Today’s Reading: Revelation 4:3-11; Psalm 96

“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.” – Revelation 3:20-21

When we look to God and hear His voice calling us, we can be brought into His presence through the Spirit. When this happens, we are able to see all that He wants to show us. For John, this “meal” shared together opened up the opportunity to see an incredible moment before the throne in heaven — to see the beauty of a God worthy of Heaven’s praise. Our mind makes a feeble attempt to picture this heavenly moment, and yet still it is beautiful.

It makes me wonder what kind of beauty God would like to reveal to us this morning. I wonder what revelation He has for us today. The door is open. Are we looking? Are we listening? Are we willing to let the Spirit instantly take us into God’s presence this morning so that He can show us what He longs to reveal?

The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones — like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow. Twenty-four thrones surrounded him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. And in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames. This is the sevenfold Spirit of God. In front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystal.

In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back. The first of these living beings was like a lion; the second was like an ox; the third had a human face; and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying,

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty — the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.”

Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the One sitting on the throne (the One who lives forever and ever), the twenty four elders fall down and worship the One sitting on the throne (the One who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say,

“You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power.
For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.” – Revelation 4:3-11

God is worthy of our praise this morning. Amen?! He is more powerful than anything we are facing, and the grace He extends to us is truly amazing. I needed to hear that this morning. I needed to enter into His presence and bow before Him, saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty — the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.” When we exalt Him on earth, He is exalted in Heaven, so let’s lift our voices to our Father and speak the name that is above every name — the name of Jesus.

Sing a new song to the Lord!
Let the whole earth sing to the Lord!
Sing to the Lord; praise his name.
Each day proclaim the good news that he saves
Publish his glorious deeds among the nations.
Tell everyone about the amazing things he does.
Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! – Psalm 96:1-4a

Jesus. What a privilege it is to speak your name — the name that is above all names. Lord, I praise your name this morning for you are the One who saves us; you are the One who is worthy of all praise! Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty — the One who always was, who still is today, and who will forever be. You are worthy, Jesus, to receive all the glory and honor and power. You are the Creator of all things, and we recognize that all things exist because you created what pleased you to create — the sun, moon and stars, the oceans and mountains, the smallest of insects and the largest of mammals. And in all of that you were pleased to create us. Lord, we enter into your presence, positioned to hear from you. Lord, we are asking. Lord, we are seeking. Lord, we are knocking and we are answering. Come, let us share a meal together as friends. You are my Savior and my God, and I love you. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Revelation 4:1-2; Psalm 77

Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.” And instantly I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it. – Revelation 4:1-2

We find a wonderful truth in these first two verses of chapter four. John looked and saw a door standing open in heaven. A voice said “Come” and INSTANTLY he was in the Spirit. In the moment when John was seeking and God was calling, John was ushered into the presence of God through the Spirit.

WHEN JOHN LOOKED, HE SAW.

There was an open door to the presence of God and all he had to do was look toward God to see the opportunity to enter into the glorious presence of His Creator. A door exists for us as well. Just as John looked toward God, we can seek God. We can respond to this ACCESS by “knocking” and the door will be opened.

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” – Matthew 7:7-8

WHEN WE KEEP ON SEEKING, WE WILL FIND GOD.

Keep on asking. Keep on seeking. Keep on knocking. Let’s not miss the persistence with which we are commanded to seek God and make our requests known to Him. God is calling us to a level of tenacity that demonstrates faith as we wait for Him to answer. And He will. You see this strong determination is mirrored in God’s action towards us. We are not the only ones knocking on the door to a place where we can commune with God. Just as we knock in hopes of entering into the presence of the God who loves us, just as we seek Him out, He also draws us to Himself by knocking on the door.

“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.” – Revelation 3:20-21

Even when we are distracted by life, He faithfully stands at the door knocking. Even when we are in a season when we are not seeking God or actively pursuing His presence, His voice continues to say, “Come.” When we turn our hearts toward God, we find Him. He is ready to share a meal with us — a symbol of friendship and fellowship. He draws us into a covenant relationship with Him. All we have to do is respond to His invitation.

