Read 1 John 1

I know of nowhere else in the Bible where you find statements like, “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves (1:8),” and, “If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar (1:10).” These statements are so contrary to traditional Christian thinking that I wouldn’t be surprised if historically, preachers have just left this passage alone, or passed over it without much comment.

If we claim we have no sin, or we claim that we have not sinned, we are fooling ourselves and calling God a liar? But wait. Aren’t we supposed to be living and acting like we are free from sinning? Isn’t that the impression most people give in church? If it is, it is dead wrong, and according to John, we are not living in the truth.

So what could John be talking about here? He’s talking about grace. He knows that if sin is no longer an issue, then we don’t need grace, and if we don’t need grace, we have disqualified ourselves from the gospel. And that is not only dangerous, it is deadly.

Without sin there is no truth in us. Without sin, there is no need for grace, and without grace, we are all dead in our sins. (See, we are all sinners, we just like to play like we are not.) That’s why John says don’t claim you have no sin, because sin is your ticket into heaven.

by  John Fischer
used by permission

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“With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.”  Isaiah 12:3

I love the word picture that Isaiah 12:3 gives us. Can’t you picture taking your bucket with a long rope attached and dropping it down into the deep well? You hear the splash below and feel the tension on the rope as the bucket fills. As you draw the bucket up you know the drink will be long and cold and refreshing. Ahhh, coming to the well is so worth the trip. Especially when the day is dry and hot and dusty.

The only thing that can prevent that long and refreshing drink is a hole in the bucket. Though you long for the life giving water, if there’s a hole, you’ll draw up an empty bucket.

As we begin to explore the refreshing truths and sure principles of following Jesus let’s first make sure our bucket is intact. The biggest holes in our buckets of faith are generally caused by one thing: a lack of confidence. As we draw from the well of salvation, the cool refreshment simply leaks out when we harbor a lack of confidence in who our God is and in who we are in Jesus Christ.

In order to draw deeply from the well of salvation we must first be confident that our God is who He says He is and that He will do what He says He will do. Often we find our confidence in God has slipped away when things have not gone as we had hoped and planned. Yet God alone is the one who sees the road ahead. Only He knows just what our hearts need to keep going.

If your confidence in who you are in Jesus Christ has slipped, and you feel the promises of God don’t include you, then take some time to review how God sees you. As His child you are every bit included in those who can draw deeply from His well.

Patch the hole in your bucket. Believe God with fresh faith. Walk in who He says you are with fresh confidence. Then you will be able to draw from His deep well with a joy that is overflowing.

Father God, often my confidence in You can wane when I don’t understand what You are doing or not doing in my life. Help me to fully believe and completely trust that You have my best interests at heart. May I lean hard on You in complete assurance that Your love for me will carry me through. Help me to see myself as You see me – forgiven, dearly loved, accepted, chosen, and fruitful. Give me a deep understanding of being clothed in the strength and dignity that You provide for me. Restore my bucket of faith so that I may draw deeply and with great joy from the well of salvation. In Jesus’ name I pray, with thanksgiving. Amen.

Question: What holes are in your bucket right now? What truth will you apply to patch them up?

by Gail Rodgers
used by permission

FURTHER READING

Faltering Faith

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Be Still

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“But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called today, so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” Hebrews 3:13

The giant African land snail is considered one of the most damaging snails in the world because it eats at least 500 types of plants and can cause structural damage. It also can carry a parasite that can lead to meningitis in humans.

It’s not known how the snail arrived in Florida this time, and there’s no estimate for how many remain, but In an aggressive effort to keep an invasive snail species from making a permanent home in Florida, 78,000 critters have been captured in the past year.

They were found in the southern part of the state and are multiplying their way northward. They have been found in the wild and in residential backyards. They pose significant risks to Florida’s landscape. They lay eggs – up to 1200 a year – and they live for nine years.

There is a spiritual parallel here. Sin is a trap that sneaks its way into our lives and will destroy us. Often it sneaks up on us, and before we know it, we have a sin problem. Oh, how subtle it can be, but like the snail it multiplies exponentially.

