Category: Good Life Journal

Journal John 5 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “I can do nothing on my own.  As I hear, I judge, and my judgement is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.”  John 5:30

 

Observation: This subject is admittedly a hot button within me because most folks take a weak view of what Christians are supposed to engage in concerning “Judgement”—mostly because the word “judgement” is thought of incorrectly.

 

Analysis: While reviewing today’s Bible reading with my wife this morning, the following 2 things popped out at me:

1. It occurred to me that perhaps Jesus is saying that he judges (evaluates) and makes judgement  not subjectively (like He is engaging in personal likes or dislikes), but OBJECTIVELY because He is evaluating according to the Will of God.

Now, applying that to bone-headed me, I must think that when my “moral code” rises up within me and I have a “righteous indignation” moment, PERHAPS I am not applying the Gospel to others as I have applied it to myself.  Perhaps “righteous indignation” is a clear sign of usurping the authority of God and taking it upon myself to engage in condemnation of others.  Something I need to think about…

2. The issue of translations.  Short story: A long time ago, I had a dear person in the Lord as an acquaintance.  I pointed out that they weren’t aligning to the Scriptures in a certain way.  They quoted: “Judge not, lest you may be judged” (Matt 7:1), basically saying, “Get your nose out of my business, you have no right to speak to me about this and condemn me.”  With that attitude, the scripture could be rewritten, “Condemn not, lest you be condemned.”

That just didn’t seem right.  Now, to be sure, my memory is a little fuzzy and I am prone to see myself in a light that was better than it probably was.  However, no matter what my attitude was, it sent me on a word study of “judgement.”  This is what I found:

The word normally translated “Judgement” are in reality two different Greek words: One is Krinomeaning: Judge, decide, evaluate, hold a view, make a legal decision, condemn.  The other is Krisis, meaning verdict, condemnation, justice, judgment.

To my mind, the word Krino is the word I should understand as “evaluate” and the word Krisis is the word I should understand as “condemnation.”  Question: Which word should I normally be engaged in using and which one (if I use it) usurps the authority of the Sovereign God?  Exactly!!  And maybe engaging in “righteous indignation” is the evidence of usurping God’s Authority?

Just questioning.  I know there are at least two other Greek words involved with “judgement”—which I need to thank God that there are Men of God called to this scholarly pursuit.  I am confident, however, that to use “evaluation (krino)” because God gave me two eyes and a mind isn’t bad.  It is when I slip out of love for my brother and into condemnation that I am going big time down the road of unrighteousness.

Exercising “Accountability” may be found here: Be honest, open, candid with honorable concern, merciful practice, and with fierce personal transparency.  This goes for the one needing accountablity and at the same time the one trying to exercise accountability on their brother.

Pray for our church leaders, because upon their shoulders lie the responsibility of engaging and executing Church Discipline.

 

Prayer: Holy Spirit, hopefully I followed your nudge this morning.  Ahh, how can I review my convictions regularly?  Certainly, this is still an area I must work in to increase my reflexiveness towards righteousness.

Love you, Spirit.

Amen

Ricky Two Shoes

Journal John 4 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: (Jesus speaking to the Samaritan woman at the well) “You worship what you do not know; we (the Jews) worship what we know (for salvation is from the Jews).

But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth—for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him.

God is spirit and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:22-24

 

Observation: A significant statement to and about believers…and maybe a stumbling block to those who want to title themselves as “true worshippers…”

 

Analysis:  Doesn’t worship have a number of facets to it?  It is a noun.  And it is a verb (to engage in worship).  It can be an adverb (worshipper), or an adjective (worshipping).

What about the facets of worship?  I can worship in my heart; I can worship or be worshipful in my job and conduct; I can engage in the function of worship (biblically described functionalities or whatever I am comfortable with).

Is it so far off the mark describing “worship” as anything I am doing or thinking and hanging a sign on it, saying, “this is worship?”  How about those folks taking it one step further and saying “I am a true worshipper” because they self-describe themselves to be?

Did Jesus just poke a hole into that position, describing the Samaritan: “You worship what you do not know…”  Perhaps if I self-declare as a “worshipper” of any class or I accept praise from another, “Boy, you are a great worshipper!!”, did I just prove that I don’t know anything about being anywhere close to a “true worshipper?”

