[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (JAC) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]
[11:12,
5/14/2021] S.R:
π ππββ π:ππ
"If
we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us."
The
identity of a Christian is a sinner. Not that it's okay to sin, but it means
it's impossible to be sinless before the thrice holy God, and therefore must
acknowledge ourselves humbly before God in confession and penitence.
A
sinner saved by Grace.
π ππββ π:ππ-ππ
"I
am writing to you, fathers, because you have known Him who has been from the
beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have π π§ππ£ππ ππ the evil one. I have written to you, children,
because you have known the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you
have known Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young
men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have π π§ππ£ππ ππ the evil one."
We
are overcomers! We are winners!
We
are conquerors! All in Christ!
It's
not "we will" Or "we can." It's "we have
overcome"
It's
done. It's a state of reality.
So,
let's live like that! Courageous in struggles, and Rich in good works!
π ππββ π:ππ
"In
this the ππππππ£ππ π π πΎπ π and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever
does not ππππππππ πππππππππππππ is not of God, nor is he who does not ππππ πππ πππππππ."
All
human beings are brothers and sisters because we are all children of Adam, but
only those who are born of God are our only spiritual brothers and sisters.
We
are all children of God in the sense God is our Creator, but only those who are
born of God are truly children of God. The others are already adopted/enslaved
by the devil, Satan.
If
we are children of a righteous God, surely, we will demonstrate righteousness
in our life. Have people called me or seen me or estimated me "holy"
and "righteous" more or have they called me, seen me, or estimated me
"wicked" and "sinful" more?
And
if we are children of God, we are family members, we are brothers and sisters,
therefore, we love one another. The people whom I love most on planet earth are
my family members. When I get married, maybe she will be the one, but as of
now, my family members are! And then, my church members and the layer of
circles goes on...
π ππββ π:ππ
"Beloved,
if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."
It's
one thing to love, and another thing to demonstrate our love. God loves us and
demonstrates His love for us.
It's
one thing to say, "I love you," it's another thing to mean it. My
Rongmei culture hardly says "I love you" to one another. Actually,
it's awkward to say, and I think it doesn't exist in our culture. It doesn't
make sense to say.
And
I am glad that the way how God reveals His love for us is not by saying,
"I really love you from the deep deep bottom of my heart," but by
demonstration of actions.
Oh!
Indeed! How needed that we love not only in words but in deeds too!
π ππββ π:ππ‘
"We
know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil
one."
We,
believers, are of God. Jesus is our Master.
But
we live in this world where Satan claimed to be the master of all things.
And
in v18 it says Satan does not touch the believers. Because we are freed from
his enslavement. Sure, like Pharaoh who
troubled the Israelites by sending armies to capture them by the Red Sea, Satan
will cause trouble for us, he can even influence us indirectly, but He cannot
touch us again. And one day like the Pharaoh's armies they shall never cross
the Red Sea and perish on it.
I
pray that God will open our eyes of understanding (v20) to comprehend the power
and the glory of God!