Tuesday 31 May – 1 John 5
We KNOW
The Christians John was writing to, like many of us, needed encouragement to lay hold of all that was rightfully theirs as Christians. They were confused by the arguments of the false teachers and unsure who to follow. So again, John reminds them of the simplicity of the gospel – all they need to do is obey God’s commands and trust in Jesus as Saviour (vv.4-5). Even though the world can be a confusing and difficult place, because it is ruled by the evil one (v.19), Christians can be overcomers by actively using their faith to stand against all satan’s schemes (v.5).
The power of God and the character of God stand behind the promises He has made through His Son (vv.9-11). So the Christian can have complete confidence about this life and the one to come. Christianity is not based on dreams and possibilities, but on certainties, and John ends this letter by reminding his readers of some of the things we can be sure of and stand on by faith.
First of all we can know that we have eternal life (v.13). Our future is not in doubt. The presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives is God’s guarantee of our inheritance (Eph.1:13-14).
Secondly, we can approach God in confidence, knowing that He hears our prayers and He will answer us (vv.14-15). He makes all His resources available to those who do His will (Heb.4:16).
We can also know that we are no longer a slave to sin. It can no longer ensnare us, satan no longer has rights over us, because God will keep us safe (v.18). We know that we are children of God and no longer belong to this world (v.19). And we can know that the gospel of Jesus is true (v.20).
So as Christians we have all that we need to live as overcomers in this world. We just need to believe God’s Word and stand against the lies of the evil one. “Greater is He that is in you,” (the Holy Spirit), “than He who is in the world” (satan) (4:4).
Prayer:
* Pray that God would help you to stand firm against all the lies of the evil one.
* Pray for any Christian you know who is struggling to stand firm against satan’s lies .
* Pray for the church, that all who come into Ruwach, as visitors or members, will grow in faith and love.
Monday 30 May – 1 John 4
God is Love
In this chapter John continues on the same theme. In vv.1-6 he again focuses on the need to discern between true Christian leaders and false teachers. The purpose of testing other people’s fruit is not to judge or condemn them, but to recognise the spirits that are working through them (vv.1, 6). Anyone who seeks to draw Christians away from their walk with God by preaching a different gospel is being used by satan. Their teaching may be subtle and attractive, but a true Christian will not be deceived if he listens to the witness of the Holy Spirit within him (vv.4-6) and looks carefully at the lifestyle of those who seek to teach him.
In vv.7-21 John returns to his favourite subject of love. The source of the Christian’s love is God Himself. Love is such an integral part of God’s character that John can state, “God is love”, (vv.8, 16). Take a minute to think about that statement. Is that how you think of God? His love is immense and everlasting. It does not depend on anything in us – He just cannot help loving every single person He has made – including you! He has shown His amazing love for us by sending His beloved, only Son to die for us (v.10). Our love, for Him and for each other, is the only possible response we can make to that love (v.11). If we love the Father we will love His children as He does (5:1).
Understanding God’s love for us and showing that love to other people is not something that happens all at once. Paul prayed for the Ephesians that they would have the power to grasp the dimensions of God’s love for them (Eph.3:14-21), because he knew it was a work of the Holy Spirit who “pours out God’s love in our hearts” (Rom.5:5). As we receive revelation of God’s love for us we will grow in our sense of security. Our worries and fears will melt away (v.18) and we will be freed from the things that make us selfish and unloving. We will gradually find that we are more and more able to love others in a sacrificial way as God has commanded us to do (John 13:34-35). And as we grow in our ability to love, God will be seen more clearly in us. He is love, so whenever a genuine act of love occurs, God is present – an awesome thought!
Prayer:
* Thank God for His amazing love for you.
* Pray for yourself and the members of your cell, that you would grow in your understanding of God’s love and your ability to love others.
* Ask God to help you show His love to someone who needs it today.
Sunday 29 May – 1 John 3
God’s Children Share His Likeness
Children usually bear some resemblance to their parents. Often a family likeness is very strong and we only have to see two people together to know that they are related. As you know, this likeness occurs because the child inherits genes from his parents which determine his physical characteristics.
