Day 3 - Week 36 - 1 John 1:7 "But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin."

What do you think John, when writing this verse of inspired Scripture, means when he says, "But if we walk in the light, as He Himself is in the light..."?  Jesus is our ultimate role model in every way, but how do we follow Him in the pathway of light?

Sometimes I can read the words of Matthew Henry, who wrote his in-depth Bible commentary in 1708, and find his explanation of Scripture so eloquent and almost poetic.  Read what he has to say about this week's verse and it's surrounding passage:

The great God should be represented to this dark world, as pure and perfect light. As this is the nature of God, his doctrines and precepts must be such. And as his perfect happiness cannot be separated from his perfect holiness, so our happiness will be in proportion to our being made holy. To walk in darkness, is to live and act against religion. God holds no heavenly fellowship or intercourse with unholy souls. There is no truth in their profession; their practice shows its folly and falsehood. The eternal Life, the eternal Son, put on flesh and blood, and died to wash us from our sins in his own blood, and procures for us the sacred influences by which sin is to be subdued more and more, till it is quite done away. While the necessity of a holy walk is insisted upon, as the effect and evidence of the knowledge of God in Christ Jesus, the opposite error of self-righteous pride is guarded against with equal care. All who walk near to God, in holiness and righteousness, are sensible that their best days and duties are mixed with sin. God has given testimony to the sinfulness of the world, by providing a sufficient, effectual Sacrifice for sin, needed in all ages; and the sinfulness of believers themselves is shown, by requiring them continually to confess their sins, and to apply by faith to the blood of that Sacrifice. Let us plead guilty before God, be humble, and willing to know the worst of our case. Let us honestly confess all our sins in their full extent, relying wholly on his mercy and truth through the righteousness of Christ, for a free and full forgiveness, and our deliverance from the power and practice of sin.

After reading Henry's commentary, I conclude that Christ is continually in the light of the holiness and perfection of God, then we too, are to strive to walk in the light of God's holiness, away from the darkness of this world and the sinfulness that abounds in that darkness.  But then we have Henry's passage, "All who walk near to God....are sensible that their best days and duties are mixed with sin", that reminds us that we will never attain God's perfection, but that we do have the promise of a "free and full forgiveness."

Keep walking in the light...oppose the darkness...look to Jesus!

Day 1 - Week 36 - Let's add another promise!

Good morning!  One of the few times that I'm blogging early in the day, and it already is such a fine day! Here in the Texas panhandle, we have been enjoying glorious fall weather---today may bring our first cold snap later in the day.  As for me, I love living in an area that truly enjoys four seasons, and fall is probably my favorite.  The crispness in the air, the colorful leaves that start falling, pulling out last year's sweaters from the shelf in the closet...yep, I love it! 

My Daddy's birthday was in October, and my son was born in October --- two of three very special "Roberts" in my life!  So, needless to say, October is one of my favorite months. 

Last night we finished up our fall Bible study.  What an amazing group of women I get to study with!  That room just abounds with love and affection.  I don't think you see one woman who doesn't leave smiling!  I am going to miss these Tuesday evenings until we come together again in January.

So...now...on to review!  Haven't you loved dwelling on this week's promise?  It may be a very familiar verse, but it is a powerful promise.  Let's go through our list and then finish today by adding one more!

The Gift of Prayer (3)

Hebrews 4:16 Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time.

1 John 5:14   Now this is the confidence we have before Him, whenever we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

1 John 5:15   And if we know that He hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked Him for.

The Gift of Assurance (10)

1 John 5:11 And this is the testimony:  God has given us eternal life and that life is in His Son.

1 John 5:12-13  The one who has the Son has life.  The one who doesn't have the Son of God, does not have life.  I say these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know you have eternal life.

John 14:1  Your heart must not be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in Me.

John 14:2  In my Father's house are many mansion, if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.

John 14:3  And if I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you unto Myself, so that where I am, you may be also.

John 14:6  Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through Me.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you.  I do not give as the world gives.  Your heart must not be troubled or afraid.