I am just asking questions.  The older I grow, I am challenging my own tub of “biblical truths”, those things I accepted, put on the shelf of my head and heart, and moved on—not lacking in faith, just saying to myself, “Did I get this one right?”

I am sure I can’t go wrong with these three things about worship, worshipping, and being a worshipper:

1. I must know Jesus.  But not only know Jesus, grow in knowing Him.  If I don’t have more than a casual relationship with Jesus, then something is amiss, and I may be closer to being a Samaritan than I should or want.
2. I must grow in knowing Jesus.  This one is about growing in the knowledge of God’s self-testimony, the Bible.  If I WANT to know Jesus, then I WANT to know more about his Word.  It really isn’t optional.  Knowing Jesus and to be known by Jesus is a two-way street.  I shouldn’t rest in the fact that Jesus wants to know me, and he pursues me.  I should only care that I pursue HIM and Him alone.  Frankly, I am grateful for his love towards me because I am nobody’s prize, much less God’s prize.
3. Finally, worship is a holy verb, repeat, a HOLY VERB.  Verbs describe ACTIONS and there are actions in Worship to do. To worship has functions, enthusiasms, displays of energy, mandated (not suggested) gestures, passions, and more.  Some gestures and enthusiasm get a bad rap, but it doesn’t necessarily make them unbiblical, just uncomfortable if instructed in the use of them incorrectly. However, anybody can peer into Psalms, pick out a verse or two about raising hands, or being passionate in expression, or singing with enthusiasm…and do it.

When was the last time dancing was a part of private worship at home?

PS: There is a hierarchy of function to be aware of.  Knowing Jesus, Growing in His Word, and Worship is first and foremost about Knowing Him, and secondarily about the Commission.

Don’t get the two out of order.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me keep it in order but increase me in the cause of the Commission.  I confess I am committed to increasing in knowing You, and am not satisfied about my functioning in the Commission.

Amen

Ricky Two Shoes

Scripture

Vs 1 – “There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemas, a ruler of the Jews.”

Vs 2 – “This man came to Jesus by night ….”

Vs 3 – “Nicodemas questioned Him …”

Vs 8 – “Jesus answered …”

Vs 9  – “Nicodemas questioned Him …”

Vs 12 “Jesus answered ….”

 

Vs 17 “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

Vs 18 “And this is condemnation, that the light came into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light…”

Vs 21 “But he who loves truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

 

Observation

 

Nicodemas had questions for Jesus.

Jesus had answers for Nicodemas.

Nicodemas thought he had all the answers.

He was “a ruler”.

So, he went to Jesus “by night”.

 

Jesus had more than answers to questions, though.

Jesus had revelation … illumination.

Jesus spoke in terms of New Birth & Truth & Light.

 

Jesus also understood man’s motivation.

Man is more interested in condemnation than salvation.

… So long as they are the ones doing the condemning.

 

Otherwise, Nicodemas would have gone to Jesus “by day”, not “by night”.

Nicodemas didn’t want his actions to be “clearly seen”.

God’s desire, though, is salvation. “… that the world through Him would be saved…”

 

Application

 

Do I have more questions for God or faith in God?

When it comes to God, what do I want more?

Full understanding of Him, or loving relationship with Him?

 

I used to have this running list of questions I wanted to “understand” about God…

“How’d the whole ark thing go down?”

“What was up with Jonah & the whale?”

Those are just a couple.

 

But the more I saw people in God’s Word who had encountered God Himself, it seems questions to Him were the last thing on their mind.

People who encountered God were face down on the ground in utter awe of the living God!

Now I care more about the “sign of Jonah” than the “story of Jonah”.

Now I try not to “lean on my own understanding”.

 

It also seems that the more I encounter people today that have questions for God, they often aren’t looking for Truth & Light.

They’re looking for justification of their own belief.

And rationalization of their own life.

 

It seems questions of God can be a way of “condemning” Him, not “saving” Him!

If my questions of God aren’t somehow satisfactorily answers, then He’s gone from my life.

