When I started this writing challenge, two years ago, I never once thought about the impact that it would have on me today.  But as I sit this morning, writing, it has become the catalyst for my writing today.

When I started this 31-day writing challenge, I didn’t realize the depth of some of the Scriptures that I would be writing about.  I thought – am I being too negative?  Am I not giving more hope in my words?

I even contemplated changing up some of the Scripture so as not be so negative or offensive.  And then it just hit me smack in the face – are some portions of God’s Word offensive to us?  Wow!  Far be it from me Lord to decide which of your Words should travel out around the world.

Many times, we pick and choose what Scriptures we want to read and share with others.  In the Scripture for today, found in 1 John 2:1-6 – we will find some words that we want to hear -they don’t seem to dig too deeply into our hearts and cause us discomfort.  But then we come to words of action – the part about obedience – then we tend to back away.

Do you find yourself at times just wanting the “Fluffies?”  The no-brainers – the I only want to feel good about myself?

Let’s unfold the Word of God today and take a look at the words for us to grow up in the Lord:

1 John 2:1-6 – My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world. And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did. (NLT)

John is writing and stating that his purpose of writing is so the people will not sin.  But if you do sin – remember we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father.  It is Jesus Christ.  There is an encouragement in those words.  Okay, I messed up.  I know I shouldn’t have done that – but I have an advocate who has willingly paid for my sins and will talk with the Father for me.

I love how the next verse starts out – I tend to get a little “puffy.”  If I claim to know God – hmmm – yeah!  I like those words.  I know Him.  But creeping up right behind those words – “but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth.”  I mean really!  Wow!  Are you saying that I don’t know God?  That I don’t love Him?

If we can just get past those words that make us dig a little deeper into our hearts – we can see how we can know if we are living in Him.  We should be able to see Jesus in our choices.

We are living in times right now that it is important for us to know if we are truly living as Jesus did.  God is exposing lies and deceits in our lives and He is asking us to amend our ways.  We can’t live one way and think it’s okay – when we can see in these words that it really is not okay.  We are either living for the Lord or we are not living for Him.  There is no fence-sitting on this Scripture.

I would challenge you today to stop along this journey and look at these words and then ask God to challenge you to take a closer look at the life that you are living and be humble enough to answer Him truthfully.

When we can face our shortcomings – then we can go to our Advocate, Jesus Christ – and ask Him to prepare the path to Father and make yourself right with Him.

Oh, the closer you come to know God and obey His commandments, the more you realize how truly loved you are by Him.  Let Him have His way with you.

My Song: Trust and obey – words that the Father has always laid out in front of me.  When I choose to follow him – trusting and obeying – it goes well with me.  Because what my Father thinks about me is most important.  I sang this song as a child and an adult.  It has always drawn me close to Him and left tingles in my body.

Trust and Obey