DAY 1 – MARCH 22, 2010

TITLE: “LOVING GOD”

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: I John 5:1-12

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: I John 5:1-3

KEY VERSE: “This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving and carrying out his commands.” I John 5:2

The Psalmist said, “I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.” Psalm 116:1. John wrote, “We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19

Stephen C. Foster penned these words:

“Gone from my heart the world and all its charms;
Now through the blood I’m saved from all alarms;
Down at the cross my heart is bending low;
The precious blood of Jesus cleanses white as snow

Refrain:
I love Him, I love Him,
Because He first loved me,
And purchased my salvation on Calv’ry’s tree.

Once I was lost, and ’way down deep in sin;
Once was a slave to passions fierce within;
Once was afraid to meet an angry God;
But now I’m cleansed from ev’ry stain through Jesus’ blood.

Once I was bound, but now I am set free;
Once I was blind, but now the light I see;
Once I was dead, but now in Christ I live,
To tell the world around the peace that He doth give.”

Why do you love the Lord today, and how will you express your love to Him? Mark 12:30 records, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” God calls us to love Him with all that we are and all that we have. How will you express your love for the Lord today?

John connects loving God with keeping His commands. In other words, love for God and obedience go hand in hand. Jesus said, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching…” John 14:23. How will you express your love for the Lord today?

“I love Him, I love Him,
Because He first loved me,
And purchased my salvation on Calv’ry’s tree.” (Stephen C. Foster)

DAY 2 – MARCH 23, 2010

TITLE: “FAITH IS THE VICTORY THAT OVERCOMES THE WORLD”

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: I John 5:1-12

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: I John 5: 4-5

KEY VERSE: “For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” I John 5:4

Faith must be personal. It is your faith in Jesus, the Son of God, that gives you victory as a child of God. It is your trust in the power and promises of God that will make you a victorious overcomer today. Overcomers love the Lord and obey HHHHHHHHis commands. Overcomers live by faith. Those who put their faith in Jesus, the Son of God, experience victory, for Jesus is the Victorious Savior. Faith is the victory that overcomes the world. Take a few moments today to reflect on this poem written by John Yates.

“Encamped along the hills of light, Ye Christian soldiers, rise.
And press the battle ere the night, Shall veil the glowing skies.
Against the foe in vales below, Let all our strength be hurled.
Faith is the victory we know, That overcomes the world.

Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory, That overcomes the world.

His banner over us is love, Our sword, the Word of God.
We tread the road the saints above, With shouts of triumph trod.
By faith, they like a whirlwind’s breath, Swept on o’er every field.
The faith by which they conquered death Is still our shining shield.

Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory, That overcomes the world.

On every hand, the foe we find, Drawn up in dread array.
Let tents of ease be left behind, And onward to the fray.
Salvation’s helmet on each head, With truth all girt about,
The earth shall tremble ’neath our tread, And echo with our shout.

Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory, That overcomes the world.

To him that overcomes the foe, White raiment shall be giv’n.
Before the angels, he shall know, His name confessed in Heav’n.
Then onward from the hill of light, Our hearts with love aflame,
We’ll vanquish all the hosts of night, In Jesus’ conqu’ring Name.

Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory, that overcomes the world.” (John H. Yates)

DAY 3 – MARCH 24, 2010

TITLE: “WHO AND WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IN?”

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: I John 5:1-12

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: I John 5:6-10

KEY VERSE: “Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son.” I John 5:10

Who and what do you believe in? The content of belief is important. There is an insightful story that told about a famous preacher of years ago, Jonathan Whitfield. It took place as this gifted preacher was preaching to coal miners in England. He asked one man, "What do you believe?" "Well, I believe the same as the church." "And what does the church believe?" "Well, they believe the same as me." Seeing he was getting nowhere, Whitfield said, "And what is it that you both believe?" "Well, I suppose the same thing."

Who and what do you believe in? Writer, Josh McDowell has made the comment that “People refuse to believe that which they don't want to believe, in spite of evidence.” The story is told that when explorers first went to Australia, they found a mammal that laid eggs, spent some time in water, some on land, had a broad, flat tail, webbed feet, and a bill similar to a duck. Upon their return to England, they told the populace of this, and all felt it was a hoax. They returned to Australia and found a pelt from this animal and took it back to England, but the people still felt it was a hoax. In spite of the evidence, they disbelieved because they didn't want to believe. Faith is an act of the will. The belief that Jesus is the Son of God has been rejected by many through the years, though the evidence is overwhelming. What do you belief?