As if this is possible!

 

It reminds me of the 6 year old that “runs away from home”.

… “I can’t eat the whole bag of candy?!” … “Fine! I’m outta here!”…

All the while, the parent watches from the door as the child walks down the street thinking he’s really “the boss” … “the ruler”.

The child thinks he’s condemned the parent.

The parent wants the child safe.

My Heavenly Father also desires my salvation, even when I think I understand more than Him.

 

Prayer-

 

God thank you that you are the God of Truth, and Light, and revelation.

But thank you even more so that you are the God of Salvation!

God, when I’m tempted to come to you “by night” with thoughts of self-righteousness or thinking I’m “the ruler”, forgive me.

Thank you that you know all and give me peace when I don’t understand your ways.

Help me to love your light and give me the desire to be “clearly seen” … “In God”.

Amen

 

Scripture –

John 2:22- When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

Observation-
Jesus rose from the grave on the third day reminding his disciples when Jesus said He would raise up the temple in three days. This caused the disciples to believe the Scriptures and what Jesus had foretold.

Application-

The temple was a temporary place to worship God. The temple became a place of ritual worship rather than actual praise filled worship to God. The death and resurrection of Jesus for our salvation allows us to believe in the truth of God’s Word. With the resurrection of Jesus, our worship is to be to Him who is alive with us.

Prayer –

Father,

Thank you for loving us so much to send Jesus to pay for our sin debt completely. Let the truth of your word be seen in the resurrection of Jesus. Have the Spirit guide me to share your love here and to all the Nations to extend your glory.

3/19/22 Saturday

Journal Ps 44-47 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “My heart overflows with a pleasing theme;

                    I address my verses to the King;

                    My tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.”  Ps 45:1

 

Observation: What is my heart like?  Does it overflow to the King?

 

Analysis: I am trying to think about the above and have been for the last few days.  What am like?  Where does my heart go when I am not thinking about Him?  Do I get distracted easily?

Answer is?  Yeah, I do.  Call it “Chronic Gospel Distraction Syndrome.” (Remember the Gospel is the only thing that allows anybody to draw near to the King.)

I wish I could gain again the patience and desire to sit still and let my heart overflow with verse to Jesus?  It is different than just prayer and praise.  How do I express the same intensity of emotion that I find in Song, the same intimacy of love and adoration to Jesus without taking the time to “be still and know (he) is God?”

I don’t want to pound on what I don’t do because that list is miles long.  It seems like I write about that a lot, and I don’t want to be like the folks at Laodicea that were testified as being lukewarm.

Am I cultivating a heart that overflows in particular focus to Jesus?  Is my pen ready to record what He speaks to me?  When I am speaking back, is it only “bless this and bless that” and not asking “why is (it) like that” or “I am noticing the dawn this morning and my heart is swelling in gratitude that You care so very much!!”  I am basically not speaking in conversation with Jesus.

I have known people who have notebooks full of verse, poetry, just to Jesus.  Shucks, my wife wrote a poem early in our marriage about Election that I treasure.

Let me encourage setting aside time just to treasure Jesus and may your pen be ready to write.  I remember that Jesus puts more emphasis in knowing us intimately than He does concerning ministry.

Prayer:  Father, help me to plow deep in my heart to bring a crop of love towards you that pleases your socks off!!

Amen

Ricky Two Shoes

Scripture

 

Vs 4 As for me, I said, “O Lord, be gracious to me;

heal me, for I have sinned against you!”

 

Vs 9 Even my close friend in whom I trusted,

who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me

 

Vs 12 But you have upheld me because of my integrity,

and set me in your presence forever.

 

Observation

 

The psalmist, David, cries out for healing and graciousness.

David acknowledges his sin against God.

 

David states that everyone is against him, even his close friends.

 

But God is not against David. David will maintain his faithfulness in God and God will uphold David.

His ultimate healing is to be in the presence of God forever.

 

Application

 

When I want God to do good things for me, is it because I think I am good, or God is good?

Do I think I deserve for God to do good to me?

 

Even David did not think this way.

When he cried out for good from God, it was because of the goodness of God … “graciousness”.

