inspiration from Revelation - Day 5 of 10

Read Revelation 2:12-17.

“But to the rest of you in Thyatira...who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. Only hold fast what you have until I come.” (Revelation 2:24-25b ESV)

Hold fast.

“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, 'If you hold to my teaching,you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'” (John 8:31-32 NIV)

Hold to Jesus' teachings.

What gets in the way of Jesus followers holding fast? What gets in your way? 

How is God calling you to hold fast? Who can help you in the process? 

With the Spirit as your guide, through the power of God's Word, renewed through the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and by your baptism, who can you help to hold fast?

inspiration from Revelation - Day 4 of 10

Read Revelation 2:12-17.

“But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality.” (Revelation 2:14 ESV)

Here's your word for today - “syncretism.” It is the attempt to bring together different religious schools of thought. In our culture, it probably sounds like a neat idea. Seems like this is where our world is heading. This way everyone can get along. Right?

Problem – it doesn't work!

An example - If you believe in Jesus, hear His words, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 ESV) The good news of us being saved from sin and death only came because of what Jesus did on the cross for us. The moment you add an alternative method, it is no longer the good news as taught in the Bible. Jesus saved us because of His 100% work. We didn't do even 0.000001% of a good work to earn our salvation.

Just looking at every other religion in the world and Christianity, you have this difference...a BIG one. Every other religion somehow teaches that you need to do something to earn your salvation. Christianity teaches that it was all Jesus who did the saving work.

So stepping back...when you add a practice from another religion, as noted in this letter to the Church in Pergamum, it becomes a stumbling block to the faith in Jesus originally taught. It tears apart the truth found only in Jesus.

In what specific ways are you finding such occurences in our culture, in our communities...in our churches? In what ways may God be calling you to repent—to return to Him and to the Truth? In what ways is God calling you to follow Him and Him alone, even when those around you are thinking differently? How may you share the Truth and good news found only in Jesus to the world around you?

inspiration from Revelation - Day 3 of 10

Read Revelation 2:8-11.

“Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:8-11 ESV)

There are some Christian preachers out in the world who teach a prosperity gospel. It is a preaching of health and wealth. Such teaching emphasizes that God's will for His people is happiness. I wonder what they do with a verse like “do not fear what you are about to suffer.” Suffering is an inevitable. It in fact marks the life of a follower of Jesus. Now this does not mean we as Jesus followers do not experience great joy in our Lord and in our faith. We do! But such joy happens in good times and bad times, in praise and sorrow. True joy doesn't depend on “happenings” as does “happiness.”

As Paul taught the Romans, “...we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Romans 3:3b-5 ESV)

This is the crown of life we receive—God's love poured into our hearts.

In what area of your life is God speaking specifically to you, “Do not fear, [your name]” and “Be faithful, [your name]?” How does God's love poured into your heart help you to endure whatever you are going through? Whose faith may you encourage with these words of life today?

inspiration from Revelation - Day 2 of 10

Read Revelation 2:1-7.

“But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.” (Revelation 2:4 ESV)

Ever lose your focus, your passion, forget why you started something?

This happened to the Church in Ephesus.

Paul issued similar cautionary words to the Church in Corinth, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3 ESV)

So for all the “good” the Ephesians were exhibiting as expressed in verses 2-3, if the unselfish, unconditional love of Jesus was not the foundation of their actions, how could the church effectively continue the Lord's work in reaching more and more in their community with the love of Jesus. It couldn't. And sadly it didn't for the Ephesians.

As of at least 2011, N.T. Wright, in his book Revelation for Everyone, reported that there are no active churches in Ephesus today. As was warned for lack of repentance (verse 5), the Church in Ephesus' lampstand was effectively removed.

What about your congregation? You may have a building recognized by many. You may have a long history in your community. You may sincerely stick to the truth found in Scripture. But if you've lost the love of Jesus, what are you really about? And how long before your lampstand is removed and forgotten in your community?

