We Are of God | 1 John 5:13-21 Meditations

1 John 5:13-21
13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

It's almost Nationals.

That thought sends me a wave of sudden panic with glimmers of excitement dissolved therein.
Why am I panicking? Why? What is the reason I am doing the Bible Bee anyway?
Of course there is the right answer. To know God. To know Him more deeply.
But why then am I panicking?

I know the last post was about this, but then sometimes God brings to my attention that I'm not as awesome as I think I am. In other words, some lessons need to be learned everyday.
Such is the case with this one.

While I was looking up cross-references for verse 21, I came across Psalm 115, which describes how idols of silver and gold, although possessing eyes, ears, mouths, noses, and the like, cannot see, hear, speak, smell, and the like (which I'm just realizing is also a great CR for 1 John 1:1-3...).
"They that make them are like unto them;" it continues, "so is every one that trusteth in them."

Well, that's a great passage, but to my knowledge, I've never had idols made of silver and gold! That is just plain superstitious and weird.

But immediately, God convicted me of a different category of silver and gold idols than I had in mind.
It was almost as if He were asking me again, "What is your heart set on for the Bible Bee competition this year? 1st place? 2nd? Semis? Good scores? Perfect orals?"

Wow. Ahem. That was convicting.

Especially since I'd thought that I'd dealt it with all those "treasures" and everything was good.

"Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen." That's what the last verse in 1 John says.

But to keep myself from idols means that I'm kept somewhere else. And that place is in Him (1 John 5:20).

He calls me to believe in the true God. To believe in the name of the Son of God (1 John 5:13).

In Revelation 22:4, it says of the servants of God in heaven that "[God's] name shall be in their foreheads."
Quite obviously, I'm not in heaven yet.
However, while I'm here on earth, why shouldn't His Name be in my forehead, in the forefront of my thoughts?
So I decided I'd start by simply praising His Name whenever I passed by a certain place.

It was a great reminder to myself of Who God is and where my trust should be in. But God also used that to speak to me. He is my Sustainer. He is my Lord. And He, at that time, wanted me to assist with the high calling of preparing nourishment for body (a.k.a. preparing meals).

"But, I was just finally going to get to work on my verse cards!"

You can't argue with God. Besides, He does everything for my good, anyways. So, I spent the next couple minutes dicing tomatoes and all the other activities associated with making salsa. Thankfully, it didn't take all that long, and I was soon back working on my passages. It was really such a little thing, and I didn't think it would be much help (salsa can only fill so much of one's stomach, you know). Later, though, the supposed-to-cook-person told me how tired she was and how it was blessing for the salsa to be already made.
It was such an encouragement for me to know that God is so great, and that He can use the smallest things for His glory.

And as He draws me to Him, He keeps me away from idols.
But is perfection attained yet?
Absolutely not!

How wonderful it is, though, to know that "we are of God" and can say with Philippians 1:6 that we are "...confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:"

This is the last post for the 1 John Meditations! I've learned so much through this. Thank you all so much for bearing with me and leaving encouraging notes here! The thoughts, notes, lists, and such are below. Disclaimer's still somewhere in here.

Attributes of the Father:

• True

Attributes of the Son:

• Has Name
• If we ask anything according to his will, He hears us
• Given us an understanding

Cross-References:

vs 13 --> Acts 4:12  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
vs 14 --> 1 John 3:2-22  Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
vs 14 --> John 15:16  Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
vs 14-15 --> John 14:13-14  And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

vs 15 --> Matt. 18:19  Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 

vs 16 --> John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 

vs 17 --> Psalm 14:2-3  The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 

vs 18 --> John 10:28-30  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one. 

vs 19 --> John 17:6  I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. 

vs 20 --> Eph. 1:18-19  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
vs 20 --> 2 Cor. 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
vs 20 --> Jer. 9:24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.
vs 21 --> Psalm 115:4-8  Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.

Thoughts

God has given me an understanding - an understanding of Him.
And that's my goal in life - to know God. To experience, to be found in, to understand Him (Phil. 3:8-10).

That's what I am called to glory in - that I understand and know Him! That He is the Lord Who exercises loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things He delights (Jer. 9:23).