In this chapter, John explains that the same principle is at work in the spiritual realm. When we become Christians we become children of God (v.1). We are born again and carry God’s seed within us (v.9). The Greek word for “seed” is “sperma”, so the parallel to human reproduction is clear. It is the sperm that gives life and paternal characteristics to each new human being. It is God’s “sperma” that gives us spiritual life and puts His characteristics in us. The consequence of this new spiritual birth is that we begin to show God’s likeness in our lives (v.9). Although that likeness will only be perfected when we see Jesus face to face (v.2), it starts to develop in us as soon as we begin our Christian life.
John is still concerned to help his readers recognise false teachers for what they are, so he outlines the characteristics to look out for. Those who have not been born again are like their father, the devil (vv.8, 10, 15). They do not do what is right and are full of hate towards others. By contrast, those who are truly God’s children do not persist in sin (vv.6, 9). That does not mean that they never sin, but that they do not want to sin and that they confess and repent of it when they realise that they have fallen into it. True Christians will also show love to one another (v.11). And this is not a love that is just words – it demonstrates itself in actions (v.18).
So, if other people condemn you because you do not believe a certain doctrine or worship in a certain way, do not be alarmed. John’s advice is to give yourself the love test. Remember, if you are obeying God’s commands and reaching out in love to those around you, you are doing okay. God is pleased with you and His Spirit will confirm that in your heart (vv.19-24).
Prayer:
* Thank God that He has made you His child and put His seed in your heart.
* Ask God to show you any sin which you need to confess, so that you can maintain your intimacy with Him.
* Pray for anyone you know who thinks that they are a Christian but has not been born again.
Saturday 28 May – 1 John 2
The Test of Obedience
The Christians John was writing to were in danger of becoming confused. There had been false teachers in their midst (known as Gnostics), who taught that salvation was achieved by special knowledge. These people thought they were super-spiritual, but in reality they were being used by satan to distort the truth and lead people astray. John gave his readers a test by which to measure themselves and others so that they could know if they were on the right track.
This test is found in v.3. The life of the true Christian will be characterised by obedience to God’s commands. And because the basis of God’s law is love (Matt.22:37-40), those who are obedient will walk in love. They will show their love for God by their obedience (John 14:21, 23), they will show love towards others (vv.5, 10) and will be secure in God’s love (John 15:10). We can apply this test to ourselves – am I growing in my love for God and other people? If so, I am on the right track, whatever imperfections might still need to be sorted out.
God’s Word also encourages us to inspect the fruit that others bear, so that we are not led astray by good-sounding words or a fine-looking appearance that covers up a dark and sinful nature. Anyone who is harbouring hatred, unforgiveness or bitterness against another person is not walking closely with God, whatever spiritual-sounding words they might say (vv.9-10).
John also reminds his readers that they have the Holy Spirit inside of them (vv.20, 27). The Holy Spirit leads us into all truth (John 14:26) and we can trust Him to guide us. God has promised His wisdom to those who ask Him (James 1:5). He will give us His perspective on people and situations so that we know which way to turn and whom we can trust.
Prayer:
* Pray that God would help you to obey His commands and show His love to other people.
* Pray that Ruwach Christian Church will be known as a place where the love of God is found.
* Pray for the church world-wide, that it will stand for the truth of God’s Word and that false teachers will not lead people astray.
Friday 27 May – 1 John 1
The Letters of John
Introduction
These short letters were written by the apostle John towards the end of his life. They were written to Christians in Asia Minor and reflect the desire of a spiritual father to see his much-loved spiritual children remain and grow in Christ. In particular he was concerned that they didn’t get led astray by false teachers who were making Christianity into a religion, rather than a relationship.
For John, being a Christian was a simple thing. He trusted his friend and Saviour Jesus Christ, obeyed His commands and allowed the Holy Spirit to work in him and through him. But there were those in the church (and still are in our own day) who tried to make Christianity far more complicated. They used fine-sounding words and complex arguments and walked around being very “super-spiritual”. They sounded impressive, but their lives did not bear good fruit. Jesus Himself said that the way to tell whether a man is spiritually mature or not is to look at the things he says and does (Matt.7:15-20). John says the same thing in a slightly different way, “If we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us” (1 John 4:12). In other words, a true Christian will look like Him. But “whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:8). Simple, isn’t it?
