Author: Good Life Church

Scripture:

4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

Observation:

John shares the joy he experiences when he hears that people he has invested in are walking out their faith. He calls it his greatest joy. 

Application:

I find joy in a lot of things. Family, sports, good food, music, and comedy. However, each of those things can cause me pain. Whether family problems, my team losing, or meal that doesn’t sit well, what can bring me joy, can also bring me pain. 
So it is with people. As a pastor I spend most of my days investing in other people. Many days, honestly,  I can feel like I am wasting my time. Maybe my expectations are too high or maybe I am justified in their lack of execution in the faith journey. However, when I hear of or see someone I have invested in walking it out, something inside leaps for joy. Over the years I have had people like Dave, Mike, Jose, Pip, Andy, Philip and others that have taken the investment and grown to be men of great influence and kingdom advancement. However, I have countless people I have spent time with totally walk away from the faith and fall back into the trappings of the world. Nothing pains me more. 

A few things…

-I must take the calling to invest in others seriously. I must be both consistent and systematic in my approach to disciple them. 

-I must pray for patience with those I lead. They will fail and some may even fall. May I have the grace and patience to pick them up time and time again as you have done with me so many times. 

-I must understand that what can be my greatest frustration can also be my greatest joy. I must keep risking it all because the reward of seeing them walk in faith is the sweetest and most unadulterated expression of joy I will experience this side of heaven. 

Prayer:

Lord give me patience and grace for those I lead. May nothing captivate my heart like seeing people get it and live it!

Scripture:

Though I have much to write to you I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face so that our joy may be complete. (2 John 1:12)

Observation:

2 John seems more like a personal letter than an epistle for all the churches. Even so, there are gems to be found in this letter. We also find the Word of God.

Application:

There are many items to take notice of in 2 John. Who is the “elect lady?” Deceivers? Antichrist? What about the injunction to “watch yourselves?” The “love one another” is a phrase instantly recognizable. All perhaps easier to write about.

I was taken by v12, though, recognizing that this could be this generation.

What is fellowship? What is meant by cultivation of relationships? Even as old as I am I can get way caught up in the convenience of texting, instant messaging, and emails. “Fire and forget” is not a term exclusive to the weaponry of the military, it is a term that describes communication today.

“Here’s my thought” as I jot down an email and then, when sort of complete, when I have aired my chest, discharged my thoughts and emotions, I hit the “Send” button and off it goes—and I can get up and say “ahhh”, I feel better now—as one way this communication is.

But does this cultivate Biblical Friendship? Fellowship? Is it what Christ wants us to have, experience, and demonstrate to the world? Did the scripture say this: “Thus they will know you are my disciples if you text coherently, not misspell, and answer in a timely manner…”

Nope. The world will know we are disciples if we exhibit that we love each other.

So what does this have to do with fellowship and communications? Simply this: To love each other and grow in Christ with each other is to….talk with each other. Face to face. In proximity. Hospitality. Hanging out. Sitting over a cup of coffee or breakfast and open our lives to each other. And finally: Do it on purpose.

Why? Well, perhaps I could list a number of reasons scattered in the New Testament. But how about the reason in this passage: So that our joy may be complete.

Electronic forms of communication have a place. Paper and ink has a place. Often though, that kind of communication can look like moving stuff from the Inbox to the Outbox. Lives are to be shared, first in the local Church and then outside. Lives are hard to share if we just pass notes from one to another.

Accountability is one of the pillars of Good Life Church. It is difficult to take accountability seriously (either giving or receiving) if you are not friends first.

Prayer:

Lord God: Inspire my imagination on how to talk more with folks. Help me to reach out to guys I know and guys I want to know. Remind me that my commute is a good place to talk over the phone with folks; breaking bread either at breakfast or lunch is good. Keep in the forefront of my mind that this is purposeful, it builds the church. Fellowship is a holy tool in my discipleship toolbox. It is not to be avoided. I must realize that building biblical friendships is going to be inconvenient and hard but, by Your Grace and only Your Grace, You will make success out of this effort. AMEN.

Scripture:

1 John5:1-2 – Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.

Observation:

When we place our faith in Jesus that he is the Son of God, we become adopted children of God. To love the Father is to love all of his children, born of Him. We are to love God, love His children and be obedient to Him.