He calls me to trust in Him - He is my help and my shield!
He is mindful of me; He will bless me.
(Psalm 115:11-12)
He cares for me, unlike idols.
Idols are unknowable, un-understandable, un-ginosko-able.

But He has given me an understanding.

I know Him that is true, and I am in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ.
This is the true God, and eternal life.
(1 John 5:20)

Mini Study - Attributes of God's Names

What are God's Names compared to/described as?

• Glorious (Deut. 28:58, Psalm 72:19)
• Fearful (Deut. 28:58)
• Worthy of glory (1 Chron. 16:29, Psalm 29:2))
• Excellent (Psalm 8:1, 148:13)
• Holy (Psalm 33:21, 99:3, 111:9)
• "Good before thy saints" (Psalm 52:9)
• Great in Israel (Psalm 76:1)
• Near (Psalm 75:1)
• Great and terrible (Psalm 99:3)
• Our help is in it (Psalm 124:8)
• Pleasant (Psalm 135:3)
• Endures forever (Psalm 135:13)
• A strong tower (Pro. 18:10)
• Shall be known by His people (Isa. 52:6)
• Great in might (Jer. 10:6)
• One (Zec. 14:9)
• Shall be great among the Gentiles (Mal. 1:11)

What are we to do with God's Names?

• Not take in vain (Ex. 20:7, Deut. 6:13)
• Not profane (Lev. 18:21, 19:12)
• Not swear by it falsely (Lev. 19:12)
• Swear by it (Deut. 6:13, 10:20, Jer. 12:16)
• Publish it (Deut. 32:3)
• Magnify it forever (2 Sam. 7:26)
• Sing praises unto it (2 Sam. 22:50, Psalm 7:17, 9:2, 18:49, 54:6, 61:8)
• Call upon it (1 Chron. 16:8)
• Glory in it (1 Chron. 16:10)
• Praise it (1 Chron. 29:13, Psalm 44:48, 74:21, 113:3, Isa. 2:5)
• Set up our banners in it (Psalm 20:5)
• Remember it (Psalm 20:7, 119:55)
• Declare it unto brethren (Psalm 22:22)
• Trust in it (Psalm 33:21, Mat. 12:21)
• Exalt it (Psalm 34:3)
• Make it to be remembered in all generations (Psalm 45:17)
• Wait on it (Psalm 52:9)
• Fear it (Psalm 61:5)
• Lift hands up in it (Psalm 63:4)
• Sing forth the honor of it (Psalm 66:2)
• Love it (Psalm 69:36
• Seek it (Psalm 83:16)
• Rejoice in it (Psalm 89:16)
• Know it (Psalm 91:14)
• Bless it (Psalm 96:2, 100:4)
• Do everything that is done in word or deed in Jesus' name (Col. 3:17)
• Depart from iniquity - "...Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity" (2 Tim. 2:19)
• Believe on it (1 John 3:23, 5:13)

What do God's Names do?

• Causes Him not the forsake His people (1 Sam. 12:22)
• Defends us (Psalm 20:1)
• Causes Him to lead me in the paths of righteousness (Psalm 23:3)
• Protects the righteous, who run into it (Pro. 18:10)
• Causes Him to defer His anger (Isa. 48:9)
• His name, through faith in His name, made "this man" strong (Acts 3:16)
• Saves - only name whereby we much be saved/makes those who believe in Jesus to receive remission of sins/those who call upon the name of Lord shall be saved (Acts 4:12, Acts 10:43, Rom. 10:13)

What is pleaded "[for God's name's sake]'?

• Pardoning of iniquity/purging away of sins (Psalm 25:11, 79:9)
• Lead me, and guide me (Psalm 31:3)
• Help (Psalm 79:9)
• Deliverance (Psalm 79:9)
• Quickening (Psalm 143:11)

What is done in the God's name?