Sin sneaks up on us undetected. It may bring pleasure for a short while, but it’s short-lived! Then we have to pay the consequences. Sin is deceitful. We think we’re okay, and before we know it, we are sinning with little or no conviction. Our hearts have hardened. If we sow to sin we will reap the consequences.

The choice is ours. We are a servant (slave) as shown by whom we yield to—sin or righteousness. We cannot be a servant to both. Once we fall into the sin trap we are boxed in on every side, but thanks to the sacrifice of Jesus, it is never too late to repent and turn from sin.

First Peter reminds us to “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) and always be mindful that the someone is you and I.

Lord, help me to be aware on a daily basis of the enemy who is eager to trip me up. Please give me Your correction and guidance and help me to be self-controlled and alert. Amen.

Question: Do you have sin that needs to be uncovered?

by John Grant
used by permission

John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney

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The post Sneaking In appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“The payment of sin is death.”  Romans 6:23 (NCV)

Sin does to a life what shears do to a flower.  A cut at the stem separates a flower from the source of life.  Initially the flower is attractive, still colorful and strong. But watch that flower over a period of time, and the leaves will wilt and the petals will drop.  No matter what you do, the flower will never live again.  Surround it with water. Stick the stem in soil. Baptize it with fertilizer. Glue the flower back on the stem. Do what you wish.  The flower is dead….

A dead soul has no life.

Cut off from God, the soul withers and dies.  The consequence of sin is not a bad day or a bad mood but a dead soul.  The sign of a dead soul is clear: poisoned lips and cursing mouths, feet that lead to violence and eyes that don’t see God…

The finished work of sin is to kill the soul…..

by Max Lucado
From: the Grip of Grace
Used by permission

To learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at:
https://maxlucado.com/about-max/

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The Stone of Unbelief

Dry Bones Praying

A Love Too Heavy

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“When we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all of our sins.”  1 John 1:9

We had out-of-town guests, and I was doing laundry every day.  But the dryer wasn’t working properly.  It took over an hour to dry a load of laundry, and the clothes weren’t even warm when I took them out of the dryer.

I mentioned it to my husband, and we checked the dryer manual and read the page called “trouble shooting”.  We checked everything they suggested that could cause the problem – and all but one thing was in working order.  However, we needed to check the dryer air vent outside the house to see if it was clogged.  Marvin climbed up a ladder and looked inside the vent, and guess what?  An old bird nest was in the vent.  It was blocking the air flow—the hot air wasn’t able to escape.  He removed the bird nest, and the dryer started worked like new.

The lesson I learned from this experience was two-fold:

1.  Read the manual written by the manufacturer. They made the dryer and know how to keep it going and how to fix it when things go wrong.

2.  Even a small bird nest can stop the flow of warm air that dries the clothes.

Similarly, in our lives, we must remember to be constantly in tune with our Maker through prayer, reading, and reflecting on God’s Word. God has made us and knows everything about us.  He will warm our hearts when we spend time alone with Him.  When we worship Him, He will point out the things that clog our communication channel to Him.

For example, when I have a critical attitude, I prevent God’s love from warming my heart.  Criticism and love can’t occupy the same space.  However, when we confess our sins to Him, He forgives and cleanses us from all sin and takes the throne of our hearts once again.

How are you doing today?  Do you have a cold heart?  Take time alone with God and ask Him to show you what is stopping His flow of love into your heart.

Father, our wonderful Maker and Friend, we desire our hearts to be warm with your love.  Show us if there is anything in our life that is stopping the flow of your love.  We want a deeper love relationship with You.  Amen

By Katherine Kehler
used by permission

FURTHER READING

Reset Button

Top 10 Ways Not to Hear From God

How You Can Experience God’s Love and Forgiveness (Part 1)

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“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” I John 1:9

Marvin, I, and a friend were driving through the Joshua Tree National Park in southeastern California and stopped to take pictures of the cactus plants.

Norm asked me to take his picture standing beside a big cactus plant. What we didn’t realize was that the cactus prickles are a lot like porcupine needles. They hook the clothes skin, shoes — anything — of anyone who gets too close.