Maybe go back to Day 1's devotion and remember Who you really are about. Remember whose love first transformed your heart and changed your life. Then repent. Return your lives to Jesus. Return to His love.

inspiration from Revelation - Day 1 of 10

Read Revelation 1:1-8.

Let's begin this 10-day journey through selections of Revelation with a prayer compiled from Revelation 1:5-8 (ESV):

Dear Jesus,

You are the “Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.”

You are “the Alpha and the Omega...who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

“To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever.

Amen.”

What reminder of who Jesus is do you find most helpful and/or inspiring in your present circumstances? Respond to this question in your own prayer of praise to Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

Inspiration from Revelation

Tomorrow (Sunday, 4/26), you are invited to join me for a 10-day devotional journey through selections of Revelation, mostly looking at the letters to the seven churches. 

more from John - Day 20 of 20

Read 3 John.

“...be fellow workers for the truth.” (3 John 8b ESV)

What does it mean to be a fellow worker for the truth, with emphasis on the word “fellow”?

To answer this question, let's look to examples. As short as John's 3rd letter is, we see clear snapshots on what it means to be a fellow worker of the truth and one who reflects the contrary.

We'll first look at the latter. Adding “fellow” implies that being a worker of the truth is something done together. We sure see a person of the contrary in Diotrephes who attempted to do God's work alone. “...Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority.” (3 John 9b ESV) Diotrephes was a lone ranger. It was either his way or no way. He had no interest in the thoughts, counsel, wisdom and/or authority of other followers of Jesus.

John, on the other hand, acknowledged his friend Gaius as one who represented the example of being a fellow worker for the truth. “Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church.” (3 John 5-6b ESV) Without knowing all the details, we know from this single verse that Gaius gave of himself for other brothers in Christ, brothers who were essentially strangers to him. This was made crystal clear in their testimony of his service.”

What about you? Are you more Diotrephes, more Gaius, or somewhere in the middle? How may the Spirit and the Word be convicting you to be a fellow worker for the truth?

more from John - Day 19 of 20

Read 2 John.

“Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.” (2 John 8 ESV)

John urged to watch for...

“For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh.” (2 John 7a ESV)

“Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God.” (2 John 9a ESV)

As followers of Jesus we literally follow Jesus and His teachings found in the Word, in Holy Scripture. We do not follow the latest “trends” where our culture may stray from Jesus and His Word.

Paul similarly warned and instructed...

“...be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life...” (Philippians 2:14-16a ESV)

Where are you seeing this happen? As you consider this question think also upon Jesus' words, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.” (Matthew 7:13 ESV)

Returning to God, walking off that destructive path, David prayed,

“Create in me a clean heart, O God,

and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from your presence,

and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation,

and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways,

and sinners will return to you.” 

(Psalm 51:10-13 ESV)

How may we similarly pray so that we and those who have become misdirected off that narrow path that leads to Jesus would return to Him? (And be reminded that that “joy of your salvation” is that gift of grace freely given to you because of what Jesus did for you on the cross.)

more from John - Day 18 of 20

Read 1 John 5:16-21.

“Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” (1 John 5:21 ESV)

I appreciate the gentle and parental care John gave in opening this statement, “Little children...” and the thoughtful reminders found in verses 16-21.

John reminded us to pray for renewed life from God for our brother or sister in Christ who is walking that tightrope of intentional sin.

John reminded us that if we are born of God, we do not live a life of intentional sinning. That's not our identity in Christ. Intentional sinning is the way of the world, not of God.

John reminded us that as we are in Christ we live in the Truth. Looking upon the Truth, John warned us to not get caught up in the world, walk away from God and follow a life that worships things/people/false gods/idols contrary to our True God. The consequences of such activity is disastrous—only leading to death.

Which of these reminders do you find most helpful? How will you take that reminder into the activity of your day and the days which follow?

more from John - Day 17 of 20

Read 1 John 5:13-15.

