This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. - 1 John 1:5-10
Paraphrase: We have heard from God and declared to you this message, God is light and in Him there is no darkness completely. If we have fellowship in Him yet walk in darkness we are lying and don't practice the truth. If we walk in light as the LORD is light, we have fellowship and the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin then we deceive ourselves and the truth is not with us. As long as we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we are saying that God is lying and His word is not in us.
Lessons Learnt: We have all sinned and needs to be purified from our sins. 1 John 1:9 cannot be read by itself. It must be read in the light of James 5:16.
That this verse is not abused. Many abuse this verse and say that "It's okay for me to sin, I'll just confess and all will be fine"
This is the bad concept of it. We must know that one day we might turn away from God completely by doing that as we might not hear the Holy Spirit calling us anymore. Verse 10 states that if we say we have not sin, we are saying that God is lying. At first I was confuse about this text, then I realised that in verse 7 it says that "the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sins"
So if we have not sinned at the start, is there a need to be cleanse?
Prayer: Our Heavenly Father: I thank you that I am still walking in your light despite my continual sins. LORD I thank you for forgiving all my sins, even those that I have not confessed, Your grace is sufficient and overflowing. LORD only one word can explain why you would go through all those pain and suffering for a sinner like me and that is LOVE. LORD I pray that you will continue to guide me to walk in the light and not step up to the darkness in curiosity or something. I thank you for hearing my prayer LORD. Amen.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
James 1:21-25
Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. -James 1:21-25, NKJV
Paraphrase: Cleanse yourself from the filth and wickedness and accept the Word humbly, the Word that can save your souls. Be doers of the word and not only hearers who deceives themselves. If you hear the word but don't do it, you are like looking in a mirror and walking away, forgetting who you were. But if you look at God's law and do it, you will not be a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work and you will be blessed in what you do.
Lessons Learnt: Before we can received God's word, we must cleanse ourselves from the sinful world. We must prepare our hearts through prayer to accept God's implanted word.
We must be a doer of the word so that we will not forget how sinful we were in the past and go back to our sinful ways. Being a doer of the word helps to remind ourselves each day that we are a sinner and we are save through God's amazing grace.
Prayer: O Lord, I thank you that you have reminded me once again that I'm a sinner, I prayer that you will forgive me of all my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. May I continue to walk in you LORD and be a doer of your word, a doer of the work, that I may not forget you, the loving and almighty creator. Amen
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. -James 1:21-25, NKJV
Paraphrase: Cleanse yourself from the filth and wickedness and accept the Word humbly, the Word that can save your souls. Be doers of the word and not only hearers who deceives themselves. If you hear the word but don't do it, you are like looking in a mirror and walking away, forgetting who you were. But if you look at God's law and do it, you will not be a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work and you will be blessed in what you do.
Lessons Learnt: Before we can received God's word, we must cleanse ourselves from the sinful world. We must prepare our hearts through prayer to accept God's implanted word.
We must be a doer of the word so that we will not forget how sinful we were in the past and go back to our sinful ways. Being a doer of the word helps to remind ourselves each day that we are a sinner and we are save through God's amazing grace.
Prayer: O Lord, I thank you that you have reminded me once again that I'm a sinner, I prayer that you will forgive me of all my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. May I continue to walk in you LORD and be a doer of your word, a doer of the work, that I may not forget you, the loving and almighty creator. Amen
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
James 1:19-20
So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. -James 1:19-20
Paraphrase: My brothers, be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger, for anger does not lead to righteousness.
Lessons Learnt: This is a continuation of James 1:12-18, where it talks about enduring temptations, when we go through trials and temptations we should talk less and listen more, to understand God's will fully, so that we may not blame God for whatever bad things that is happening to us. Then main thing is to LISTEN more to God's word, reading the bible and praying. Devotion and Prayer are 2 important things!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank you for the daily bread I received today, I understand in Your Word that this daily time with you is important and we must do whatever it takes to snatch back this time from Satan. LORD, cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning, that I may learn to trust thee in whatever I do, and cause me to know the ways wherein I should walk, that I may praise you for showing me your great and wonderful will. Amen.
