You shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children … that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied … like the days of the heavens above the earth. Deuteronomy 11:18–19, 21 ɴᴋᴊᴠ The Israelite’s heart, soul, and might—spirit, soul and body—are involved as he passes the baton of the truth to his children, having his personal life and his home serve as a reflection of what the Word says, as in Deuteronomy 6. The purpose or the result of this obedience—or both—is long life for himself and his children. This life has the added quality of “the days of the heavens.” Note that the things that characterize the earth do not characterize heaven. For the believer, this promise speaks of a superlative spiritual prosperity. Thankfully, the Word of God describes its richness. As we, who are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies according to the will of God, live in those blessings and pass them on to our children—both biological and in the faith—we begin to find increasingly an enjoyment of our heavenly portion. Our hearts and souls are brought to a sphere of things wholly different in character. It is vital that our actions should be brought into consonance with the things of that sphere. The result is enjoyment of heavenly things, having “days of the heavens” while in the midst of earthly things. We live lives of heaven while surrounded by carnal attitudes and behaviors, replicating the life of Christ upon this earth by the power of the Spirit. Does the Word of God, do the promises of God, do the blessings of God so fill my heart and soul that my actions reflect a totally willing submission to God and the things of God? Only then will I begin to experience my days as “the days of the heavens above the earth.” Hadley Hall https://gbv-online.org/calendar/773/date/2026-08-11

Need to know. THE SCHEMES OF SATAN "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." 1 Peter 5:8. It is unsafe to trust to feelings or impressions; these are unreliable guides. God’s law is the only correct standard of holiness. It is by this law that character is to be judged. If an inquirer after salvation were to ask, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” the modern teachers of sanctification would answer, “Only believe that Jesus saves you.” But when Christ was asked this question He said, “What is written in the law? how readest thou?” And when the questioner replied, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, ... and thy neighbour as thyself,” Jesus said, “Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.” Luke 10:26-28. No value is attached to a mere profession of faith in Christ; only the love which is shown by works is counted genuine. Yet it is love alone which in the sight of Heaven makes any act of value.... The hidden selfishness of men stands revealed in the books of heaven.... Sad is the record which angels bear to heaven. Intelligent beings, professed followers of Christ, are absorbed in the acquirement of worldly possessions or the enjoyment of earthly pleasures. Money, time, and strength are sacrificed for display and self-indulgence; but few are the moments devoted to prayer, to the searching of the Scriptures, to humiliation of soul and confession of sin. Satan invents unnumbered schemes to occupy our minds, that they may not dwell upon the very work with which we ought to be best acquainted. The archdeceiver hates the great truths that bring to view an atoning sacrifice and an all-powerful Mediator. He knows that with him everything depends on his diverting minds from Jesus and His truth. Those who would share the benefits of the Saviour’s mediation should permit nothing to interfere with their duty to perfect holiness in the fear of God.

Good morning, brethren. 1. Morning devotion for today. MD.i. 😀🌺🌹🎁🎀💝 MORNING TEA THE WORD FOR TODAY THURSDAY JULY 30, 2O26. "DEAL WITH THE STUMBLING BLOCKS (2)" 'Make up your mind not to put any stumbling block…in your brother’s way.’ Romans 14:13 NIV HERE ARE two more stumbling blocks you need to remove in order to win someone to Christ: 1) boredom. Jesus isn’t boring, but sometimes religion is. The story is told of a lady who fell asleep during the sermon. Pointing at the man sitting next to her, the pastor said, ‘Please wake that woman up!’ The man replied, ‘You put her to sleep, Reverend, you wake her up!’ Jesus is called ‘the Good Shepherd’ (John 10:11), and the Greek word for ‘good’ is ‘kalos’, which means ‘captivating’; that’s the Christ we need to present to those seeking spiritual direction. 2) money. It’s been said the most sensitive nerve in a person’s body is the one that runs to their wallet. Have there been financial scandals in the church? Yes. They even had them in the New Testament church (Acts 5). But don’t throw the baby out with the bath water! It takes money to build churches, feed and clothe the needy and send out missionaries. When money is in the right hands, it’s a solution, not a problem. Furthermore, if God can trust you to finance His plans, He will show you how to make more money. He said, ‘…I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit…’ (Isaiah 48:17 AMP). 