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Christian Devotional – June 2, 2014
Read 1 John chapter 2 VERSE: 1 John 2:8–Yet I am writing you a new command, it’s truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. TRUTH: The darkness is passing. Why is the darkness passing away? The true light is already shining. We have seen the true light and He is the example of the command to love others. Jesus Christ is the light and He came so that we could all see and experience the true light for ourselves. RESPONSE: Father, You are truly amazing and You are the true light that scatters the darkness. The command…
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Christian Devotional – March 15, 2014
Read 2 John VERSE: 2 John 13–The children of your sister who is chosen by God, send their greeting. TRUTH: Their sister, another church, also sends their greeting. The churches were designed to work together to encourage one another and to stand with each other as together we stand for God’s truth. Churches are not meant to compete against one another for members or argue and fuss with one another. Do we partner with other Bible-believing churches? Are we working together with other churches that also seek to follow God? We can accomplish so much more as we follow God together than we can on our own. RESPONSE: Father, thank…
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Christian Devotional – March 14, 2014
Read 2 John VERSE: 2 John 12–I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete. TRUTH: God did not design the Christian life to be lived in a vacuum. He desires that we share with others face to face. We are so encouraged to see each other face to face and share in the message and encouragement of God. John knew that and desired to be together with them as much to encourage himself as to encourage them. Do we look forward…
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Christian Devotional – March 13, 2014
Read 2 John VERSE: 2 John 11–Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work. TRUTH: We don’t have to actively participate in sin to be guilty of sharing in it. According to this verse, even if we just sit back and do nothing, we are essentially welcoming it in and are therefore guilty. We must be actively standing up against the evil and false teachings that are so prevalent in the world today. If we are not actively standing up to kick that garbage out, then we are guilty of welcoming it in. RESPONSE: Father, help me not to be passive about the false teachings that are around. Give…
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Christian Devotional – March 12, 2014
Read 2 John VERSE: 2 John 10–If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. TRUTH: False teaching is a serious issue. There are plenty of people who teach false ideas about God: who He is, what He is like, how to be made right with Him. The popular definition of “tolerance,” where we are to just allow people to believe whatever they want, is wrong. We have the truth and God desires that we hold to His truth. Do we stand up for God’s truth? RESPONSE: Father, I will not believe the lie that it is okay…
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Christian Devotional – March 11, 2014
Read 2 John VERSE: 2 John 9–Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the truth of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. TRUTH: We love to run ahead. Even as little children we race ahead of our parents and have to be reminded to come back. So often, we do the same with God. We don’t want to wait or go His pace, so we race ahead, trying to find our way on our own. When we do that, we are not following Christ’s teachings or obeying God. We must learn to wait on Him and walk…
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Christian Devotional – March 10, 2014
Read 2 John VERSE: 2 John 8–Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. TRUTH: Those deceivers mentioned in the pervious verse are hard at work and if we are not careful and watching, we will lose focus and get distracted. God has a plan and a purpose for us and we must be careful that we are focused on Him and His plan or else we will miss out on all the rewards and blessings that He has in store for us. Do we want to be fully rewarded in all that God has planned and purposed for…
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Christian Devotional – March 9, 2014
Read 2 John VERSE: 2 John 7–I say this because many decisions, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. TRUTH: We must be on our guard. There are many deceivers who are out in the world, not just one or two. These people don’t acknowledge Jesus Christ. These people try to distract us from carrying out His command to walk in love. We will face opposition and distraction to God’s commands in our life. How will we respond? RESPONSE: Father, keep me on the lookout for the deceivers who try to…
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Christian Devotional – March 8, 2014
Read 2 John VERSE: 2 John 6–And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. TRUTH: Looking for a definition of love? Here is one: love is walking in obedience to God’s commands. It is impossible to consider something love if it does not come from the commands of God. God is love and only as we seek to imitate Him will we be able to move and work as He desires. That is how we will display God’s love through us. Also, loving is not just a request, but a command.…
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Christian Devotional – March 7, 2014
Read 2 John VERSE: 2 John 5–And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command, but one we have heard from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. TRUTH: John is not coming to the people with some new idea. He is writing to remind them of something they already know. They have been told and instructed in this from the beginning. John asks that they love one another. While this may seem to be an obvious statement, it stands to reason that they had not been doing it. Do we focus on loving one another? Do we need to be reminded of the importance…