I cry out to God; yes, I shout.
Oh, that God would listen to me!
When I was in deep trouble,
I searched for the Lord.
All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven,
but my soul was not comforted. – Psalm 77:1-2

Heavenly Father, thank you for the invitation this morning to “Come” and enter into your presence. Thank you for giving us a door to walk through and a moment to just be still in the presence of your love and your magnificence! Lord, you are worthy of all glory and honor and power! What a privilege to linger in your presence and allow you to reveal yourself to us this morning. We love you, precious God! Amen.

Today’s Reading: Revelation 3

“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.” – Revelation 3:6

So far we have talked about the loyal church, the suffering church, the compromising church, and the overly tolerant church. If you have not seen yourself in any of these descriptions, perhaps God has a message for you today. There are three more messages to three more lampstand churches — the spiritually dead church, the obedient church, and the indifferent church.

The Church in Sardis had a reputation for being alive based on their actions, but God saw that their actions did not meet His requirements; they were the SPIRITUALLY DEAD CHURCH. They needed to go back to what they believed at first and hold to it firmly, in order to wake up and be strengthened. They needed to be reminded that we are saved by faith and not by works; that works should be an outflow of our relationship with God, not a performance on which we place our identity. This church needed to experience a revival or renewal so that they could once more be alive in Christ.

When we place our confidence in our performance, we start giving ourselves permission to let evil creep in, as the Church in Sardis did. But there were some in the church who had not “soiled their clothes”, and they would walk with God in white because they were worthy of this privilege. Their names would be written in the book of Life forever (3:1-6).

To the OBEDIENT CHURCH in Philadelphia: “I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me…Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown. All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God — the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And I will also write on them my new name.” – Revelation 3:8,10-12

We can be encouraged by the message to the Church in Philadelphia. When we obey the word of God and persevere through even the most difficult of struggles, God will respond in protection over us and lavishly reward us. Jesus will write the name of God on us, as well as His new name. We bear the name of Jesus now when we call ourselves Christian, but a day is coming when the names of our God and our Savior will be forever written on us.

The message to the Church in Laodicea is probably the one we are most familiar with. They are the LUKEWARM and INDIFFERENT CHURCH. They are not completely cold and dead, but neither are they on fire for God. They are like lukewarm water that God will spit out of His mouth. They are rich and think they have everything they need, but they are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked.

To the lukewarm, God says, “I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference. Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.” – Revelation 3:19-21

So where did you find yourself among these church reviews? Do not be discouraged; there is hope! The difference between these 7 messages and your standard job performance review is found at the end of each message: “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.” God is saying — I’m not asking you to perform based on your own abilities. I’m asking you to enter into my presence and allow my Spirit to fill you. Then listen to the Spirit and pray for understanding of how the Spirit is asking you to live. Soak in the written word of God and allow His Spirit to speak through the scriptures.

As we have discussed over and over again, we can daily position ourselves to hear from God by entering into His presence to worship Him and to be a student of His Word. It is in these times of authentic surrender that we hear from Him and receive strength from Him.

God, that is exactly where I want to be – positioned to hear from you. I want to be filled with Your Spirit so that I can respond minute by minute to your guidance. Lord, I confess the areas in which I have been lacking and thank you that “GRACE” is written in red all over my performance review. Thank you for coming in and sharing this morning coffee together. Open my ears so I can listen to Your Spirit and understand what you are saying to me today. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Revelation 2:12-29; Psalm 5

“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.” – Revelation 2:17a

There are five more messages to five more lampstand churches. Let’s look at two more this morning. Lord, show us if one of these “performance reviews” describes where we are at spiritually. Protect us from false guilt while opening our hearts to the truth as revealed by your Spirit. Amen.

