This Is How We Know it is the Last Hour

1 John 2:18 “Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come.  This is how we know it is the last hour.”

            My Lord and My Savior, John wrote these words over 2000 years ago.  How much more is our time, “the last hour”.  There have been many antichrists throughout history; each one bringing grief to mankind and to the Jews specifically.  However; this knowledge gives great hope for the Christian.  Your return is far more imminent than in the first century.  Soon and very soon, You will return to take Your saints to glory!  Even so, Lord Jesus, quickly come!

The Man Who Does the Will of God Lives Forever

1 John 2:16-17 “For everything in the world- the cravings of sinful man, the lust of the eyes and the boasting of what he has and does-comes not from the Father but from the world.  The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.”

            Lord, everything I have and am able to do comes from You.  You have given the ability, talents, and resources needed to complete Your will in my life.  May I always be found faithful.

            It is sad indeed that the “world” does not understand this and craves for glory for themselves not knowing You, or knowing about You but refusing to acknowledge that You are the source.  The lust of the eyes comes from our sin nature and our discontentment with Your provision.  Lord, we humans are such an arrogant and prideful lot…why do You love us so?  It is only Your grace and mercy that allows You to love us.  Thank You, Jesus for Your priceless gift of salvation!

            Lord, there is so much strife and stress in our world because it runs on lust, pride, greed and envy.  Because of that, there is never any peace.  Men and women who have striven all of their lives to have and do more to feed their own ego so the world will say, “Look!  They are someone special because of what they did or because of all they have!”  No matter how much…it is never enough for them because they compete with others who are doing the same.  Then when they die, they go to the grave alone and leave all of their treasures behind for others to fight over. 

         However; You have given Your children the peace of knowing that we, in ourselves, can never be or do enough.  You show us that our worth resides in our relationship with You, not in what the world thinks of us.  You provide all of our needs.  Anything we have and are simply brings glory to You, not us.  You also promise eternal life with treasures in heaven where rust does not corrupt and the moth does not eat.

This world is not my home,

I’m just a-passing through.

If Heaven’s not my home,

Then Lord, what will I do?

The angels beckon me from Heaven’s open door,

And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.

Lord, You have promised that every work done in the Spirit lays up treasures in Heaven.  Thank You, Lord, for taking the stress out of my life and replacing it with the peace that passes all understanding.

Do Not Love the World or Anything in It

1 John 2:15 “Do not love the world or anything in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

My dear Lord, I know for a fact that I have not “arrived”, and You know that better than I.  You also know my grief over the worldliness of Your church.  Christmas is again upon us with all of the world’s clamoring, greed, and envy.  Stores are vying for the dollar by opening on Thanksgiving day and not waiting until the early morning hours of “Black Friday”, TV commercials are telling us what we  “just must have”, from vehicles to electronics.  The newspaper was so full of ads on Thanksgiving that it filled the re-cycle box we use.  Santas are everywhere we see “Seasons Greetings” and “Happy Holidays” and "Happy Winter"instead of Merry Christmas.  The “Christmas” movies and shows have no more to do with the real Christmas than the man in the moon.  Some purport good will toward others, forgiveness sometimes, getting the present you really want, and getting the girl or guy of your dreams, while others are much, much darker and have absolutely NOTHING to do with You or Your birthday.  The sad thing is that Your church seems to embrace the materialistic and dark view as well.

            Lord, there really is no reason You should spare Your church as she is, for the most part she is right there with the world.  She seems to have one foot in the church and one in the world and is leaning more toward the world all the time.  Lord, help me…help us…to be stubborn in a good way, toward celebrating Your birth and CHRISTmas.  Help us to concentrate on You and Your precious gift to us in coming to earth as our incarnate Savior, and do not let my mind be drawn away no matter what!

The Cycle of Life for the Believer

1 John 2:13b, 14b “I write to you young men because you have overcome the evil one.  I write to you young men because you are strong and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.” 

Young men here refers to adolescents and young adults who have strived, and continue to strive against the temptations of Satan, winning victory after victory and gaining wisdom and strength as they grow.

1 John 2:12-14  My Life Application Bible suggests that John is writing to believers in all stages of growth.  Little children first learn about Christ and become believers.  Their sins are forgiven, but they need teaching.  The teens and young adults are struggling against Satan and all his wiles, but are growing in strength and wisdom by winning victory after victory.  Fathers have been in the faith for a long time and are now able to teach the children and young adults.  The cycle starts over and the church grows.