And David recognized that his sin was primarily against God, not even the person that may be hurt because of his sin.

 

I can’t read verse 9 without thinking of Jesus and Judas. … close friends who shared bread …

and, yet, still Judas “lifted his heel against” Jesus.

Jesus has shared the bread of His very body with me, and, yet, I still come against him in my sin!

 

But it is in the death and resurrection of His body that I can come into the presence of God … what David celebrates as healing and eternal presence! (Vs 12)

 

Whatever good God does for me, I must celebrate God’s “presence” before God’s “doing”.

Anda recognize all of it, His presence and His doing, is by His grace!

 

Prayer

 

Thank you, God, for your word.

Help me to seek your forgiveness

And your healing

Help me know your presence

Help me to share your bread with friends

In Jesus name

Amen

Scripture –

Psalm 40:4 – Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his Trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!

Observation –

The beginning of Psalm 40 is about trusting in God as He hears and rescues those who turn to Him.  In verse 4 we see that a man who is trusting in the Lord will be blessed.  The man who trust in the Lord stays humble.  In contrast to a person trusting in the Lord is one who is led away from the truth and follows a lie.

 

Application –

This is a great word for the times we are living in today.  I must remember there is only one thing to completely trust and that is the Word of God.  Jesus tells us in John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”  When I am truly following the Lord I am in His Word, serving -humbly submitted before Him.  This keeps pride in check and not thinking we are our own gods or even worrying about what someone has done to me.  Without trust in the Lord, one can become easily deceived and follow a lie straight from Satan, celebrated by media and politicians, without recognizing.

 

 

Prayer –

Father,

Thank you for the truth in your Word!  Let the power of the Holy Spirit lead and guide me to be in your Word and humbly follow you to trust you completely and follow you faithfully to glorify you.

Journal Ps 37-38 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “Fret not yourself because of evildoers…

Trust in the Lord and do good…

Delight yourself in the Lord…

Commit your way to the Lord…

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him…

Refrain from anger and forsake wrath…” Ps 37:1-8

 

Observation: Sometimes, to be able to get to definite actions, I have to do exercises like this in just focusing on the directives from the Holy Spirit that pertain only to my responsibilities before the Father.

 

Analysis: These can be so difficult to do.  Jesus is kind and merciful in that almost with every one of these 6 extracts, there are “because” clauses: “…because the Lord will give you the desires of your heart…(v4)”; “…evildoers will be cut off…”; “…those who wait on the Lord will inherit the land…” (v9).

 

These make the 6 clauses I have laid out a bit manageable to bear doing.  But do I focus on the “reward” of doing a thing like not fretting and perhaps being still before the Lord and I neglect the godly character building that the Holy Spirit is instructing?

 

In my daily life, the Holy Spirit is telling me (for example) not to fret—and that should be my everyday character that I exhibit.  Why shouldn’t I fret?  Fretting (or wringing my hands in anxiety or worry) is declaring to the heavens and to the face in the mirror I have a trust issue with God.

 

Example: I have fretting issues on these three things—my wife’s health, my pending retirement and finance issues, my relationship with my children and grandchildren.  I could add more…  Are there evil doers in sight?  Maybe not but fretting about anything leads to not being able to be still before the Lord, delighting before the Lord.  Fretting can lead to despair and anger.

 

And that is just fretting about things, being anxious.  What about being “still” before the Lord?  What does an incapability of being “still” lead to?  (Certainly, being self-dependent and self-reliant is a partial answer…)

 

In every “bumper sticker” and “wall hanging” scripture, if I dig down even a little bit, I can find that the same reference has “Seal Team 6” training implications.  It’s tough, but it is what we are called to fight for every day.

 

Prayer: Father, “put to death sin in my mortal body” (Ro 8:13) is one reference that I can glaze over because it doesn’t click in me.  What does that mean?  Well, reading Ps 37 gives that scripture some meaning with sound direction.  Thank you for being able to explain what to do through reading your Word and allowing study to be my guide.

 

Amen

Ricky Two Shoes

 

Journal 2 John (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father….

 

Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for but may win a full reward.” 2 John verses 4 and 8

 

Observation:  At least John is consistent: Love is from the Father, but it can be realized and measured by people.  Grace from God verified by actions observed.