As we read these letters let us examine ourselves. Are our lives bearing fruit? Do people look at us and see God? Or are we saying spiritual things, but living in an unspiritual way? Ultimately Christianity is not about knowing where to find a particular verse in the Bible or being able to compose a wonderful worship song. It is about keeping our temper with our unreasonable boss, forgiving those who hurt us and loving those who are not very lovable. Those are the things that the world sees and the things that will point them to God.
Walking in The Light
John begins this letter in the same way as he began his gospel. “The Word of Life appeared right before our eyes; we saw it happen!” (v.2, The Message). He is keen to establish right at the start, that the cornerstone of all that he has to say is Jesus. He makes it clear that Jesus was not just a man but is eternal God who took on human flesh (vv.1-2). John saw Him, heard Him, touched Him and can testify about Him. Because of Jesus’ blood sacrifice each of us can have forgiveness of sins (v.7), and once we have been forgiven it is possible for us to have fellowship with the Father (Creator God) and with each other (vv.3-4). This is so familiar to us that we can easily grow blasé and take for granted the amazing truths contained in vv.1-3. Read these verses again slowly and reflect on what Jesus has done for you.
John then goes on to urge his readers to “walk in the light” (v.7). What does he mean by this? He is using picture language to describe a lifestyle that is possible for those who have accepted Christ. While we will never be completely sinless (v.8), God offers free and full forgiveness to cover our sin, if we will only own up to it and turn our back on it (vv.9-10). When we have confessed all known sin, there is no longer a barrier between us and God, so we can have an intimate relationship with Him. What is more, we can have real relationships with other people, because we are not trying to hide from each other any more. We are no longer wearing a mask and pretending to be something we are not. We can be truthful, open and pure and able to share at the deepest level.
While “light” speaks of goodness, righteousness and truth (see Eph.5:8-9), “darkness” speaks of evil, hidden things and falseness. Sin leads to covering up, pretence, confusion, lack of peace and isolation from God and others. Why do we so often choose to walk in darkness rather than facing up to our sin and getting free of it? As Christians, we do not belong to the night or to the darkness (1 Thess. 5:5), so let us make sure that we walk in the light.
Prayer:
* Pray that God would help you to walk in the light. Take time now to confess and repent of your sin and to receive God’s forgiveness.
* Pray for Ruwach Christian Church, that each member will resolve to walk in the light, that we might share true fellowship with one another and be lights in this dark world.
Thursday 26 May – Jonah 4
The Pursuit of the Fatherless
Have you ever set a goal or desired something in such a way that it is all-consuming? All you think about is what it will be like when that goal is achieved or that possession is in your hands. You dream about it at night, every conversation with anyone ends up on the topic of your desire; normal daily events can become significant pointers to what you are pursuing.
When I was courting my wife, she was all-consuming for me. She dominated my thoughts, my social life, my dreams, my conversation, my life. I always wanted to be with her and in her presence; she affected the way I managed my day at work as I would ensure I could have lunch with her, or visit her at work on “official” business.
God sees us the same way. Relationship with us is all-consuming for God. He desires us so much that He will do whatever it takes to draw us to Him. Nineveh had more than 120,000 “orphans”, fatherless ones, who needed to have a Heavenly Father.
The message has not changed today, which is why I think that the key verse in Jonah is 4:11, ”Should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who cannot discern their right hand from their left hand – and much livestock.” God cares about the world and all who live in it.
We who have a personal relationship with the Father are no longer fatherless orphans; we have been adopted into His family (Ephesians 1:5). God wants the whole earth to be drawn to Him and to know His love. This book of Jonah clearly shows the love that God has for every person He has made. “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance,” (2 Peter 3:9, NIV).
Prayer:
* Praise God that you have been adopted and welcomed into His family.