• Jesus comes in His Father's name (John 5:43, 12:31)
• Jesus does works in His Father's name (John 10:25)
• Whatever - when asked in Jesus name (John 14:14, 15:16, 16:23)
• Father will send Holy Spirit in Jesus' name (John 14:26)
• Our sins are forgiven for His Name's sake (1 John 2:12)

Other

• His people and His city are called by His name (Dan. 9:19)
• Pray: "Hallowed be thy name." (Mat. 6:9, Luke 11:12)
• "And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved." (Mat. 10:22)
• "And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life." (Mat. 19:29)
• "I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word." (John 17:6)
• At Jesus' name, ever knee shall bow (Phil. 2:10)
• "And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads." (Rev. 22:4)

What Life Consists Of | 1 John 5:1-12 Meditations

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,
where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt,
and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Matthew 6:20

1 John 5:1-12
1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

The Bible Bee has been such an incredible blessing, and I feel that especially this year God has used it to draw me closer to Him. It is such a glorious, marvelous thing to come to know Him more and more.

But if I'm entirely honest, I must admit that especially during the last couple weeks, the competition aspect of the program has been consuming much of my thoughts.

I want to achieve something great. I want to have recognition. I want the praise of men.

Of course, I didn't say that to myself in my conscious mind. It was just a subtle desire that I unintentionally made a hobby of contemplating.

Then I was reading through 1 John 5:1-12.
It struck me how God had given me life.

Life.

What does that actually mean?

While I was looking up cross-references for zōē (life), Luke 12:15 stood out to me.

And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

Life does not consist of the abundance of things I possess. 

I suppose that also means that life does not consist of the abundance of recognition I garner. 

Ouch.

Ahhh... What should I do then? I mean, I actually kind of like being recognized... 

Continuing to read through Luke 12, I came to verse 34.

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Aha. My treasure was in the possibility of semis and beyond (semis is the "level" in Bible Bee where the top 15 contestants advance to). So that's where my heart was.

And try as hard as I can to "move" the focus of my heart, it won't work.
My treasure has to go.

But how? Treasures don't go very easy. They're a treasure, after all.

The verse before 34 seems to confirm that, but it also gives the solution.

Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.

He calls me to seek first His kingdom. (Matt. 6:33)
To love Him. (1 John 5:1-3)

To sell what I have.
To store up treasure in heaven.

Now, I really don't have much to sell at this point, but what do I have?
I have time.

That's not to say that my time is free, by any means. But it's there.

Will I give that to God?
Will I allow Him to turn that into heavenly riches?

I was mulling over those thoughts and being preoccupied with tasks I deem important when an Anonymous came to request my help in studying.

"Not now - don't have time." I immediately responded.

Time.
What was it about time? The message of Luke 12:33 started to ring in my ears again.
Will I allow God to turn that into treasure in heaven?

Anonymous broke into my thoughts. "Then... who will help me?"

I was convicted enough.

"I'll help you." I took the book and began to explain for Anonymous.

I began to realize the message of Philippians 3:14. God has given me a high calling. That is my prize. That is what I press toward. My prize is not in Bible Bee rankings and scores. My prize is not in the praise of men.

My prize is the high calling God has given me in Christ Jesus.

That high calling may take the form of relentlessly reviewing verse cards, tireless study, and constant memorizing. Or it may take the form of reading books to little ones when I have no such passion. But whether it looks like the glamorous portrayal I expect a high calling to be or not, it doesn't matter. I just follow Him.

For "this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith". (1 John 5:4)

I may not know what the big picture is, but He gives me faith. Through that, I overcome the world.

He has given me life.

Life consists not of the abundance of things, but it consists of Him.

He is life. (John 14:6)

Thoughts, Notes, Lists, and such. Disclaimer somewhere in here.

Attributes of the Father:

• Has children
• Has commandments
• One with the Word and the Holy Ghost
• His witness is greater than men's witness
• Testified of His Son
• Gave us eternal life in His Son

Attributes of the Son:

• Born of God
• the Son of God
• Came by water and blood
• One with the Father and the Holy Ghost
• The Father testified of Him
• Eternal life is in Him

Attributes of the Spirit:

• Bears witness
• Truth
• One with the Father and the Word
• Agrees with the water and the blood

Cross-References:

vs 1 --> John 15:23  He that hateth me hateth my Father also.

vs 2 --> John 13:34  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

vs 3 --> Deut. 5:10  And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.

vs 3 --> Pro. 3:17  Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

vs 4 --> Rom. 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

vs 6 --> Tit. 3:5  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 

vs 6 --> Lev. 17:11  For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. 

vs 6 --> Luke 12:50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!

vs 10 --> Col. 3:3-4  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 

vs 11 --> Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

Mini Study - Blood and Water and Leprosy and Us

While I was studying, I came across Leviticus 14, which contains the instructions for the cleansing of leper when he is healed. This chapter struck me as an incredible picture of what Jesus did for us. 

