DAY 1 – February 15, 2010

TITLE: “YOUR SINS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN”

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: I John 2:12-17

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: I John 2:12

KEY VERSE: “I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.” I John 2:12

God’s forgiveness began at Eden with Adam & Eve. Amidst the reality of sin, with its consequence, came the reality of God’s grace and forgiveness. In His encounter with Moses, God confirmed that He is a forgiving God. The scripture says, “And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.” Exodus 34:6-7. The Psalmist reminds us, “…forget not all his benefits-who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases.” Psalm 103:2-3

John the Baptist identified Jesus as the one who forgives sins. The scripture records, “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29. When we celebrate communion together, we focus on the forgiveness of sins provided through His precious blood. Matthew 26:28 records that at the Last Supper, Jesus passed the cup, saying, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

Forgiveness of sin is available through Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul wrote, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” Ephesians 1:7. This is why the name of Jesus is so precious to those who have experienced forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ. Peter wrote, “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” I Peter 1:18-19. Only through Jesus is there forgiveness of sin.

There's a Spanish story of a father and son who had become estranged. The son ran away and the father set off to find him. He searched for months to no avail. Finally, in a last desperate effort to find him, the father put an ad in a Madrid newspaper. The ad read, “Dear Paco, meet me in front of this newspaper office at noon on Saturday. All is forgiven. I love you. Your Father.” On Saturday, 800 men named Paco showed up, looking for forgiveness and love from their fathers.

Everyone is in need of forgiveness, for all have sinned. God, our loving Heavenly Father, has reached out to us, providing forgiveness through His precious Son. Jesus offers forgiveness to all of us if we will only respond to His invitation of grace and love. If you have experienced the forgiveness of sins, take time to give Him thanks today. If you have not, will you receive His forgiveness by faith?

DAY 2 – February 16, 2010

TITLE: “OVERCOMERS”

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: I John 2:12-17

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: I John 2:13-14

KEY VERSE: “I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, dear children, because you have known the Father.” I John 2:13

There is a little chorus written by Bill and Janny Grein some 25 years ago that I find

myself singing from time to time. It simply says, “We’ve been made more than conquerors, overcomers in this life. We’ve been made victorious through the blood of Jesus Christ.” Yes, we are called and equipped to be overcomers in this life. Paul wrote to the church at Rome, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us form the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39

Because of God’s love, we are more than conquerors. Because of God’s great love, you are called to be an overcomer in this life. God has not called you to be defeated, but victorious. God has not called you to be overcome by the evil one, but to overcome. God has called you to be victorious through Jesus.

I heard an old, old story, How a Savior came from glory,
How He gave His life on Calvary To save a wretch like me;
I heard about His groaning, Of His precious blood's atoning,
Then I repented of my sins And won the victory.

I heard about His healing, Of His cleansing pow'r revealing.
How He made the lame to walk again And caused the blind to see;
And then I cried, "Dear Jesus, Come and heal my broken spirit,"
And somehow Jesus came And bro't to me the victory.

Chorus: O victory in Jesus, My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory, Beneath the cleansing flood.

DAY 3 – February 17, 2010

TITLE: “THE WORD OF GOD LIVES IN YOU.”

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: I John 2:12-17

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: I John 2:14

KEY VERSE: “I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.” I John 2:14

Many times we have challenged the congregation to “Live in the Word so the Word lives in you.” This phrase is based on the reality that God’s word is alive. The word of God does not consist of words lying stagnate on a page of paper. The word is alive because God is alive. The word is life-changing, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

The word of God changes us from the inside out. Evangelist of yesterday, D.L. Moody said, “I prayed for faith, and thought that some day faith would come down and strike me like lightning. But faith did not seem to come. One day, I read in the tenth chapter of Romans, ‘Now faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.’ I had closed my Bible, and prayed for faith. I now opened my Bible, and began to study, and faith has been growing ever since.” Reflect for a moment on the passage of scripture Mr. Moody was referring to. It says, “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard though the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17

It is not enough to have the word of God in our head. The word of God must penetrate and fill our hearts. The Psalmist said, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11. When the word of God lives in us, it influences and impacts all that we are and all that we do.