3) discomfort. People say, ‘I just don’t feel comfortable in church.’ The truth can do that to you! The gospel is designed to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. When Paul preached, some people trembled, but when trembling leads to trusting in Christ, it’s a good thing. Bible In A Year: Deut 18-21; Matt 13:10-23; Ps 78:40-55; Pro 16:32. Courtesy: Grace So Amazing Foundation 💝🎀 *To partner with us, kindly refer to page 9 of the hard copy edition or simply send us a WhatsApp message/call on +2348128000068.*💝🌹🌷🎀. MD.ii. [29/07, 8:53 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DAILY Ⓜ️ANNA - (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR ADULTS) THURSDAY 30TH JULY, 2026``` *GLORIOUS RESTORATION* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽✨🙌🏽 📜📜```TEXT:JEREMIAH 50:17-24```📜📜 🔑📖```KEY VERSE:``` _*"And I will bring Israel again to his habitation, and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan, and his soul shall be satisfied upon mount Ephraim and Gilead" (JEREMIAH 50:19).*_ *The story of Jeff, as published on the website of _Changed Lives Archives,_ narrates the amazing account of redemption and restoration of a wandering child come home. He grew up in the church and drifted away from the faith after the sudden death of his father. He pursued a career in rock music, which led him into broken relationships and addiction. However, through the persistent prayers and support of his aunt, Jeff experienced a spiritual revival. He surrendered his life to Christ. The good news and God's intervention must have accelerated his mother's miraculous healing and recovery from cancer.* *Stepping back into history, the children of Israel had been warned by God to ensure faithful obedience to His laws and complete separation from the contamination of the Gentile nations around them, as they were preparing to inherit the Promised Land. Unfortunately, they kept on disobeying God, and falling into rebellion and idolatry. Eventually, God expressed His divine displeasure after they had exhausted His long rope of love and overdrawn their cheque of mercy. Prophet Jeremiah warned them of the consequences of their disobedience to God and stiff-necked refusal to change their ways and return to the path of righteousness.* *The pronouncement of judgment eventually took its proper cause, and they went into captivity and suffered terribly in Babylon. The passage today, however, comes with a message of hope and comfort to the people of God. After the expiration of the period of their punishment, Jeremiah returned with a message of glorious restoration, refreshment and satisfaction in their land. Israel would have a second chance, after spending 70 years in exile.* *This teaches us that no matter how far anyone has wandered away from God, the loving arms of the Lord are wide open to receive such if only the individual will retrace their steps like the prodigal son and return to God, the Father of mercy. Our loving Father in heaven is longing to receive as many as will seek His face. A new season of glorious restoration and refreshing starts now.* ✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` _*The door of restoration opens the moment a lost soul repents.*_ 📜📜```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *EPHESIANS 4-6*📜📜 Glorious Restoration https://dailymanna.app// *RECOMMENDED GOSPEL HYMNS AND SONGS - GHS 157: WANDERING CHILD, O COME HOME; GHS 158: COME BELIEVING; GHS 159: WHY DO YOU WAIT?; AND GHS 256: REDEEMED* *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#DailyManna30thJuly2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [29/07, 8:53 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*HIGHER EVERYD🅰️Y: (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR YOUTHS)*_ ✍🏽👩🏻‍💼🌻 🍇🙏🏽🛰🚀🔬📚 ```THURSDAY 30TH JULY, 2026``` *DON'T JOIN THEM!* 🎚️📓📖🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️⚠️‼️🛑❌🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:PROVERBS 1:8-16```📜📜 📖``` MEMORY VERSE:``` _*"My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not" (PROVERBS 1:10).*_ *_"Have You Counted the Cost?"_ is a song written by Arthur J. Hodge in 1923, calling us to prioritise our spiritual wellbeing above physical and temporal comfort and pleasure. Those who follow evil paths often end up entangled in greater sin and destruction.* *The pleasures that come with wrongdoing are short-lived and frequently result in regret, pain, and broken ambitions. This is what happened to Amnon, the first son of David, when he committed incest with his sister Tarmar.* *As youths, we must allow God's word, the wise counsels of our godly parents and righteous leaders in our schools and neighbourhoods to guide our actions and each step we take. Sinful temporary pleasures will lead to sorrow and the displeasure of God. They cause stagnation and backwardness in the long run. And may lead to eternal regret if there is no repentance.* *This is why the writer of our passage said that when sinners entice you, you must not follow them. When we resist the urge to follow the crowd, and walk in wisdom, we will experience the peace of living in alignment with God's word.