Paraphrase: My brothers, be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger, for anger does not lead to righteousness.
Lessons Learnt: This is a continuation of James 1:12-18, where it talks about enduring temptations, when we go through trials and temptations we should talk less and listen more, to understand God's will fully, so that we may not blame God for whatever bad things that is happening to us. Then main thing is to LISTEN more to God's word, reading the bible and praying. Devotion and Prayer are 2 important things!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank you for the daily bread I received today, I understand in Your Word that this daily time with you is important and we must do whatever it takes to snatch back this time from Satan. LORD, cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning, that I may learn to trust thee in whatever I do, and cause me to know the ways wherein I should walk, that I may praise you for showing me your great and wonderful will. Amen.
Monday, March 28, 2011
James 1:2-8
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. -James 1:2-8, NKJV
Paraphrase: Falling into trials and temptations is to be seen as a good thing for it will strengthen our faith and produce patience. And that patience will help us to be mature in Christ. If we are unclear about God's will, we shall ask and it shall be given without any holding back. But when we ask God, we must trust that he will give us an answer and not to seek matters into our own hands. God may not always give an answer immediately so don't be anxious. Have patience.
Lessons Learnt: God is always there when we need him, trials and temptations are part and parcel of life which we have to go through as Christians because Satan don't want us to have salvation. We must ask God to guide us in the deepest and darkest part of our lives that we may be able to strengthen our faith and develop patience at the same time.
Prayer: Our Father in Heaven, I thank you that you have guided me with you lovingkindness and drawn me to the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. I pray that you will continually guide me as I continue this Christian walk with you, that as trials and temptations come I will not be like the waves, being push along by the wind not knowing where it leads, but LORD show me the way and where you will lead me. Amen.
Paraphrase: Falling into trials and temptations is to be seen as a good thing for it will strengthen our faith and produce patience. And that patience will help us to be mature in Christ. If we are unclear about God's will, we shall ask and it shall be given without any holding back. But when we ask God, we must trust that he will give us an answer and not to seek matters into our own hands. God may not always give an answer immediately so don't be anxious. Have patience.
Lessons Learnt: God is always there when we need him, trials and temptations are part and parcel of life which we have to go through as Christians because Satan don't want us to have salvation. We must ask God to guide us in the deepest and darkest part of our lives that we may be able to strengthen our faith and develop patience at the same time.
Prayer: Our Father in Heaven, I thank you that you have guided me with you lovingkindness and drawn me to the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. I pray that you will continually guide me as I continue this Christian walk with you, that as trials and temptations come I will not be like the waves, being push along by the wind not knowing where it leads, but LORD show me the way and where you will lead me. Amen.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Isaiah 58:13-14
If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath,
From doing your pleasure on My holy day,
And call the Sabbath a delight,
The holy day of the LORD honorable,
And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways,
Nor finding your own pleasure,
Nor speaking your own words,
Then you shall delight yourself in the LORD;
And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth,
And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father.
Lessons Learnt: Sabbath is a day of joy and gladness, not to be put as a burden we are tied down with, but rather a day that our burden of life is taken away when we set ourselves right with God, glorifying Him in the things we do, that we will be happy with our LORD.
Prayer: O Heavenly Father, I thank you for the blessed day of rest called the Sabbath that you have given to us, as a day of remembrance of your great creations. I pray that LORD you may help me to set aside Sabbath and keep it holy, just as you rested and sanctified it after your great creation. I also pray that you forgive me if I have trespassed your Sabbath in the past, LORD now I know better about your Sabbath blessings and the importance of the rest so help me LORD to continue to keep your Sabbath amids all the challenges that may come. Amen.
From doing your pleasure on My holy day,
And call the Sabbath a delight,
The holy day of the LORD honorable,
And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways,
Nor finding your own pleasure,
Nor speaking your own words,
Then you shall delight yourself in the LORD;
And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth,
And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father.