Words Written to Children and Fathers

1 John 2:12-13a “I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of His name.  I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning.”
            Hallelujah!  Lord, there are not enough words in all of the languages of men, angels, and beasts to express my gratitude for the fact that my sins are forgiven!  I am no longer separated from the Father and other believers, not because of works of righteousness that I have done, but because of Your sweet mercies and shed blood on the cross on my behalf.
            Lord, I find it strange that John writes this sentence though.  If he were writing to Jews in general, he might have written that they “should have” known You who is from the beginning.  However; when You cam here in human form, You were rejected, persecuted, and finally crucified by the very ones who “should have” known who You were.  This makes me think that John is writing to a small group of true believers where the fathers did indeed know You.
            Fathers teach their wives and children, whether intentionally or unintentionally, what they do and do not believe to be true.  Christian fathers are held to a higher standard than non-Christian fathers, as the fate of their children's salvation may hang in the balance.

Hate Walks in Darkness

1 John 2:11 “But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.”

            Lord, You have given me permission, and have actually commanded me, to hate only two things: evil and sin.  You never give me leave or command me to hate the one who commits such acts.  You have told me that my real enemy is Satan and his hordes, and my own sinful nature.  Satan and his demons tempts, influences, and actually indwelled yet others: Judas, Hitler, and others who have tried throughout history to annihilate the Jews.  And yet, You died to pay the price for their sins as well as mine because You loved them.  Because the Holy Spirit dwells within believers, all he can do is tempt us.
            Therefore; because You are always our example, we are never to hate another human being no matter what they do to us.  You have told us to do good to them, to pray for them, and do not return evil for evil because they have been blinded by our enemy and are being used in his ugly hands to do his bidding.  Lord, that is why, without the power of the Holy Spirit, it is impossible for us to forgive and also why it is easy to spot someone who walks yet in darkness.  Hate comes from the Pit of Hell.  Unconditional love and forgiveness comes from You

Love Your Brother and Walk in the Light

1John 2:9-10 “Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness.  Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble.”

            Lord, You are telling me that my relationships with others are mirror images of my heart and soul’s condition regardless of what I may say or the way I might act.  There are times, Lord when I unwittingly in an unguarded moment make it hard for someone to love me.  I say things before I think and then realize I have hurt the ones dearest to me.  I praise God not only for His mercy in those times, but also for the ones I have offended with my carelessness.  I long to always love my brothers and sisters and to always show them that love.  Lord, please help me not to stumble.

Darkness is Passing and the True Light is Shining

1 John 2:8 “Yet I am writing you a new command:  Its truth is seen in Him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is shining.”

            Lord, up until You came and lived among us, we had only words to tell us what light should look like in our lives.  When You came, You exemplified what living as “light” should look like and how it should act.  The more we and truly LIVE as “children of light” , the more darkness will flee.  As Christians, we cannot just sing, “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine”, and live a dark life bringing more darkness into the lives of others.

            I am grieved, Lord, as You must be too, at the number of professing Christians who embrace very dark movies, music, TV shows, and video games and excuse it as just entertainment.  You have told us not to be conformed to this world but to be transformed by the renewing our minds, and have told us what to think on.  None of these things fit into the category of Light. 

            Lord, please send revival to Your church until the burning desire to be Your light in this dark world burns within each Christian soul.

Remember God's Commands

1 John 2:7 “Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning.  This old command is the message you have heard.”

            Lord, I often need to be reminded of things more now,  as I grow older.  I am relieved,  when I read the scriptures that are resplendent with reminders, that I am not the only one who needs reminding.  You, in Your grace and mercy know that, so You had men of old place reminders in Your Word for me to read each day.  Your reminders tell me that You remember things, like Your promises and that even though I have been made a new creature, am but dust.  But, when I sin and confess, You refuse to remember my sin anymore.
            This command to walk as Jesus walked should not be one of which I need to be reminded, but sadly, it is.  Lord. I can get so caught up in the “daily” that sometimes I forget the “important” (not the “urgent” because that has a way of taking over sometimes.)
            Thank You, Lord, for Your gentle, loving, and patient reminders in Your Word.  You know me so well and know just when I need to read a certain passage and why.  I praise You for that!  Help me today to walk as You walked.  I want so much to be a blessing to others for Your sake.

Walk As Jesus Did

1 John 2:5b-6 “This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.”

            Lord, I cannot walk the path of the hypocrite.  I am Yours.  You have purchased and forgiven my pathetic sinful soul with Your precious blood.  If I confess that to You and before others, I cannot live like the Devil.

            Lord, You do not transport us to heaven the moment we are saved because our purpose is to win others to You by the way we live our lives.  I was deceitful, arrogant, rebellious, prideful, and lazy before I gave my life to You.  I still digress for short periods of time I know, but Your Spirit convicts me so I can confess and repent.  I know I am Yours because You will not leave me alone in my sin.