* 💬 ```QUOTE:``` _*You must not follow them.*_ 🏆 ```CHALLENGE:``` _*Have you counted the cost of joining a bad association?*_ 🙏🏽🙏🏽 ```PRAYER:``` _*Lord, help and deliver me from joining bad companies.*_ Don't Join Them! https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#HigherEveryday30thJuly2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [29/07, 9:05 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*(SINCERE MILK: Children Daily Devotional Guide 2⃣0⃣2⃣6️⃣)*_ 🙇🏼🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼‍♂️ ```THURSDAY 30TH JULY, 2026``` *AVOID BESETTING SIN* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️⚠️‼️🛑❌🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```GENESIS 26:6-11```📜📜 🕔📚🖋️🚻😁🎼🏆🍉🪴🌈💻 🔑📖 ```Key Verse:``` _*"And the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he said, She is my sister: for he feared to say, She is my wife; lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she was fair to look upon" (Genesis 26:7).*_ 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Besetting sin is that bad thing you do constantly which makes God unhappy. It could be bad habits, telling lies, living a life of pretense, using abusive words, even after you confess to be born again. Isaac in our Bible passage never knew that his father (Abraham) told the same lies at the same place, and this continued in their family lineage unconsciously. Jacob, with the support of his mother, also told a lie to his father. Your sin will always follow after you, if you do not repent of it. Yours might be anger or hatred towards others. Jesus wants to remove such sins from your life and family lineage. *"And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live"* (Deuteronomy 30:6). *Tell Jesus to root out the adamic nature of besetting sin, and make you pure within and without. He will do it.* 🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥 ```🅿️rayer:``` _*Dear Lord, root out every besetting sin in me, and circumcise my heart.*_ 🙏🏽 ```📖 Further Reading:``` *Hebrews 12:1-4* Avoid Besetting Sin https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#SincereMilk30thJuly2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [29/07, 9:22 pm] Pastor Attah: *MEDITATIONS ON DAILY ⓂANNA* THURSDAY, 30TH JULY, 2026. *BACKSLIDING, JUDGMENT, MERCY AND RESTORATION* *TEXT:* JEREMIAH 50:17-24. 17 Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones. 18 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria. 19 And I will bring Israel again to his habitation, and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan, and his soul shall be satisfied upon mount Ephraim and Gilead. 20 In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve. 21 Go up against the land of Merathaim, even against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod: waste and utterly destroy after them, saith the LORD, and do according to all that I have commanded thee. 22 A sound of battle is in the land, and of great destruction. 23 How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder and broken! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations! 24 I have laid a snare for thee, and thou art also taken, O Babylon, and thou wast not aware: thou art found, and also caught, because thou hast striven against the LORD. *Timeless Truth:*_"And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you"_ (Joel 2:25). *INTRODUCTION* The Book of Judges gives a summary of the events happening to the children of Israel as *"In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes."* . First there is obedience to the Word of God which leads to abundance of blessings and victory over the adversaries. Due to their abundance, they went back into idolatry and sinned after which there came oppression and defeat by the adversary nations for many years. In their afflictions, they cried to God and God showed His mercy and restored them. After restoration to blessings, then backsliding set in and the cycle continued to repeat itself. Such is the life of a believer who is not stable in the Lord. The history of Israel reveals both the severity and the goodness of God. When God's people departed from Him, they suffered oppression because of their disobedience. Yet, God never abandoned His covenant people forever. He promised to judge the cruel nations that afflicted them and to restore the repentant remnant. The text teaches that backsliding attracts divine discipline, wicked oppressors will not escape God's judgment, and sincere repentance always opens the door to God's mercy and restoration. *1. The Retribution for Backsliding* a. Israel is compared to a scattered sheep driven away by fierce lions. Israel, under the shepherd of the Lion of the tribe of Judah, was supposed to be an unconquerable ruler over every nation on earth since they were promised to be the head and not the tail (Deuteronomy 28:13). They only enjoyed this blessing for a few moments under some of their good kings like David, Solomon, Hezekiah and Josiah. Why was the