Pergamum is the COMPROMISING CHURCH. Jesus recognized that they were living in a culture where sin was glorified. He described Perganum as “the city where Satan has his throne.” One of the believers had been killed for his faith, yet the church remained loyal to God during this difficult time of persecution. They continued to praise the name of Jesus, but they had also begun to tolerate false teaching in the church. They continued to call themselves Christ-followers, but they were compromising the standards of holiness by eating food offered to idols and by allowing sexual sin in the church.

“Repent of your sin, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.” – Revelation 2:16

JESUS CALLED THE CHURCH’S TOLERANCE SIN.

The church had remained loyal during times of persecution but they had also become tolerant of false teaching. They had a choice set before them — repent of your sin or I will come and fight the false teaching myself with the sword of my mouth. Even if they did not endorse it, they allowed it, and Jesus called their tolerance sin.

The heart of Jesus is revealed here in these verses, showing that his desire was for them to repent of their sin so that they could experience everything He had for them. He was sending this message to the Church in Pergamum, knowing that believers would be reading his words for generations to come. Just as the warning is for us today, so is the promise of victory! But let’s not miss that not only is the promise for us, so is the warning.

To everyone who is victorious I will give some of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it. – Revelation 2:17b

The Church in Thyatira had a similar problem — they had been the OVERLY TOLERANT CHURCH. God had seen their love, faith, service and patient endurance. In the presence of constant improvement, they had unfortunately allowed teaching that permits sexual sin and the eating of food offered to idols. When given the opportunity to repent, they had chosen immorality over God’s plan. To this church the Son of Man is saying — I know the thoughts and intentions of every person and I will give to each of you whatever you deserve. If you choose to obey me to the very end, you will be given victory and authority (2:18-29).

“To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God.” – Revelation 2:7b

I believe the church in America is making the same mistakes as both the church in Pergamum and in Thyatira. We live in a culture that no longer appreciates our faith and no longer uses biblical teaching as a standard of morality. The truths found in scripture are now defined as hate speech, and our response has been tolerance on several different issues. Leaders are looking the other way, allowing a spirit of compromise and tolerance in the church, while other leaders have begun to endorse what scriptures have defined as sin.

We have forgotten how to extend grace and show love, while also speaking truth. We have softened our stance in order to fit into the culture of the day. We continue our routine of faith but we have watered down the word of God. In our efforts to show the love of Christ, we have instead become OVERLY TOLERANT of sin; we are a COMPROMISING CHURCH.

To those believers who were not following the false teaching being allowed in the church, Jesus said — “I will ask nothing more of you except that you hold tightly to what you have until I come.” (Revelation 2:24-25). It seems to me that Jesus is saying to hold on to the truth; do not grow weary and let go of the foundation of truth on which your salvation was built. Do not run after the newest idea or fall prey to the false teaching that has made its way into the church. Hold tightly to what you have until Jesus comes again.

Father God, forgive us for getting off track. We pray for revival to sweep through our nation, starting with the Church. Show us how to respond in love to the world around us without watering down the message of salvation. Give us the right words to show others the plan you have for their life, offering them freedom FROM sin rather than freedom TO sin. Give us the heart to authentically love them so that they see our concern for their future as genuine, not as judgmental. May your grace and love be evident in all that we say and do. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Revelation 2:1-11; Psalm 3

John received seven messages for seven churches, each represented in his revelation by a lampstand. As we look at each one of these messages, you will hear what sounds a lot like a job performance review. You are doing these things really well, but here is where there is room for improvement and where your performance is lacking. This is what the consequence will be if you do not start doing things differently. This is the reward waiting for you if you do as I have asked you to do.

“I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. You have patiently suffered for me without quitting.” – Revelation 2:1-3

This first message was for the LOYAL CHURCH in Ephesus. They were intentionally trying to do the right thing, while also expecting authenticity from those who were claiming to be apostles. Even when standing for the truth was hard, they persevered and were consistent in their stance. Unfortunately, they were missing what God wanted most from them.

