DAY 1 – February 8, 2010

TITLE: “HE IS FAITHFUL”

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: I John 1:8-2:6

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: I John 1:8-10

KEY VERSE: “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

What comes to mind when you hear the words, “He is Faithful?” For many of us words like true, loyal, constant, honest, dependable, honorable, trustworthy, incorruptible, unwavering, and devoted come to mind. The Lord is all those things and more. He is our faithful Lord.

Faithfulness is one of the characteristics of God. Deuteronomy 7:9 states, “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.” The same God that was faithful to Moses, David, and Ezekiel is the same God that is faithful to us today. Since the Lord is the faithful and just God, He will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness when we turn to Him in faithfulness. Paul wrote, “The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.” I Thessalonians 5:24. Being who God is, we can always depend upon Him to do what He says He will do.

Roger Simms, hitchhiking his way home, would never forget the date—May 7. His heavy suitcase made Roger tired. He was anxious to take off his army uniform once and for all. Flashing the hitchhiking sign to the oncoming car, a black sleek new Cadillac stopped. The passenger door opened and he got in and thanked the handsome, well-dressed man as he slid into the front seat. “Going home for keeps?” “Sure am,” Roger responded. “Well, you’re in luck if you’re going to Chicago.” “Not quite that far. Do you live in Chicago?” “I have a business there. My name is Hanover.” After talking about many things, Roger, a Christian, shared the gospel with him. After explaining the way of salvation, he asked Mr. Hanover if he would like to receive Christ as his Savior. To Roger’s astonishment the Cadillac pulled over to the side of the road and the businessman bowed his head and received Christ, then thanked Roger. “This is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me.”

Five years went by, Roger married, had a two-year-old boy, and a business of his own. Packing his suitcase for a business trip to Chicago, he found the small, white business card Hanover had given him five years before. In Chicago, he looked up Hanover Enterprises. A receptionist told him it was impossible to see Mr. Hanover, but he could see Mrs. Hanover. He told her the story and how he had accepted Christ. He then found out that Mr. Hanover had been killed in a car crash shortly after letting him out of the car back on May 7. Weeping, Mrs. Hanover shared how she had prayed for his salvation for many years. She was so thankful to hear of God’s faithfulness and that her husband had accepted the Lord as His Lord and Savior before he had been killed. God is faithful.

DAY 2 - February 9, 2010

TITLE: “SO YOU WILL NOT SIN”

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: I John 1:8-2:6

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: I John 2:1

KEY VERSE: “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.” I John 2:1

Sin is not God’s plan for our lives. Susannah Wesley defined "sin" to her young son, John Wesley, in this way. She said, “Whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, and takes off the relish of spiritual things--that to you is sin." Sin is serious in God’s eyes.

The goal and heart’s desire of every child of God is not to sin. Paul wrote, “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” Romans 6:1-2. We cannot afford to become insensitive to sin or take a lenient view toward sin. Let us never treat sin like it doesn’t matter, because sin does matter. The potential of sin is present and real, but so is the power of the Lord to resist sin and live a life of obedience to the Lord. Jude 1:24 reminds us of the power of the Lord when He wrote, “To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy.”

There is an interesting story about a man who purchased a white mouse to use as food for his pet snake. He dropped the unsuspecting mouse into the snake's glass cage, where the snake was sleeping in a bed of sawdust. The tiny mouse had a serious problem on his hands. At any moment he could be swallowed alive. Obviously, the mouse needed to come up with a brilliant plan.

What did the terrified creature do? He quickly set up work covering the snake with sawdust chips until it was completely buried. With that, the mouse apparently thought he had solved his problem. However, though he could no longer see the snake, the danger was still ever present.

The solution, however, came from outside. The man took pity on the silly little mouse and removed him from the cage. Sin is not dealt with by ignoring it or covering it up. However, God in His grace has intervened. He can give us the power to live a life of obedience to Him and do what He wants us to do, when we surrender to Him and live by the power of His Spirit at work in our lives.

DAY 3 – February 10, 2010

TITLE: “SACRIFICE”

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: I John 1:8-2:6

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: I John 2:2

KEY VERSE: “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” I John 2:2

In the Hebrew language of the Old Testament, the word “sacrifice” is a noun meaning literally “slaughter.” It refers to the killing of a domestic animal as an offering to the Deity. A sacrifice may function as a gift to God or atonement in resolving estrangement between man and God.

The New Testament applies the symbol of sacrifice to the death of Christ. The book of Hebrews stresses the inadequacy of the Old Testament system to “Really take away sin.” Hebrews 10:3-4 says, “But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” The death of Christ was not a sacrifice that changed God’s attitude toward man or appeased God. It was rather the loving act of God in Christ reconciling the world to Himself.