 

Analysis: I don’t think I really found these two “observed verification” in past journaling exercises.  (I have the TV on in the background for 24/7 Ukraine coverage.  Maybe I should subtitle the above as “Believe but Verify”—apologies to Ronald Reagan)

 

It is interesting to see John being glad to the “lady” “…to find SOME of your children walking in the truth…”  Contrary it could be written, “I am heartbroken to see SOME of your children NOT WALKING in the truth…”  Using the broad brush of Biblical Statistics application: Not all who say they believe in Jesus will be saved: Many are called, few are chosen; Lord, Lord, in your Name—begone I never knew you.

 

Maybe the word “backslide” has been misused, misapplied?  Is it because using the absolutes “Lost” and “Found” applied to a confessed believer is too cold?  I know why I don’t use them…God’s prerogative to use, not mine.

 

“Believe but verify”: This is a phrase that I should be aware of everyday for myself—it is not for looking at others with.  Look, I am not having a “crisis of faith” or anything of the sort.  If I was on the Baseball field, this would be akin to declaring myself to be a baseball player but having ZERO skills to verify that.  Even if I am on the bench, I could be a baseball player, but I should not be satisfied with being a benchwarmer.

 

That is what being a Christian should kind of look like: I am not satisfied being a benchwarmer and I am studying the playbook, asking for coaches for help, pleading for the Manager to be more involved in my life, and putting in the extra time…to please the Manager.

 

Prayer: Father, thank you for your Holy Spirit.  Set me on fire, burn in my heart, give me vision for your purposes in my life.  Help me to bear fruit that increases.

 

Amen

Ricky Two Shoes

 

Journal 1 John 5 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God…and everyone who loves who the Father loves has been born of Him.

 

By this we know (have the evidence?) that we love the children of God when we love God and obey his commandments.

 

For this is the love of God: That we keep his commandments.

 

And His commandments are not burdensome…” 1 John 5:1-3

 

Observation: Is John just rambling through his words?

 

Analysis:  Reading through John’s first letter I can’t help but wonder what the cohesive points are trying to be made?

 

It doesn’t look like John is straying far from a central point: A believing Christian is results based.  Anything less than that should promote reflecting questions about their life and their confession.

 

There are a few things to add to the equations:

• Works, effort, or results are not the basis on which God’s love toward me is based.
• God knows all my efforts are like filthy rags; basically, no intrinsic value contributing to the righteousness scale.
• I am completely dependent on God’s Common Grace; I could not be independent of God by any stretch of my imagination.
• Only by the Atonement presented by the Propitiation of Jesus could I be declared redeemed and righteous and that by Faith that it could be as I just wrote.  Cut and dried.

 

So, is John insinuating that a dry, non-fervent, repetition of a belief is a confession of Faith?  Probably not but note that for sure I am drawing a conclusion that may not be supported by the accumulation of the words in this chapter.  If someone were to cherry pick a statement here and there a conclusion would be able to be voiced that all a person would have is to “mouth” the words and salvation is found.  That can’t be right compared to other scriptures.

 

In clarity, how would I know if someone’s faith is real or not?  I can’t—except to see the fruit of their (and my life) daily.

 

Am I a believer?  Even Paul drags the self-examination principle out on the porch and tells Corinth, “Examine yourselves, to see if you are in the faith.  Test yourselves.  Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail to meet the test? 2 Cor 13:5

 

This statement is to the local church at Corinth, it is not to unbelievers on the street.

 

What do I employ as my self-examination checklist?  Do I keep His commandments?  If at any point the answer is no, how does preaching the Gospel to myself affect that?

 

Prayer: Father, this seems so in the weeds, but I am driven to drive this principle home.  The Gospel at the ground level of the believer at the local church is so very important.  Love of Your Word, not passing infatuation, is so important even at the shallow level where I live.

 

I pray for conviction leading to You, not condemnation.  Please help.

 

Amen

Ricky Two Shoes

 

3/12/22 Saturday

Journal 1 John 4 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “God is love…and whoever abides in love abides in God and God abides in him.