“But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches. But this is in our favor: You hate the evil deeds of the Nicolaitans, just as I do.” – Revelation 2:4-6

THEIR FAITH WALK WAS BECOMING MORE OF A HABIT THAN A RELATIONSHIP.

They had taken their eyes off of the Savior in order to critique the walk of others. This had caused their love for God to fade and their love for each other to diminish. They were missing the purpose of their relationship with God — to grow in their love for God in such a way that the natural result was a greater love for others.

If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. – 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

The church in Ephesus had been courageous in their protection of the truth, and they had stayed strong through all the persecution that came with their strong stance, but their passion for truth and justice had replaced their passion for God.

We have seen so many over the last few years fall victim to the same slide. Their voice for justice and truth has lost all evidence of grace and redemption. In their efforts to make sure everyone knows how right they are, they have fallen into the trap of arrogance and intolerance. They have missed the opportunity to be led by the Spirit and, in doing so, lost their influence.

“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God.” – Revelation 2:7b

The second message was for the church in Smyrna — the SUFFERING CHURCH. This church had suffered so much for God but they had done so in fear. God’s message to this church was kind and compassionate – I know about your suffering and your poverty. I know the blasphemy of those who oppose you. Don’t be afraid of the suffering that is ahead of you. If you remain faithful through this difficult time, I will give you a crown of life (2:8-11).

THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES HAD THE POTENTIAL TO DRAW THEM CLOSER TO GOD.

To both of these churches, God’s message speaks of relationship. Keep your eyes on me. Do not let the behavior of others distract you from my command to love one another. And do not let fear rob you of the joy I have for you and the peace I want to give you in abundance. I want more than just your loyalty, I want your love. I know you are hurting; remain faithful to me and trust me through this difficult time.

The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name.” – Psalm 91:14

Can you relate to either of these churches? Both of these lampstands were being called to persevere — both were patiently suffering. Do you see Jesus in these messages? Do you hear the encouragement that he has for you?

I know all the things…I know about your suffering…I see how your love for me is fading due to the distractions within the church and the suffering caused by those who say they belong to God. Stay in relationship with me. Let me fill you with my love and my strength for what is ahead. Remain faithful and do not be afraid.

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one. I died, but look — I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.” – Revelation 1:17-18

But you, O Lord, are a shield around me;
you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.
I cried out to the Lord,
and he answered me from his holy mountain. – Psalm 3:3-4

Today’s Reading: Revelation 1

Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. – Revelation 2:7,11,17,29; 3:6,13,22

This is the command given at the end of each of the messages for the seven churches. This is where we start as we begin the study of the book of Revelation and as we end this 23-month journey through the Bible. Now I find myself on my knees asking for ears to hear so that I can listen to what the Spirit wants to say to us through this final book in God’s word. I pray for an accurate understanding of what He is saying to the churches and what He is saying to me.

God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near. – Revelation 1:3

Lord, we are prepared to be blessed as we spend time in your presence studying this book of Revelation. Reveal to us your message. Reveal to us your heart. Reveal to us the good you see in us but also reveal to us the areas in which we are lacking and need to make changes. Amen.

God gave Jesus a revelation, which he then sent to John through an angel. The words of this book are the words of God himself and the testimony of Jesus Christ, as written down by John while imprisoned on the island of Patmos. This letter was written to the seven churches in the province of Asia and still has a powerful message to believers today.

But before John reveals the seven messages to the seven churches, he gives us a better understanding of where the message is coming from. He wants his readers to clearly understand that these are not his thoughts; this is not his message. He is simply a fellow believer and brother in Christ who is patiently enduring what Jesus has called him to.

It was the Lord’s Day, and I was worshiping in the Spirit. Suddenly, I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet blast. It said, “Write in a book everything you see, and send it to the seven churches in the cities of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.” – Revelation 1:10-11

Let’s not miss that this moment in which John heard from God was while he was worshiping in the Spirit. He was in God’s presence, filled with the Spirit and focused on worship, when he experienced God like he had never experienced Him before. Because he was positioned to hear from God, he heard from God. And the result was that God was able to use John to reveal His message to His people.