Jesus is our atoning sacrifice. The general thought is to expiate, cover, or remove the offense of sin. The atoning sacrifice retains the idea of the blood sacrifice, while pointing to the purpose of Jesus’ death, which is reconciliation with God. Jesus is successful in His sacrifice because He is the Righteous One. He is effective for the sins of the whole world.

It is said that Cyrus, the founder of the Persian Empire, once had captured a prince and his family. When they came before him, the monarch asked the prisoner, "What will you give me if I release you?" "Half of my wealth," was his reply. "And if I release your children?" "Everything I possess." "And if I release your wife?" "Your Majesty, I will give myself." Cyrus was so moved by his devotion that he freed them all. As they returned home, the prince said to his wife, "Wasn't Cyrus a handsome man!" With a look of deep love for her husband, she said to him, "I didn't notice. I could only keep my eyes on you- -the one who was willing to give himself for me."

Take a few moments today to stop and look by faith at the One who gave Himself for you. He is the atoning sacrifice for your sins.

DAY 4 – February 11, 2010

TITLE: “IF WE OBEY”

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: I John 1:8-2:6

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: I John 2:3

KEY VERSE: “We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.”

I John 2:3

It has been said that obedience is compliance with external commands or requirements. In the New Testament, the usual Greek term means, “to hear.” The evidence of truly hearing the word of God is expressed through doing. Obedience is an expression of our knowledge of Him.

Archibald Rutledge wrote that one day he met a man whose dog had just been killed in a forest fire. Heartbroken, the man explained to Rutledge how it happened. Because he worked out-of-doors, he often took his dog with him. That morning, he left the animal in a clearing and gave him a command to stay and watch his lunch bucket while he went into the forest. His faithful friend understood, for that’s exactly what he did. Then a fire started in the woods, and soon the blaze spread to the spot where the dog had been left. But he didn’t move. He stayed right where he was, in perfect obedience to his master’s word.

With tearful eyes, the dog’s owner said, “I always had to be careful what I told him to do, because I knew he would do it.” How does the Lord perceive your obedience? Can God count upon you to obey His word regardless of what may be taking place around you? James 1:22 says, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” Obedience requires action.

In Matthew 7:24 and following, Jesus tells the story of a wise man and a foolish man. The wise man is described as the person who hears the words of the Lord and puts them into practice. He is described as a man who built his house on the rock. When the rain came down and the winds blew and beat against the house, it stood solid because it had its foundation on the rock. The foolish man is described as the one who does not put the words of the Lord into practice. He is like a man who builds his house on the sand. When the rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, it fell with a great crash. It did not survive the storm.

When we build our lives on obedience to the word of God, we are prepared for the storms of life. Obedience to the word of the Lord, gives us a solid foundation that we can stand upon regardless of the things we face. Obedience to the word of the Lord today prepares us for the tomorrows. The Psalmist said, “You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed. Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands. I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws. I will obey your decrees;…” Psalm 119:4-8

DAY 5 – February 12, 2010

TITLE: “WALK AS JESUS DID”

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: I John 1:8-2:6

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: I John 2:4-6

KEY VERSE: “Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” I John 2:6

When I was younger, there was a song that I heard on several occasions. It was a song that spoke about walking where Jesus walked. Take a few moments to look at the words.

“I walked today where Jesus walked, In days of long ago.
I wandered down each path He knew, With reverent step and slow.

Those little lanes, they have not changed, A sweet peace fills the air.
I walked today where Jesus walked, And felt Him close to me.

My pathway led through Bethlehem, A memory's ever sweet.
The little hills of Galilee, That knew His childish feet.
The Mount of Olives, hallowed scenes, That Jesus knew before
I saw the mighty Jordan row, As in the days of yore.

I knelt today where Jesus knelt, Where all alone he prayed.
The Garden of Gethsemane, My heart felt unafraid.
I picked my heavy burden up, And with Him at my side,
I climbed the Hill of Calvary, I climbed the Hill of Calvary,
I climbed the Hill of Calvary, Where on the Cross He Died!

I walked today where Jesus walked, And felt Him close to me.”

To walk as Jesus walked, we must walk with Jesus. You cannot live the Christian life outside of Christ. John wrote, “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.” John 15:4-6

The life we live matters. Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “As a prisoner for the Lord then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” Ephesians 4:1. To walk as Jesus did, is to live a Christ like life through His power. Paul wrote, “And live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:2. We must live in such a way that Christ is seen in our lives and what we do. Will you walk as Jesus did today?