An Assurance in Something

1 John 5:13-21

As the old saying goes, you can be certain of 2 things: death and taxes.  As we have concluded John, he reminds us that there is something else we can be certain of, our standing in God's kingdom.

I am sure you have the same problem I do, maybe it is a little self conciousness, or maybe it is just human nature but with some people I have a hard time knowing exactly where I stand, am I friend or foe.  A few a months ago I ran into an old friend from my earlier days in ministry.  I was happy to see him but I didn't get the same feeling from him.  Was he mad about something in our past?  Did I call him by the right name?  Later on he called to apologize as he too noticed he was short in our conversation but he was concerned about others going on at the same time.

John is very clear here in 1 John 5:  "We know that we are children of God. . . We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true—even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life."  Our standing is not based upon a feeling, it is based upon the truth of who Jesus is and what Jesus has done.

Have you committed your life to Jesus?  Do you believe He is the truth and follow Him as such?  If your answer is yes, than you can be assured of your place in His kingdom.

Here We Go Team

John 4:7-21

Why love?  John gives us a clear indication of why, because God first loved us, and God is love.  Love is one of those characteristics that makes God so great!  He loved us, he made the first move and he loved us EXACYLY the way we needed to be loved (maybe not the way we thought we should be loved).  As a child of God and as we get to know our Creator and Father, we will begin to reflect the love, and begin to love others the way that we should.  Yesterday we talked about making the first move to reconcile with others, we talked about having the wisdom to love people where they are at, with a love that meets their needs (sometimes not the way they think they should be loved).  

I don't know about you, but all of this takes a tremendous amount of wisdom that I do not posess.  So, if it's all right with you, I may need your advice?  I may need help.  We need one another to encourage us, go guide us in wisdom, to help us out!  We are a team and if we are going to do this right, if we are going to love people the way they should be loved, we are going to need each other.  Take just a few minutes, pray for someone in the church.  Mentally think about the people who sit around you and lift them up in prayer.  Don't be afraid to let them know next time that you see them that you prayed for them.

One last thing, our New Year Resolution:  (Don't forget it)

• Wiser Decisions
• Stronger Faith
• Trusting God More

Have a great week!