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Dining with Jesus Christian Episodes

PASTOR RYAN LADEN – DEVOTIONALS

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So far in our reading of the letter of 1 John we have heard the following big ideas:

If…       we receive the truth of the Gospel… 

Then… we will have fellowship with God and with his church.

If…       we walk in the light of God’s truth…

Then… we will be purified from all sin.

If…       we confess the truth of our need for grace and mercy… 

Then… not only are we forgiven but Jesus stands as our advocate.

If…       we receive the love of Christ…

Then… we will seek to live as Jesus lived. 

If…       we possess real faith in Christ…

Then… this faith will change us and leads us away from sin and toward faithfulness to God.

Poetry

And in the next section of 1 John we hear a kind of summation of all that has been said so far. 

This summation is much like one of the Psalms. It has a sort of rhythmic beauty and musical repetition to it. I would challenge you to sing it out loud, but I am not sure that even I would take up that challenge. 

Why not just read it out loud if you are able? Go ahead. 

12 I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. 

13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. 

14 I write to you, dear children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

(1 John 2:12-14 NIV11)

Big Ideas

Let me present to you the big ideas being given here without the attachment to the groups to whom these statements were made. 

Verse 12 

  •  Your sins are forgiven on account of the name of Jesus.

Verse 13 

  •  You know the eternal God. 
  •  You have overcome the evil one.

Verse 14 

  •  You know the Eternal Father. 
  •  You are strong.
  •  The Word of God lives in you. 
  •  You have overcome the evil one.

In summary, we can say this. 

  •   If we receive the love of God and allow it into our hearts and minds, we will see this love coming out of us in the form of victory over sin. 
  •   After all, sin originates in our desires and if we allow the love and authority of Jesus to permeate all through us, then we will experience less and less desire for that which leads us into sin and rebellion.
  •   If we are actively submitting ourselves (all that we are) to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, then we will see God at work in us as he daily moves in and through us, leading us by his Spirit, to step closer into his image. 

Question

I have a question for you based on all that we have encountered so far in this letter: 

Where is your heart today?

  •   Is your heart held in the hands of Jesus Christ or is your heart held in the embrace of this temporary and disappointing world?
  •   What is your desire when it comes to living like Jesus? 
  •   Are you actively inviting Jesus Christ to be your Lord and King in all areas of life and in all of your ways?
  •   Or are you actively trying to live in both camps, both realities at the same time?

Pick

We know we need to pick a side, and I think you know what that means for you. It is time to embrace Jesus Christ, which requires us to let go of the world and all the temporary mess that we typically hold tight in fear of turning it over to the Lord. 

Go ahead. Make your choice known to the Lord today. 

In Christ, 

Ryan Laden

PASTOR RYAN LADEN


Works at MTN. CHURCH

Former Senior pastor at Warnbro Community Church

Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at Baylor University

Studied at Texas Tech University

Went to Castle Hills First Baptist

Copyright © 2024 Ryan Laden – All Rights Reserved.

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