* Think about what God has done for you and what you have been saved from, and repent of any ungratefulness in your life.
* Commit yourself to be available to God to take His message to those He puts across your path in life.
* Ask God to give you His heart for the fatherless.
Wednesday 25 May – Jonah 3
The Lord is Gracious and Compassionate
Have you ever done something so bad that you know the consequences are going to be enormous and you will regret it for the rest of your life? All you want to do is turn back the hands of time so that you could make a different choice with the knowledge you now have.
I remember a time when I was so mad with God for nothing except that I wasn’t getting my own way. To “show” God, I decided to deliberately cross a moral boundary, only for the instant gratification of my flesh. My pastor at the time had warned me that the consequences would be far reaching and would affect me for a long time, but in my own “wisdom” I chose to ignore his advice. He was right, I was wrong!
God, in His infinite grace and mercy forgave me. In fact, He forgave me time and time again as I developed some habitual sin. Nineveh was a pagan city with many pagan practices going on but God wanted to give them the opportunity to avoid total destruction. In v.4, Jonah proclaimed God’s Word, and His Word cut through all their paganism and the people instantly believed.
The word “believed” used in v.5 does not necessarily mean that the Ninevites wanted to commit themselves heart and soul to Jonah’s God. But it does mean that they believed the word they heard and responded to it. God saw their change of heart through their works and He changed His mind over the disaster He originally intended for them. Our God is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love, and that applies to us today – He has not changed at all! He does not wait until we understand everything of His kingdom and are living perfect lives before He shows us His love. The minute we turn towards Him, He responds. What a wonderful God!
“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbour his anger forever…… As far as the east is from the west that’s how far He has removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:8-12, NIV).
Prayer:
* Pray that God would give you a fresh revelation of His grace and mercy.
* Pray that God would show you where you could extend more grace and mercy towards others.
Tuesday 24 May – Jonah 2
Don’t Keep Your Distance
When I am having a disagreement with someone close to me, I find myself withdrawing and trying to keep out of close contact with them. Only when time has passed and the hurt is not so tender do I begin to draw closer to that person again. It takes time to rebuild the relationship to where it was before the disagreement. The withdrawing because of the circumstances puts space between that person and me. Interestingly, the best thing to do would be to seek to understand the person I am disagreeing with, be open and deal with it immediately, and there would be no distance or rebuilding necessary.
I should learn from Jonah because he did the same thing as I try to do – he tried to put space between himself and God. Obviously it didn’t work. Jonah realized that putting space between him and God was not working, and he repented to God and asked Him for forgiveness. Especially significant is v.7, which says, “When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the LORD; and my prayer went up to You, into Your holy temple,“ (emphasis added).
So often we put distance between God and ourselves when we are going through a hard time, and only when our soul (mind, will and emotions) begins to faint, do we realize that the way to receive healing and freedom is to dwell in the presence of the Lord. That is why Jonah says in vv.8-9, ”Those who regard worthless idols forsake their own mercy. But I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD,” (emphasis added).
Next time you are going through a hard time – and that may be now – remember that salvation is of the Lord. Press into God and don’t pull away from Him. Remember that is you and I that pull away from God and not the other way around. God desires constant fellowship with you throughout all the seasons of your life.
Prayer:
* Ask God to reveal more about the truth of His character to you.
* Ask God to show you if there are any relationships in your life that need to be restored, and ask His help to put things right.
* Pray for any Christians you know who are withdrawing from God or other people.
Monday 23 May – Jonah 1
Introduction to Jonah
Author and Date
The author is uncertain but the book is usually attributed to Jonah, a prophet of God. The name Jonah means dove, which is a symbol of peace and purity but, because of Jonah, it was also a symbol of silliness (see Hosea 7:11). It is thought that the book was written in about 350 BC.
Background
The events described in Jonah took place during the reign of King Jeroboam II (792-753 BC). Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian Empire and was located in present day Iraq (see map). The Assyrians were preoccupied with the mountain tribes of Urartu and did not continue their westward campaigns until 745 BC. This allowed Israel to strengthen their fortified cities, build an army and develop international relations.
