LOVE GOD AND HIS CHILDREN By this we know 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. —I John 5:2-3             How do you know that I love you as a child of God? How do I know if you love me as a child of God? The answer is straight forward from this passage. If we are loving God and being obedient to what He says to us, then we love His children. If I am being disobedient to God then that shows that I…

GOD FIRST LOVED US! We love Him because He first loved us. —I John 4:19 Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. —I John 4:7-8             If we truly love God then this type of love will be seen in our lives which are mentioned below from I Corinthians 13. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom…

A NEW EARTH AND HEAVENS ARE IN OUR FUTURE! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. —II Peter 3:9             He promised this is going to be case and He will carry out His promise.   Beloved, think about this— there is going to be a “new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” Evil will not exist anymore!             You and I will not have wrong thoughts anymore. We will not have wrong actions anymore. Forever we will be and do what is right in our Lord’s sight.   This is the promise He has given…

GIVERS OR TAKERS, SERVERS OR HINDERERS, SELFISH OR OTHERISH As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace. —I Peter 4:10             What spiritual gift or gifts do you have from our Lord? That gift or gifts are to be used in service to each other.   In doing so we will be “good stewards of God’s varied grace.” Are you and I being good stewards?             “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good” (I Corinthians 12:7).   Truly, each member in the body of Christ is to be active servants, not…

OUR LORD IS FULLY TRUSTWORTHY! The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations…. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. —Psalm 33:11, 21             Ever have somebody tell you they were going to do something, but they did not do it? Or have you ever said that you were going to do something, but did not do it? Well this is not the case with our Lord. His counsel “stands forever.” His plans will not fail “to all generations.” Our hearts are “glad in Him, because we trust in his holy name.” He always does what…

THE INFLUENCE OF THE TONGUE If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well.  Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.  So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!  And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and…

BY FAITH YOU… Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. —Hebrews 11:1 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. —Hebrews 11:6 By faith…             It is a challenge every time I read those words. What would our Lord write about me if I were included in this chapter?   By faith Ted… Or what would our Lord write about you if you were included in this chapter? By faith you…             The actions of those mentioned in this chapter took place because…

FORGIVEN… FOREVER! For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,” then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.  —Hebrews 10:14-18             The Lamb of God was offered one time to perfect all those who are set apart for His special service, being made holy.…

FOLLOWERS OF JESUS NEED NOT FEAR DEATH! But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. —Hebrews 2:9 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. —Hebrews 2:14-15  When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and…

RIGHT PRIORITIES! For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. —I Timothy 6:10 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith. —I Timothy 6:20-21             Two things are mentioned in the above passages that have cause people to wander from the faith or depart from the faith— eagerness for money and some ideas falsely called knowledge.             “The love of money…