enjoyment of their promised blessings always short lived? Sin of different forms or different shades. What were the consequences) of their sins? Defeat and oppression from the adversaries. b. The Assyrian and Babylonian empires became instruments of God's chastisement because of Israel's persistent rebellion. Sin always weakens believers, exposes them to the enemy and robs them of the peace and blessings of God. Backsliding never leaves anyone better than before. A backslider deprives himself of the best of God. Though God disciplines His children, His purpose is to bring them to repentance and renewed fellowship with Him. *Question* Have you allowed any form of backsliding to expose your life to unnecessary suffering and spiritual defeat? *2. The Retribution for the Brutal* a. Although God used Babylon as an instrument of judgment, He also held Babylon accountable for its cruelty, pride and violence. *"Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria"*. The Lord declared that He would bring desolation upon the land, and trap the nation because it arrogantly opposed Him. No oppressor, persecutor or wicked person escapes God's righteous judgment. Those who exploit others, fight against God's people or exalt themselves against the Lord will ultimately face His justice. There are those who set up snares for God's people and those who are responsible for the fall of God's people. Such people will definitely be judged by God. b. *"Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!"* (Matthew 18:3). Those who cause others to offend God or fall into sin will definitely be recompensed by God. *Question* Are you involved directly or indirectly ensnare, beloved of God, to fall by your life, compartments etc.? *3. Restoration from Backsliding* The marvels of God's mercy is God's grace and willingness to totally restore those who are backsliders and are sincerely repentant. Nobody is doomed for destruction except those who willingly reject the mercy of God. The final condemnation of sinners in hell is so severe that God is willing to forgive no matter the gravity of the offence and backsliding. The final word to His people was not destruction, but restoration. He promised to bring Israel back to their own pasture where they would enjoy abundance and satisfaction. Even more wonderful, He declared that their sins would be sought, but not found because He would pardon the remnant whom He preserved. This points to God's abundant mercy toward all who genuinely repent. Through His forgiveness, the repentant sinner is restored to fellowship, usefulness and spiritual fruitfulness. *Question* Have you genuinely returned to God so that you can experience His complete forgiveness and restoration? *Prayer Points* 1.Father, deliver me from every form of backsliding and keep my heart steadfast in my walk with You 🙏. 2.Lord, forgive all my sins, restore my spiritual strength, and renew my fellowship with You 🙏. 3.Help me to be watchful so that I will never be a source of the fall of anybody 🙏. 4.Heavenly Father, let Your mercy restore every blessing, opportunity, and spiritual inheritance each of Your children have lost through disobedience, in Jesus' name 🙏. *HYMN:* I have decided to follow Jesus *BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:* EPHESIANS 4-6.l. 2. Morning Prayer for today. MP.i. Morning Prayer And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ⏤ 2 Corinthians 12:9 Grace is but glory begun, and glory is but grace perfected. ⏤ Jonathan Edwards O God, our Father, we, Your children, come to You for a blessing. Just as the earth needs the sun and rain from Heaven—so do our lives need Your grace, love, and life. We cannot live without You. Without blessings from You—our souls would die. Pour upon us Your grace and love as we bow at Your feet. We have duties to fulfill today, and we need wisdom to do them well. Please bestow upon us the grace that will prepare us for whatever You have planned for us. Help us to live together as a family in a way that honors You. Deepen our love for each other, and help us to be patient and kind in all our interactions. Help us to love like You do. Fill our hearts with Your love—then we will love truly. Destroy all selfishness in us and give us the mind of Christ Jesus. Help us to bear one another's burdens and to be patient with one another. Make our home more and more like Heaven. May we do Your will here as it is done in Heaven. May our love be like Heaven's love in its purity, tenderness, sincerity, and fellowship. Give us the grace to help each other grow spiritually, to make each other holier, and to encourage each other to love and good works. May we be a means of grace to one another. This morning, we open our hearts to the Holy Spirit, that we may receive a new baptism of love as we go out for the day. Keep us from falling along the difficult way. Let no harm come to us. Shield us from temptation—or strengthen us to resist it. Bring us all home safely at nightfall when the day is done. We ask all this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/25/morning #taptapstudio #youdevotion.