Writing Style
The book is written as a narrative, which is different from the rest of the prophetic books of the Old Testament. It is best understood as a prophetic parable. As a prophetic book it focuses on the interaction between the Lord and His prophet. As a parable, the book draws attention to the foolishness of Jonah and the grace of God.
Outline of the Book
1. Jonah’s flight from his commission to go to Nineveh (1:1- 2:10)
2. Jonah’s obedience to his commission to go to Nineveh (3:1- 4:11)
First Things First
Read through the entire book of Jonah in one sitting and try to establish what you think the key verse is for the book of Jonah. This is helpful to get the big picture and the full story of what happened and what is being talked about.
Prayer
Ask God to begin showing you what He wants to teach you through this book.
The Reluctant Servant
Some years ago I was living in another part of this country. I had a nice home, lots of friends and was part of a thriving church. Life was good and I was very happy there. But over a period of time, it became clear that God was moving our family down south, to an area where we knew no one and would have to start putting down roots all over again. I did not want to go and spent some weeks wrestling with God, until one day the penny dropped that if God was moving on I did not want to get left behind!
Jonah knew that same kind of reluctance to obey the call of God. He absolutely did not want to go to Nineveh and take God’s message to a people who were enemies of his nation. To his mind it seemed very unlikely that they would repent of their sins and he didn’t think they deserved God’s mercy anyway. Moreover, his life could be at risk, should they decide to take out their dislike of the message on the messenger! The only way that Jonah could see to escape his situation was to flee to Tarshish, which is thought to have been in the southern part of Spain – the end of the then-known world. Jonah was prepared to go as far as possible to get away from God and His call to Nineveh. But, as he was to discover, running away was not the answer. There is nowhere we can go where God will not find us (Psalm 139:7-10) and His will is always best for us anyway.
Maybe God is asking you to do something that you really don’t want to do. It might be giving some money to someone, taking someone shopping each week, spending some time with someone who is lonely, reaching out to someone who doesn’t know Jesus, or moving somewhere you don’t want to go. Based on Jonah’s life and my own experiences – be obedient; it is the highest form of worship we can offer our loving heavenly Father.
Are there any areas of reluctance in your life that you need to confess and repent of before the Lord?
Prayer:
* Repent of any reluctance or rebelliousness God is showing in you.
* Ask God to change your heart towards the hard things He may ask you do.
Sunday 22 May – Colossians 4
Wrestling in Prayer
Today we come to another area of hard work – prayer! In his final instructions to the Colossian Christians Paul urges them to devote themselves to prayer (v.2). He is not asking them to do anything he himself does not do. In Col.1:9 we read how Paul prayed faithfully for the people in the church at Colosse even though he had never met them. (He also prayed for the Philippians (Phil.1:4), the Ephesians (Eph.1:16), the Romans (Rom.1:8-10), and no doubt many others as well.) He also tells us about Epaphras, a leader in the Colossian church, who wrestled in prayer for them (v.12).
James tells us that “the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” (James 5:16, NIV), which is perhaps why we find it such a battle to do it. It is in the place of prayer that we hear God’s voice and understand His purposes. It is in prayer that we gain a new perspective on the situations around us and are able to discern what He wants us to do. It is through prayer that spiritual battles are fought and won. Prayer is an amazing tool that God has given us, yet few of us use it effectively, because we never feel like getting down to it. We are too busy, or too tired, or distracted by something else that seems more appealing, and somehow the day slips by and we haven’t prayed.
As we saw yesterday, making choices by our will rather than our feelings is an essential part of our Christian walk. Prayer is vital and we need to work at it. We need to set aside time to pray, find a place where we won’t be disturbed and make ourselves start doing it. Don’t let satan distract you or put you off – start today!
Prayer:
* Paul and Epaphras prayed for those they had responsibility for. Pray for all those you are responsible for – in the church, in your family and in the workplace.
* The Colossian Christians were urged to pray for Paul, one of their leaders. Pray for anyone who has leadership over you.
* Pray for the members of Ruwach Christian Church, that we might be a people of prayer.