One of the most dramatic examples of the Bible's divine ability to transform men and women involved the famous mutiny on the "Bounty." Following their rebellion against the notorious Captain Bligh, nine mutineers, along with the Tahatian men and women who accompanied them, found their way to Pitcairn Island, a tiny dot in the South Pacific, only two miles long and a mile wide. Ten years later, drink and fighting had left only one man alive--John Adams. Eleven women and 23 children made up the rest of the island's population. So far, this is the familiar story made famous in the book and motion picture. But the rest of the story is even more remarkable. About this time, Adams came across the "Bounty's" Bible in the bottom of an old chest. He began to read it, and the divine power of God's Word reached into the heart of that hardened murderer on a tiny volcanic speck in the vast Pacific Ocean--and changed his life forever. The peace and love that Adams found in the Bible entirely replaced the old life of quarreling, brawling, and liquor. He began to teach the children from the Bible until every person on the island had experienced the same amazing change that he had found. When the Word of God lives within us, it is life-transforming. Live in the Word so the Word lives in you.

DAY 4 – February 18, 2010

TITLE: “DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD.”

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: I John 2:12-17

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: I John 2: 15

KEY VERSE: “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” I John 2:15

I grew up in a home that had many “do’s” and “don’ts”. As I look back, I knew it then and understand better now that it really was a good thing. In other words, “do’s” and “don’ts” are not a bad thing. The reality is that the choices we make do have consequences. “Do’s” and “don’ts” are part of learning to make the right choices so that you end up with right and positive consequences.

The passage for today is a “do not” passage. We are not to love the world. As people who walk in the light, we live in the world, but we are not of it. Here, the world is presented as the evil system totally under the grip of the evil one. Later, John wrote, “We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.” I John 5:19. The command not to love the world demands that we reject those ways of life which do not lead us to God or to the practice of truth, justice, righteousness, and love. Paul wrote, “It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.” Titus 2:12.

One preacher of yesterday told an old story about some musicians who noted that some errand boys near Westminster Chapel in London all whistled out of tune as they went about their work. It was talked about and someone suggested that it was because the bells of Westminster were out of tune. Something had gone wrong with the chimes and they were discordant. The boys did not know there was anything wrong with the bells, and quite unconsciously they had copied their pitch.

The reality is that we are influenced by the noises around us. We can easily copy the sounds of the people with whom we associate, the thoughts from the books we read and things we listen to. Since the ways of the world are influential, we must tune into the ways of God. Paul instructs, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Colossians 3:2. God has given us His word, which is the absolute pitch of life and living. If we learn to sing by it, we shall easily detect the false in all of the music of the world. Loving God with all of our heart, soul, body, and mind helps us to live in this world without singing its tune.  What does the command, “Do not love the world” mean for you today?

DAY 5 – February 19, 2010

TITLE: “THE WORLD AND ITS DESIRES PASS AWAY.”

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: I John 2:12-17

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: I John 2: 16-17

KEY VERSE: “The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.” I John 2:17

“This world is not my home, I'm just passing through.
My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue.
The angels beckon me from Heaven's open door
And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.

They're all expecting me and that's one thing I know.
My Savior pardoned me and now I onward go.
I know He'll take me through, though I am weak and poor.

And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.

Just up in Glory Land we'll live eternally.
The Saints on every hand are shouting victory.
Their song of sweetest praise drifts back from Heaven's shore

And, I can't feel at home in this world anymore.

O Lord, you know I have no friend like you
If Heaven's not my home, then Lord, what will I do?
The angels beckon me from Heaven's open door
And, I can't feel at home in this world anymore.” (Words and Music by Albert E. Brumley)

The song above is a reminder that this world is not our home. We truly are all passing through. Some of us are going faster than others, but we are all here for a short time. I don’t know about you, but I seem to be picking up speed as the years go by quicker and quicker.

This world is temporary, but those who do the will of God live forever. Whatever we hold in our hands will quickly slip through our fingers, as we will leave it all behind. Yes, the world and its desires will all pass away, but those who do the will of God will live forever with the Lord. What a great promise and hope. This calls us to make the days count by living for the Lord. Don’t focus on the temporary today. In other words, don’t allow the things of this world to be too important. Make doing the will of God your priority today and everyday.