Good morning to everyone. Grace and Peace be with you. Can you believe these temperatures? I have actually put on jeans because it is too cool for me. Haha. Did not see that coming. One of the neat things about social media is that you can have fun with your picture. There are these games that you can play that are “What are you like in animal form, good and bad?” “If you were a bird, which one would you be?” “What is your spirit flower?” The list goes on. Well, last night I played a couple, and the ‘glamour’ shots that they envisioned for me were hilariously beautiful and totally not happening at all at the same time. Haha. I love seeing what the AI algorithm thinks of my picture in these different scenarios. It is fun. But … anyone who knows me … the true me … knows that it is completely false - A mask. This mask is meant for humor and enjoyment. Unfortunately, there are other masks out there that are for hiding the dark that lives in our lives. We have this unique way of portraying ourselves in a positive light so that no one will know the true darkness that hides in the shadows of our steps. It is not until we light the life-giving candle of Jesus Christ in our lives that we can shed our masks. There are many umbrellas that we all walk under throughout our lives. The enemy is in many, if not all of them, to some degree … even the one held by Christ. Stick with me here. Through our lives, we are guided by circumstances. This is the catalyst for that. Because of that, I did this. He said this, so I replied that. And so on. Circumstances and scenarios drive our steps. In that, we put on masks to make ourselves look better than we truly are. I go to church; therefore, I must always be happy, and nothing is ever wrong in my life … Mask. If I show distress of any kind, then the person I am trying to lead to Christ will run away … Mask. The enemy is constantly whispering his logical explanations over each step we make. Common sense explanations that truly hold water for thought. Making it seem as though the mask is the very thing that we need to keep up appearances and do God’s will. He makes very compelling arguments. Meanwhile, the mask is creating a lie. By keeping our troubles in the dark, we set those up around us for failure. Our struggles, our honesty, our transparency … that is what allows for the Light to shine out the darkness. Our ability to allow others to see the deepest truths of our lives is what will show them how we are still standing … because of the Love of Christ and our faith in him. The enemy would have us believe that if Jane knows about what I did ten years ago, she will tell the pastor and the pastor will not allow me to volunteer anymore because I am a bad person. If Jane knows what I did, I will be the gossip point for the whole community, and my reputation will be ruined. If Jane finds out my secrets, she will walk away from me, and I will have no one. If Jane … (fyi…I do not know anyone named Jane…fictional name for this purpose) The enemy will convince me to bury our secrets to protect ourselves. Sometimes in that protection we end up building barriers which in turn end up as lies so that no one knows. Those lies compound and create even bigger issues. This is not a call to stand on the street corner and confess your every sin of life. This is not a call for you to invite disruptive people into your life. This is a call for you to remove the mask of darkness, allow the Light to be your reflection, and when those secrets surface … face them head-on. “Yes, that was me then. But not anymore.” Once you do that and stand on it, darkness will no longer have any power over you. Today, I encourage you to find the mask that you are hiding behind and remove it. Your face is beautiful in the light of His love. Be blessed. **The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. – Romans 13:12

HEY GUYS IMPORTANT NOTE ; PLEASE DONT LIKE ANY POSTS HERE , ITS PURELY FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT ...MAD LOVE CHURCH 😎 😎

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐄𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐁𝐞 𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧? A Comprehensive Biblical Answer Many people assume eternal life is something you receive only after you die—a reward at the end of the journey. Others think it is earned by good works. Still others wonder if it can be lost along the way. The Bible speaks clearly on this question. Let the Word of God settle it once and for all. 🕊️ 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 Eternal life is both a present possession for every believer and a future inheritance that will be fully realized at the return of Christ. The moment a person repents and trusts in Jesus Christ, they pass from death to life. That life is eternal—and it begins now. 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝟓:𝟐𝟒 (KJV): "𝘝𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘺, 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘺, 𝘐 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘏𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘮𝘦, 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯; 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦." Notice the present tense: "hath" (has) everlasting life. It is not a future hope only; it is a current reality. 📖 𝐁𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝟏. 𝐄𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝟑:𝟑𝟔 (KJV): "𝘏𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦: 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘵𝘩 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦; 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘮." The word "hath" is present tense. The believer already possesses everlasting life. The unbeliever does not have it—and remains under God’s wrath. 𝟏 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝟓:𝟏𝟏-𝟏𝟑 (KJV): "𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘴 𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘚𝘰𝘯. 𝘏𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦; 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘐 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥; 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥." John writes so that believers may know (not hope, not guess) that they have eternal life. It is a certainty. 𝟐. 𝐄𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐀𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐚 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 While eternal life begins now, Scripture also speaks of it as a future promise—especially in connection with the resurrection of the body and the coming kingdom. 