In 1996, I heard from God through a Nazarene pastor in Ohio, Rev. Daniel Witter. The message God sent me changed my life forever but I also walked away with a deep gratitude for a man who had positioned himself to hear from God. His faithfulness to spend time alone in God’s presence resulted in Dan hearing from God and receiving a promise for me. The promise gave me hope; the fulfillment of that promise changed my life. But the greatest impact was the realization that my faithfulness to enter into God’s presence daily could result in God communicating to someone else.

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one. I died, but look – I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.” – Revelation 1:17-18

When we enter into God’s presence, we position ourselves to hear from Jesus himself — the One who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his own blood for us. He then makes us a Kingdom of priests for the service of God the Father (1:5-6).

Perhaps it is during this season of life that you are the most likely to be POSITIONED TO HEAR FROM GOD. Does God have your attention? The Alpha and Omega has something to say to each of us in the coming days. May we have ears to hear and understand what He is saying to us through His Word.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega — the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come — the Almighty One.” – Revelation 1:8

From A to Z there is nothing outside of God’s domain. When we come to Him and sit at His feet, we enter the presence of a God whose power and authority is all-encompassing. He is fully in control and nothing is beyond His knowledge or ability. This is the God I love, the God I serve, and the God with whom I look forward to sharing my morning coffee each day.

Ears to hear and eyes to see — both are gifts from the Lord. – Proverbs 20:12

Today’s Reading: 3 John

We started in Genesis in January of 2024, and we have almost made our way through the Bible. We only have the book of Revelation left after today. Thank you for joining me on this chronological journey. Let’s finish strong.

There was a lot of misinformation being passed around the region regarding the death and resurrection of Jesus. The disciples were called to spread the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and there was a strong camaraderie between them centered around this calling. They were brothers, comrades, and friends. They loved each other, prayed for one another, and shared generously across the body of Christ, treating each other like family.

Some of the traveling teachers recently returned and made me very happy by telling me about your faithfulness and that you are living according to the truth. I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth. – 3 John 3-4

The hope of those investing their lives in spreading the truth was that those who listened would become believers, and that by believing they might be saved. The apostles wanted these Christ-followers to be faithful to God and live according to the truth they had been taught. So when news arrived that they were spiritually healthy, John wrote a letter in order to both encourage them and warn them.

PROVIDE GENEROUSLY FOR THOSE WHO ARE TEACHING YOU

Dear friend, you are being faithful to God when you care for the traveling teachers who pass through, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church here of your loving friendship. Please continue providing for such teachers in a manner that pleases God. For they are traveling for the Lord, and they accept nothing from people who are not believers. So we ourselves should support them so that we can be their partners as they teach the truth. – 3 John 5-8

There was one among them who wanted to be a leader, but who was speaking ill of those who were preaching and teaching. He did not welcome them when they were in town, and he demanded that no one else in the church give money to them or help them in any way. This was not the example of generosity or love that John wanted the church to follow.

Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God. – 3 John 11

I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning. Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning. – 2 John 5-6

John encouraged them to respect those whose lives reflected the truths they had been taught, and to show love for one another. As an elder in the church, John was advising them not to blindly follow any leader, but to look for leaders whose talk was consistent with their walk. If one leader in the church is speaking ill of another leader in the church, ask God for discernment on which of those leaders is behaving in a way that is consistent with biblical teaching.

Father God, please help us as a church not to stray from the truth found in your word. May our relationship with you be evident in our attitudes towards one another and may we be generous with each other. May the preachers and teachers in our life be well taken care of as we show our appreciation to them for their time spent studying the scriptures so that we might fully understand the life you have called us to. Fill us with a spirit of generosity and give us the gift of discernment as we reflect your love and live out our faith. Amen.

November is traditionally a time to consider all that we have to be grateful for. I pray the Lord prompts you to express your love and appreciation to your pastors, small group leaders, and ministry leaders during this upcoming season. May they feel your support and be encouraged by your intentional words of gratitude for the impact they are making in the congregation and in your life.

