But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread Your protection over them, that those who love Your name may exult in You.  Psalm 5:11

stacked papers: Chill Out by Kristmess Designs

Heavenly Father, We treasure your precious and beautiful word.  Please let this verse from the Psalms be our prayer for today, that we will rejoice in knowing and trusting in you and sing with gladness, lifting up your holy name in adoration--not only today, but always, without tiring or wavering in our faith and devotion to you.  In Jesus' beloved, perfect name, Amen.

I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. But the anointing that you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as His anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as He has taught you, abide in Him. And now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears we may have confidence and not shrink from Him in shame at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of Him.  1 John 2:26-29

Wow - today's passage really has a lot packed into it, doesn't it?  This passage basically summarizes why I write devotionals and why I started my other blog: http://clotheyourselves.blogspot.com/.  There is rampant deception not only in the world, but even within the church.  His "anointing" is the Holy Spirit.  He abides in us and we in Him.  (God is one--Father, Son and Holy Spirit.)  His Spirit teaches us to understand the Scriptures, helps us to remember what we have learned, gives us the desire to please and power to obey God and so much more.  He even "translates" our inadequate prayers so they can be acceptable to God, saying what needs to be said when we don't know.

If we walk in the Spirit, then we will abide in Christ (and the result will be fruit of the Spirit).  If we don't, then we are walking in darkness not light (and our fruit will be bad).  The Bible teaches that if we're content to walk in darkness, then we are not born of God.  Children of the living God love light, not darkness.  We need to always bear in mind that only those who ARE born again will enter the kingdom of God.  It matters.  Whoever is teaching that it does not matter what we do after we are saved is deceiving people.

This is not to scare anyone who is genuinely seeking to know and please God.  If we really love God and care about pleasing Him, then He will help us.  If we are liars and only want excuses for our sin so we can continue in it, then He may just let us go our way.  Don't quench the Spirit!  Don't have any reason to fear His return, but look forward to that day with great anticipation!  Let's encourage one another to keep our lamps full of oil.  Let's not listen to false teachers, but believe God's own words in the Bible.  Let's be wise, not foolish.

stacked papers: Chill Out by Kristmess Designs

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35

stacked papers: Love Grows by Kristmess Designs

Heavenly Father, We confess that we are not always loving toward one another and we are ashamed that because of it, we have not always represented to the world what it looks like to be your Son's disciple. We're sorry. Please forgive us and help us to live in a manner pleasing to you so that the world will see that you are good and be drawn to you. We want everyone to be saved just as you do. Thank you for saving us and for your faithfulness in washing us clean of our sins when we confess them. Please make us more like Jesus and more worthy of Him each day. Please help us to love each other as you love us and we love you. In Jesus' perfect, holy and pure name, Amen.

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