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝟔:𝟐𝟑 (KJV): "𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩; 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘴 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥." The gift is given now, but its full expression awaits Christ’s return. 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐬 𝟏:𝟐 (KJV): "𝘐𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘦, 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘯." We wait in hope for the final consummation—when we shall be raised incorruptible and dwell with Christ forever. 𝟏 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝟐:𝟐𝟓 (KJV): "𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘴, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦." The promise is sure, but its full enjoyment is yet to come. 𝟑. 𝐄𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐁𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝟏𝟎:𝟐𝟖-𝟐𝟗 (KJV): "𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦; 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘩, 𝘯𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘱𝘭𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥. 𝘔𝘺 𝘍𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘨𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘮𝘦, 𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘭; 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘭𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘍𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳’𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥." If eternal life could be lost, it would not be eternal. Jesus says His sheep shall never perish. This is the security of the believer. 🔍 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 ❌ 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟏: Eternal life is only given after death. Truth: It is granted the moment you believe. Physical death does not end it; it ushers you into its fuller reality. ❌ 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟐: Eternal life is earned by good works. Truth: It is a free gift received through faith. Works are the fruit, not the root. 𝐄𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝟐:𝟖-𝟗 (KJV): "𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘺 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩; 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴: 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥: 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘴, 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘰𝘢𝘴𝘵." ❌ 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟑: You can lose eternal life by sin. Truth: Sin breaks fellowship but not relationship. The life is eternal because it is in Christ, not in your performance. ❌ 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟒: Everyone automatically receives eternal life. Truth: Only those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ receive it. 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝟏𝟒:𝟔 (KJV): "𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦: 𝘯𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘣𝘺 𝘮𝘦." 🛠️ 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝟏. 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 You do not have to wonder whether you are saved. The Bible says you can know you have eternal life (𝟏 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝟓:𝟏𝟑). Rest in that certainty. 𝟐. 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐲 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 Because eternal life is already yours, live in a way that honors the One who gave it. Your works are not to earn life, but to express gratitude and to shine as light. 𝟑. 𝐔𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐦 Eternal life is offered now—today. Do not assume tomorrow will come. Share the gospel while there is still time. 𝟒. 𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 This life is temporary. Eternal life is unshakable. When trials come, fix your eyes on what is unseen and eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18). 🌍 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲’𝐬 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 We live in an age of anxiety, uncertainty, and fear of death. People chase pleasure, money, and security—but nothing lasts. The Bible offers a certain, permanent solution: eternal life through Jesus Christ. In a world that says “you only live once,” Scripture says: you will live forever—where will you spend that forever? In a culture that denies absolute truth, the Word declares: Jesus is the only way to eternal life. In a time when many feel hopeless, believers have a living hope (𝟏 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏:𝟑). 🙌 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 If you have never received eternal life, you can receive it right now. Turn from your sin and trust in Jesus Christ—His death, burial, and resurrection for your salvation. The moment you do, you will pass from death to life. 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝟑:𝟏𝟔 (KJV): "𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘴𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘚𝘰𝘯, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘰𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘩, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦." 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫.

FoLLoW My PAGE !!! GOODNEWS HIP HOP AND TRAP , DEDICATED TO HIP HOP , TRAP AND LOFI CHRISTAIN MUSIC FOR YOUR EVERYDAY ENJOYMENT...

Daily devotion for July 4th When You Don't Need A Bath! Jesus answered A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. John 13:10a Jesus had said earlier, What I do now you don't understand. In asking for a bath, Peter proved that he didn't understand what was happening. So Jesus corrects him again. And in those words He gives us a beautiful explanation of the process of salvation. It begins with a bath. That initial coming to Christ, in which we take the place of bankruptcy before Him, coming without any vestige of our own righteousness to offer and allowing Him to cleanse us, is likened to a bath in which we are washed all over, completely, from head to foot. Jesus, of course, is alluding to a very common social practice in those days. It was the custom to take a bath before you went out to a meal. But in walking through the dirty streets of the city with sandals on, your feet would be defiled. And so when you arrived as a guest, a servant would wash your feet. But you would not need to repeat the bath. So Jesus is saying, When you first come to me, you are bathed; you are clean all over. This is what the Bible calls justification by