Well, Norm got too close and ended with his clothes and shoes covered in prickles. When Marvin tried to help remove them, they stuck to his hand. What to do? We didn’t have a pair of pliers or tweezers to pull them out.

We continued our drive — Marvin with a ball of cactus prickles clinging to his finger and Norm covered with them. Both men were in pain!

A short time later we came upon a car parked by the side of the road. We stopped and asked the occupant if he had a pair of pliers. He not only produced a pair, but proceeded to pull out all the cactus prickles. What relief! The kindness of this man was wonderful. He told us that he understood — he had made the same mistake.

Spiritual application? How often do we get too close to sin and then have to suffer the consequences. Too much food, alcohol, gambling, ungrateful attitudes, and criticism, to name a few. Often others near us get embroiled with the same sin.

But we have a Savior! Just as the man by the side of the road saved us, so Jesus will save us from our sins. He will forgive and remove them,

“He will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

Question. Are you stuck with sins that you can’t get rid of? Ask Jesus to do it. He will!

Pray this prayer. “Lord Jesus, I confess that I am caught in the sin of _______. I can’t get rid of it. Will You please forgive me and cleanse me from all unrighteousness? Thank you so much! Amen.”

By Katherine Kehler
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

• Finished with Sin
• The Sin Tracker
• A Lost Art

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“For I will be merciful to their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” Hebrews 8:12

Each day hundreds of new applications for downloading on the latest editions of cell phones come on the market. Last week, one caught my eye. It is entitled “Confession,” and is designed to help track of their sins one commandment at a time. While the app cannot grant forgiveness, but can help you keep track of what you need to ask forgiveness for.

The text-based app takes the user through the Ten Commandments, with a slew of questions attached to each. Users can check a box next to each sin they have committed. But why do I need to remember my sins?

It is not that God chooses not to remember our sins. He chooses never to bring them up again. He doesn’t forget because He cannot. But, He doesn’t remember them either; that is, He will never bring them up again. Why? Because they have been forgiven in His Son Jesus.

This is why, when you read Hebrews 11, you will see a listing of great people of faith. Abraham, Moses, David, etc. Yet, none of their sins are listed even though they were sinners. Why? Because God remembers their sins no more.

Jesus told us to forgive as the Father has forgiven us (Ephesians 4:32). So, if someone does something wrong against you, then later asks for forgiveness, and you forgive him, you are never supposed to bring up that offense again… ever! Maybe you won’t ever forget the offense, but then again, you can choose not to remember it. This is what forgiveness means for those of us who have been forgiven by Jesus.

As we live our lives, we seldom consider the fact that God knows everything that we are doing. Some think that God only knows about the good things we do, others doubt that God exists, or if He does exist, they doubt that He can know everything. No matter our opinion, God says that there is nothing that occurs in your life about which God does not know.

You cannot hide anything from God. He knows every sin that you have ever committed, from the smallest white lie to the deepest darkest sin in your life, but for those who have accepted Him, we are forgiven.

So instead of keeping track of your sins, learn from them and try to not commit them again, but concentrate on counting your many blessings and focus on Him who forgave you of all of your iniquities.  (a thought on life from John Grant )

by John Grant
used be permission

John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney

FURTHER READING

• Ensnaring Sin
• What’s that Smell?
• Hiding among the Trees

The post The Sin Tracker appeared first on Thoughts About God.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  I John 1:8-9

There was a time in my life when I didn’t want to be around Christians. Not because they weren’t kind and good people but because I always felt guilty. I thought real Christians were perfect. I wasn’t. Because I felt like a failure I wanted to avoid being around Christians as much as possible. Also, many Christians I had met seemed to have a lot of rules associated with their faith. It seemed like they kept all the rules but I didn’t!
A critical turning point came when I attended a student conference. A distinguished gray-haired speaker talked about going “sideways” in life. He even indicated that God in his love and grace can and does use our sideways movements to strengthen and mature our relationship with him. I was so relieved to find out that being a Christian was not about being perfect.

