STANDPOINT360

We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.

1 John 3:16 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/1jn.3.16.NLT

Often the challenge of following Jesus is to obey and follow through with His direction in our lives. John writes about this in very clear terms. 

• “And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him. Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is.” 1 John 3:5-6 NLT

• “Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous.” 1 John 3:7 NLT

• “But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil.” 1 John 3:8 NLT

• “Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God.” 1 John 3:9 NLT

• “So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.” 1 John 3:10 NLT

• “This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another.” 1 John 3:11 NLT

• “If we love our brothers and sisters who are believers, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead. Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them.” 1 John 3:14-15 NLT

Reflection

Following through with Jesus is critical.  We are to adjust our lives away from sinning.  We are to focus on loving others in sacrificial ways.  

Encouragement

God is for us. He has adopted us as His children.  He is showing us how to live through the example of His Son, Jesus Christ. 

Prayer

Dear Jesus, thank You for reminding us of who we are and how we are to live.  Thank You for reminding us not to accept any patterns of sin in our lives.  Thank You for calling us to beautiful and sacrificial work of loving others.  

In Jesus name, Amen

God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.

Matthew 5:6 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.5.6.NLT

Satisfaction is given by God to those who pursue justice and righteousness. Justice and righteousness are both used by bible translators in communicating these words of Jesus in the English language. To understand each word a little bit better, let’s look at what scripture has to say:

• Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows. Isaiah 1:17 NLT

• There is joy for those who deal justly with others and always do what is right. Psalms 106:3 NLT

• The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer him sacrifices. Proverbs 21:3 NLT

• Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Galatians 6:7 NLT

• Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. James 1:20 NLT

• Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love will find life, righteousness, and honor. Proverbs 21:21 NLT

• But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. 1 Timothy 6:11 NLT

God wants us to know that He blesses us when we seek to do what is right and just on behalf of everyone with a deep satisfaction that comes only from Him.  Jesus, in a very real sense of the word, is our justice and righteousness before God.  As we live out this truth, we become the expression of everything right and fair in a world that is wrong and unfair. 

Reflection

God loves righteousness and justice.  It brings Him joy.  Come to think about it, there is deep joy knowing I have treated others right and fair.   My heart breaks when I don’t care for people in ways that are fair and true.  There is no satisfaction in taking advantage of people. 

Encouragement

Justice and Righteousness are received best through Jesus.  Our relationship with Him, the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, gives us the capacity to pursue of life of justice and righteousness. This leads to a satisfaction that is found nowhere else, but in our relationship with God. 

Prayer

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for being righteousness and justice in my life.  Holy Spirit, Thank You for guiding me in pursuing a life of just and right living on behalf of myself and others. Father, Thank You for your love of justice and righteousness.  Thank You for the deep satisfaction in life that comes from living this way. 

In Jesus name, Amen

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning. When I was prosperous, I said, “Nothing can stop me now!” Your favor, O Lord, made me as secure as a mountain. Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered.

Psalms 30:5-7 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.30.5-7.NLT

Any honest relationship has experienced moments of anger in the context of a lifetime of favor.  It happens in marriage, family, friendship, work, and ministry.  There are times where love looks away because the decisions being made are in violation of the relationship.  

King David is describing such a time with God.  He has known the favor of God all his life.  When in alignment with God, he has felt unstoppable.  King David has also experienced taking God’s favor for granted, abusing, and misusing the privilege of it, and making choices that are in violation of the relationship and trust God has extended to him.  

He experienced the shattering isolation of God looking away in holy anger.  King David describes this as unbearable and short lived.  It gutted him. 

Reflection

God’s favor does last a lifetime.  The truth is, it lasts for all time and beyond. It is also true that God’s holy anger looks away, and his favor, temporarily withdrawn, when we take advantage and abuse our relationship with Him and others.  He won’t stand for it. It is not in His nature to bless or encourage things contrary to His character of perfect love and truth. 

