Preparing for Easter ~ Christ is the Truth

We cannot claim to know Christ and to honor Him if we refuse the path He calls us to follow. Erwin Raphael McManus from The Barbarian Way (pg. 140)

Surrounded by words and voices that demand recognition, we hear many messages. We must listen and discern which ones are Truth. Many well-known celebrities promote literary works that represent partial truths yet greatly influence people. In the quest for intellectual pursuits, we compromise, we rationalize, we doubt. How can we know what is false and what is Truth?

Read 2 John 1:9-11

Anyone who gets so progressive in his thinking that he walks out on the teaching of Christ, walks out on God. . . 2 John 1:9 The Message

Scripture warns that there will be false teaching. In our faithfulness to God, we must spend time in the Living Word, praying to the Holy One, listening for the Spirit of Truth. It is our journey with Christ ~ our learning to depend on Him ~ that gives us the strength and wisdom to know what is false and what is Truth. We must trust in Christ.

Consider this!

• Think of at least 3 examples of "false teaching" today.
• Why are partial truths dangerous?
• How dependent are you on Christ for wisdom?

Jesus ~ As we study about You, it is easy to find the many ways evil tried to attack You and Your ministry. As Your followers, we are often taunted by the evil one. Chaos and distractions and doubt come from the one who pursues us with false teachings. But Jesus, You encourage us, shepherd us, grace us into Truth with love. Amen. ~dho

All rights reserved ~ used with permission of the author

Copyright 2009 by Donna Oswalt                                                                              

Preparing for Easter ~ Rewards

Be with me in my silence and my speech, in my haste and in my leisure, in company and in solitude, in the freshness of morning and in the weariness of the evening; and give me grace at all times to rejoice in Thy mysterious companionship. John Baille

Loyalty is not valued much in the world today. Both employees and employers make the choices that please them best, give them the best financial outcomes. Rarely do we read of the reverse. In decades past, loyalty was respected. Our loyalty to God waivers as we weigh possibility. What effect does this have on our future?

Read 2 John 1:7-8

Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. 2 John 1:8 ESV

God never changes. Neither does His Faithfulness to His children. In our faithfulness to growing a deeper, more intimate relationship with God, we find the desire to love Him and serve Him grows exponentially. God's Promise to all believers is that we will be awarded our earned Service Rewards in Heaven. The more like Jesus we love each other, the greater our rewards.

Consider this!

• Describe a time you were deceived by a partial truth.
• Read Romans 6:20-23. How does this help you understand God's rewards?
• How are your loyalty reward points looking?

God of mercy, God of grace ~ You give to us in every way, never leaving us, never turning from us, never forgetting Your promises. We do just the opposite ~ taking but not sharing, searching but not finding satisfaction, remembering difficulty but forgetting Your goodness. We are humbled that You are a loyal companion to us ~ faithful and true. Amen. ~dho

All rights reserved ~ used with permission of the author

Copyright 2009 by Donna Oswalt                                                                       

Preparing for Easter ~ Love Means . . .

Our preciousness, uniqueness, and individuality are not given to us by those who meet us in clock-time -  our brief chronological existence - but by the One who has chosen us with an everlasting love, a love that existed from all eternity and will last through all eternity.

Henri Nouwen from Life of the Beloved (pg. 51)

Tennyson wrote I am a part of all that I have met. We are the same - with our experiences mingling and mirroring and monitoring the experiences of those we meet. This is what Nouwen refers to as our brief chronological existence. Yet, more importantly, how do we live?

Read 2 John 1:4-6

I can't tell you how happy I am to learn that many members of your congregation are diligent in living out the Truth . . . Love means following His commandments, and His unifying commandment is that you conduct your lives in love. . .
2 John 1:4,6 The Message 

The love John writes about is a Holy Love that God gives to us just because He chooses to love us. Mostly, our finite minds cannot comprehend any person who would love us ~ just as we are. God's generous Love stands ready to shape us into more while we waiver casually in search of self. Truth calls to us conduct your lives in love!

Consider this!

• Think about how consistently you conduct your lives in love.
• God's commandment is "to love" ~ was John teaching something new?
• Are you becoming "more"? Do you credit "clock-time" or "God's Love?

Lord ~ In our every day, the world influences us, tells us partial truths, places unworthy desires in our hearts. The world calls and is unrelenting. But You - You whisper songs of mercy, show us Eternal Truth, embrace us with extravagant love. Why do we choose the world over You? Help us see the One who chooses us! Teach us to be diligent. Amen. ~dho

All rights reserved ~ used with permission of the author

Copyright 2009 by Donna Oswalt                                                                              

Preparing for Easter ~ Truth and Love

Grace is . . . a burst of light in a room where everyone forgot it was dark. David Jeremiah from Captured by Grace (pg. 12)

Jesus is "Truth" and "Love" personified. Because of who Christ is, we are redeemed and reconciled to the Father through Truth and Love, through Christ. This Absolute Truth, this Divine Love comes to us freely and embraces us fully.

Read 2 John 1:1-3

. . . Christ . . . be with us who live in truth and love. 2 John 1:3 NLT

When we live in truth and love, it is because Grace pours over us. How easily this is taken for granted! We forget about Grace, forget about the Source of Grace, forget that we live in a world of darkness. Christ never forgets us, especially in the darkness. Christ is a burst of light!

Consider this!

• What "truth" does the Scripture reference?
• Am I aware that Christ abides with me?
• Do I really live in truth and love?