And let me be the one to say — THANK YOU! Thank you for the difference you are making in the lives of those around you. Thank you for the hours you spend serving the Lord by serving others. May the Lord bless you today and throughout this upcoming holiday season.

“May the Lord bless you
and protect you.
May the Lord smile on you
and be gracious to you.
May the Lord show you his favor
and give you his peace.” – Numbers 6:24-26

Today’s Reading: 2 John, Psalm 119:9-16

This letter is from John, the elder. I am writing to the chosen lady and to her children, whom I love in the truth — as does everyone else who knows the truth — because the truth lives in us and will be with us forever. – 2 John 1-2

Let’s lean into the idea of truth this morning. John is writing to the church, whom he loves in the truth. What is this sense of community we feel among believers? It is the truth living within us that unites us, and it is from the active presence of the truth in our lives that we love one another. It is not a temporary emotion or a fleeting response, but a powerful presence that stays with us forever.

Grace, mercy, and peace, which come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ — the Son of the Father — will continue to be with us who live in truth and love. – 2 John 3

Grace, mercy and peace. Once we have experienced the power of grace, mercy and peace, we know with confidence the difference that God is making in our lives. I never want to lose the undeserved privilege of God’s grace; I never want to forget the impact of His mercy. I don’t want to go back to a life void of God’s peace. But consider what John meant when he spoke of living in truth AND love.

How happy I was to meet some of your children and find them living according to the truth, just as the Father commanded. I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. – 2 John 4-5a

When we live according to the truth found in scripture, God’s Spirit gives us peace. Leaning on what the world defines as truth, or creating my own truth, means Jesus is no longer my cornerstone — my Solid Rock. Truth is not a fluid notion but a solid foundation on which I can stand with confidence.

I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning. Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning. – 2 John 5-6

When I begin to redefine God’s commands or weaken the authority of scripture, I find reasons not to love. My truth of woundedness, the lens of my victim mentality, gives me permission to choose whom I will love and who I am allowed to hate. But I cannot live with the benefit of grace and mercy if I am not willing to extend the same grace and mercy to another person. While the world wants to cater to our rights, Jesus wants us to place them in His hands and experience His peace.

I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the world. They deny that Jesus Christ came in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist. Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward. Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son. – 2 John 7-9

I want to remain in the teaching of Christ; I want to stand on the word of God in confidence. But I need to know God’s truth in order to live by it. I need to spend more time saturating in the scripture than I spend absorbing the ideas of the world. I need to guard my heart and my mind against false teaching. The world wants us to believe that love trumps truth, but God has called us to live in truth AND love.

For we cannot oppose the truth, but must always stand for the truth. – 2 Corinthians 13:8

I encourage you to take a minute to read the prayer of the psalmist aloud. Make it your prayer to God today, finding your way to God through His holy Word.

How can a young person stay pure?
By obeying your word.
I have tried hard to find you—
don’t let me wander from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
I praise you, O Lord;
teach me your decrees.
I have recited aloud
all the regulations you have given us.
I have rejoiced in your laws
as much as in riches.
I will study your commandments
and reflect on your ways.
I will delight in your decrees
and not forget your word. – Psalm 119:9-16

Today’s Reading: 1 John 4:1-6; 5:1-21

This is one of my favorite quotes from Bob Goff’s book Everybody Always, and it goes perfectly with today’s scripture: “Do you want to do something amazing for God? Trade the appearance of being close to God for the power of actually being close to God. Quit talking a big game and go live a big faith.”

What a powerful challenge! When we authentically invest in our relationship with God, the time we spend in His word and the time spent worshiping in His presence changes us. He grows the faith He initiated in us and the way we live out that faith evolves. God loves us enough to mold us into who He created us to be. When we remain in fellowship with Christ and the Holy Spirit is living within us, we begin to see these changes:

WE WILL GAIN DISCERNMENT.

