The halfbaked Bard

Do not be surprised my brothers, if the world hates you.  1 John:3:13 No element of surprise. Expect the worst. Expect hatred. Expect no love. Then you won't be surprised. Because the world hated Jesus first. The world. Not directed to people. The system. We are enemies of the evil one.  So naturally the principalities of this world will fight. Hate. It's not lack of love. It's aversion.  Literal hatred. It's enemity.  But be of good cheer. For I am with you till the end of days.  I have overcome the world. Says my Saviour.  Image credit: gemini 

1 John:3:6 No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen Him or known Him. 1 John:3:9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin. Where O dear is your aversion to sin? You who claim to love God You who claim to be loved by God Why do you still cling on to it, so precious? If Christ lives in you, if Jesus is enthroned Why do you harbour filth In the corner of your heart? Where the doors are kept closed, inaccessible to Him. He abhors, He disgusts what you love The one thing that you hold dear Why do you still hold on to it Knowing well, it is abominable to Him. Living in Him, abiding in Him Imbibing His character Drawing closer to Him Will naturally take you farther from sin. Knowing Him, indulging in Him In comparison to being in the periphery Looking for opportunities to sneak out And do things which I desire, what I want. This is not responding back in love. A love lavished upon us. A love poured out on us. Then why can't we...

1 John:3:1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God. We were not good people; when we were loved. We were not mediocre okay people when we were called children of God. It was not a promotion from good to better. We were terrible sinners; wretched rebels when He first loved us. That is why; empty as we were; love has been lavished upon us. Unconditionally without limits, He loved us. His justice, His holiness, His truthfulness, His righteousness - unchanging. But love had to be lavished upon us to salvage us. There was no need for Him to make us children. He could have made us secondary citizens or servants to angels in heaven. That in itself would have been redemption. Because we deserved only eternal hell. But He made us children. Seated us in heavenly realms. Children we were, borne of God. We walked away. He made us children yet again. This is love lavished upon us. The cross is the reason for our salvation and our red...

1 John:2:28 And now dear children, continue in Him so that when He appears we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming. So when He comes back Like a thief when He returns To take you back home Will you be ashamed to face Him? Will you be found doing the very things That He told you not to do? Will you be caught redhanded? Will you be facing a teardrop in His eye? Or gleaming face? ( Though He would be delighted). Will you be ashamed to face Him? Will you be found not doing what He asked you to? Will you be found complacent and lazy Not bothered. Not concerned. Not affected. Undeterred by the things that move His heart Or will you be confident to meet Him? Because you have done everything He has asked you? In your sphere, you have done it all And would you be able to hear Him say Well done good and faithful servant If He has asked you to do huge things Will you obey? If He has asked you to do a small thing Will you obey? Procrastination is the root of disobedi...

What is eternal life? 1 John:2:24-25 See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what He promised us - even eternal life. The Triune God remaining in you and you in Him, is eternal life.  John:17:3  - Now this is eternal life. That they may know you, the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent Eternal life is not something you will receive on the other side of death. Golden streets, the river that will continue to flow without being dried up, fruits on trees in all season. Eternal life is now. It is knowing Him and remaining in Him. Life in all its abundance. Life to the fullest as it is designed to be. Yes it extends to eternity.  That it is not limited to a time frame, is just one dimension to it. Fullness of life; abundant life as it is intended and planned by God.  Remaining in Him, like the vine and its branches.  Nourishment and necessities...

1 John:2:27 But as for you, Christ has poured out His Spirit on you. This is the promise. The third person of Trinity. Poured. Not given. Not rationed. But poured out in full to you. Do you realise the scope of this? I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion. I will never leave you nor forsake you. Behold I am with you till the end of days. He who is in you is greater than He who is in the world. Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit. Image courtesy: gemini