Application:

John is stating three hallmarks of gospel transformation for true believers in Jesus Christ. First, have I placed my faith and trust in Jesus as the living Son of God? Second, do I love God and all of His children? Third, am I obedient to his commandments? This is a simple but effective litmus test for me to check my control versus being Spirit led.
Part of faith is trusting that God is soverign, in control of everything and His ways are better than mine. Love God and love our brothers and sisters in Christ. I can’t claim to love God and have malice in my heart for another believer. Jesus last words in the Great Commission, call us to make disciples and teach them to obey His commandments. I am not going to be able to effectively make disciples, if I am not in obedience myself.

Prayer:

Father,
Thank you for sending Jesus and adopting us as your children. Let your Spirit guide me to trust you completely, love you and all your children and be obedient to your commands.

Scripture:

1 John 4:4

4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 

Observation:

John reminds the reader that not all spirits are from God. An evil spirit can not confess Christ as Lord. If we have His Spirit in us, we can overcome any evil because He is greater than any force. 

Application:

The world and its forces are strong. However as a believer I have the Holy Spirit. There is no one greater, no one stronger. In moments of doubt and weakness I am to call on the Spirit within me to win the battles and guide me to obedience. 

I don’t have anything to fear, because the Great One is wIthin me.

Prayer:

May I live and love boldly today because you are not only with me, but within me. 

Scripture:

Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness-sin is lawlessness. You know that He appeared in order to take away sins and in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning. No one who keeps on sinning has (neither) seen Him or (has) 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. By this it is evident who are the children of God AND who are the children of the devil: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God nor is the one who does not love his brother.” 1 John 3:4-10.

 Observation:

I notice that this passage has a lot to do with addressing practice. Did you notice that the word “practice” or the idea of practice appears eight times in this short passage? Maybe practice is important?

Application:

Practice. Do I really need to practice?

One of the things that come to my mind is conducting Little League practice. Playing is much better than practicing but I know that practice makes playing so much more enjoyable. All my children and players would probably agree: if as a coach I could just “mind meld” skills instead of having to really practice skills would be much better.

Doesn’t work that way. But does it work that way in being a Christian? “Ancient practioners in Christian Discipline would say “No”.” (if anyone who watches Ancient Aliens on History Channel should chuckle here)

 Please note the difference in being Justified by faith and the road of Sanctification: These are two different Christian Doctrines. This is about Sanctification and the practice of Christianity.

 Practice can be challenging. It can also be dull. Boring. Not very rewarding. Thinking about just a few days ago in 2 Pet 1:5-8, Peter gives a list of objectives starting with “virtue” and adding more as we go along. It ends in “if you practice these qualities you will never fall.” (v10)

Later Peter ends this letter with “Be diligent to be found in Him without spot or blemish. ” (2 Pet 3:14) The point is that pursuit of godliness is vitally important and has more than a little emphasis in the Word of God. Rolling up the sleeves of effort and diligence is Biblical.

What is my response? Guess I need to go to practice more so that I can perform well in the game.

 Prayer:

Father. I always have to be reminded how important the Pursuit of Godliness is. It is so very easy to get sidetracked. It is so easy to substitute action-even if it is “church” action. Spirit: Please remind me daily to put my nose to the grindstone; to see You and Your Grace new every day; to make it my aim to please You in every respect-not for acceptance, but because of the love for You that You are multiplying in my soul daily. AMEN. P.S.: Help me not be afraid of doctrine or theology. AMEN again.

Scripture:

1 John 2:5-6 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.

Observation:

John is giving some practical instruction on what it means to live as a Christian. Living in obedience to God’s commands is not how we can get to heaven but it is the fruit, or evidence, of our belief. If I profess to be “right” with God but live in disobedience to God I deny the reality of sin in my life. I downplay the seriousness of sin and bring shame to God’s kingdom.

Application:

I am supposed to live like Jesus. Acting in a manner that is opposite of the way the Jesus lived would be in disobedience to God. I am to love God and love others. If I can’t love my brothers and sisters in Christ that I do know, how am I supposed to love others that I don’t know? Sin is not supposed to be my norm. But, if I sin, I have an advocate in Jesus. Jesus does not plead for my innocence. He also does not say I am free of guilt. What he does say is “He is guilty. But I have served his sentence for him so He will be free to enter into Heaven”.

I must learn and then teach proper behavior and realize the genuineness of my relationship with God is seen in my behavior. Just like a child or even a puppy is taught proper behavior, we all must be taught Godly behaviors. We are not born with the knowledge of God. I must learn from others, read and stay in the word, surround myself with Godly men and then be the tool by which others can learn as well. My behaviors will instruct others about my relationship with God and, hopefully, what it means to live like Jesus.

