Family Rules for “Little Children”
Because John had “seen it all,” this old gentleman was able to offer some elementary rules all of us would be wise to hear and obey.
The Christian life is difficult sometimes, isn't it? God asks us to leave behind our selfishness and devote ourselves to Jesus Christ in the service of others. This journey has a clear beginning and an even clearer end, but its path is littered with dangerous obstructions and precarious curves. Thankfully, its destination provides lasting, eternal rewards.
Chances are you have experienced the difficulty of losing your way on the journey. We've all been tempted to stray, to step away from the fundamentals of authentic Christian living toward the more immediate fulfilments we desire for ourselves. But God calls us to a life devoted to studying the Scriptures, to prayer, and most important, to knowing Christ Himself.
Let these resources remind you that the goal isn't just reaching our heavenly destination but walking closely with Jesus as we get there.
Because John had “seen it all,” this old gentleman was able to offer some elementary rules all of us would be wise to hear and obey.
We often expend too much energy hiding our weaknesses in order to win the approval of others. Chuck Swindoll encourages us to let the truth shine through!
The Apostle John hoped to revive his younger readers to return to an authentic, contagious walk with Christ.
My defence mechanism of not trusting others completely backfired when it came to God. When I follow His call to trust, I discover that His character is fortified with honesty, fairness, faithfulness, truthfulness, and justice.
Chuck Swindoll says it's not your major projects or achievements that reveal who you really are. What shows your true vision is how you handle all those little daily tasks.
Before Paul put the final period on his first letter to the Thessalonians he issued a double-edged command: “encourage…and build up one another” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). In a world more sinful than saintly, such a command is necessary because the spirit of discouragement is dangerous.
If everyone practiced the philosophy of an eye for an eye we’d all be blind. You see, grinding resentment isn’t resolved with revenge; it’s resolved with grace.
Few character qualities are more important than integrity. Courage is perhaps the only one to precede it, since it stiffens our spines and sets our feet.
God offers to each of us at least two great moments in life: the moment when we were born—though we might not wish to dwell on the number of birthdays from that day to this—and the moment we realize why we were born.
A better alternative to the phrase “let go and let God” is “trust God and get going!” Work out a strategy for ensuring you will not fall into sin again, and ask God to bless your plan.