Not Robbed

Not Robbed

2 John 1: ⁷ Many deceivers have gone out over the world, people who do not acknowledge that Jesus Christ came as a human being. Such a person is a deceiver and the Enemy of Christ. ⁸ Be on your guard, then, so that you will not lose what we have worked for, but will receive your reward in full.

 

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“Why is he being so nice to me?” was the thought running through my mind. Usually this thug would bully me and this conversation was unexpected. It was cold outside and I had on my snorkel coat. I looked around and saw his goons giggling. Turns out, they were practicing picking my coat pocket.

 

• I was distracted by the conversation.
• I was being robbed because I was distracted.
• I was a prime target because I wasn’t paying attention.

 

John gets right down to business in this very short letter. He wanted to address deception that had become plentiful. People were not acknowledging that JESUS came as a human to be murdered by HIS creation and be raised from the dead. A person who speaks against this is a deceiver.

 

My Observations:

• GOD wants me to be as wise as the serpent like worldly people, but as harmless as a dove.
• Believers will receive a full reward, simply by believing that JESUS died and rose from the dead.
• The reward for my belief is an eternity of peace, no problems and no pain.

 

Being deceived can rob me. I mean, in the past when I have been deceived, it wasted time, money and effort. “I could have done things differently” is usually the regretful thought I have had after realizing I have been deceived. It’s a bad feeling.

 

GOD does not want me to have regrets. HE wants me to choose HIM versus being forced to love HIM. When I choose to believe in HIS love, I experience HIS amazing grace. I am glad I receive HIS reward in full, simply by believing in JESUS.

 

Challenge

• Who does the writer say is a deceiver?
• Have you ever been deceived?
• Will you “be on your guard” by believing that JESUS is GOD and HE became a human to save you and me, and HE was murdered by humans to be raised from the dead to pay for your sins and mine today?

Wanted Provided

Wanted Provided

Hebrews 10: ⁸ First he said, “You neither want nor are you pleased with sacrifices and offerings or with animals burned on the altar and the sacrifices to take away sins.” He said this even though all these sacrifices are offered according to the Law. ⁹ Then he said, “Here I am, O God, to do your will.” So God does away with all the old sacrifices and puts the sacrifice of Christ in their place. ¹⁰ Because Jesus Christ did what God wanted him to do, we are all purified from sin by the offering that he made of his own body once and for all.

 

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After a number of hot days, I noticed the duct tape was peeling on one of my car “repairs.” I finally got tired of the temporary nature of taping things together. I went to the junkyard and found a replacement part. It wiped out the few dollars I had, but fixed the car.

 

• I needed a permanent fix, but was using a temporary one.
• I got used to the temporary fix and was willing to keep doing it for a while.
• I finally reached a point where I could see the futility in a temporary fix.

 

Paul, the assumed writer, discussed the futility of animal sacrifices. GOD didn’t want those. HE wanted a pure sacrifice from a sinless human. JESUS volunteered to be the perfect sacrifice. HE said “Here I am, O GOD, to do YOUR will.”

 

My Observations:

• GOD would prefer my admission to sin versus me trying to hide the fact that I cannot follow the rules.
• GOD provided me with a way to have an everlasting relationship with HIM, namely JESUS.
• GOD got exactly what was needed by JESUS becoming a sacrifice, all HE wants me to do is recognize this act of love.

 

Trying to follow the rules feels good to me. I mean, I can measure when I “did” stuff, but I cannot measure when GOD took care of it all. I want to be part of my salvation, so I jump in with moments of abstaining from sin. I then look to GOD for my pay as if to say “See how good I was, now give me more of life’s comforts.”  HE sees through my righteousness and is forgiving.

 

GOD knew I could not handle what it would take to have a loving relationship with HIM. HE was only satisfied with the act JESUS did. This selfless act of love was just right. I am glad JESUS was just what GOD wanted.

 

Challenge

• How are we purified according to the writer?
• Have you ever thought your being “good” give you more of GOD?
• Will you focus your praise on what JESUS did so HE can guide you today?

Mislabeled

Mislabeled

2 Corinthians 12: ¹⁶ You will agree, then, that I was not a burden to you. But someone will say that I was tricky, and trapped you with lies. ¹⁷ How? Did I take advantage of you through any of the messengers I sent? ¹⁸ I begged Titus to go, and I sent the other believer with him. Would you say that Titus took advantage of you? Do not he and I act from the very same motives and behave in the same way?

 

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After working extremely hard I overheard someone say that I was not a “hard worker” as that guy over there. This statement was very confusing. I had done similar quantities of work with the same quality. This angered me so I spent my time trying to prove them wrong!

 

• I felt I was mislabeled.
• I wanted to get rid of the label because I was now insecure.
• I thought I had something to prove or needed to act different even though I was doing what I was supposed to do.

 

Paul addressed divisiveness. Some people saw the obvious servanthood he brought, while others labeled him a liar. This angered Paul and he had to address the murmurs of those who wanted to say he took advantage of the people.

 

My Observations

• GOD says to me “You will be hated by all for MY name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.”
• GOD says to me “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for MY sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
• GOD says to me “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”

 

Following what GOD says is not easy. I mean, HIS message of true love is met with opposition at every turn. JESUS died for all humans. All we have to do is believe that we need a Savior. Sounds simple. But this simple message is twisted by people who want financial gain or power.

 

They steal the message in hopes to gain power or influence. Mentioning JESUS name is sacred and is to be used to invoke a display of a relationship of surrender. Those who choose to not believe in HIS power may mention HIS name in vain and maybe even use persecuting labels to get their way. I am grateful JESUS makes me secure and allows me to abide in HIM.

 

Challenge

• Do you sense the hurt and disappointment from the writer?
• Have you ever been mislabeled, devalued or brushed off?
• If you are living for CHRIST, do you expect to be persecuted by those who are not living for HIM?
• Will you persevere through the mislabels and allow GOD to draw who HE pleases to HIM in HIS way and HIS timing? 

I’M going to be killed

Matthew 26: When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, ² “As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”

³ Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, ⁴ and they schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. ⁵ “But not during the festival,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”

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Nervous and jittery, one friend said to me “I am going to jail.” He had already been sentenced and was supposed to report to the authorities the next day. I was stunned. I had never heard these words before.

• Some news from people can catch me off guard.
• Some news from people can really make me feel helpless.
• Some news from people can throw me off for a long time.

Sometimes I forget that JESUS walked around as a human.  I can only imagine hearing the terrible news coming from another person as they say “In two days I will be killed by the pastors and preachers and church goers”, but that is what happened.

• JESUS says to me “I faced extreme hatred to the point where people wanted to kill ME.”
• JESUS says to me “I faced difficulties, slander and lies about ME.”
• JESUS says to me “I could have stopped those who thought they were in power, but I chose to die for you.”

JESUS knew HE was going to face this horrible day because HE was in constant communication with the FATHER.  HE chose to lay HIS life down for me. I am deeply indebted to HIM.

• Is the death of JESUS real to you?
• Do you sometimes think of JESUS as a fairytale?
• Can you thank JESUS for willingly trying to save you?