When someone tells you something, do you believe what they tell you? For most of us, our answer would probably be, “It depends upon who it is.” When someone of integrity, whom you know and trust, tells you something, you are apt to believe it because of who they are. If someone who you know is not a person of integrity, and has not been honest with you in the past tells you something, you are apt to not be as quick to believe. John is reminding us that we can believe in the Son of God because God Himself has testified concerning Jesus.

Who and what do you believe in? Preacher of yesterday, C. H. Spurgeon claimed that 98 percent of the people he met-- including the criminals he visited in England's prisons--told him that they believed the Bible to be true. But, the vast majority had never made a personal, life-changing commitment to Jesus Christ. For them, "believe" was not an active verb. What does it mean for you to believe in the Son of God today?

DAY 4 - MARCH 25, 2010

TITLE: “GOD HAS GIVEN US ETERNAL LIFE”

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: I John 5:1-12

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: I John 5: 11

KEY VERSE: “And this is the testimony; God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” I John 5:11

The book, The Five Love Languages, written by Gary Chapman, is a popular book that has been helpful to married couples considering how to express love one to another. The book proposes that there are five basic languages of love. They are: Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service, and Physical Touch.

God expresses His love to us in many ways. One of those ways is in giving. God is a giving God. John 3:16 reminds us, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” One of the gifts God has given is eternal life. Have you thanked God recently for the gifts He has given you?

Many philosophers and theologians have pointed out that eternal life has been one of man’s deepest concerns. Pascal observed, “The immortality of the soul is a thing so important that only those who have lost all feeling can rest indifferent to it.” Job asked, “If a man dies, will he live again?” Job 14:14

Eternal life is a significant subject for John. In his Gospel, John wrote, “Now this is eternal life: That they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” John 17:3. Eternal life signifies a quality of life that endures and is not simply quantitative or temporal life. Eternal life is both present and future. Eternal life is a gift from God.

Thinking of the fullness and duration of this wonderful life, W. B. Hinson, a great preacher of a past generation, spoke from his own experience just before he died. He said, "I remember a year ago, when a doctor told me, 'You have an illness from which you won't recover.' I walked out to where I live, 5 miles from Portland, Oregon, and I looked across at that mountain that I love. I looked at the river in which I rejoice, and I looked at the stately trees that are always God's own poetry to my soul. Then, in the evening, I looked up into the great sky where God was lighting His lamps, and I said, 'I may not see you many more times, but mountain, I shall be alive when you are gone; and river, I shall be alive when you cease running toward the sea; and stars, I shall be alive when you have fallen from your sockets in the great down pulling of the material universe!'”

Have you received God’s gift of eternal life? If not, will you open up your heart by faith and receive His gift of eternal life even now?

DAY 5 – MARCH 26, 2010

TITLE: “HE WHO HAS THE SON HAS LIFE”

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: I John 5:1-12

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: I John 5: 12

KEY VERSE: “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” I John 5: 12

When I was a teenager, I had the privilege of being part of the youth group at Bloomington Church of the Nazarene in California. We had a youth choir that I had the privilege of being part of. During that time, we would often present musicals. One of the musicals we did when I was part of the choir was “Life”, by Ottis Skillings. It was released in 1970. The purpose of the musical, as I remember, was to focus on the life that is found in Jesus.

Jesus is the only source of life. Listen again to the word of John when he wrote, “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” I John 5:12. In the gospel of John, the word, “life” occurs 36 times. In his gospel, John wrote, “In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” John 1:4. John is speaking of a life discovered only in Jesus.

In a Peanuts comic strip, there was conversation between Lucy and Charlie Brown. Lucy said, “Life is like a deck chair. Some place it so they can see where they are going, some place it so they can see where they have been, and some place it so they can see where they are at present.” Charlie Brown replied; “I can’t even get mine unfolded.” Jesus unfolds the chair of life. When we take Jesus at His word and put our faith in Him, we stop existing and begin living. Someone once observed, “The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it.” True life begins with Jesus.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” II Timothy 1:10. John wrote, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.” John 3:36. It is God’s plan that each one of us lives life to the fullest through Christ. Jesus said, “…I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10. This full life is only found in Jesus. New life begins with Jesus. The Apostle Paul wrote, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” II Corinthians 5:17.

“New life in Christ, abundant and free!

What glories shine, what joys are mine

What wondrous blessings I see.

My past with its sin, the searching and strife,

Forever gone-there’s a bright new dawn!

For in Christ I have found new life!” (John Peterson)