Love your neighbor – Be Still…

1 John 2:7-27 – Who to Love

Think of John as a close friend, sharing this wisdom with you over a hot beverage. He opens today’s passage with “Dear friends,” after all. John gets right to the point by telling us to love one another, a commandment that has been around for generations. John was privileged to see love lived out before his eyes in the person of Jesus. John encourages us to love like that when we let the light of Christ dispel the darkness in our lives.

The darkness of this world will always scream for our attention. When I speak of the “world,” don’t think I’m referring to the beautiful earth and stars that God created, or the people God loves so much. The “world” refers to the attitudes and distractions that pull us away from Jesus, and a sinful humanity, enticing us to ignore and rebel against God. Continue reading “1 John 2:7-27 – Who to Love”

John 3:1-21 – Tell Me More

Read John 3:1-21

I like Nicodemus. He was cautious, but his faith was curious. We could learn a lot from his attitude of seeking the truth. It did strike me when he used the word “all” in the opening remarks of his conversation with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.” Would he have been referring to “all” of his friends and family or “all” of the religious leaders he was in contact with, or both? We’ll learn later in Jesus’ ministry how jealous and fearful these leaders became, threatened that their power would somehow be lost to Jesus.

In the dark of night, Nicodemus sought answers. He wanted to know more, and Jesus was more than accommodating. I love how The Chosen television show portrays this meeting. Nicodemus was clearly in awe and showed such great reverence in Jesus’ presence. Jesus’ words were difficult for Nicodemus to grasp, just like they are for us.

Jesus describes the importance of being “born again.” Think of it as having renewed understanding revealed only by the Holy Spirit. With it, we believe in Jesus even though we cannot see him. Without it, we cannot enter God’s kingdom and enjoy eternal life with the Father. Being “born again” is something to seek, not fear.

Verse 16 is probably the most memorized verse in the whole Bible, and if you haven’t already done so, commit it to memory now.“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” God loves us all. God has given us all the same opportunity to believe. Jesus came so everyone could believe.

What a scary future for those who don’t believe in Jesus! For believers, it’s like we have an immunity against judgment. That does not give us license to go out and break God’s laws or be selfish and unloving toward our neighbors. Instead, when we live in the light of God’s love, we desire to be more Christ-like. Have you noticed how that desire is automatic?

“But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.” It’s our duty to help those in the darkness realize their peril. But we should do so in loving ways. It all starts with how we act in our own lives. When we act on Jesus’ behalf, people notice. What does Christ-like behavior look like? What comes to mind for me is to be humble and loving with a servant heart. There is no place for arrogance or selfishness. You can think of the fruits of the spirit in Galatians 5:22-23: “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”

Think for a moment about the darkness that surrounds us in this world. Sometimes I feel like the light of Christ is being snuffed out by people acting in hurtful ways. There is so much division in our culture today, whether it be political, economic, or spiritual. The evil one is doing a masterful job of fueling that confusion. I pray for all the innocent souls who don’t know any better because they don’t have the light of Christ burning in their hearts.

The best thing we can do as Christ-followers is to be respectful of authority, loving toward our neighbors, and focused on being a good representation of Jesus in our world. How would Jesus have you respond today? That’s a question I’ve been asking a lot lately.

Let’s pray. Lord Jesus, help me to love my neighbor as you love them. Help me shine your light in this dark world so that others can find their way into your presence. This world needs you more than ever, and I stand against the darkness that is trying to distract and devour us all. Thank you for how much you love me. May I never forget what you have done for me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Obadiah 10-14 – You Should Not Have…

Read Obadiah 10-14

Obadiah speaks to the reasons Edom is facing their judgment. They sinned for their evil behavior against their own relatives. This passage leaves no doubt “why” calamity would fall on Edom. The Edomites brought it on themselves for more than one reason.

There is so much emphasis on “you should not have” in this reading. We often kick ourselves after doing something we realize later was a mistake. Don’t we say, “I should have known better.” The Edomites won’t get a chance to say that since they will all be destroyed. All they have is the advance warning which sets the expectation for what is coming in motion.

James 2:1-13 – Prejudice

Read James 2:1-13

What a topic! Who ever said the Bible was not relevant anymore! We do tend to be judgmental over appearances (I don’t think it’s just me). I’ve heard tell of a pastor who, on his first Sunday in his new church, dressed in tattered clothes and entered the building like every other parishioner. You can imagine the anticipation in church that day was palpable as the people waited to hear the new preacher! What a surprise the congregation had when their pastor came from the shadows where he had been asked to wait and walked up to take his place behind the pulpit. He preached a compelling, wordless sermon that day.

James’ Jewish audience must have needed to hear about the dangers of prejudice. It isn’t a bad reminder for any of us. There has to be a healthy way to associate with people who are different from us. It’s easy to look at people and see them through the lens of some stereotype we’ve learned along the way. What helps me when I’m surrounded by people who look different than me (and in Mexico I am surely the minority) is to remember God loves them as much as he loves me.