*The italicized notes below mean they have been taken from Matthew Henry's Commentary.

Leviticus 14:6-7 starts describing the process of the ceremony conducted when pronouncing a leper clean: 
"Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop: As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water: And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field."

Henry summarizes: A preparation was to be made of blood and water, with which the leper must be sprinkled. 

Here we see a couple key elements. 

There are

• The two birds, one killed, and the other freed
• Cedar wood
• Scarlet
• Hyssop

The Birds

One of the birds (and the Jews say, if there was any difference, it must be the larger and better of the two) was to be killed over an earthen cup of spring water, so that the blood of the bird might discolour the water.

This (as some other types) had its accomplishment in the death of Christ, when out of his pierced side there came water and blood (John 19:34). Thus Christ comes into the soul for its cure and cleansing, not by water only, but by water and blood (1 John 5:6). 

 The living bird was then dipped in the blood and water mixture with the wood, scarlet, and hyssop, then released. 

Some make the slain bird to typify Christ dying for our sins, and the living bird Christ rising again for our justification.

Cedar wood

Henry comments that cedar wood "signified the restoring of the leper to his strength and soundness, for that is a sort of wood not apt to putrefy."

Though I couldn't find it explicitly written in the Bible, the commentaries I've come across seem to agree that when the living bird was dipped in the blood and water, it was tied to the cedar wood. 

If we were to compare the birds to Christ, picture starts to bring Galatians 3:13 to mind - Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

The curse, whether of leprosy or of sin and death, is nailed to the cross. We bear it no more. 

Scarlet

This can be compared to so much. The scarlet robe was put on Jesus, just as it is thought that a scarlet ribbon was tied to the bird, wood, and hyssop. Regarding the leper, Henry adds that "the scarlet wool signified his recovering a florid colour again, for the leprosy made him white as snow."

 Isaiah 53:5 says that "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

Jesus shed His blood so that we could live. We can live - healed, clean.

Hyssop

"Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." (Psalm 51:7)

Regarding the cleansing of leprosy, the hyssop intimated the removing of the disagreeable scent which commonly attended the leprosy.

John 19:29-30 mentions hyssop again when it describes Jesus' crucifixion:
"Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost."

It is a beautiful thing to see hyssop, an antiseptic herb, appearing again and again, reminding us of the righteousness, the purity of those that believe on Jesus! 

Then comes the part of the ceremony where the leper is sprinkled with the blood and water from the birds.
Then, he is pronounced clean.

Clean.

It reminds me of the latter part of Isaiah 54:17, where the heritage of the servants of the Lord is proclaimed. "Their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD."

Righteous. Pure. Clean.

As the blood and water, which the killed bird has contributed to and the living bird has been dipped in, is sprinkled over the leper, it forms a beautiful analogy.

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Gal. 2:20)

And also in Romans 6:3-5: Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

Because of Jesus' death and resurrection, I can live.

Just as the healing of the leper means restoration back into society, salvation by faith in Jesus brings us into fellowship - with God, and with the body of Christ. 

The Love of God | 1 John 4:7-21 Meditations

Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!

1 John 4:7-21
7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
19 We love him, because he first loved us.
20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

A while back I had the opportunity to listen to an older Christian gentleman share about leadership in the business world. I cannot remember all he said, but one thing stood out to me.

The impression it left was a little too deep for my liking, and I almost wished I would forget it. However, the more I tried to dismiss the thought, the more I had to ponder it. And the more I pondered it, the more agonized I became.

He had been sharing how he, early in his Christian walk, had made the decision to obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit immediately.
Naturally then, he challenged us to do the same.

Nothing wrong there; it was all very good.

But I wasn't exactly ready to say to God that I would do just that. What if He told me to do [fill in the blank with whatever I might not like]? Could I do that immediately?

Then again, I know that would be the right thing, but what if? What if?

What if?

I feared what God was going to "make me do". Soon, I started to experience the truth of 1 John 4:18 when it says "...fear hath torment..." Mental turmoil and all!

If you have a choice of what truths in the Bible you'd like to be an example of, do not pick the above mentioned one. It. is. torment. It really is.

