyers to the foot of the cross? That because “God’s seed abides in us” we are so aware of being “tripped up in sin” and so adverse to again being “enslaved by sin” that we cast ourselves upon the finished work of Jesus and the filling power of Jesus to not “keep on sinning”? I’m thinking.

We don’t keep on sinning. And yet we sin. Not a grey matter. A black and white reality. A holy tension.

Thank you, Jesus, for your work on the cross. Thank you, Jesus, for your work in me. Thank you, that the work you’ve begun in me, you are completing in me.

By Your grace. For Your glory.

Posted in 1John | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Abide In Him

Posted on November 9, 2022 by Pete

Hmm . . . I guess John was listening.

Ask me about “abiding” and John 15 comes to mind first as the go to passage. There, Jesus talks of a vine (aka Him) and branches (aka His followers) and the importance of the branch abiding in the vine if the branch is gonna be what the branch was made to be and bear fruit.

But this morning, as I read in 1 John, there’s more about abiding. I guess John was listening.

Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. . . But the anointing that you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as His anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie —  just as it has taught you, abide in Him. And now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears we may have confidence and not shrink from Him in shame at His coming.

(1John 2:24, 27-28 ESV)

Whole lot of abiding going on. The word heard from the beginning abiding in us — the written word and, I’m thinking, the living Word. The anointing of the Spirit received from Jesus abiding in us. And it’s through what we’ve been taught, through what we know to be true, that we abide in Him. We abide in the Son AND in the Father. We abide so that when He appears at His coming again, we’ll be “ready to receive Him with open arms, with no cause for red-faced guilt or lame excuses” (MSG).

Abide. Remain. Lean in. Don’t depart. Hang on for dear life. Don’t let go.

Jesus in us. Us in Jesus.

Until He comes again.

Abide in Him.

Jesus said it, John heard it. Jesus said it, John believed it. Jesus said it, John made every effort to do it.

Me too? Yeah.

By His grace. For His glory.

Posted in 1John | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment