The apostle John is the real expert on true love. He writes about it more than any other author in the Bible. He alone records Jesus's new commandment to love one another in a new way—like Jesus loves us (John 13:34–35). In 1 John 4:7–21 alone, love (agape in Greek) is mentioned 27 times.
God
Love for the World vs. Love for the Father
The Apostle John tells us in his first letter, "Do not love the world" (1 Jn 2:15). One of the biblical definitions for "world" is ornament. In other words, all the shiny stuff that attracts our attention. John calls these things, the lust of the flesh, the longing of the eyes, and the pride of life.
The ‘One Anothers’ in Scripture Characterize Community
There are over fifty "one another" verses in Scripture (the exact number depends on your translation). One anothering describes how those in the kingdom of God function. It characterizes community, friendship, fellowship, koinonia. I decided to do a fresh study of these exhortations in scripture. Here are my observations.
Holy Thinking: My New Spiritual Practice
Holy thinking is the intersection of soul care, discernment, and pondering. How awesome is that? I was especially pleased to discover that Mary of Nazareth exemplified this spiritual practice. How perfect for a way to describe all the things I’m passionate about.
Happy Mother’s Day to My Expectant Daughter-in-Law
I sent my first Mother’s Day card to my daughter-in-law who is pregnant with her first child and our first grand. This is what I told her.
Not Forsaken
Was Jesus forsaken on the cross? Educated and religious Jews used a unique technique to recite memorized psalms. And so did Jesus when passers-by yelled insults at him as he hung dying on a cross. He wanted his people to know he was fulfilling a prophecy that predicted his specific suffering.
Our Burden-Bearing God
What burdens are you carrying today? An ill child? Financial need? Deteriorating health? Diminishing capacity? Loneliness? Indecision? Losing someone you love? Failed mentors? Injustice? Growth of wickedness? Isaiah warns that trusting in anything other than God will only increase those burdens making them even more burdensome.
There is No Other God
If repetition is an effective teaching tool, God, through Isaiah, is a master! Ten times in the span of four chapters, Isaiah pounds into our awareness: There is no other God but Yahweh.
Pondered Treasures 