GOD IS LOVE
Suggested Reading: 1 John 4-5
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Many believe that Jesus was crucified at this location in Jerusalem just outside the city walls. It is known as Golgotha, The Place of the Skull or Calvary. This rock is the north face of a rock quarry from which the stones were taken for the construction of the various Temples. It is dug into Mt. Moriah, the mountain where Abraham was about to sacrifice his son Isaac when God intervened and provided the sacrifice. God's provision of a ram was a symbol of the final sacrifice for sin when God would sacrifice His only begotten Son, Jesus, on Moriah or in this quarry. The Temples were built on Moriah just south of this location.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: 1 John 4:8-9
He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.
The words “love,” “loved” or “loves” appear 28 times in today’s reading, 40 times in all in the book of 1st John! John quoted Jesus in what is probably the most well-known verse in the entire Bible in John 3:16. We may want to read all of Jesus’ message to Nicodemus, a man who was a Jewish leader (John 3:9-21). In John 20:2, John refers to himself, not by his name, but as the “other disciple whom Jesus loved.” No wonder John is known as “the Apostle of love.”
Because John loved with God’s love, he was compelled to write the most serious warnings about sin and its consequences for all who do not repent and turn from sin. In 1 John 1:8-10, he confirms that we are sinners, including himself. We cannot at any time say, “We have no sin” (present tense), nor can we say, “We have not sinned.” Then in his closing words we read, “Whoever is born of God does not sin.” Is John contradicting himself? No! This is an example of a place where we need to remember Peter’s statement warning us against “private” interpretation of Scripture. Church scholars have consistently interpreted the “does not sin” words with an understanding of the Greek language, in which these words were originally written, to mean, “does not sin deliberately without remorse and confession of sin.” It may be well for us to read again 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (the word “cleanse” in Greek is in a grammatical tense which means a constant, ongoing cleansing). Amen!!!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, You have made provision for forgiveness and for an ongoing washing of my life from sin. I pray for a consistent attitude of repentance and trust in Your promise that, as long as I walk in the light of Your Word, I know that the blood of Jesus Christ, Your Son, cleanses me from all sin (1 John 1:7). In the Person of Jesus Christ, and because of His blood, I have confidence that You hear me and that I am righteous in Your sight. Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I have struggled over the years with John’s love letter to all believers because of the statement, “There is a sin leading to death” (1 John 5:16). What is this? I’m convinced that the only sin which cannot be forgiven is that of rejecting Jesus right up until and including the moment of death. I’ve met people who think they have committed the “unpardonable sin.” If anyone has any desire whatsoever for God’s forgiveness, they can be forgiven when they pray the sinner’s prayer, “God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13). I know this because there is no contradiction in Holy Scripture, and Jesus said, “The one who comes to me I will by NO MEANS cast out” (John 6:37b)! These are the Words of Jesus that led me personally to believe that Jesus received me and saved me when I was a 16 year old. John writes, in the final words of the Bible, these Words, (click here for Revelation 22:17-21) “Whoever desires” may “Come!” The word “COME!” is repeated twice. It is God’s will that all should be saved, but God will not force anyone to believe. He does not turn people into mindless robots or puppets. I decided to believe God’s promise of salvation, and He did not turn me away!!! According to the words of the Apostle Peter, God is “not willing that any should perish but that ‘ALL’ should ‘COME’ to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9b).
Yours with a fervent prayer that anyone reading this who has not “COME,” will do so now and that you might be helped through the Crossroads telephone number 1-866-273-4444 or e-mail address, ministry@crossroads.ca. A non-judgmental person, who cares deeply about you as an eternal, precious never-dying person, is waiting for the phone to ring or an e-mail to arrive indicating a desire to COME TO JESUS! YES!!!!!!! God answers prayer, but it’s too late after death. Please, please, make the call on God and also call the prayer lines.
David
P.S. If you’ve come to Jesus today, we have some helpful literature to send you, which will help you have complete assurance that you are right with God for time and for eternity. Just ask when you call or write!
Praise God I came to know Jesus in July of 1977 and my only son went to be with the Lord in November 17 1977 I was so glad I knew Jesus before that happened God held me through that all the way
Praise God for His love to me .
God Bless you Brenda.
I am so happy that you had strong faith in God Brenda at that time in your life. God bless you always.
Come, come Lord Jesus, come! Amen! Wonderful reading of John this morning. God is love and He gave us the undying gift of His love and eternal life through His beloved Son, Jesus Christ! Hear the birds chirping, singing the praises of a glorious new day! Blessings fellow saints!