faith. It is a washing away of all the guilt and sin of the entire life--past, present, and future. But as you walk through life, Jesus knows your feet will be defiled during your walk, and that needs to be washed away. Thus He teaches us that not only do we need that initial, never-to-be-repeated cleansing, but we also need the many-times-repeated experience of forgiveness, of coming to Christ for the cleansing away of the defilement of our walk. This determines that we have a part with Him. In other words, the enjoyment of our relationship with Christ is lost when we are temporarily defiled by wrongdoing in our life. We lose the enjoyment of our relationship with Him. His attitude toward us doesn't change, but our attitude toward Him does. That is why we are taught all through the Scriptures to confess our sins (1 John 1:9). And the moment we do so, that original cleansing is renewed to us, and we go on again, restored. Peter's error is being repeated today. There are those who refuse to have Jesus wash their feet. They are rejecting the indispensable requisite for enjoying their relationship with Christ. When people refuse to let Jesus wash their feet, they lose that sense of partnership with Him. On the other hand, there are those who feel that they need a bath all over again when they sin, that they have lost their salvation and that somehow they have to start over in their Christian experience. But Jesus teaches us by this whole process we need only one bath. This is reflected in the truth of baptism. You are baptized once, as the initial act. But the Lord's Supper reflects the washing of the feet, the need for cleansing from sin throughout life. Thank You, Father, that You have washed away all my sin and guilt, and I now stand righteous in Your sight. Teach me to come to You each day, confessing my sin, allowing You to restore me to that close fellowship with You for which I was made

Holy Wit – Reflections #5 (Walking in the Light: Studies Through 1 John) Scripture References: 1 John 2:12–17 There was once a man who bought a new chair. It was not a throne, though he may have looked at it with a throne-like fondness. It was not a family heirloom. It had not crossed oceans, survived wars, or been handed down by a serious-looking grandfather who used words like “stewardship” and “mahogany.” It was just a chair. But it was a fine chair. The man saw it in a shop window one afternoon while walking past on an errand that had nothing whatever to do with chairs. That is how these things often begin. No one wakes up in the morning and says, “Today I shall be gently ambushed by furniture.” But there it was. It had strong arms, good cushions, polished legs, and a look about it that seemed to say, “You have worked hard. You deserve a place to sit with dignity.” This was quite a bold claim for a chair, but the man was in no mood to argue with upholstery. He went inside. The shopkeeper, who had clearly dealt before with men who were trying to pretend they were only looking, said, “Very good chair. Very strong. Very comfortable. Will last many years.” That last phrase did it. Many years. The man imagined himself sitting in that chair through storms, festivals, quiet evenings, family visits, cups of tea, books, naps, and important thoughts that would surely come more easily once he owned the correct chair. He imagined grandchildren one day saying, “That was Grandfather’s chair,” with appropriate reverence, as though the chair had helped negotiate peace treaties. So he bought it. For the first few weeks, he treated it with the tenderness usually reserved for newborn babies and delicate machinery. No one sat in it without permission. No one placed food near it. Children were warned. Visitors were guided toward other chairs. Cats, who do not recognize human ownership structures, were removed repeatedly and with rising indignation. Then life happened. A seam loosened. One leg began to wobble. A visitor spilled tea. A child climbed onto it with shoes that had apparently been walking through every substance known to agriculture. The sun faded one side. The cat won. Within a few years, the chair was still a chair, but it had stopped speaking in the language of permanence. It had become more honest. It no longer said, “I will last many years.” It said, “Everything made of fabric and wood is slowly negotiating with dust.” This is not a criticism of chairs. Chairs are useful. Some are beautiful. A good chair at the end of a long day is one of those small mercies that reminds us the Lord understands knees, backs, and the strange collapse that overtakes human beings around evening. The problem was never that the man owned a chair. The problem began when the chair started carrying more weight than wood and cushion were ever meant to carry. John writes, “Do not love the world or the things in the world.” That can sound, at first, like a command to frown at creation, mistrust enjoyment, and walk through life suspicious of every mango, sunset, song, and comfortable place to sit. But John is not condemning God’s good creation. He is not telling Christians to hate beauty, reject work, avoid family, or treat ordinary human life as something beneath holiness. Scripture begins with God making the world and calling it good. The Christian problem is not that the world exists. The problem is the fallen world-system that trains our hearts to live as though God does not matter. John is warning us about love misplaced. The world, in this sense, is not the soil beneath our feet or the neighbor across the road. It is the order of human desire arranged without reference to the Father. It is life organized around appetite, appearance, status, pride, possession, and self-rule. It is the voice that says, “You will be complete when you have this. You will be safe when people admire you. You will be free when no one tells you no. You will endure if you attach yourself to what everyone else is chasing.” It is a liar with excellent marketing. John names three great currents running through it: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. The lust of the flesh is desire that refuses to be governed by God. It is appetite climbing into the driver’s seat and insisting it knows the road. It may be sexual sin, drunkenness, greed, laziness, rage, or indulgence. But it may also look quieter than that. It may be the demand for comfort, the refusal to forgive, the need to be served, or the habit of saying, “I want this, therefore it must be right.” The flesh is not always found in dark alleys. Sometimes it sits politely in respectable rooms. The lust of the eyes is desire stirred and ruled by what we see. This is especially dangerous because sight feels so immediate. We see what someone else owns, where they