Loving Jesus Style

  Second John is the shortest book in the New Testament, a mere thirteen verses, yet it carries the full theological weight of the Apostle John's mature pastoral concern. It is addressed by "the elder" — John's self-designation that speaks not merely of office but of earned authority, the gravitas of a man who has walked with Christ and shepherded his people through decades of struggle — to "the elect lady and her children." Whether this refers to a specific woman and her household or, as most Reformed interpreters have understood it, to a local congregation and its members, the pastoral situation is the same. A community John loves is in danger, and he writes to warn and to strengthen them. The letter opens, as John's writings characteristically do, with truth and love bound tightly together. John loves this community in truth, and so does everyone who has come to know the truth, because the truth abides in believers and will be with them forever. T...

 From AW Tozer's book God's Attributes "Did you ever stop to think that God is going to be as pleased to have you with Him in heaven as you are to be there?"

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 16:23-25 (NIV) Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. Devotion: This is a call to worship that rises from the heart of Israel’s celebration as the ark of the covenant is brought to Jerusalem. These verses form part of a larger song of thanksgiving, but even on their own, they capture the essence of what it means to praise the Lord with joy, reverence, and proclamation. In these words, David invites God’s people into a worship that is not passive or private but vibrant, public, and overflowing with the greatness of God. The call begins with singing. Worship in Scripture is never merely an internal feeling. It is expressed, voiced, and shared. Singing to the Lord is an act of delight, a declaration that God is worthy of joy-filled praise. When David says “all the ea...

Scripture: Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Devotion: With these words, God does not merely offer guidance; He offers Himself. He does not simply point out a path and leave us to walk it alone. Instead, He promises instruction, teaching, counsel, and watchful care. This verse reveals a God who is intimately involved in the lives of His people, a God who leads with wisdom and watches with love. The promise begins with instruction. God knows the way we should go, not only in the grand movements of life but in the small, hidden decisions that shape our days. His instruction is not cold or distant. It is personal, rooted in His perfect knowledge of who we are and who He is, shaping us to become. When He teaches us, He does so as a Father who delights in His children, guiding them step by step. His teaching is not meant to burden us but to free us from confusion, fear, and the weight of trying to n...

  Scripture: 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV) Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Devotion: The verse under consideration today offers one of the most tender invitations in all of Scripture: “casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.” Though brief, it carries the weight of a lifetime of discipleship. Peter does not simply tell believers to stop worrying or suppress their fears. Instead, he directs them to a Person—the God who sees, knows, and loves His people with unwavering faithfulness. The call to cast our anxieties on Him is not a command rooted in shame or rebuke; it is an invitation grounded in the character of God Himself. To cast something is to deliberately place it elsewhere, to take what burdens us and transfer it to another. Peter’s language implies intentionality. Anxiety does not drift away on its own. It must be handed over. Yet the beauty of this verse is that God does not demand strength from us before we come. He does not require u...

Scripture: John 14:27 (NIV) Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. Devotion: Following Jesus ' promise of the Holy Spirit to His disciples, He assures them that they will have peace. The disciples were probably not understanding what Jesus was saying to them. They had no clue what was to befall Jesus in the next 72 hours. Jesus’ betrayal, trial, crucifixion, and resurrection were not what they were expecting. They were hoping that Jesus would establish an earthly kingdom. Their hopes were about to be shattered. This peace Jesus left them and still leaves with us today is very much to be desired as much as the disciples needed that peace in the days that would follow. We still need that peace just as much today. Just as their word was about to go spinning out of control, the world today seems to be doing the same. Somehow, Jesus, who calms the sea with a word, can still ...