            This short verse is such a short command: walk as Jesus did.  However; without You, Lord, that is impossible because:

In myself I am:                                                                      In You I am:

Selfish                                                                                     Self-less

Arrogant                                                                                  Humble

Unloving of others/ Judgmental                                             Love unconditionally

Deceitful                                                                                 Truthful

Lazy                                                                                        Industrious

Unforgiving and bitter                                                            Forgiving and Free

Easily angered                                                                         Longsuffering and have Joy

Impatient                                                                                 Patient

Rotten                                                                                     Good

And the list goes on and on.  Thank You again, Lord, for Your unspeakable gift and for loving me when I didn’t love You!

Lord, Convict us!

1 John 2:4-5a “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 Hid word, God’s love is truly made complete in him.”

            There is a saying: “Do what I say, not as I do”.  This is normally said in jest, Lord, but do I really live my life that way?  I may say that I am this or that, but my actions convict me.  I may say, “I forgive so and so for an offense (either true or imagined), but if I walk in bitterness, I am a liar.  If I tell someone else (my children when we all were younger, and my grandchildren of students at school now) to do or not to do something I do not do the same, I am a liar and my actions convict me.

            Lord, there are wolves in sheep’s clothing among us as Christians and we need to be wary so we do not fall under false teaching.  The “bottom line” here is that I have to be honest; honest with myself, honest with You, and honest with others, or I will draw people away from the cross not to it.  Lord, may Your Holy Spirit convict me quickly and may I be eager to listen and repent.

We Know Him if We Keep His Commands

1 John 2:3 “We know that we have come to know Him if we keep His commands.”

            Lord, You know how very sad the day was when I asked my dad if he knew for sure if he was going to heaven and he said, “Timi, no one can be sure if they will spend eternity with God in Heaven until after they die.”  He had been under the impression (false teaching) that when we get to Heaven, You weigh the good things we have done against the bad.  If the good outweighs the bad you’re in.

            Ephesians 2:8-9 and 1 John 5:13, as well as Isaiah 64:6 tell us differently.  They state (in Plyter Paraphrase) that my salvation does not depend on me at all and that all of my best works are like filthy rags to God.  The ONLY criterion of true salvation is who Jesus is and His work on my behalf on the cross!  I can never be good enough, do enough good, or work hard enough to earn Salvation.  I can never earn it and I can never deserve it.  It is a gift of His grace and mercy alone.

             Jesus IS the perfect sacrifice and His blood alone cleanses me from all sin so I might approach the Father and call Him “ABBA” (Daddy).  Hallelujah! I will KNOW if I know Him if I keep His commands.  “If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9 ASV.   If I was not truthful in that confession and do not obey His commands, it is because I am not a new creation, the old things have not passes away, I do not have the Holy Spirit living within me as my prompter and guide convicting me of my sin. I have been deceived by THE EVIL ONE (or have deceived myself) and  my body and soul and will be cast into Hell to burn for eternity after I die.

            If I were to never sin again after salvation, I would not need 1 John 1:9.  But if I practice all of the old sins and do not obey Your commands daily, I would have to check my heart and confess I lied to You and myself the day I said I trusted You.

Our Preciuos Advocate

1 John 2:1-2 “My dead 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 ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”

In some manuscripts it says, "He is the one who turns aside God's wrath, taking away our sins,"...

            Lord and Sweet Advocate, I am reminded of my childhood when we would go to our mother if we wanted to go or do something special as we knew she had a way with dad that we did not.  I realize that what is said here is not the same at all in reality, but the concept is the same.  You have made me an advocate for our students, so realize the concept every day.

            How can I thank You, righteous One, for interceding for me all day every day with the Father?  Your precious blood covers ALL of my sins, confessed or not.  If I am one of Yours, and by Your grace and mercy I am, then when the accuser goes to the Father and tattles, You tell the Father, “She is one of ours and her sin is covered.”  Hallelujah, what a Savior!

            Lord, both statements for verse 2 are in harmony.  Your atoning blood cleansed us from all sin for all time.  Therefore the Father’s wrath is abated not because of our contrite goodness, but because of Your sacrifice.  And because You shed that blood, You alone can advocate with the Father and turn aside His anger at our sin.

            What a great and precious gift You gave on that horrible, but beautiful day!  There are not enough words to express my gratitude, but You know my heart.