 

By this love is perfected with us so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment—because as He is, so also are we in this world.

 

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.  For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.  We love because he first loved us.

 

If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother WHOM HE HAS SEEN cannot love God whom he has not seen.  And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.” 1 John 4:16b-21

 

Observation: Talk about a word salad!!  And to think this must make sense and correspond/correlate with the rest of the Scriptures…

 

And that’s the point: There is no stand-alone doctrine here, much less a stand-alone book.  How does this support other books of the Bible?  How does the Bible support John in this writing?

 

Analysis: A key phrase here is “whom he has seen.”  Jesus told the story about the Good Samaritan.  Paul writes about love to the church at Corinth.  James challenges believers with “I’ll show you what true religion is about.”

 

Also, the Psalmist writes about pursuing the Word of God and what He says about Himself.  Jesus speaks about looking to know God (my responsibility) and being known by God.  Paul writes extensively about what God does and the doctrines behind it.

 

Pursuit of knowing Jesus through His Word and exhibiting works CONSISTENT with a growing knowledge of Him is a portion of what John is writing about here.

 

Confession: I am still trying to figure out these two things: The Fear of the Lord and Perfect love casts out fear.  Both of these phrases are stated in God’s self-revelation (the Bible) and are each true, so the result is that both of these phrases/statements must be True as a synthesis—together, and not self-cancelling.  I have been involved with folks that argue (and live) like this is an “either/or” situation: I can live in fear, or I can live in love and then make a choice.  Abandon one for the other…and then basically suffer the handicap for the rest of my days.

 

Personally, I fear Him because He is God, and I am unholy to the core.  No matter how much good I do will never grant me an audience before Him except for Jesus to proclaim judgment and condemnation upon me.  That scale was announced before the day I was born.  Define that “fear” as “reverence” and it still doesn’t make a difference—I probably will fall on my face the first time we meet face to face.

 

Also, I love God.  I love Him because He loved me first: the ultimate quid pro quo.  All my love for the Trinitarian God is because He initiated love toward me by the Father sacrificing the Volunteering Son to be the atonement, the propitiation of my Sin—and He decided to do that before “Let there be light” was uttered.

 

The process of journaling is not to wrap up every piece of doctrine in a nice, tidy, ball—I need to finish all of the pieces and products of the Gospel.  There are times to let the threads dangle on pages and in the mind until the Holy Spirit and my own initiative ties them all to completion.

 

When in doubt or confusion or just at a place where you go “huh”, start back reviewing the Gospel and then think…

 

Prayer: Lord God, I am convinced for myself and am grounded in my conviction that I love and fear You as appropriately as I think and not disproportionately.  I raise my hands and voice in worship to you, loving you, and knowing that without my Lord’s blood being the Atonement, I still fear.

 

I ask for your help in my life so that I may walk firmly, honoring You in all my ways, in the crispness of the Gospel.

 

Amen

Ricky Two Shoes

 

Scripture

 

1 The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

 

16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

 

19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything

 

 

24 … And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

 

Observation

 

John is focusing on our relationship with God vs our relationship with the world and he repeats over and over this issue of “knowing”.

We can know things ….

But all of this knowledge that we in fact know is a result of and from God himself

 

We know love! How? Because Jesus paid down his life for us!

 

We know truth! How? Because God is over all truth and knows everything. God reassured us with His truth

 

And best of all …

And we can know Jesus! How?

By the Holy Spirt he has given to us.

 

And outside of this deep knowledge … we can not be surprised when the world does not understand us who are in relationship with God.

 

They do not know us! Why? Because they do not know God!

 

Application

 

Do I lay down my life?

This is how I show I know the love of God and acknowledge what Jesus did for me

 

Do I respond to the conviction of my heart when I sense that tug or pull in a direction different than what I want to do or think?

If not, then I show that I do not love Truth, but myself

 

Do I get frustrated and even angry at the world around me?

Perhaps, but I can’t be shocked or surprised.

When you see through an entirely different lens, how can I be shocked that they would see things differently than I do.

 

In fact, if the world around me does not see things so differently than me, perhaps that should be something of a wake up to myself that I am seeing more like the world than with the eyes of the Holy Spirit and the truth of God.

