Two Stories Two Questions and a Prayer
1 John 3
1Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
4Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
6Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
7Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
11For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
12Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
13Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
14We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
15Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
16Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
18My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
19And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
20For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
21Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
22And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
23And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
24And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
Look at verse two (v. 2) "...it doth not yet appear what we shall be..." This reminds me of two stories one is biblical another is not from the Bible, but I like it, why not try it on yourself and see if it fits you.
The first is about a frightened man threshing grain in a little hide out when God called to him he didn't know it because God was calling to a "mighty man of valor" You can read the details in the book of Judges 6. Only God knew what He would do with Gideon.
The second is about a man who described his tailor as his favorite person "Every time I visit my tailor," he said, "he considers who I am today and takes my measurement afresh and then cuts a suit to fit me. Phony Salesmen on the otherhand, don't consider who I am and try to sell me any suit and expects me to fit into it. If I somehow fit they tell me how great I look if I don't they have the gall to tell me I could never be fit for their suit"
As you grow in your love of God and man are you more encouraged by the tailors in your life or those phony salesmen with flattery or consternation who really do not, and cannot know the outcome of your life?
You may say, "What a silly question of course I am more encouraged by the honest tailor than the disingenuous salesmen who is out to make salesmen of the month." OK that was a ridicules question, but here's a probing question... be honest with yourself, which one would you rather identify yourself with as you mature in graciousness toward others?
My hope is the latter.
I heard a man say he often prays, "God help me to become more like the person my dog thinks I am."
1Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
4Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
6Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
7Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
11For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
12Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
13Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
14We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
15Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
16Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
18My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
19And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
20For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
21Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
22And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
23And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
24And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
Look at verse two (v. 2) "...it doth not yet appear what we shall be..." This reminds me of two stories one is biblical another is not from the Bible, but I like it, why not try it on yourself and see if it fits you.
The first is about a frightened man threshing grain in a little hide out when God called to him he didn't know it because God was calling to a "mighty man of valor" You can read the details in the book of Judges 6. Only God knew what He would do with Gideon.
The second is about a man who described his tailor as his favorite person "Every time I visit my tailor," he said, "he considers who I am today and takes my measurement afresh and then cuts a suit to fit me. Phony Salesmen on the otherhand, don't consider who I am and try to sell me any suit and expects me to fit into it. If I somehow fit they tell me how great I look if I don't they have the gall to tell me I could never be fit for their suit"
As you grow in your love of God and man are you more encouraged by the tailors in your life or those phony salesmen with flattery or consternation who really do not, and cannot know the outcome of your life?
You may say, "What a silly question of course I am more encouraged by the honest tailor than the disingenuous salesmen who is out to make salesmen of the month." OK that was a ridicules question, but here's a probing question... be honest with yourself, which one would you rather identify yourself with as you mature in graciousness toward others?
My hope is the latter.
I heard a man say he often prays, "God help me to become more like the person my dog thinks I am."
posted by J. Wendell at 11:12 PM
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