Pastor’s Bible Reading Schedule: 2 Samuel 3-4; 1 John 1
Devotional Thought:
The book of 1 John was written to address the false teachers of the day. We live in a society that looks with suspicion on anyone who demonstrates any type of certainty or conviction about truth. Our society has abandoned the idea of absolutes, choosing instead to arbitrarily grant equal validity to every opinion and viewpoint. Sadly, our churches are being influenced by the surrounding culture and has fallen prey to an inclusivism that tolerates any and every viewpoint, except someone who is dogmatic about a specific truth. The writers of Scripture, on the other hand, were absolutely certain of what they believed and, under the Holy Spirit’s inspiration, wrote with a clarity and boldness that makes the presentation of Christ’s character and God’s ultimate plan understandable to the regenerated and illuminated mind. However, the proper sense of dogmatism is still utterly contrary to today’s relativistic attitudes, and those who hold it are consistently condemned as being insensitive, unloving, and anti-intellectual. John, under inspiration, desires to demonstrate that the deep-rooted satisfaction of life is not to be found in things or thrills, but in a Person, Jesus Christ. Without wasting any time, he dogmatically announces the authenticity and reality of Christ in the first paragraph of his letter. “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us.” (vs. 1-2) John wastes no time getting right to the point. Jesus Christ was a real person and He accomplished a real mission that has eternal benefit for every believer. And because Jesus Christ was real and accomplished a very real mission, as Christians, our joy should be full. It should not be dependent upon circumstances or situations, but rather on the reality of the Person of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was absolutely holy and separate from sin and therefore, a valid candidate to pay for the sins of the world. Therefore, if we admit our need for Christ and accept His offer of salvation, we have fellowship with Him. Our fellowship is based upon the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, which has cleansed us from all sin. Knowing our sins are forgiven, we should have joy unspeakable and full of glory!
Personal Requests:
• Lord, please help me to be a testimony of joy. Thank you that you never change and therefore, my joy can be full.
• Lord, thank you for your plan of salvation. I am so grateful that you loved me enough to make a plan for me to be reconciled back to you.
• Lord, please help me to walk in fellowship with you all day every day. Help me to have discernment to act upon truth and to always apply it properly.