When the Spirit lives within us, we will become more and more discerning of the truth. When we hear something that is not true, the Spirit within us will warn us and we will experience uneasiness. The Spirit living within us is truth and is greater than the spirit who lives in this world. Because we belong to God, we listen to the Spirit and are able to DISCERN TRUTH from deception (1 John 4:1-6).

WE WILL GROW MORE PERFECT IN LOVE.

God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is REAL LOVE — not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and HIS LOVE IS BROUGHT TO FULL EXPRESSION IN US.

And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. – 1 John 4:9-13

And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. – 1 John 4:17a

WE WILL OBEY OUT OF LOVE AND NOT FEAR.

When we experience the perfect love of God, our response is not to fear God’s punishment. No, His perfect love living within us casts out fear, and our response is to authentically love each other because the God of the universe loved us first. He didn’t start loving us when we got our lives together; He loved us before we started loving Him. That’s what we call grace. Our response to the generous grace of God is to extend the same grace to one another, displaying the love of Jesus to everyone we meet.

If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their Christian brothers and sisters. – 1 John 4:20-21

WE WILL OVERCOME EVIL BY OUR FAITH.

For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. – 1 John 5:4-5

We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them. – 1 John 5:18

Sin will not overpower us. We don’t have to be afraid that we will sin when we remain in fellowship with God. We are children of God and no evil in this world is more powerful than him. BUT, we also have to keep our hearts devoted to Him and avoid situations or temptations that could weaken our resolve to remain in relationship with Him. We need to make sure that we do not start making other things in our life more important than Him. God wants more than just first place in our lives, He wants Lordship over everything in our lives.

Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. – 1 John 2:15-17

John ends this first letter with great advice for us, and so I end my morning coffee pondering this verse.

Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts. – 1 John 5:21

Lord, thank you for the evidence we are already experiencing in our lives, evidence that you are at work and creating us into a new person. We thank you for Your perfect expression of REAL LOVE as demonstrated in your birth and in your death on the cross. Lord, continue to strengthen our faith in you and our love for others. Amen.

Today’s Reading: 1 John 4:7-21

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love and all who live in love live in God and God lives in them. – 1 John 4:16

When the Spirit lives in us and when we remain in fellowship with Jesus Christ, our life produces love naturally. And when the love we show towards one another comes out of our growing relationship with Christ, it has a beautiful authenticity to it that we cannot create on our own. Compassion and mercy become a natural outflow of our relationship with Christ.

I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning. Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning. – 2 John 5-6

THE LOVE CIRCLE

I love the circle that John creates in these verses. If we truly love God, we will obey whatever He commands. And what does He command? He commands us to love one another. So, if we truly love God, we will love one another. In fact, we show our love for God by loving others – demonstrated in word and action. And this verse in John’s second letter is consistent with what he wrote in his first letter:

But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. – 1 John 2:5

When we begin living in relationship with Christ, His Spirit produces love in us. In response to His love for me, I live out my relationship by loving others with an authentic love I cannot produce on my own. And when I genuinely love others, His love living inside of me is brought to full expression and my relationship with Him grows. With this growth comes more love…graciously extended to others…fully expressed in me. With the momentum of that never-ending circle, God can show Himself to the whole world through His children.

Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. – 1 John 4:7-8

Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. – 1 John 4:11-12

What a great reminder of what true obedience to God looks like — loving others in word and deed. I can say I love everyone and that my love for God is expressed in the way I love others, but then I need to consider when I complain and speak negatively about someone else. Does this express my love for God? Do I love God well when I’m avoiding someone or losing patience with someone.

Lord, forgive me for my lack of love for others. Lord, perfect YOUR love in me. I want to live a life of obedience and love. Please fill me with Your Spirit today and love through me! May your truth be evident in our actions today as we love each other just as You intended us to. Fill us with the kind of REAL LOVE John spoke of – the kind of authentic love that would give up our lives just as Christ gave up His life for us. Amen.