I had almost reached to point of forgetting what the guy had challenged us when I started meditating on this section of 1 John. What a rich passage of the love of God!

But then came verse 18. And then God began to convict me of "the challenge".

Not again!

It seems like often when God calls me to surrender, I start thinking of worst possible scenarios. Maybe God wants me to do this so He can get me into doing something I abhor. Or He wants me to never have any pleasure in whatsoever I enjoy. Or He'll make me...

That, of course, is utterly ludicrous thinking, That is not the nature of God!

God is love.

There is no fear in love.

But, perfect love casts out fear.

Because fear has torment.

So for the past couple days I have to come face to face with the issue. Again. Will I say that I'll obey His every prompting immediately, or will I continue to cling to fear and dwell in torment?

He says He is love. Do I trust Him?

Yes, but well.... It's just that, ummm..., kind of.
(Which translated means "no".)

But there must come a point when I must choose to look to Him, the One Whose love is perfect, past my fears, and say that I'll obey Him.

He IS love anyway! He casts out fear.

Therefore I say to Him Whose mercy endures forever, "By your grace, I'll obey you. Immediately at Your prompting."

And guess what?
God didn't make me to shut myself up into some terrible cloistered lifestyle.

His commandments are not grievous!

He calls me to abide in Him. To abide in His love.

Because He wants the best for me.
No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly! (Psalm 84:11b)

And if that means taking a bit of time to read a book to one of the little ones, I'll do it!

He's not trying to torture me! No siree!
He is inviting me into His love.

His is Love.
No fear there.

Thoughts, Notes, Lists, and such. Disclaimer somewhere in here.

Attributes of the Father:

• Love
• Know-able
• Sent His only begotten Son into the world
• Loves us
• Never seen before
• Can dwell in us
• Gave us His Spirit
• Sent the Son to be the Savior of the world
• Has no fear
• First loved us

Attributes of the Son:

• We live through Him
• The propitiation for our sins
• Sent to be the Savior of the world
• Son of God

Attributes of the Spirit:

• Given to us

Cross-References:

vs 7 --> John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
vs 9 --> Rom. 8:32  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
vs 17 --> Isaiah 54:17  No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
vs 18 --> 2 Tim. 1:7  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Mini Study - Perfect

Perfect (1 John 4:17) Gr. teleioō

 1. to make perfect, complete

    A. to carry through completely, to accomplish, finish, bring to an end
 2. to complete (perfect)

    A. to add what is yet wanting in order to render a thing full

    B. to be found perfect

 3. to bring to the end (goal) proposed

 4. to accomplish

    A. bring to a close or fulfillment by event

        i. of the prophecies of the scriptures

Definition above taken from Outline of Biblical Usage

When I keep God's Word, the love of God is perfected in me. (1 John 2:5)

If I love one another, God dwells in me and His love is perfected in me. (1 John 4:12)

As He is, so am I in this world.

Perfect love casts out fear. (1 John 4:17)

He calls me to be perfect as my Father in heaven is perfect. (Mat. 5:48)

God's work is perfect. (Deut. 32:4)

God's law is perfect. (Psalm 19:7) It converts the soul - it changes me. 

He causes the righteousness of the law to be fulfilled in me. (Rom. 8:4)

He gives me His word so that I may be perfect. (2 Tim. 3:16-17)

God's way is perfect. And it is He that makes my way perfect. (Psalm 18:30, 32)

He, not me.

I may try very hard, but not I, but Christ.

He makes my way perfect.

He says to me, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness". 

What can I do then? The verse continues, "Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Cor. 12:9)

His strength made perfect in my weakness.

The exhortation continues in James 1:4 - "But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."

And where does patience come from?

Tribulation works patience. (Rom. 5:3)

The trying of my faith works patience. (James 1:3)

And love is described as patient. Or in other words, it "suffers long". (1 Cor. 13:4)

What happens after I suffer a while? He makes me perfect. (1 Pet. 5:10)

In Col. 3:14, I am called to "put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness."

I love the cry in Psalm 138:8 - The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands

His mercy to me endures forever.

He will perform and not forsake the work He has begun in me (Phil. 1:6). 

The Lord will perfect that which concerns me.