Thankfully, God is willing to restore favor as we come to repentance for abusing and taking our relationship with Him and status with others for granted.  

Encouragement

Enjoy the lasting love and favor of God in your life.  Guard against taking it for granted.  Resist using this favor to take advantage of others.  Instead, let the favor of God flow generously through your life to the benefit of everyone around you. 

Prayer

Father God, 

Thank You for Your favor.  I know I do not deserve it.  Yet, as I become comfortable with Your provision in my life, I am more than capable of abusing our relationship, taking advantage of Your generosity, and using it for selfish pursuits at the expense of others.  I do not like this possibility.  Nor do I like the thought of You turning away from me in Holy Anger.  My I keep true to You and Your ways.  I need Your help in this. Where I fail, may I repent quickly.  Thank You for Your willingness to restore.  May all that You generously grant in my life be an absolute blessing to others.  It is sweet joy to live in Your favor, because if flows from Your pure and perfect love. 

In Jesus name, Amen

“I have revealed you to the ones you gave me from this world. They were always yours. You gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything I have is a gift from you, for I have passed on to them the message you gave me. They accepted it and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me. “My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory. Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are. During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold. “Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.

John 17:6-19 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.17.6-19.NLT

Jesus takes time to pray for the people God has has given to Him in very specific ways.  We would do well to follow His example with the people God gives to each of us:

• God has been revealed to them by Jesus. At the heart of all of our efforts, is the intentional work of showing others who God is through Jesus Christ. 
• Everything Jesus has is a gift from God.  If this is true for Jesus, it is also true for us.  Jesus shared this with His disciples.  May we do the same with those closest to us. 
• They are God’s:  Jesus recognizes that everyone given to Him in personal relationship belongs to God.  They are part of God’s gift, bringing glory to Jesus.  May we care for those God has given to us with the same understanding. 
• Continued Protection: Jesus prays to God the Father for the continued protection of those close to Him even after He is gone. May we ask God for the continued care and protection over those He has given to us long after our time with them is past. 
• Unity: Jesus prays for unity. Oneness.  The same kind of unity Jesus experiences with Father God.  He wants the very best in relationship for them.  He gives the very best example.  Let us do the same. 
• Prepared: Jesus was intentional in preparing those closest to Him with God’s truth.  He focused them on the Kingdom of God.  This changed their relationship with the world.  While enormous opportunity to expand the Kingdom of God exists, it comes in the context of resistance and hostility from the world. May we be intentional in preparing those God has given to us. 
• Provided for:  Jesus identifies provisions given that will be needed to live this life.  Joy, God’s word, continued protection from the evil one, holiness and truth.  What a list of provisions we are to share with those in our care. 
• Sent:  Jesus was sent into this world by God the Father.  Jesus is continuing, by sending those closest to Him into the world to make God known through Jesus Christ. We are to do the same.  We live in this world as “sent people” to reveal God to others.  We are to send the ones God has entrusted to us to do the same. 
• Sacrifice:  Jesus gives a gift that only He can give. Holiness.  His sacrifice makes us holy.  May we encourage and guide everyone in our care to the sacrificial love of Jesus that makes each one holy.  This may take sacrifice on our part, to draw people into the care of Jesus.  Our sacrifice is aa small reflection of the sacrifice of Jesus. 

Reflection

Jesus shows us in praying for those closest to Him an intentionality of preparation and provision to follow God in all circumstances.  He intercedes for their care.  His life has been focused on building capacity through God in each one of them.  May we do the same with those entrusted into our care. 

Encouragement

Jesus prays for those he lives and travels with.  He shows us the focus, intentionality and sacrifice required to do the same.  Let the example of Jesus encourage and challenge us today. 

Prayer

Dear Jesus, 

Thank You for being so intentional with those God entrusted to You.  Thank You for interceding for each one of them.  Thank You for showing us how to pray and live with those You have entrusted into our care.  May we pray, live, love and sacrifice with a view that is well beyond our lifetime.  

In Jesus name, Amen