I came to understand that all Christians sin. That guilt is normal when you’re guilty. Forgiveness comes from God’s mercy based on Christ’s death on the cross and not on my performance. In the past I would say to God, “If you can forgive me one more time, I will never do this again.” The problem was I would do it again. I learned that confession involved three things: agreeing with God that I had sinned, thanking him for the forgiveness already provided by Christ’s death and embracing the power of God’s Spirit to have future victory over my sin.

Confession has actually become a wonderful celebration of God’s love and forgiveness leading to joyful freedom. I can never be perfect, and I will sin. God understands that reality. That’s why Jesus died for me!

Prayer: Father God, thank you that you provided the complete forgiveness for all my sin; past, present and future through Christ’s death on the cross for me! Your command in this verse for me to confess my sin allows me to celebrate that truth each day. Thank you for your love and forgiveness. Amen.

Going Deeper: Is guilt part of your life? Guilt is a legal term. You’re either guilty or you are not. If you are guilty of sin, confess it to God. Realize if God can forgive you, you should also forgive yourself.

by Mike Woodard
used by permission

FURTHER READING

• The Problem with Unresolved Guilt –  by Max Lucado
• Overcoming Guilt –  by Charles Stanley
• Set Free From Guilt – by Max Lucado

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The post Finding Relief appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“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)

God calls all of His children to repentance. This call is truly a gift, as it brings us closer to our Savior. When we repent, we receive His gifts of unlimited grace and mercy. And through this process, we learn to extend grace and mercy to others.

The idea of forgiveness and repentance was not a new concept in Jesus’ time. Ever since God brought the Israelites out of Egypt, He has woven the concept of forgiveness and repentance into His law. The Day of Atonement was a testimony to this; it foreshadowed what Christ was to fulfill on the cross.

The gift of repentance has sadly taken a back seat in our modern society. So often we take His mercy and grace for granted. We don’t recognize their significance, that they are all-sufficient, glorious gifts, which need to be shared with the whole world.

My prayer for His children this season is that we will remember His call to repentance, so that the whole world may truly see the nature of God, the great I AM.

Father, forgive me. Forgive me for taking your mercy and grace for granted. Forgive me, for I am a sinner. I need You, Lord. I need Your mercy and grace. Hear my cries and fill me with the gift You’ve given me. Help me to share this gift with others, even my enemies. Father, I want to forgive others as You have forgiven me. All for Your glory, in the name of Christ Jesus, amen.

By Daniel Forster
used be permission

FURTHER READING

• Tears of Repentance and Forgiveness 
• Break the Cycle –  by Rand Kreycik
• Sanding off the Rough Edges –  by Gail Rodgers

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I learned a godly truth from a bunch of cilantro.

Sitting in my fridge for a week or so, I noticed some of the leaves had rotted before I got to use them in my food. My first instinct was to chuck the whole thing.  But I love cilantro, and it isn’t cheap. So I decided in order to keep the lush green ones from being contaminated, I’d pluck them away and sealed them in a storage baggie. Much less icky that snapping away the  slimy, brown ones and getting the gunk on my fingers.  Blech.

As I pulled the fragrant, dark leaves, I realized there were a lot more “good ones” than I originally thought.  That made me sigh with relief because I hadn’t wasted all my money after all.  Yet immediately my eyes had detected the bad ones and thought the worse.

It took a while to pluck all the tasty leaves away,  and I had to be more methodical and careful about doing it, but I felt better about ditching the rotten remnant once I had finished the task. A bulging baggie proved to me how much good remained. And my kitchen smelled amazing!

Of course this became a God-lesson for me.

Thank goodness our Heavenly Father doesn’t see only the bad in us and decide we need to be trashed. Instead, He sees the good in us as His Son points out, “These abide in me and I have made them worthy to save for Your use, Father. Do not cast them out.”

He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful  (John 15:2).

Our precious, loving Lord carefully and methodically plucks away the sin tendencies in our lives to keep them from contaminating us, and uses the good He has found in us to do His will.  Then He bags and seals us in His Spirit to protect us and keep us fresh until He can use us.