 

I most know love.

Know truth.

And know Jesus.

And all of this comes from God.

 

 

Prayer

 

Thank you for your word

Thank you You see me as your child

And forgive me when I want my own way

Show me truth

But especially help me walk in it

In Jesus name

Amen

Scripture –

1 John 2:15-17 – Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world- the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life- is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Observation-
John is writing to the believers with a strong warning to beware of falling into love with the temptations of this world. Temptations of sensuality, lust and pride are not of God but of the world. The world is going way but those who abide in Christ and follow his will are forever with God in the new heaven and earth.

Application –

I have to daily remind myself that although I am in this world, I don’t belong to this world. I am a child of God, bought with the precious blood of Christ. The ways I need to keep close are by being in the Word, being in prayer and being with other believers who will keep me accountable and encourage me in the faith. I can’t allow myself to think I have arrived or are immune and need to keep myself on guard to follow Christ. When I am praying and serving others I am in God’s will.

Prayer-

Father,

Thank you for the truth in your Word and sending Jesus to pay for my sin so I can repent and be reconciled to you. Let the Spirit lead me to be in the Word not the world and live to share your love and gospel to expand your glory here and to the ends of the earth.

Journal 1 John 1 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, (then) we lie and do not practice the truth.

 

But if we walk in the light (as He is in the light), (then) we have fellowship with one another, and the Blood of Jesus (his Son) cleanses us from all sin.

 

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves (and the truth is not in us).

 

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins (and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

If we say we have not sinned, (then) we make him a liar and his word is not in us.” 1 Jn 1:6-10

 

Observation: Good old John takes us straight down the classical “if, then” arguments.  Pretty cut and dried although it can make my eyes cross reading it the way it is printed in most Bibles.

 

Analysis: Inevitable. Synonyms of this word are: Unavoidable; predictable; expected; foreseeable; and certain.  That is where the arguments of “if, then” relationships head.

 

“If, then” statements are logic based; they are “word equations”.  They are not fuzzy around the edges.  These kinds of sentences are not read with “gray, smoky, possibilities” in mind.  Take this as a “possibility based” example: “If we confess our sins…” (good start, a firm decision on my part), “then MAYBE Jesus might forgive my sin.  In doing so, He is showing Himself to be less than faithful, less than just…”  This statement is what we get by introducing any kind of fuzziness into the word equation and, unfortunately, in the way we think about the Faith.

 

Taking a look at certain “If’s”:

• If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness…

o   Inarguable result: I am lying.

• If we say we have no sin…

o   Inarguable result: I am lying.

• If we say we have not sinned…

o   Inarguable result: I am lying and

o   I say that Jesus is a liar.

 

Here’s the other set of “If’s”:

• If we walk in the light…

o   Indicated result: fellowship

o   Indicated result: cleansed/redeemed from Sin

• If we confess personal sin…

o   Indicated result: forgiveness and designated righteousness

 

Note how this rolls back to the principles of the Sovereignty of God and Human Responsibility.  It looks like conditional salvation, right?  I do something and God reciprocates with salvation and blessing?

 

Well, if I look at it from Man’s high and exalted perch, yeah, it absolutely does.  But then it should be clear that I am looking at things incorrectly.  God the Creator is worshipped by Man the created.  Who lives for whose benefit?  Why, Man lives for God, not the other way around.

 

Therefore, when I acknowledge my sin towards God, and accept His UNDESERVED Grace and Mercy toward salvation, then the reciprocity is that I LIVE FOR GOD, under His decrees and wishes, etc.

 

On a practical and everyday basis, if I say I am a Christian and walk in any sort of sin, I am lying about being a Christian.  If I say I don’t have sin, I am lying because I am probably walking in some sort of sin anyway.  If I say I haven’t sinned, then for sure I am lying because the two statements above prove that I am.

 

The Gospel and the resulting saving mercies are to be acknowledged and celebrated EVERY DAY.  Jeremiah got it: “But this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning…” Lam 3:21-23a

 

New every morning.  Not new on a particular alter call yesterday, last year or even 60 years ago: Every morning.  Walk in that without forgetting.

