The halfbaked Bard

2 John:6 And this is love, that we walk in obedience to His commands. As you have heard from the beginning, His command is that you walk in love. Love is obedience. Obeying His command of love. Everything you do is based on love. Love to God; and love to others. Love is the source based on which you act; you live Love not manufactured from broken cisterns But love that pours out from the source of unending living waters. Without love you do something is not genuine, but superficial and mechanical And that is not walking as He walked. He walked with love. He lived with love. Love to the Father.  And love to us, the fallen ones. He first loved us. He is love. And therefore He obeyed. Image credit: https://www.istockphoto.com/search/2/image-film?phrase=child+foot+step+on+sand&tracked_gsrp_landing=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.istockphoto.com%2Fphotos%2Fchild-foot-step-on-sand

1 John5:14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have what we asked of Him. He has the choice of answering our prayers or not. He has the choice of saying no. But still He says yes to every prayer in accordance to His will. It doesn't depend on His mood swings. It doesn't depend on whether He woke up in the wrong side of the bed. It doesn't depend on whether He is frustrated because of unspecified reasons. It depends consistently on one thing. Who He is. Isn't that wonderful to know that you are relating to someone who doesn't change like shifting shadows? A consistent true being He is. He never changes. Image credit: gemini

1John:5:12 He who has the Son, has life; He who does not have the Son, does not have life. The equation cannot be simpler. If you have Jesus Christ you will have life. Eternal life. Abundant life. Life to the fullest. Life as intended by the Creator Himself regarding you. The Lord Jesus, once asked to Simon Peter, whether the disciples want to leave too. Simon Peter replied confidently but desperately, "Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life". In times of overwhelming trouble, remember this. Where else will I go. In you alone is my completion. Not telling God. But telling yourself. Where else shall I go? In you alone is my refuge. You alone are the source of my life. Image credit: gemini

Because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John:4:4 What more do I want? In temptation, in troubles, in testing times, in any overwhelming situations. He that is in me, who is my Father and desires my good is greater than He that is in the world the enemy, who demands my downfall. And so I need not be perplexed. I need not be afraid. I know that He is in full control of my life. He is Sovereign and He is good. I am His. He loves me and that is enough for me to trust Him. Image courtesy: gemini

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...