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
O precious is the flow,
That makes me white as snow?
No other fount I know;
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

We are all Sinners Whether We call Ourselves One or Not

1 John 1:10 “If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word has no place in our hearts.”

Oh, Lord!  Keep me from presumptuous sin.  Never let me call my sin anything else but what it is.  We are in a culture that  is coming to disaster from within in the name of “tolerance”.  Sin, in many areas, is not called sin anymore, but is called “sickness”.  Some sin is not called sin because the sinners, and in some instances the church, blames You for making the sinner the way they are, or blame their socioeconomic or dysfunctional family upbringing for their actions, therefore absolving them from the responsibility or consequences of their actions.  Hence, there is no sin to be confessed.  Your word has no place in their hearts because they are arrogant or deceived and do not believe the truth that we are all sinners and in need of a Savior.  In love, You gave us Your Word as a love letter and text book/map to guide us and to teach us.  All sin is called that because it hurts us and separates us from You.  BUT, (Oh how I love the “but”s in Scripture) You built the bridge with Your cross and Your precious shed blood for those very sins we commit so we CAN confess them and be restored to fellowship with You.  Again; Hallelujah!  What a Savior!

The Promise of Forgiveness

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Lord, this is but one of Your promises…but Oh what a promise it is!  John 3:16, Romans 8: 1 and 28, 1 John 5:13; the promise list goes on and on, and on a daily basis I claim lots of them either conscientiously or unconscientiously.  But THIS one is claimed each day more than the others because I must confess every day all day so a to have license to serve You.  This promise does not give me the license to sin as some might think, but it gives the promise of forgiveness when we do sin and are truly repentant.  It would be truly awful if we would lose our so sweet salvation the first time we sinned against You and there was no hope for forgiveness and restoration.  But You…You give me forgiveness when I  truly confess and repent and allow me another chance (my chances must be in the millions by now) to have sweet fellowship with You, cleansed, restored, and washed white as snow! Hallelujah!  What a Savior I have!

Thank You for the cross, Lord,

Thank You for the price You paid;

Bearing all my sin and shame, in love You came,

And gave amazing grace.

Oh, how I love Jesus.

Oh, how I love Jesus,

Oh, how I love Jesus,

Because He first loved me.

My chains are gone!

I’ve been set free!

My God, my Savior has ransomed me,

And like a flood, His mercy rains,

Unending love, amazing grace!

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us

1 John 1:8 “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.”

            Lord,  I can envision all of the times when I was a child, or watching other children, boldly stating to their parent that they did not get into the cake, eat the cookies, play in the mud, break the window, etc. when the evidence was ALL over me (them).  We do not have to be taught to be liars as children.  It comes very naturally, thanks to Adam.

            However; when those who are old enough to know better and especially those who claim the name of Christ lie like that, it is a very serious matter indeed.  It si not enough that folks around us usually can spot the fact that we are lying (like the mom looking at the chocolaty face of a youngster), but to think for a moment that they are trying to deceive the all-knowing, all-seeing God who created them…That is far more serious.  I think, Lord, there is something within us that always wants to look more pure than we are in the eyes of those around us.  Obviously that is the ugly sin of pride and the horribly heavy and uncomfortable yoke of ego that binds us .  BUT, YOU have freed us from that bondage.  These very sins were nailed to the cross and paid for with Your precious blood.  Oh that we would live our lives like that!

1 John: Word of Life, The Light, Wonderful Fellowship

Today we start our walk through 1 John.  Thank You, Lord for this amazing privilege.

1 John 1:1 “That which was from the beginning which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at, and with our hands have touched-this we proclaim to concerning the Word of Life.”

            Lord!  I believe without have seen, heard, or toughed.  I ponder what it must have been like for those with whom you rubbed shoulders when You were here in the flesh.  They knew they were looking into the very eyes of God, hearing the will of, and feeling the touch of the living GOD!  You are the Word made flesh, Emmanuel!  Some sweet day I will experience all of these things myself, but for now; Your sweet Spirit ministers to me and I have a different type of communion with You as I abide, and it is sweet indeed!

            You, O Lord, are the Word of Life!  All life comes and exists because of You.   You are the creator and sustainer of everything just by Your word alone.  That is so amazing in itself, but then to think that You would stoop to become one of us…If we loved You it would be one thing…but we did not.  You knew a few would come to love and accept You, but the bulk of humanity would ignore You, Hate You, and some would even kill You.  You came anyway…for ME!  Oh Lord my God, How great You Are!

1 John 1:2 “The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.”

            Lord, You showed them not a life but The LIFE!    You…the giver of all life…You, the eternal life, were seen by John and so many, many more.  Lord, my spirit rejoices with the Spirit at these thoughts this day.  A myriad of praise songs fill my mind:

“We bless You Lord, God of the ages, highest above, we magnify You, Your name shall be exalted.”, “In the splendor of Your majesty, from deep within my spirit sing holy!  Holy!”, “How great is out God!”, “All I can do is fall down on my knees and cry Holy, Holy!”, “Amazing love, how can it be, that Thou my god shouldst die for me!”

