“Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”‭‭1 John‬ ‭2:4-6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/1jn.2.4-6.esv
All,
This stands out because John says, “whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected.” God wants the best for us. Jesus said He came to give us life to the full. How do we keep God’s Word? 1)Read the Bible 2)Spend time with God personally 3) Seek wise counsel. Pray over any counsel you receive to ensure its consistent with the whole Bible. Satan attempted to deceive even Jesus by misusing the Word of God, but Jesus answered him with the Word of God. If we do not know the Bible personally, we are setting ourselves up for deception. Please pray that we and our friends seek God’s purpose for our lives today and obey. Please pray for the men considering CLC. 

“Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭3:14-18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/2pe.3.14-18.esv
All,
This stands out because Peter says, “There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.” Again, I feel like all I comment on are the verses that deal with heresy within the church, but it’s a topic that comes up chapter after chapter as we are reading the end of the New Testament. It also seems like there is exponential effect going on now in society where people are claiming up is down and down is up. Peter says to handle this by “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”. It’s all the more important to read the Word of God, grow in grace and love your neighbor. Please pray that we and our friends pray for wisdom and discernment to be a part of God’s will today. Please pray for men considering CLC. 

“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.”‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭2:1-3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/2pe.2.1-3.esv
All,
This stands out because Peter says, “And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.” I have a burden on my heart due to seeing how some Christian leaders are attempting to erode away the authority of Scripture. It’s seems that it has been a problem since the New Testament as every chapter in the later parts of the NT seem to deal with it. As with any burden, God wants us to know He is in control, but He wants us to obey His nudges to continually love our neighbor and always being prepared to speak the reason for our hope. Please pray that we and our friends obey God’s nudges today. Please pray for our Christian leaders. 

“And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭1:19-21‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/2pe.1.19-21.esv
All,
This stands out because Peter says, “For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” The Bible is the Word of God. There are many people, including Christians, who want to make parts of the Bible something that is man made so they can continue being their own god. I’m sure we are all tempted to interpret things that suit us, but if we truly desire a relationship with Jesus, we need to truly pray over His Word and ask Him to reveal its meaning. After all, the Pharisees knew the Torah better than anyone, but still interpreted it to suit themselves and Jesus corrected them many times. Please pray that we and our friends seek first the Kingdom of God. Please pray for the men considering CLC. 

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.”‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5:6-9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/1pe.5.6-9.esv
All,
This stands out because Peter says, “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith”. How does it say to resist the devil? Firm in your Faith. Faith is such a key sword that’s like a muscle. It’s seems that God gives us opportunities to grow our faith in Him by giving us situations where we realize we can’t do anything and we see Him at work. Then those situations become more out of our control and more is at stake and we see Him at work. It seems that one of satan’s best tactics is fear and God wants us to put our faith in Him even more when the fear is overwhelming. Please pray that we and our friends cast our anxieties on God today and walk through all situations in Faith. Please pray for the Beloved house. 

“For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does. The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭4:3-8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/1pe.4.3-8.esv
All,
This stands out because Peter says, “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” There are many issues going on now where Christians are being maligned because they believe that the Bible is God’s Word and they want to trust and obey it. The early Christians had it much worse and yet they continued to love their neighbor. Remember the recent example that the Church in Charleston set by forgiving after being attacked? Please pray that we and our friends continue to “love another earnestly” and remember that God is in control. Please pray for our Christian leaders. 

“Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.”‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭3:13-17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/1pe.3.13-17.esv
All,
This stands out because Peter says, “Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy”. I realized through CLC how much joy I received by pleasing people and how that desire competed with pleasing God sometimes. Often times, pleasing God does please people also, but sometimes I think God is nudging me to obey in such a way that it doesn’t serve someone else’s interests, but it serves God’s. I have found in my own life that God knows a lot more than me and His purpose is the best purpose. Please pray that we and our friends love God with all our hearts today. Please pray for the church leaders as they are constantly in Spiritual warfare.  

“He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;”‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1:20-23‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/1pe.1.20-23.esv
All,
This stands out because Peter says, “Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love”. Obedience to the truth? How can we be obedient to the Truth if we do not know the Truth? Are you reading the Word of God to know His truth for you? How else can we “love one another earnestly from a pure heart”? True love doesn’t give candy to a kid just because a kid wants candy. True love guides someone to what the Word of God says for their life. Jesus said, “the thief comes to still, kill and destroy, but I came to give you life and life to the full” John 10:10. Please pray that we and our friends love one another with a pure heart. Please pray for the men considering CLC. 

“My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”‭‭James‬ ‭5:19-20‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/jas.5.19-20.esv
All,
This stands out because James says, “whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death”. No one likes to be corrected or disciplined, but true friends and loved ones care for each other too much to let another wander too far off the path. It seems unloving and judging to speak the truth in love at first, but very appreciative later. I know I have needed plenty of correction by loving parents and friends and I suspect most of you have needed it also. Please pray that we and our friends follow God’s nudge if we see a friend in trouble of wandering off the path. Please pray for the men considering CLC. 

“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”‭‭James‬ ‭4:13-17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/jas.4.13-17.esv
All,
This stands out because James says, “yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring.” I dwell a lot on “tomorrow”, but thankfully it’s a lot less than it used to be. A thought came to my head a month or so ago that’s says, “His presence in the present”. I’m sure I read it somewhere, but either way, I like it. I think God loves for us to be with Him in the present. We are fully engaged with Him there. The thief can steal our lives by keeping us in the past or future. Please pray that we and our friends practice “His presence in the present” today. Please pray for the men considering CLC. Thank you for all your prayers for Bonni yesterday. The surgery went as well as possible and she is starting the road to recovery with encouragement.