“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.” (1 John 5:14 ESV)

Let us keep our eyes focused on Jesus. In all that we do, in all that we are going through, in whatever stage of life, may we not lose sight of Him. With eyes looking to Him, just watch Him answer those prayers of our hearts.

John continued, “And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.”

I can only speak for myself, so this is my testimony. As I look back on my life, for each and every big dream, prayer and passion which have been placed on my heart, which line up with God, His Kingdom, His mission, God has heard and answered. These were not always answered according to my timing. Patience and trust were required, and I'd be lying if I didn't struggle with patience and trust, but in His time the requests have been answered. Again, each and every one. Simply amazing. I'm humbled and grateful. All praise goes to Him!

What do you ask of God? Ask Him today, tomorrow and the next day. “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV) 

Examine closely if they are requests that line up with Him, His Kingdom, His mission...or if are they self-focused requests. Share these requests with another follower of Jesus and/or with your small group. Discuss and pray over these requests together.

more from John - Day 16 of 20

Read 1 John 5:6-12.

“And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ” (1 John 5:11 ESV)

Testimony defined: evidence given by the appearance of something or someone.

The Spirit and the water

“And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him.” (Matthew 3:16 ESV)

The blood

[on the cross] “When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, 'It is finished,' and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (John 19:30 ESV)

Do you believe God's testimony? Do you believe that only in Jesus is there true life?

Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10 ESV)

How may you share God's testimony today to those who do not yet have life in Him?

more from John - Day 15 of 20

Read 1 John 5:1-5.

“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” (1 John 5:4 ESV)

You may not always feel like an overcomer as you traverse the many obstacles, burdens, hardships of this world. But it is who you are in Christ. We need that reminder as to who we truly are.

Do you believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?

If “YES”, then “Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:5 ESV)

If “YES”, then your faith is your victory in overcoming the world. And a reminding truth about your faith...“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8 ESV)

How may the reminder of this victory, God's victory in our lives, impact how you face this day? Who in your life would also be blessed by this reminder?


From Christian artist Mandisa's song “Overcomer”:

“You're an overcomer

Stay in the fight ‘til the final round

You're not going under

‘Cause God is holding you right now

You might be down for a moment

Feeling like it's hopeless

That's when He reminds You

That you're an overcomer

You're an overcomer”

more from John - Day 14 of 20

Read 1 John 4:13-21.

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” (1 John 4:18 ESV)

Isaiah wrote, speaking for God:

“fear not, for I am with you;

be not dismayed, for I am your God;

I will strengthen you, I will help you,

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” 

(Isaiah 41:10 ESV)

These words are for us. These words are for you.

Amid your current trial/challenge, how do these words from God encourage you, specifically, and remind you of God's love for you? Who may you encourage likewise?

more from John - Day 13 of 20

Read 1 John 4:7-12.

“...God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.” (1 John 4:8b-9 ESV)

For your consideration today...if God is love, and because of Jesus we live through Him, it seems as though we would then live as extensions of God's love. How does/should your life extend the love of God?

To your friend?
To your parent(s)?
To your sibling?
To your spouse?
To your child(ren)?
To your neighbor?
To your boss?

To the person who aggravates you?

To the person who isn't the kindest?

To the person in need?

To the person who sins against you?

more from John - Day 12 of 20

Read 1 John 4:1-6.

“...every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God.” (1 John 4:2b-3a ESV)

Review verses 1-6 (link above) and count how many times the word “from” is used. What is John differentiating in his repetitious use of “from”?

How does this help you better understand where you are from? How does it help you better understand where those in your life, your community, are from?

What are the personal implications in knowing where you and those around you are from?

If you are from God and confess the truth of Jesus Christ, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10 ESV), in a gracious and loving way, how may those around you better learn where you are from, so that the Word and Spirit would transform their "from”?

more from John - Day 11 of 20

Read 1 John 3:19-24.

“Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.” (1 John 3:24 ESV)

Abide definition: act in accordance with.

It seems easier for us to “get” how we as Jesus followers would act in accordance with God. As John wrote, we do this when we “we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another.” (1 John 3:23 ESV)

But take a moment to think on God abiding with us. God acting in accordance with us. How does that compute?

John provided the answer. God does this through His Spirit whom He has given us. So God doesn't act in accordance with us in anything that is self- or worldly-focused, but acts in accordance to that which flows from the Spirit living in us. How have you seen evidence of this in your life? What reassurement do you receive?

“By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him.” (1 John 3:19 ESV)

To whom may you reassure with this truth?

more from John - Day 10 of 20

Read 1 John 3:11-18.

“By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.” (1 John 3:16 ESV)

That “he” is Jesus. Jesus laid down His life for us. This was an act of condition-less love as recognized in Romans 5:8 (ESV), “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

“For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.” (1 John 3:11 ESV)

How may we love one another? How may we lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters?

• Forgive?
• Let go of a grudge?
• Recognize the plank that is in our own eye?
• Sacrifice our own wants for the benefit of another?
• Other?

How may you love another? By the condition-less love you know through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, how ought you lay down your life for another?

more from John - Day 9 of 20

Read 1 John 3:4-10.

“No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.” (1 John 3:9 ESV)

Verses 4-10 is a big paragraph. In this single paragraph is much repetition. Rephrased in different ways John over and over again revealed the implications on the practice of sinning and the practice of obedience. Why do you believe this is?

What are you practicing?

Over a week ago we read from 1 John 1:8 (ESV), “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” So this side of heaven, we will sin, but how is this different than making a practice of sinning?

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9 ESV)

What practice of sin needs to be confessed today? 

Remember who you are as God's child. 

Remember the grace, mercy and love given to you through Jesus Christ. 

What circle of sin needs to be broken so that you may move forward in gratefulness and obedience?

more from John - Day 8 of 20

Read 1 John 2:26-3:3.

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” (1 John 3:1 ESV)

As the Father has given His love to us, transformed our lives through Christ, saved us, renewed us and continues to renew us through Word and sacrament—all His doing, how then are we to respond with our lives? John provides that insight:

• abide in Him (1 John 2:27) 
• have confidence and not shrink from Him in shame (1 John 2:28) 
• practice righteousness (1 John 2:29) 

We can live in these ways because we are God's children...now (1 John 3:2)!

How will you live as God's child today? How may we help one another to abide in Him?

more from John - Day 7 of 20

Read 1 John 2:18-25.

“No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.” (1 John 2:23 ESV)

Where is the grey area? There isn't any! It is that black and white.

We live in a pluralistic culture which wishes to believe that all religions are roads, while different paths, which take people to the same God. This is simply not the truth! John couldn't be more clear in 1 John 2:23. If one does not believe in Jesus, he does not know God the Father. Jesus Himself couldn't have been more clear, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6 ESV) Place emphasis on all of the “the's”. Jesus is “the” way. Jesus is “the” truth. Jesus is “the” life.

How do you then go about your life? What role has God given you to share His truth with those in your life, in your community? Forgiveness, grace, unconditional love is known only through God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

How may we share this urgent message, the Word of God, today in our words and actions? For this is also truth - “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 ESV)

more from John - Day 6 of 20

Read 1 John 2:15-17.

“For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.” (1 John 2:16 ESV)

“DANGER, WILL ROBINSON!” I grew up watching the reruns of the 1965-68 TV show Lost in Space. When I read these verses from 1 John 2, that voice of Robot pops right in my head. Whenever there was something perilous before them, Robot would quickly warn his friend Will and the Robinson family of the danger. I haven't seen the show for awhile, but I seem to remember that many times that warning was heard, but other times dismissed.

When warnings are of a legitimate threat in our lives, for what reasons do we sometimes ignore them?