Isaiah 26:3-4  You will keep in perfect peace the mind that is dependent on You, for it is trusting in You.  Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.

Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed . (KJV)

Isaiah 53:6  We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the Lord has punished Him for the iniquities of us all.

Praise and Thanksgiving (4)

1 Peter 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  According to His great mercy He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Psalm 100:4  Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.  Give thanks to Him and praise His name. 

Psalm 100:5  For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Revelation 4:11  You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.


Promises of God (10)
Matthew 6:33  But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (ESV)
Romans 8:28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.
Jeremiah 29:11  "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Now our new promise....

1 John 1:7  But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

This is another "if/then" promise..."IF" we walk in the light...."THEN" we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from our sin.  We'll talk this week about walking in the light.  I want to know what God has to say about that because I certainly want the "THEN" of this promise! 

But for now, I'm praising God that He made a plan for cleansing...because I am a sinner in need of a thorough cleaning!  Thank You God for making provision for me to come before you not in my dirty rags, but as white as snow!

Day 7 - Week 35 - Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you hope and a future."

Tonight as I was doing and reviewing Bible study, I realized the four passages that had been pointed out to me this week to reinforce my trust in God, dovetail perfectly with these week's verse.  Contemplate these verses as you consider that God's plans for your life and if those plans are worthy of your trust...

Psalm 9:10 Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

Psalm 18:30 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.

Psalm 20:7-8 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.

Isaiah 12:2 Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation."

God's Word does a very good job of reaffirming His Word, doesn't it?  When we are told that God is a planner, and that He has plans for us, and that they are plans better than we could ever come up with...then God is good to us as well to include confirmations of His goodness from those who experienced it. 

It's almost like God is including some "personal references" in case we're unsure if we're going to give Him the job of directing our lives!  The Bible is full of such references to God's goodness and His provision, and if that Bible weren't enough, there are many people all around us who are ready to give an account of God's activity in their very own life....the ways that He has amazed them with provision at just the right time, the ways that unforeseen events came into play to bring about a much prayed about result, the ways that marriages have been healed, addictions slayed, lives saved. 

God's Word and God's people are both great resources to utilize when you're contemplating turning your life over to Your Creator...ask and you'll get answers.  God is ready to provide you with all the insight you need to accept His love for you.

Day 6 - Week 35 - Jeremiah 29:11 "I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you, not to harm you; plans for a hope and a future."

Many years ago, I wondered what God's plans for me were.  I was divorced, with two small children, trying to figure out where my life was going.  I did many things wrong, but I know one thing I did that made all the difference...I kept my faith in God and in His goodness.  I absolutely got off of God's path for my life, but I never lost the desire to return to the path and the plan that I knew He had laid out for me.

Now, years later, I know that God always had a plan for me...a plan to prosper me, never to harm, me.  He gave me hope when I didn't know what in the world was heading my way, and He promised me a future that I couldn't imagine...and now that future is a life I couldn't have imagined "way back then."

Now my two small children are 34 and 31...both happily married.  God gave me a husband 24 years ago that has continually blessed me.  With my marriage, Robert's three children came into my life and have taught me so much about acceptance and we have grown together as a family.  Over the years, Robert and I have greeted a total of 8 grandchildren into our world, and one great  grandchild....in fact, we celebrated little Max's first birthday today.

I am not saying that all in my life today is perfect, it's not.  We have our ups and downs, and ins and outs, but I can say that God has worked everything together for good in my life, and I know He continues to do so. 

I can't see what my life 20 years down the road looks like...but the difference between the way I feel today and the way I felt those many years ago is that I'm not concerned about it.  Because I know that God has a plan, and that as long as I am yielding to His authority over my life, and allowing Him to guide me down the path that He has laid out for me, His plan will bring good into my life.  He continues to give me a hope and  future.  He continually prospers me in all the ways that matter.  He has brought love, joy, and a great amount of peace into my life.

I thank You, Lord, for your plan...past, present and future...a future of hope because of You!