Prayer:

Help me realize that my behavior is not only evidence of my belief but also provides examples to others, both believers and non believers.

Scripture:

2 Peter 3:9
9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Observation:

Peter is giving his final words to encourage them to remember. Remember what Jesus did, who God is, and what his desires are. Reminding of the evil at the doorway and the destruction that could come if not focused on Jesus. This verse 9 is such a beautiful truth of WHO GOD IS!!

Application:

We pray and expect things to happen immediately. As I prayed laying in bed last night and this morning I was expecting immediate change in that moment. No work and striving or pursuit and diligence from me just God answering my prayer. This verse for me this morning is beautiful in the manner that God is patient. God has made promises and has set forth truths in his Word and HE KEEPS HIS PROMISES. He is not slow or ignoring even when we claim them, he is patient. What Good news!!! God is patient and kind and he fulfills and keeps his promises. The desire of Gods heart is ALL would reach repentance. Man this is convicting. I spend so much time thinking this person needs to learn or that person needs this….God is in heaven wishing they would repent. He desires for all to know him. He hasn’t come back because of his patience and kindness. This should transform my love for people. I have to love people and share God’s love in words and actions with all. God wants them and I have to share it with them.

Action Steps:
-Take the truths of Gods word and preach them to myself until my heart rejoices in inexpressible joy and love for Christ my Lord.

-Commit to sharing The Gospel with 1 person a day.

Prayer:

Father forgive me for not trusting in you and hoping In you and trusting your timing. Forgive me Dad for not pursuing you Son in how you have called me to. Help me Spirit to walk in purity and righteousness with humility.

Scripture:  

 And many will follow their sensuality and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.  2 Peter 2:2

Observation:  

 Peter gets right in their confronting the readers with statements, extrapolations of actions, and certainty of results.  And (get this) Peter is talking to and about Believers, Church folk-not unbelievers.  Folks like you and me.

Application:  

Stuff like this stops me in my tracks.  I like it soooo much when I can read the Scriptures and I know they are talking about the heathen, the unbelievers, the great un-washed.  I am not threatened or challenged.  This is the stuff to preach to others about—-and to not forget this—I am not aware of the safety of the wall of self-righteousness I have built.

To be transparent and candid: Sensuality is everywhere.  Can’t hardly do anything without being confronted with sensual stuff.  Ok, the overt stuff like pornography is fairly easy to recognize.  Still-some are still captive and enslaved by that.

But what is insidious is the COVERT stuff-the sensuality the world is training us to grow insensitive to.

Let’s note that Sensuality is not synonymous with Sex.  Sensuality can be thought as the presentation of the allure of sex and everything that can cascade from that.  Sensuality is an attitude, a way of thinking, a particular kind of self-image to project and to be attracted to.  There is nothing Godly about sensuality in this context and it is not to be excused away as something that God created so it must be ok.

This could be a whole book-and probably not a best seller either.  Who wants to tackle this subject anyway?

God does.

Tackling the subject of sensuality in our own lives does not start with “do this, don’t do that…” it can, you know, and some of that is pretty good to embrace fiercely.  There is something to be said about “just obey.”

But if a person in Christ really wants to tackle the subject of sensuality in their own life it starts with this: “I want to please You, O God.  I do not want to please myself.  I do not want to “go with the crowd.”  “I want to serve You and You alone no matter what the cost.”  Say that often to the face in the mirror and mean it.

A determination to please Him is where it starts.  We have been set free from sin.  We have been given Grace.  Our operating system has been re-booted.  We are not slaves to sin.  We have been given and provided with tools to pursue sanctification with.  One particular tool is the Brotherhood (or Sisterhood if you will).

Guys: Practice averting your eyes.  There is NOTHING innocent about sneaking a peek at billboards, commercials, magazines, walkers, runners, etc. Nothing innocent-remember.

Gals: Because I am a guy I am reluctant to advise anything about girls and sensuality.  However, I do know that girls learn sensuality from an early age. You may not even be aware of it.  Advice: Get into the scriptures with the attitude “I want to please You, O God”, not adding “and I want to please myself” or “nobody can tell me what to do.”  Beauty and attractiveness is not the same thing.