What about you? What loves of the world are you placing before your love of the Father? What warning, what caution, what exclamation of danger is the Spirit signaling you about? What are the consequences of moving into that danger zone? Will you heed the Spirit?


“And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:17 ESV)

more from John - Day 5 of 20

Read 1 John 2:12-14.

“I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake.” (1 John 2:12 ESV)

Be sure to read verses 13 and 14 from the 1 John link above.

In these verses, John took a moment to assure his readers. He assures us of the forgiven of sins—found in Jesus, who is from the beginning. He assures us of the Father—whom we know. He assures that in Christ we are made strong in faith. He assures us of the word of God, which lives in us, having the power to overcome evil.

How do the words found in 1 John 2:12-14 assure you? To whom in your life may you take a moment to assure with these words?

more from John - Day 4 of 20

Read 1 John 2:7-11.

“Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.” (1 John 2:9-10 ESV)

What about you? Where are you with regards to the relationships (current and former) in your life? In the light? Still in darkness?

If you follow Jesus, how should the light of Christ found in your transformed heart (made new entirely by Jesus) be shown to the world? What movement in the light and out of darkness is God calling you to make?

more from John - Day 3 of 20

Read 1 John 2:1-6. 

“[Jesus] is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2.2 ESV)  

Propitiation - that big word we use in our every day life, right? Ha! But seriously, it is one to know.

In short, propitiation is a 2-part word. On one hand it involves appeasing the wrath of God because of our sin (which separates us from the Father who is perfect, holy, sinless) and it involves reconciling our relationship with God the Father. Jesus did this on the cross. Jesus paid the penalty of our sins, of the sins of the whole world, on the cross to appease the Father's wrath. And for those who believe in Him, Jesus, serving as a bridge, reconciled our relationship with the Father—the Father who sent His Son for us. For an illustration of this, see the bridge analogy found at http://bridgeanalogy.blogspot.com/.

What's your take away with this word?

Sharing this “big” word, pretty much involves sharing the good news of Jesus. Who will you share this word with today? Your child, your friend, your neighbor, your co-worker? Feel free to use the bridge analogy illustration as a help.

more from John - Day 2 of 20

Read 1 John 1:5-10.

“...God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5b ESV)

When you feel lost and directionless... 

When you feel discouraged and frustrated...

When you feel confused and at a loss...

When you've stepped into the darkness of sin...

How does “God is light” move you to walk in His light?

How does “God is light” revive your spirit?

How does “God is light” reveal truth into your particular situation?

How does “God is light” lead you to confession and repentance?

Who in your life needs to know that “God is light”? How may you proclaim “God is light” to another this minute, this hour, this day, this week?

Blessings to you as you walk in the light of God...and be reminded that it is because of the blood of Jesus that you are able to walk in His light!

more from John - Day 1 of 20

Read 1 John 1:1-4. 

“which we have heard... 
which we have seen with our eyes... 
which we looked upon ... 
and have touched with our hands... 
and we have seen it... 
and testify to it... 
and proclaim to you... 
that which we have seen... 
and heard... 
we proclaim also to you...” 

Why was John so repetitive? What's the significance? A lot of action on the part of the early church, huh? Why does all of the above preface “so that”?

As an invitational, missional “small groups” guy, I love how John's invitation to fellowship (Christian community) is encouraged. And not only is it encouraged, but added to their most important fellowship with the Father and Jesus, it is what brought John and friends complete joy. 

What about you and your small group? Have the invitations to others to join your community dried up? Has your group grown cliquish, closed, comfortable? Are you missing out on the joy John and company experienced?

What may God be calling you and your group to as a next step?

• Invite a person today to join your group? 
• Multiply into 2 groups (or more) so that more room may be made for newcomers? 
• Something else? 

Pray over this. Seek God's direction. I pray that you and the company you keep will also know such complete joy. 

And if you need help connecting to a group, please message me or leave a comment below. I may be able to help you get connected even outside of where I'm serving.