Amen
I like hearing the birds chirp to in the morning as well thank God for all he has done
God bless everyone on our blog today
Lianne Hogg
We are so profoundly connected through Christ Jesus and the Word! A bridge to eternal life by acknowledging we are sinners, and while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. By this, we have forgiveness and eternal life through His sacrifice, death and resurrection on the cross. We can live a spirit filled life knowing it doesn’t come to an end as we hold to the knowledge and hope of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Good Morning from North Ontario, God bless us every one. It is 30 below, here on the farm, this morning and I don’t here the birds , as of yet. My dear daughter, just dropped off their little boy 3yr. at 6:00 this morning, and my son 23 has a day off today. I am so blessed 4 children and 3 grand babies, so far . My oldest son’s 2 little ones , boy 2yr. and girl 7mon. are coming for a visit later on today so we are in for a fun time. I am so blessed , Praise God.
Have a wonderful day with your family, Pat. The years go by so quickly. We will be experiencing a new baby this summer – a second great grandchild!
God bless you dear one. It is so nice to hear personal news from the people we blog with. Where in this great old world do you live? It’s nice to know some things about the ones we talk to, even if we are talking with our hands.
Praise God who would have imagined this way of communicating years ago.
It is good to know that people can call the prayer lines at any time and confess that they have said the sinner’s prayer. There are also helpful websites, i.e. http://www.Crossroads.ca which has helps and information. The E store, news, videos, upcoming events, and contact information. It is a quick and easy way to communicate – a good website with helps. I refer to it myself. Have a great day all.
I find it so difficult reading John as I keep thinking of what happens to him in the end. The prophets made such sacrifices but I like to believe they never suffered as they were so filled with God’s spirit of love. What simple and powerful messages they brought to us.
Thank you Rev. Mainse for reaching out to our fellow man. You truly are a blessing to us all.
Praise you Heavenly Father. Thank you for sending your son Jesus to planet earth… For He is the final sacrifice – atonement for all our sins… Through our Lord Jesus, we have been made clean in your eyes…
Thank you, thank you, thank you…
May the LOVE of Jesus be seen through us this day… For his Honour and Glory… AMEN!
Cars run on gas and every car has a gas tank. Gas is always gas whether it sits in a container on a shelve in your storage shed or you put into your car’s tank. But gas cannot do what gas is intended to do, be fuel for your engine, to move your car from point A to point B until it is the tank and someone turns the car on.
Likewise with our hearts. Love is the fuel, our heart’s need to fill up on the fuel before we can do what our spirits (our engines) are intended to do, which is to love. The fuel is God’s love, His love is the gas for our spirits and our hearts is the fuel tank.
God loves everyone, just like gas is gas whenever it is, God can love you without you loving God– but His love becomes fuel for our spirits when we receive His love and accept the love into our hearts and turn our heart’s on for God.
It is remarkable how many people will not accept God’s love– the tanks of their heart run on empty or fumes and they think they will get somewhere on that.
I know this a very simple metaphor for a deep spiritual truth, but if you’re aren’t experiencing God’s love for yourself, you might ask yourself have you open up the gas tank in your heart to God? Are you willing to accept God’s love to fuel your ability to love? Or are you leaving the God’s love for you unused and unopened on a shelf in your soul?
I like your ‘simple metaphor’ Donna….thanks for sharing it. 🙂
David, I just glanced back again to earlier blog and note your picture comparison.
We rejoice with you and Norma Jean. Only God, for which we thank Him.
Phyllis Fisher
HALLELUJAH…what A SAVIOUR!!!! As the song says.
Thank you Lord Jesus for your sacrifice on the cross and resurrection. We are blessed to know we are cleansed from all unrighteousness by The Blood of The Lamb.
Thank you Pastor David and fellow bloggers for the encouragement we each receive through our many gifts from The Lord.
Today’s reading reminds me of a brother who lives with bitterness over many years old. Would you pray for Bill that The Lord would soften his heart, remember the Jesus of our upbringing and take the scales of hardness from his eyes. In the last year he has lost a daughter and his wife and lives in constant bitterness. Oh how he needs Jesus!
Oh, Lord Jesus, our precious King and Redeemer, we call in prayer for Bill. We ask that seeds be planted by angels unbeknownst, that he may come to know Your loving peace and grace. Transform his emptiness and bitterness, dear God, and comfort Him with Your warm embrace. Lift Bill up with Your strength and splendor, Lord. In the name of Jesus, we pray–amen, amen and amen.
Thank you Beverlee, dear sister in Jesus. Bless you. Bill does not want contact with me or my family so prayer is my only option. I hav sent cards to no avail. Thank you dear one. Still praying for your mom and relationship with your sister.