Prayer:  

 Father.  Sensuality is like a computer virus, a worm.  It can imbed itself and constricting to our Walk with You without our even knowing it. How many have been brought low because sensuality was thought to have an innocence in my mind only to find out that soft touch was a choke hold-squeezing the life out of me day by day.  Help me and all who read this to find, implement, and practice particular and specific disciplines-mental, spiritual, and especially physical-to combat sensual temptation.  AMEN.

Scripture:

2Peter 1:5 – 9 – For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.  For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

Observation:

Peter has already stated that His divine power and precious promises have been granted to us.  Now Peter is urging the church to live by behaviors as a result of their faith in Christ.   These behaviors are not earning salvation but are a natural outflow of a person changed by the gospel.   Peter concludes that if we are not living a life marked by the qualities culminating in love, we have forgotten the gospel and the sin/death from which we were saved.

Application:

Let me remember and respond to the greatest promise, sacrifice made by God in the gospel of Jesus Christ daily!  The gospel can’t be something that we move past.  The grace of the gospel has the power to change me from inside out.  Yes, I am saved by faith, but as I continue my walk with Christ may the Spirit be increasing my knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, affection and genuine love for others. 

Prayer:

Father,

Thank you for love and underserving grace you poured out to me in the gospel.  Help me to never get over this and live a life that demonstrates your love.

Scripture:

1 Peter 5:6 – “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you”

Observation:

Peter writes to the church elders about the shepherding of the local church. He reminds them of their call in God and asks that they serve eagerly and willingly. Being like Christ means putting others first and not promoting one’s self.

Application:

Am I trying to climb myself up the ladder of success or am I simply being a servant to others? One is the way of the world and the other is the way of God. Today I want to be someone who walks humbly, serving God and others, and reminding myself that in the kingdom of God there’s no better place to be.

Prayer:

God thank you that you do not see like the world does. You look at the heart and still you love us with the deep and infinite love of the Father. Help me today to serve others like you served and love like you.

Scripture:  

Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh arm yourselves with the same way of thinking.  For whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin…so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.  1 Peter 4:1-2

Observation:

  I wonder if I got some thinking mixed up about suffering, affliction, and stuff like that.

Application:

 When I read this first verse the first thing I thought of was a line from an old sitcom: “What’cha talking about, Willis??

Trying to read the Scriptures thoroughly and deeply takes some effort-especially when I run across something that makes me squint and tilt my head. Peter says (in cadence) “…therefore since Christ suffered in the flesh…” and what follows as a direction,  “…arm yourself (the singular…ME) with the same way of thinking.”  This requires EFFORT to assimilate into my discipleship plan because I don’t want to suffer.

“Arm yourself”: Reads like suffering is a weapon or at least a defensive posture.  Flip this into the “Whole armor of God” in Ephesians and what do I have?

I think what I have is the logical extension and application of the Gospel-that afflictions are not to be avoided.  Maybe not welcomed…but certainly embraced with thankfulness for the Mercy of God.

In Romans 8:29 it says that God’s intention is to “conform us to the Image of the Son.”  Also the scripture indicates that the servant is not above their Master (Matt 10:24-25).  Therefore, when afflictions and sufferings come, isn’t it reasonable to see an opportunity for holiness?

Tough stuff to think about.  Could looking to avoid suffering/affliction kind of thwarts God’s intention for our growth and maturity?  Maybe.  How would I know what to do?

One particular tool is the local Church and specifically cultivating friends in the Faith.  We are not meant to grow in a lonely vacuum nor is the once a week hour or two sufficient for improving maturity in Christ.  In the next chapter Peter talks about the “End of all Things” and how to respond.  Breaking bread, having pizza and a soft drink can start a good path to growing in Christ.

Paul wrote Timmy: “Practice these things; immerse yourself in them so that all might see (be able to observe) your progress.”  (1 Tim 4:15a)  Nothing strange here-a good old straightforward directive.

Reader: Go get’um.

Prayer:  

 Father: Please help me practice the things you are doing in me.  Prevent me from avoiding them.  Give me the gumption to act on Your whispers-the whispers I long for from you.  Tune my ear to Your Voice.  Time for pizza, Father.  Spirit-do Your thing in my and our hearts.  AMEN

Scripture:

1 Peter 3:9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

Observation:

Peter lays out a list of behaviors that believers are supposed to exhibit. These behaviors seem opposite of how most people act and react. Yet, Peter states that for us to receive our blessing me must act opposite of how the world acts.