            You came to dwell among us that we might abide in You as friend, redeemer, brother, joint heir, lord, provider, forgiver and lover of my very soul,  Hallelujah!  Hallelujah!

1 John 1:3-4 “We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard so that you may also have the fellowship with us.  And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.  We write this to make our (your) joy complete.”  (Some manuscripts say your).

            Lord, John is not being exclusionary in this letter.  He is not writing to tell these folks that they are excluded from Your love and their fellowship, but that those for whom he writes (we) long for and embrace the fellowship of the readers.  He shares wonderful exciting news that is very inviting.

            All other false religion gods are formed to either promote humans to be their own god or the followers are trying to win the favor of an angry god or gods.  You, Lord, are the only true who invites His creation, because of love, to fellowship with Him.  I doubt very much if the poor people who have been sucked into those false religions feel the warm kinship we believers do when we meet a perfect stranger who is a Christian.  Our spirits have a strange and wonderful fellowship that makes us instantly fell like family.  And if someone says that they are a Christian and are not, Your Spirit witnesses to mine that they are not of the Family.

            Thank You, Lord, for this wonderful gift of salvation: unearned, undeserved, unloseable (I know this is not a word), gracious, merciful, and powerful!  May I never forget the cost or the Giver.

1 John 1:5 “This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.”

            Lord, it is relatively dark yet outside as I write this.  Even as I sit with the 100 watt light shining in the room, I had to move my coffee cup because the shadow was being cast over the words of my Bible and made it hard to read.  But in You, Lord, there is no shadow.  Your light is so permeating and complete, shadows cannot abide where You are.  You are not just the source of light, You ARE LIGHT and in You there can be no darkness at all.  When light enters an area, darkness must flee from it.  Actions being done in the dark are revealed.  It is such a blessing, but also such a caution, to understand this.

            Darkness is very easy to spot physically, but You, Lord, through  Your Spirit help us to see the spiritual darkness that the normal eye cannot.  Sometimes it hurts to see it in one’s own family; sometimes it makes us fearful when we see it encroaching into our governments at all levels; and it should always make us angry when we see it creeping into Your church.

            Darkness is indeed all around us, and will be until You return.  It ever harasses believers, seduces unbelievers, and tried to make the church ineffective.  O dear Lord, help us all to be that light to the world to shed light in dark lives and places.  Philippians 2:14-16 should be burned into my memory.

 John 1:6-7 “If we have fellowship with Him yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not 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.”

            Precious Lord!  I praise you today for being the Light of the world and for shedding Your purifying light on my pathetic sinful soul to save me from myself, sin, and death!  How can I walk in darkness, now that I know You and your Spirit lives within me? 

I have seen those who profess belief, but still walk in darkness, deceiving themselves and others, and it is a very sad, pathetic sight indeed.  They believe with all of their heart that because they “prayed the prayer” (basically for Hellfire insurance) even though their heart was not in it, and expect to go to Your glory when they pass from this life to the next.  They life as the world does, not the in the world but not of the world as You have told us to live. How sad that they will wake up in the very Hell they were trying half-heartedly to avoid because they did not truly believe.

            However; if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and our spirits witness to each of the truth.  But more precious than fellowship with other believers, as precious as that is, Lord, is fellowship with YOU and the Father.  May I never take that for granted or presume on Your precious gift of salvation in my life!

But Grow in Grace and Knowledge of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen”

            Thank You, Lord, for that command from the hand of Peter.  I desperately do want to grow in grace and knowledge of You! 
            I grow in grace and give grace to others, giving the same grace that You give to me daily.  Thank You, Lord, for that endless supply that is new to me each morning.  I am so undeserving and You are so holy and righteous.  It is only by Your blood that I am a joint heir with You.  I deserve nothing but Your wrath and judgment for my thoughts, intents, and actions each day…but You, Lord!  You give grace and mercy in abundance!  For that I praise You and bless Your holy name!
            I grow in knowledge of You, Lord, because You have given us Your Mind in the Scriptures, and You have given us Your Spirit to guide us into a pure understanding of what Your mind is so we can know You.  What a precious gift!  No other god invites their followers to know them and they do not want to know their followers.  But You, Lord…You are all knowing, all powerful, and yet all loving.  You are God!  The ONLY TRUE LIVING GOD!
You are creator and sustainer of all there is and yet You love me and want me to get to know YOU! Amazing!