"There is no fear in love [dread does not exist]. But perfect (complete, full-grown) love drives out fear, because fear involves [the expectation of divine] punishment, so the one who is afraid [of God’s judgment] is not perfected in love [has not grown into a sufficient understanding of God’s love]. We love, because He first loved us." (1 John 4:18-19, AMP)Love's nature is giving. Twice in 1 John...  Read More

"Dear friends, if our hearts don’t condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive whatever we ask from him because we keep his commands and do what is pleasing in his sight." (1 John 3:21-22, CSB)As I reread the story of the fiery furnace (Daniel 3), I was struck by the vast gulf between Nebuchadnezzar's view of God and Who God really is. If anyone defied God, Nebuchadnezzar would have them...  Read More

An impossible task, in this case one upon which life depended, called for prayer (Daniel 2). Not just any prayer would do, for Daniel the challenge required the intercession of his friends on his behalf, even as he himself interceded (Daniel 2:17-18). There is power in prayer. There is added power in praying together. Jesus said: "Again, truly I tell you, if two of you on earth agree about any mat...  Read More

"...fellowship with Him...fellowship with one another..." (1 John 1:6-7)John defines fellowship with Jesus by contrasts: walk in darkness - no fellowship; walk in the light - fellowship. If we want to live the 'common/communion life' (koinonia) with Jesus, we must be done with darkness. We cannot live with a foot in each world, or as Bunyan would say, we cannot be 'mister facing both ways.' If we ...  Read More

"Instead, grow in grace and in the true knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus, the Anointed, to whom be glory, now and until the coming of the new age. Amen." (2 Peter 3:18, The Voice)Last words matter. Peter's final words to his audience are: keep on keeping on in your journey of faith in Christ for His glory. Grow! (present tense, active voice) You and I are taking responsibility for our part. ...  Read More

Does 2 Peter 2 describe the world we live in today? Those who pervert justice, who try to make a lie the truth, who make humans mere animals with no control over their senses, who call evil good and slander those who stand for righteousness, who corrupt children and minors and parade their sinful practices for all to see, who destroy life in the name of personal rights and rally for those whose go...  Read More