 

The takeaway principle here is to resolve to PURSUE God.  Google and check out Jonathan Edwards’ “Resolutions.”  The picture will begin to be seen.

 

Prayer: Father, again I thank you that I can stand on the shoulders of godly men before me.  Again, I thank you that you make the Scriptures plain to those who want to see.  And I am thankful that your Covenant with Man stands because of your love and initiative.

 

Help me to surrender more today while I try to work hard to walk worthy of the Gospel.

 

Amen

Ricky Two Shoes

Journal 2 Pet 2 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed (to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts) knowing this first of all: That no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation.  For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

 

But false prophets also arose among the people (just as there will be false teachers among you) who will secretly bring in destructive heresies—even denying the Master who bought them—bringing upon themselves swift destruction.  (And) Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.” 2 Peter 1:19 through 2 Peter 2:2

 

Observation:  Looking at process, how does someone go from affirming the Master, being led astray by false prophets slinging around their own interpretation of prophetic words, buying into heretical doctrine, and all of this resulting into or because of sex/sensuality?

 

How does that work?  How do I guard against it?  How do I keep my eyes open for the possibility?  Am I engaging in this process, and I am not even aware?

 

Analysis: Shoot.  How did the Holy Spirit inspire me to this thinking for my journal deposit today?

 

Confession: I pay attention when I see the word heresy in the Scriptures, basically to understand what heretical doctrine is?  In today’s world, heresy isn’t blatant; it sneaks up on a person basically (and this is my conviction) because sound doctrine isn’t defined and identified.  If it comes from a famous or generally regarded, nice looking and well-presented person, the tendency is to treat what they say as good and safe.  We are not raising Bereans.

 

Why? Being a Berean is work.  It is much easier to engage in sweat ministry work.  (Ahhh: I apologize for my attitude showing…)

 

Here is how I think the process of falling even a little bit in heresy works: A false prophet comes along.  This person (male or female) doesn’t look like a false prophet.  They may have a pretty good reputation.  They probably say close to the same stuff a Christian always hears, but the key word is “close” —so close that it “feels” right enough…and that is where I may fall in error.

 

Reading the scripture reference today, I stumbled on the word “sensuality” and the statement “many will follow their sensuality.”  I wondered how that occurs?  Do I go from following the Lord Jesus to sex and heresy all in one fell swoop, or does it sneak up on me?

 

I wondered if “feelings” could be a substitute for “sensuality” making the scripture say, “(And) Many will follow their FEELINGS, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed…”

And the answer is…not really, it would be a stretch. Definitions of the word “sensuality” found was overwhelmingly sexual in direction, except for the following:

 

What is the root word of sensuality?

sensuality (n.) mid-14c., “the part of man that is concerned with the senses,” from Old French sensualite “the five senses; impression,” from Late Latin sensualitatem (nominative sensualitas) “capacity for sensation,” from Latin sensualis “endowed with feeling, sensitive,” from sensus “feeling” (see sense (n.)).

So, I found something that I maybe could stand a little bit upon.

 

Earlier in Peter’s letters, he wrote, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God…casting all your anxieties on him (because he cares for you).  Be sober-minded; be watchful…” (1 Pet 5:6-8a) Synonyms for “anxieties” are: worries, concerns, apprehensions, angsts, fears…” in another phrase: describing feelings.

 

Ok, a stretch, at least a small one.  But it starts to make sense as the beginning of a process: I can start to be led astray by a “feeling.”  “I feel this about that scripture, I don’t think (feel) that scripture means what it says and etc. etc.”

 

And I am at that point that journaling is good for: Stopping.  I can’t wrap this up just yet; it “feels” (look at me!!) that I am on a right track, but something is missing (using sound doctrine as a basis for biblical logic).  So, I offer this out to think with me.  I am going to take my time, no deadline to wrap it up.  We’ll see what comes out of this thinking…

 

Prayer:  Father, protect folks from negative aspects of my musing here, but help them to muse among themselves.  Thinking and wondering about Scripture is good.

 

Love you, sir.  You are my Savior, Lord Jesus.

 

Amen

Ricky Two Shoes