Hi friend!
I hope you’re enjoying some cooler weather as we move into October!
Isn’t the season of autumn one of the most “nature-ly” theatrical? Among some select hardwoods that are still show-casing those deep summer shades of green, it’s been only a matter of days that we’re now seeing the warmth of yellows, reds, oranges and browns coloring the leaves of many trees. As we go about our days anticipating this coming fall season, let’s go out in joy and be led forward in peace, really noticing all the dramatic changes in trees while recalling this verse in our worship:
“For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” Isaiah 55:12
Since last Wednesday at church, there’s been something on my mind and heart these past several days and it’s this …
The enjoyment of God and His Word.
As I sat in our swing that’s tucked waaaaay back on our property tonight, looking around at the incredible beauty of God’s handiwork in the hardwood trees, the green grass, the falling leaves, the cows and the dogs barking to round them up – I just sat there with my Bible in my lap reading the Scriptures and simply became so overwhelmed with the reality of Him .. my Savior, my King, my Father and Friend … and that He actually enjoys being my LORD. He enjoys being the LORD of every. single. child. of His. And as we learned on Wednesday, His enjoyment has nothing to do with where we may be in our spiritual development. His love for and enjoyment of His children is not determined by our spiritual growth. He does not love the mature saint more or like them more or favor them more than the less mature. We looked at this in Romans 5:8 and John 13:1. His love is not based on our merit, instead He loves to perfection each and every child of His.
And when you ponder on the price Christ paid so believers can live in the assurance of eternal life … it’s simply not something a regenerated soul can ever ever get over.
It’s so simple, so pure, and so gracious of God that as I sit here in this swing and glance over at my husband while he is weed-eating, and then begin reading the living Word of God and have it ‘work’ in me … leading me to confess my sin, worship, pray, and discover more of Him ... fully realizing that He never forgets me … well, it brings to mind a quote from Charles Spurgeon:
“Child of God, you cost Christ too much for him to forget you.”
He never forgets a child of His.
So rest in this …
He never forgets.
Therefore, my brother and sister …
love your Bible! It’s His letter to you.
Cherish every book, chapter, verse and word. Notice His use of every exclamation mark, comma and period. Hold the Good Book close to your heart and thank the Lord for the gift of drawing near to His own heart as you meditate on such eternal black type on white paper. The written Everlasting is spiritually read and heard in all the verses – yes, all the verses of Scripture! We can’t help but kneel before Him as we read of His redeeming nature, His forgiving character, His power, holiness, majesty, Fatherliness and Kingship! Oh, how the Divine Words in our Bibles have the Triune glory of God on display!
“The church is always to be under the Word; she must be; we must keep her there. You must not assume that because the church started correctly, she will continue so. She did not do so in the New Testament times; she has not done so since. Without being constantly reformed by the Word the church becomes something very different.” – Martin Lloyd Jones
Last Wednesday night was a time in Bible study when we covered a lot of ground. In Chapters 1:1-2:11, John already addressed certain tests/marks of believers as they live with the assurance of their salvation. He also provided certain tests/marks of those who are not in the family of God, yet profess to be. But, when we get to verse twelve in First John chapter two, we find John taking a time-out from helping the reader live with genuine certainty of their being a true Christian to basically asking them,
So, where are you? Where are you spiritually? Are you growing and developing as a Christian? Are you maturing in your walk of faith?
Here is the handout we covered in class AND the ‘Home Assignment’ provided to the class.
1 John Week 6 HANDOUT Growing Into Spiritual Maturity
Progressive Sanctification Chart
CLICK HERE FOR THE TEACHING VIDEO
Class begins with a 2-minute introductory video and then we start into studying the text.
Next week, we will be looking closely to what John writes next in 1 John 2:18-29… he addresses the imperative need in being able to discern truth from error. To discern who are true preachers and teachers of the Gospel and who are antichrists. We should not automatically embrace the message of any preacher or teacher simply because of their reputation or credentials…which, unfortunately, we see this happening among many evangelical churches. John says that we must listen cautiously to their Christology. What they say about Jesus and His church is of utmost importance. So, John wanted his readers to know how to discern the false teachers from true teachers of the Word, and he wanted them to also understand even more the anointing they received when they were born again. An anointing that guards and guides a believer regarding truth and is never taken away from them.
It’s going to be another rich time of study!
In His Grace and Peace,
Lisa