Instead of concentrating on the bad, rotten and yucky in me which needs to be thrown away, perhaps I need to see how much good God sees in me through His Son, Jesus. He is viewing each leaf in my life to determine if it is worth keeping and using. There may be more good for Him to use than I originally thought. It makes me more thankful of the process, no matter how long it takes.

Thank you Lord, for taking the time to save what is good in me and not chucking me in the garbage because of the sin which has tainted my life.  Seal me through Your Holy Spirit. It is through and by Your Son, who has made me worthy to save, that I pray: use me to draw others to You. Amen.

By Julie Cosgrove
Used by Permission

Do you know this love that is found in God alone, through Jesus?  Would you like to give your burdens to him and have a relationship with Him?  It doesn’t mean that life will be easy but it does mean you have Jesus walking by your side. It starts with a simple heart felt prayer:

Lord, thank You for dying so we can be set free from all of guilt and sin — no matter how big or small.  Your blood has erased all of our sin. Thank You so much! Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life to you and ask you to come in as my Savior and Lord. Take control of my life. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Make me the kind of person you want me to be. Amen

It is the first step.  Keep learning more….

FURTHER READING

• Chains of Perfectionism – by Kristi Huseby

• Aphids and Sin – by Katherine Kehler

• Fruitful Gardening – by Caran Jantzen

The post Pluck It and Bag It appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1

I love that God has created us to do good works and that He has prepared them in advance for us to do.

(See Ephesians 2:10) Even before we were born, God had a purpose for our lives and there are good works He needs us to do on this earth. On the other hand, there is an Accuser, an enemy of our souls, who does his best to keep us from fulfilling our purpose. I have noticed that it often is the same things that keep coming up to entangle me. Hebrews 12 verse one calls it the sin that so easily entangles us. Is there one sin in your life that keeps creeping up on you, trying to entangle you?

When the Holy Spirit points out our sin, it is to turn our eyes back on to Jesus and to set us free. It’s never about condemnation. God wants to put iron in our souls as we respond to His discipline, because ultimately He wants us to fulfill our purposes and not be held back in a life of sin. How wonderful to know that God calls us to freedom, godliness an great purpose.

Create a clean heart in me, O Lord. I want to live out the purposes You have for me and walk in the good works You have already prepared in advance for me to do. I love You, Lord. Amen.

By Idelette McVicker
Used by Permission

Further Reading

•  He Put a Song in My Heart

•   Heart Fully Committed to Him

•  Salvation Explained

The post Ensnaring Sin appeared first on Thoughts About God.

How often do we beat ourselves up about some past sin or hurt that we have done in our lives?

“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”
1 John 2:1-2

How often do we beat ourselves up about some past sin or hurt that we have done in our lives?  Often they even reach as far back as our childhood.  It seems that we like to pick at these sore spots in our souls just like we pick at any damaged part of our skin that we have hurt, or put our tongue in a cavity in our teeth just to get the sensation.

Why do we do this?  John tells us very clearly that Jesus has atoned for all our sins on the cross.  We need to be truly sorry for what we have done and want to repent.  Then we can hand over all our burdens to the Lord and in doing so, they become His burden, not ours, and so our lives and our souls are lighter.  The Lord will never hold a grudge against us and no matter how much we sin or hurt others we can still receive healing for ourselves just as long as we genuinely want forgiveness.  There is no sin too great that will not be forgiven.  All we need to do is offer these burdens and sins to the One who washes away all hurts.  Once we have repented and given up our burdens to the Lord there is no need for us to dwell over and over on our failures.  We have already been forgiven.  Thanks be to God!

Almighty God, thank You that You sent Your dear Son to die on the Cross to plead our case.  We come before You at this time mindful of the sins that burden us, some recent, some from long ago.  We ask that You take these burdens from us and show us how to live the life that You so want us to live, free from guilt and shame.  Thank You and Praise You for our forgiveness. Amen.

By Terry Stead
Used by Permission

Further Reading

•   How to Experience God’s Love and Forgiveness (3 parts)

•   Did You Know that You are Someone Special?

•  Salvation Explained

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