Daily Encouragement

December 7, 2008 - A Relationship We Cannot Live Without

Meditation on 1 John 1

The first letter of John talks about relationship and love. Chapter one says that God wants us to have a true, living, and transparent relationship with Him and His Son, Jesus Christ. That is called fellowship, a Christian fellowship that is linked with life, the eternal life of Jesus Christ. We have the life of Jesus through believing in Him. Therefore we have blood relationship with God through trusting in His Word. As a result, all Christians have life relationship with one another. (v. 1-4)

John then quickly reveals to us that our fellowship with God is a fellowship of light because God is light. In Him is no darkness at all. Base on this fact, we then should not sin and walk in darkness so we can maintain our fellowship with God. But we all sin. We cannot hide our sin from God who knows each of our condition clearly. What do we do?

John says, "If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (v. 9)

A fellowship with God and with one another that is without sin because Jesus' blood can cleanse us, that is true Christian fellowship!

This kind of fellowship gives us full joy in life. A relationship that gives life and joy, we cannot live without it.

December 8, 2008 - Your Most Powerful Advocate

Meditation on 1 John 2

Chapter two of 1 John contains many subjects that need to be studied and meditate carefully such as: The test of knowing Jesus, in what way a new commandment is not new? The different stages of Christian maturity, what is worldliness? Who is Antichrist? What is the anointing that a Christian has?

But today, may I emphasize to you just one thing that is wonderful for every true believer. You have an advocate who will defend for you and has even given himself for your defense by paying the penalty of your sins and wrong doing with his own blood on the cross. "My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." (v. 1 NKJV)

It is notable that the Apostle John includes himself as a sinner that he needs an Advocate in his daily life too. An advocate is a lawyer who speaks on your behalf. With Jesus as our lawyer, we can stand tall to live and talk. No one can and should accuse you of your wrong doing in the past. You can be a shining witness for Christ. Just don't try to sin anymore.

December 9, 2008 - The Definition Of Love

Meditation on 1 John 3

Chapter three of 1 John shows us the differences between Christians and non-Christians. Christians have the hope to be like Jesus and will see Him as He is. Christians see sins as Jesus sees it while others do not. Christians practice righteousness but do not practice sins. Christians love fellow Christians according to the standard of Jesus. Christians have confidence toward God.

What we need to internalize specially in mind and heart is the definition of love John gives us. 1 John 3:16 says, "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." (NIV) God's kind of love is true love. It is a special word, Agape, in Greek, the original language of the New Testament. It is the love that lays down one's own interest, needs, and feeling for others.

Can you say that you love your spouse with this kind of love today? What about the brothers and sisters in your church?

December 10, 2008 - Test The Preaching You Heard

Meditation on 1 John 4

Love is an attractive subject always. The Apostle John emphasizes the loving relationship we obtain from God. He tells us how God proved His love to all of us by sending His Son Jesus as our redeemer and Savior who sacrificed Himself for us. We too should love one another in the way He loves us so to show that we love God. But love is not blind. There are some preachers and teachers whom we should reject. God promises that you can overcome them.

God's Word says, "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." (v. 1 NIV)

How do you discern false cults and counterfeit? Just as the bank tellers were taught how to check counterfeit money, the Apostle John taught us how to test false teachings even though they may sound and look like powerful, influential, or even miraculous. Simply find out or ask those preachers or teachers whether they acknowledge that Jesus Christ is God Himself who came in the flesh. Whoever does not follow the teaching of the Apostles concerning the absolute Deity as well as the humanity of Jesus is not from God. (v. 2-5 and 1 John 5:20) Some major cults in the world today claim that they are Christians but they water down the divinity or humanity of Jesus. I am sorry to say that they are not from God.

Test everything you hear these days whether they are from books, media, friends or someone who knocks at your door.

December 11, 2008 - Assurance For Christians

Meditation on 1 John 5

Base on our relationship with Jesus, the Son of God, the Apostle John gives Christians tremendous assurance in chapter five.

First, Christians can be sure that they can overcome the world because of their faith. (v. 1-5)

Secondly, Christians are reassured of their eternal lives in Jesus Christ because they have received Jesus into their hearts. When you have Jesus, you have His life. (v. 6-13)

Thirdly, Christians can have the confidence that their prayers will be answered. (v. 14- 17)

Fourthly, we have the assurance of protection from God against the devil. (v. 18-19)

Fifthly, God assures us that Jesus has given to us spiritual understanding, the capacity to understand God.

Therefore you (if you have received Christ as your Lord and Savior) can obey God's commandments. And His commandment is not burdensome. (v. 3)

December 12, 2008 - Something John Detests

Meditation on 2 John

This personal letter to a Christian lady by the Apostle John contains very important teaching concerning Christian love. We should only love in truth.

He reminds us that we should obey the new commandment of loving one another. But he also cautions all believers that there are many deceivers have gone out into the world. If we listen to them we would go beyond the teaching of Christ. These deceivers are Antichrists who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. (They do not acknowledge that Jesus was truly human.)

John is so tough to say that we should not even receive these people into our home and do not give them a greeting. He says, "For the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds." (v. 11 NASB)

Who do you associate with today? Are your good friend includes one who denies the divinity or the humanity of Christ but claims to be a Christian? You should tell them the truth of the Bible concerning Jesus the Son of God who is fully God himself and has become flesh, a truly human being at all time. (John 1:1-15, Colossians 2:9) If he or she does not repent, avoid such a person.

That's what John implies.

December 13, 2008 - Violation Of Christian Love

Meditation of 3 John

When a person loves to have preeminence in a local church to the point of forbidding or discouraging others to show Christian hospitality and support, he is evil and not practicing Christian love.

There are some folks in the church today who seek to be prominent and exert control of the church in one way or other. Not only they themselves do not sacrifice time and energy to serve God but also tells others not to do so, so that they themselves would not look bad. These are the hemorrhage of the church and must be dealt with.

The Apostle John was very much concern for these issue that was hurting a good church with those who was still faithful and hospitable. So he planned to deal with it personally and quickly. He would confront the evil controller.

May God help us not to violate the practice of love but promote it always.