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 1 John 5:11 - The Loving Father’s Promise

God is good.  Let's take God at His word this morning.  As we take on a new week we do so with renewed confidence in God for we know that we have eternal life.  The fruit of the Holy Spirit comes directly from God.  He’s truly loving.  

I saw a sign while biking The Creeper Trail this last weekend that said, “Work Hard - and be Kind to Others.”  I love that.  As Christians, we know that we must indeed work hard.  And we know that despite our human nature, we can be kind and loving to all we encounter.  We know that because we’ve come to know Jesus.  We are fragile jars of clay, but Jesus is the potter.  His strong and creative hands are trustworthy.  He can and will make all things new.  And with those loving hands, Jesus will providentially put together opportunities for His children to lead others to righteousness.

        Trust God today.  The Bible tells us that we can either trust God or call him a liar.  He tells us of the wheat and the chaff, the sheep and the goats, the wise and the fools, saved and damned.  In the future, Jesus will return to earth for the Judgment of all mankind.  That is the end of this earth and the exciting beginning of what God promises in this chapter: a new heaven and earth.  Some people refuse to trust God.  God gives us that freedom.  All people will rise from the dead.  Some will rise to shame and everlasting disgrace (Daniel 12:2).  God’s wise children will rise from the dead to eternal life.  That includes you who love and trust Jesus Christ, the One we know even though we have not seen Him.

        Pray for your family and friends today.  Pray for those who do not yet believe in Christ.  Let's pray they have a kernel of faith, a mustard seed.  May their faith grow into large trees of faith.  I pray this morning that God hears our prayers and that He miraculously answers all of our prayers.  I pray that the trials and testing that we are going through will purify, clean, and refine us. As only the Son of God can do.  I pray that Jesus helps us to love each other.  May we be fearless advocates for those who suffer injustice, the poor, the sick, and the wrongly imprisoned.  May we show our love for God by keeping His commandments.  

        God told us He would give us eternal life.  And God confirms this by Jesus’ baptism in water, His blood shed on the cross, and the gift of the Holy Spirit given to those who believe.  The water, blood, and spirit are God’s way of confirming to us His promise of eternal life.  That’s all we need today - confidence in our Saviour and trust in our future with God.  Thank you, Jesus!  Amen.

Kari with her friend, Carla, in Damascus, Virginia.


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