"And these things we write, so that our joy may be made complete." (1 John 1:4)
Joy. That’s why I write for Jesus. So that my joy will be complete.
My reading this morning has been rich. First, I read a portion from Bible Doctrine‘s chapter on The Person of Christ. I’ll be leading my theology study group’s discussion of this chapter next week. How appropriate that we’ll be looking at the humanity and deity of Jesus at this holy season of the year. Then I opened my Bible to today’s reading, the Book of 1st John. What a rich and wonderful epistle.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins. If we know Him, we obey Him. Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? Don’t practice sinning. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. If you have the world’s goods and withhold them from a brother in need, how can you say the love of God lives in you? Test the spirits to see whether they are from God. Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. Greater is He (the Holy Spirit) who is in the believers than he (the devil) who is in the world. There is no fear in love for perfect love casts out fear. This is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.
How lovely are the feet of him who brings good news. May the good news of Jesus abide in you today.
In the grip of His grace,
Robin