The mouth of the LORD has spoken.” -Isaiah 58:13-14, NKJV
Paraphrase:Turning away of the foot means changing the original purpose of it, so it might mean to stop your work, cause the foot brings you to your workplace and such.
If we stop our work, our business and enjoy Sabbath, the holy day, glorifying God and not doing our own things, not finding opportunities, not discussing about our own business, then we will find true joy in the LORD. The LORD will sustain us and meet our needs with abundant spiritual and material blessing.Lessons Learnt: Sabbath is a day of joy and gladness, not to be put as a burden we are tied down with, but rather a day that our burden of life is taken away when we set ourselves right with God, glorifying Him in the things we do, that we will be happy with our LORD.
Prayer: O Heavenly Father, I thank you for the blessed day of rest called the Sabbath that you have given to us, as a day of remembrance of your great creations. I pray that LORD you may help me to set aside Sabbath and keep it holy, just as you rested and sanctified it after your great creation. I also pray that you forgive me if I have trespassed your Sabbath in the past, LORD now I know better about your Sabbath blessings and the importance of the rest so help me LORD to continue to keep your Sabbath amids all the challenges that may come. Amen.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Proverbs 13:4
The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat. -Proverbs 13:4, KJV
Paraphrase:
There are many things a lazy man wishes for, but never gets. But if one is hardworking in what he search for, he shall be blessed.
Lessons to learnt:
This text can be read in context with Deuteronomy 17:19.
Since the Bible is made so easily accessed, it is God's command that we should read in and learnt to fear the LORD, and to do according to his will.
And that is being diligent Christians, as long as we search the scriptures hard enough we will be able to able to know the truth.
Prayer: Our Father in Heaven, I pray that you may guide me to do this morning watch, this daily devotion with zeal, that I may gain more insight on Your Will for me as I continue this Christian walk. The journey might be hard but LORD, I know with you all things are possible. Forgive me of my sins LORD, I have sin greatly by neglecting your word these few weeks, help me to be a better person in you. Amen.
Paraphrase:
There are many things a lazy man wishes for, but never gets. But if one is hardworking in what he search for, he shall be blessed.
Lessons to learnt:
This text can be read in context with Deuteronomy 17:19.
Since the Bible is made so easily accessed, it is God's command that we should read in and learnt to fear the LORD, and to do according to his will.
And that is being diligent Christians, as long as we search the scriptures hard enough we will be able to able to know the truth.
Prayer: Our Father in Heaven, I pray that you may guide me to do this morning watch, this daily devotion with zeal, that I may gain more insight on Your Will for me as I continue this Christian walk. The journey might be hard but LORD, I know with you all things are possible. Forgive me of my sins LORD, I have sin greatly by neglecting your word these few weeks, help me to be a better person in you. Amen.
James 1:12-15
"Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” - James 1:12, NKJV
Paraphrase:
We will be rewarded when we go through trials and temptations.
Trials and temptations will come, but it is not from God, God simply allow it to happen, the origin is not from Him.
Temptations originate from our heart, sin cause us to have evil desires and that evil desires will in turn cause us to sin and eventually lead to death.
Lessons to learn:
-Satan will always be ready to tempt us at our weakest moment, we must be ready and steadfast, being deeply rooted in the Word and in Christ, to stand firm against the winds and waves of temptations.
-In order to fight back, we must be firmly equipped which the Word of God and memorize some promises of God.
Paraphrase:
We will be rewarded when we go through trials and temptations.
Trials and temptations will come, but it is not from God, God simply allow it to happen, the origin is not from Him.
Temptations originate from our heart, sin cause us to have evil desires and that evil desires will in turn cause us to sin and eventually lead to death.
Lessons to learn:
-Satan will always be ready to tempt us at our weakest moment, we must be ready and steadfast, being deeply rooted in the Word and in Christ, to stand firm against the winds and waves of temptations.
-In order to fight back, we must be firmly equipped which the Word of God and memorize some promises of God.
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