Also The Whole World

My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. 1 John 2:1-2

The whole world? Yes, before we exclude anyone from the Lord's salvation we may want to review that last part of our scripture for today. Now does this mean that everyone is automatically saved? It does not appear to be so by the words of our Lord Jesus, wherein we find many references to Hades or Hell, and ways to end up there. However, for our part we see by John's letter that the Way to the Father is open to the whole world.

Therefore, do not be afraid to pray for anyone, for even us allergy sufferers can believe in Jesus!

Bucky

What A Promise!

And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life. 1 John 2:25

The weather folks promise us a drop in temperature on Friday. What a promise! Always a welcome change in August, but if one can get excited over that little promise, what about the one in our verse for today? It began in another writing from John, the gospel written down by him, and in that most famous verse: 3:16. God loved, He gave His Son, and we believe in Him to eternal life. So, if we like even the little promises, then surely we must rejoice in Christ Jesus and the much bigger one!

Be faithful in Jesus and rejoice in His eternal life!

Bucky

Start With Prayer

For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.  Romans 10:13 from Joel 2:32

It seems too easy that someone should be saved merely by calling on the name of the Lord. And yet, would we be so mean as to forbid salvation to someone who suffers such a stressful moment in life that one name is all they are able to call on? I certainly agree that if we have the time, and most of us have, that we should confess our sins, repent of them, believe in the Lord Jesus with earnest prayer, and be baptized for our salvation. However, as we read and study the prophecies of the end times, we must come to know that not everyone in those (these?) days will have the luxury of hours or days for quiet reflection and comparison of the Lord's way and the way of the world. Of course we hope that no one waits for the terrors of the apocalypse as the Lord's name is not "Aaaugh!" or "Aiiieee!" 

Start with prayer now, when times are easier.

Bucky

Victory In Jesus

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.  1 John 4:4

There is a hymn to sing it, but the reason we like to proclaim victory in Jesus comes from what He did for us and this verse we read for today. With the many great and powerful things the world has to overcome us, it is wonderful to know that there is one greater than he who is in the world. As seen yesterday, I can be defeated for a time by a blankety-blank recording device. How will little ol' fumbling me overcome the powers of the world? Nothing in this world can overcome my God and Savior though! It is comforting to know that the Good Shepherd who saved you and me also rules by the mighty power of His command. (Hebrews 1:3). 

Have a comforted day in Christ Jesus!

Bucky

Blasted Time-Period Recording Devices

I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.” Revelation 1:10-11

You will be able to relate to this one: a device arrives, the instructions are followed, time period configuration completed, the 'record' button is pressed, and afterward the device smugly reports no recording took place. That period of time is gone. Not one of us can get it back. It is almost as if some gnome-like programmer deep in the bowels of a multinational corporation chuckles evilly every time an event is missed forever by their device. Well, you and I are in good company as Moses got so mad at his first recording device that he smashed it to bits, and God had to provide a new copy of the Ten Commandments. The difficulties we have with recording devices also make it all the more remarkable that any of the Bible scriptures made it to us these thousands of years later. We know by experience that copies of copies of copies are fraught with peril every step of the way, especially since we have so much trouble obtaining that first one. Yet somehow, we can read the Revelation and 65 other books of scripture from a long time ago.

I guess God was a lot better with His recorders over thousands of years, than I was with one blasted recording device on just one little night. Sigh! As Mr. Coyote says, "Well, back to the ol' drawing board."

Bucky

A Babe's View

In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. Luke 10:21

Do you have a baby's view of the Bible? Good! We are often called in the Bible terms that the proudly educated would not approve of, such as lost sheep, little ones, and babes. It is among these simple folk that Jesus finds His treasures to bring home with Him. The educated Pharisees struggled to accept Jesus, and few of their number ever followed Him. Therefore, if that sort of thought comes to you that a person must be really educated or highly smart to believe in Jesus, doubt the source of that thought and just believe in Him!

Faith may not make sense to the sensible,

Bucky

Feeling Powerless?

The God of my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation,
My stronghold and my refuge;
My Savior, You save me from violence.
  -- 2 Samuel 22:3

So, a meeting Friday between the presidents of the USA and Russia in Alaska. This week the boss is gone on vacation...to Alaska. Oh, no!

If you are feeling powerless for being left off the guest list for the presidential meeting in Alaska this week, then imagine how Ukraine feels. Perhaps President Trump shows wisdom though in that nothing has been accomplished by meeting with the war leaders together, so he chose to start with one of them. And perhaps I am trying to make an excuse for someone who has not asked.

2 Samuel 22 is a psalm from a powerful leader, a king, who chose to give the glory for his victories to God. Living in a time when most leaders and other famous persons sing the song of themselves, David's psalm is refreshing to read.

Read it, and rejoice in the Son of David!

Bucky