live, how they dress, how they are praised, what they eat, where they travel, and how polished their life appears from a careful distance. Then the heart begins its little calculations. Why not me? What has God withheld? Why should they have that? The eye is a useful servant but a poor shepherd. It can notice beauty, but it cannot define goodness. It can see abundance, but it cannot measure contentment. It can observe success, but it cannot judge faithfulness. The pride of life is perhaps the most dignified-looking of the three. It boasts in what cannot last. It builds identity on position, money, education, achievement, knowledge, family name, influence, spiritual reputation, or the ability to appear untroubled while quietly falling apart. It does not always shout, “Look at me.” Sometimes it simply needs to be noticed. And this is where John’s warning becomes both severe and merciful. “The world is passing away, and the lust of it.” That chair will wear out. So will the house around it. So will the applause, the bank balance, the public image, the strength of the body, the fashion of the age, the reputation carefully polished, and the little kingdom each of us is tempted to build with ourselves at the center. The world promises permanence while actively decaying. It speaks in the tone of forever while already fading at the edges. It offers security but cannot stop death. It offers pleasure but cannot cleanse guilt. It offers identity but cannot give eternal life. John does not say this to make believers gloomy. He says it to make us sane. The Christian is not called to live with clenched fists against every earthly gift. We may receive the good things of this life with thanksgiving. Food, shelter, friendship, marriage, work, laughter, books, gardens, tools, music, and yes, even a comfortable chair may all be received as gifts from the Father. But gifts must not become gods. A gift points beyond itself to the Giver. An idol points back to itself and demands worship. That is why John first reminds the church who they are. Little children, your sins are forgiven. Fathers, you have known Him who is from the beginning. Young men, you are strong, the Word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one. Before John tells believers what not to love, he reminds them who has already loved them. Their sins are forgiven. They know the Father. They know the eternal Son. The Word abides in them. They have overcome the wicked one. This is not bare moralism. John is not saying, “Try harder to be less worldly so God may accept you.” He is saying, “Because you belong to the Father, do not give your heart to what is passing away.” The world is already fading. The will of God is not. “He who does the will of God abides forever.” This does not mean obedience earns eternal life. Eternal life is in Christ. But obedience shows the direction of the heart. The passing world produces passing desires. The eternal God produces enduring faith, enduring love, and enduring obedience. So we hold the chair lightly. We enjoy it, perhaps. We thank God for it. We repair it if we can. We let the cat have its small victories when resistance becomes unreasonable. But we do not ask it to be eternal. We do not ask anything in this world to be what only God can be. The world says, “Hold tightly. This is your life.” John says, “Look again. It is passing away.” Christ says, “Follow Me.” And the one who does the will of God abides forever. #HolyWitBibleStudy #GordonMcGinnis #WalkingInTheLight #1John2

Daily devotion for June 30th Gathered To His People Altogether, Abraham lived a hundred and seventy-five years. Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man and full of years; and he was gathered to his people. Genesis 25: 7-8 If you and I had been with Abraham at the moments of decision in his life, we might often have pitied him: When he left Ur, we might have said, Abraham, you poor fool, do you mean you are going to wander out there in the desert and perhaps live in a tent the rest your life, when you could have the enjoyment of the city and all of its blessings? When he allowed Lot to choose the best of the land, perhaps some of us might have thought, Abraham, don't throw away your rights like that! You are the older one. You have the right to choose. Why let Lot take that choice piece while you are left with this dry old pasture? You are throwing away your rights. Abraham let Lot choose, and God chose for him. And do you remember when the king of Sodom offered all the riches of his city to him, Abraham said, I'll not take even one of your shoelaces; I don't want any of it. Some of us would have been tempted to say, Now wait, Abraham, you are carrying this a little too far. You could have deducted this from your income tax, and just think what you are missing. You could have all the riches of Sodom. Think how you could use it in the Lord's work. But Abraham chose God every time, and his was a life of fullness. He lived 175 years, and every one was packed full, spiced with excitement and adventure, filled with challenge and interest, rich in faith and blessing. He died an old man, full of days. There is the promise of a full life to those who live in the Spirit. In verse 8 there is an indication that our pattern man of faith had divine fellowship; he was gathered to his people. What does that mean? It means that he was gathered to those before him who had exercised faith in God. He was with those righteous ones who all through that intervening time of history had been walking with God. Enoch and Noah were examples of such men who learned to know the living God. Those are Abraham's people, just as the people who are ours are not the fleshly people, but the ones to whom we are spiritually bound. By no means did his life end four thousand years ago. In Matthew, when the Sadducees—who did not believe in the resurrection of the dead—asked Jesus a question, He answered them: Have you not read what God said to you, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?' He is not the God of the dead, but of the living (Matthew 22:31b-32). By this He was answering those who did not believe in life after death. He was saying that Abraham is living. What a picture Abraham's life is! His was a life like yours and mine! There was nothing unusual about him; nevertheless, God made him an extraordinary person whose life reaches far beyond the realms of earth, out into eternity. His life is one of blessing, fellowship, and fullness. Abraham stands as a living testimony to anyone who takes the path of faith and walks this way. In so doing, we will find the same blessing. Father, what a blessing the life of Abraham has been to me. May I imitate his faith until the day that I too, am gathered to my fathers.