Application:

I must seek God’s wisdom as I react to others. The world sees things in a different way. The world does not look to God for direction, guidance or for its examples. The world’s view is that if someone does something bad to me they should be paid back in kind. The world expects people to act in this manner. But God wants me to act contrary to the world’s beliefs. I am to act differently, almost counter intuitive, to the way the world acts. I am supposed to react in love.

I must act according to how God wants me to act. I must act to please God, not man. Acting in a manner that is opposite of the way the world acts sets us apart and allows us the be the light that others see. I am called to be a light in a dark world. To reflect Jesus’ light and love not the world’s hate. To stand out. The thing about light is that even a faint light can be seen in complete darkness. When I stand out in darkness it allows others to see the path God wants us to take. I don’t know when others are looking at me and it should not matter. I am to act according the example that Jesus provided always.

Prayer:

Allow me the wisdom to do what is right in your eyes. Help me to be the light in the darkness. Help me to act according to your direction and guidance so that others realize what love looks like.

Scripture:

1 Peter 2
Vs 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk
Vs 10 … now you have received mercy

Vs 20 … if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.
Vs 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

Observation:

Peter is telling the believers who they are as God’s children.
He is also telling them how they should now act as God’s children in the world.
Peter then reminds the believers what they have received from God.
They have received mercy.
Peter contrasts this with what they are likely to receive from the world.
From the world they will endure rejection and suffering… even while doing good.
Peter holds up Christ, though, who suffered even while being perfect.
He is the example for the believers to follow.

Application:

Peter uses language and several words that are common in my pursuit of “the Christian life”.
I want to “long for the spiritual”
I want to “do good”.
I want to be “called”.
I want to “follow in His steps”.
But if I do, in fact, do all these things, do I expect the same things in return from both God and the world?
I shouldn’t.
Peter tells me to pursue things in both the spiritual world and the material world.
But Peter tells me I will receive in return very different things.
When I “long for spiritual milk”, … I will “receive mercy”.
When I “do good”, … I may well “suffer for it”.
I am, indeed, to pursue both, “spiritual milk” and “doing good”.
I just shouldn’t expect goodness in return of both pursuits.
Peter tells me it’s OK, though.
Because I have already received “mercy”. And when I suffer for doing good it is “gracious in God’s sight”.
I can live in and experience both mercy and grace … mercy and grace.
There is no better way to “follow in His steps”.

Prayer:

Thank You again, God, for Your Word.
Show me where I need to live it out.
Help me Holy Spirit see others the way you do.
Give me a taste for spiritual milk.
And give me a desire to do good regardless of outcome.
In Jesus name
Amen

Scripture:

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:13

Observation:

Peter here is writing to the believers spread out into Roman dominated cultures and areas. As he writes to them about the living hope they have in Christ that has been given and prepared and protected by God by his power and lead us to grace through faith in Jesus. As Peter has encouraged and lifted their hearts and spirits of the Hope of Jesus that has been planned for them he urges and exhorts them to holiness as Christ is Holy. The first verse in this section stop me in my tracks because I fail at this daily.

Application:

Preparation – Do I prepare my mind for action when it comes to the holiness of God and the holiness that he has called me to? I do not, is the answer I give that I wish was not my answer. Preparation is so important in my relationship with Jesus as I should be living in a way that is in pursuit to be like him and be sanctified in his truths of his Word. I see through out the scriptures that preparation in Gods word is so intricate to the battle we face in this world with our flesh and against the enemy. My preparation should lead me to a deeper desire to know God more through Christ and grow my love for my Savior.

Sober-Minded – The first thought is alcohol when we see sober. When I read this is don’t just think of alcohol but I think I the world that gets us drunk of the things it offers. It leads us and tempts us to engage and overindulge in the things of the world that has so buzzed of the things we have been given. We have success in work, we have toys and games, we have sports and events and much more that take us to a place of intoxication from the world. Man, if I could not be intoxicated by the world or anything in it my preparation for holiness would be set to be obedient to Jesus.

HOPE FULLY ON THE GRACE — Simply put, I must place my hope ONLY in the hope of Jesus and love and grace he offers me. Jesus is the answer to all of this sin I find my self in. Peter prepares us with the hope of Jesus only to instruct us to live as Christ and whatever it leads us to it WILL BE GAIN!

Prayer:

Father, forgiver me for my disobedience in preparation, soberness, and false hope I have given my heart to. Change every dark part of my heart and my life truly be a pursuit of YOU. Thank you for loving me Jesus and never giving up on me. Help me Lord by your spirit. Help me love you like you love me.