Jesus ~ Undeserved Grace pour over me bringing me into the Light Everlasting. You abide with me every moment. Amen. ~dho

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Copyright 2009 by Donna Oswalt                                                                        

Preparing for Easter ~ Guarded By Grace

4th Sunday of Lent 

Humanity is in the grip of an evil power, and we are helpless to free ourselves from bondage to that power by our own strength. The only one who can deliver us from it is Jesus Christ.
Ray Stedman from Spiritual Warfare (pg.41)

The power of evil is stronger than we are but not stronger than God. In fact, Scripture reminds us that God is greater than any power in the world. Unfortunately, all too often, we try to overcome evil by our own strength. We will always fail.

Read 1 John 5:21

Little children, guard yourselves from idols. NASB

Anything that takes God's place in our hearts is an idol. We comfort ourselves by saying that our "idols" are not really like the golden calf of the Old Testament. We don’t really worship them, right? We need money and social status, job security and houses, designer clothes and the acceptable car. Yet, the truth is ANYTHING that we allow to mean more to us than God is our idol. ANYTHING!

Consider this!

• What idols do I worship?
• How do I plan to "guard" my heart from these idols?
• Am I willing to place Jesus Christ at the center of my life?

Lord ~ I go along without thought to idols, thinking my gestures of love and service in Your name are enough. When I place time in the Living Word last in the day, when I place my desires ahead of another's needs, when I spend Your offering on tokens that will not bring me joy, when I take credit for the goodness and success that comes my way ~ I place my idols BEFORE You. Forgive my shallow, selfish ways. Guard my heart from the evil one. Guard me from myself. Amen. ~dho

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Copyright 2009 by Donna Oswalt                                                                                                                                                              

Preparing for Easter ~ Children of God

. . . it is not in daily sinning that the secret of humility is found, but rather in the position of dependence upon the grace of God.
Andrew Murray from Humility (pg. 71)

 The commentary in the Life Application Bible reminds: There is no middle ground; people either belong to God and obey Him, or they live under Satan's control. As children of God, we choose to obey the Father; as disobedient children, we follow the evil one. Our sinful nature threatens the desire for obedience. Grace redeems us.
Read 1 John 5:16-20

We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the power and control of the evil one. 1 John 5:19 NLT

 These verses compare our sinful nature, our inability to be sin-free, with the freedom of choice to deny Christ or apostasy. The Believer's confession of sins and desire to serve God brings forgiveness; however, the world denies Christ as Redeemer and follows Satan. Despite what the world would have us believe, evil is alive and active and is seeking those who would choose darkness and disobedience over Light and Grace.

Consider this!

• Contrast "darkness" and "disobedience" with "light" and "obedience"
• Using a dictionary, define "apostasy"
• Whose child are you?

Father of Light ~ When my doubts try to conquer, send the Light! When darkness seems easier, send the Light! When disorder becomes routine, send the Light! When the Destroyer struggles to claim me, send the Light! Light and Grace, shine on me! Amen. ~dho

All rights reserved ~ used with permission of the author

Copyright 2009 by Donna Oswalt                                                         

Preparing for Easter ~ Certainty in Christ

As fruit is the great proof of the true relation to Christ, so prayer is the proof of our relation to the Father. A fruitful abiding in the Son and prevailing prayer to the Father are the two great factors in the true Christian life.

Andrew Murray from The True Vine (pg. 143) 

God's Promise of Eternal Life through Jesus is certain, not just a hope but a truth. On this promise we can stand; we can know our future. And how will we demonstrate our certainty?

Read 1 John 5:13-15

And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of Him. 1 John 5:15 ESV

Murray suggests that prayer is the proof of our certainty. Because we know Christ, we come to Him in prayer; we know that He hears our prayers. God knows our hearts before we even speak, but He desires that we come to Him in worship and praise, with our needs and concerns. As we listen for His guidance in our lives, seek His wisdom for our actions, spend time with Him growing a more intimate relationship, we can be certain that He will respond to us.

Consider this!

• Where is the certainty of life?
• Do you KNOW Christ?
• If "fruitful abiding" and "prevailing prayer" mark the Christian life, what proof are you offering of your certainty?

Spirit of Truth ~ Take the noise of the world away. In the moments of quiet, speak the truth of God to me. My prayers rise to the Love Most High ~ Your whispers return to me full of the certainty that Christ gives. Amen. ~dho

All rights reserved ~ used with permission of the author

Copyright 2009 by Donna Oswalt                                

Preparing for Easter ~ Life, A Choice

Either God is right or the world is right. It cannot be both. . . Christianity is not merely a change in outward actions of a bit higher moral or ethical level. Christianity is a revolutionary change of government that results in a radical change in behavior.

Ray Stedman from The Power of His Presence

God presents the truth, then gives us a choice ~ Him or the world. Our choice of Christ goes beyond a verbal confession. After our words, our behavior defines us. As we seek a deeper relationship with God, our lives will evidence our testimony that we choose life!

Read 1 John 5:11-12

This is the testimony in essence: God gave us eternal life; the life is in His Son. So, whoever has the Son, has life; whoever rejects the Son, rejects life. The Message

Consider this!

• When I survey my behavior, does it more often reflect the world or Christ?
• Describe worldly behavior.
• What is my testimony?

God ~ Goodness and Grace are offered to me! Every day I am surrounded by the world but embraced by You. I choose Christ! I choose Life! As You draw near to me, I find a peace the world will never give. Amen. ~dho

All rights reserved ~ used with permission of the author

Copyright 2009 by Donna Oswalt