Digging Deeper

Remain Faithful

“And now, dear children, continue to live in fellowship with Christ…”

1 John 2:28

I planted a zucchini plant in my garden.  I made sure there were no weeds and it had the best possible soil.  I watered it frequently and told it how beautiful it was becoming.  I watched as its leaves grew large and its vines grew many.  Then one morning I noticed a yellow bloom!  I knew it wouldn’t be long before I would be enjoying fresh, homegrown zucchini from my very own garden.  June, July, and August past with a few zucchini blooms, but alas, there were no vegetables.  My mom felt sorry for me and gave me some of her zucchini.  She could hardly keep up with the abundance of zucchini in her garden.  Finally my mom asked me how many zucchini plants I had planted.  I had bought one little start and absolutely spoiled it with daily care.  Could it be that I needed more than one plant so the bees could pollinate the blooms, my mom questioned?  I had no idea a plant needed company to bear vegetables!  Next year I will make sure my zucchini plant is not lonely.  I’ll plant a whole zucchini choir!

I learned two things from my zucchini fiasco. 1) It is not good for one to fellowship alone, and 2) Some plants (and people) don’t bear vegetables (or fruit).  The visible proof of being a good zucchini plant is to grow at least one big, fat zucchini.  The visible proof of being a Christian is true faith which results in good “fruit” (good deeds, good behavior, doing what is right, loving others, putting others first, etc.) Our good fruits cannot produce salvation, but they are necessary proof that true faith is actually present.  I think I should start interviewing now some good zucchini candidates for my Spring garden!

Bible Reading: 1 John 2:24-29

Dear Heavenly Father, may the abundance of my good deeds spill over into every aspect of my life’s garden.

Dianna L. Brisco

Holy Spirit, Come

…for the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and all of you know the truth.

1 John 2:20

In 1 John 2:18 – 23, John is warning us to be careful of false teachers and their teachings.  He is reassuring us that as Christ followers the Holy Spirit is sent to us to be our great Helper.  The Holy Spirit helps us to distinguish between truth and falsehoods. Jesus is the Truth.  He stated this in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one can come to the Father except through Me.”   And the Holy Spirit guides believers to Jesus.  In John 16:13-15 Jesus explains, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into truth.  He will not be presenting his own ideas; he will be telling you what he has heard…the Spirit will reveal to you whatever he receives from me.”

If you are having difficulties discerning what is true, call on the Holy Spirit to show you, test questionable ideas against the Holy Bible, and ask other believers to pray with you.   People who are opposed to Jesus are also opposed to His truth, and the Holy Spirit working in their lives. When we are led by the Spirit, we can stand against falsehoods. We must be faithful to confess Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and in so doing, we also confess God as our Father.  Have you been in a situation where the Holy Spirit revealed a truth to you?

Bible Reading: 1 John 2:18 – 23

Holy Spirit come to me and keep me from being deceived by evil.  The line between truth and lie, good and evil is becoming more and more unclear in today’s world.  Create in me the loyal, trustworthy Christ follower you want me to be.

Dianna L. Brisco

“Dear Children,… Love John”

If you do the will of God, you will live forever.

1 John 2:17

John was writing to believers of all ages, “his dear children”, who had experienced forgiveness through Jesus.  He was writing to those who were mature in the faith and others who were new Christ followers.  Each stage of the spiritual journey builds upon the other.  As believers learn about Christ, they grow in their ability to win battles over temptations.  As the spiritual journey continues, the relationship with Christ matures.  And our mature Christ followers, our spiritual mentors, have developed the wisdom needed to teach the rest of us.  The cycle of believing, learning, sharing, and challenging starts over and over again.  Has your Christian growth reached the maturity level appropriate for your stage in life?  Can you share with us something you do that challenges you to grow in your daily walk?

John also talked about how Satan tempts us using three different devious methods.  1)  the lust for physical pleasure – preoccupation with gratifying physical desires, 2)  the lust for everything we see  – craving and accumulating things, materialism, and 3)  pride in our possessions – obsession with one’s status or importance.  Satan has been using these same methods since the beginning of time starting with Eve in the garden.  Satan also used these three areas of attack when tempting Jesus in the wilderness.  Knowing that this evil world and our desires for its pleasures will end can give us courage to control our selfish behavior and to continue doing God’s will today.

Bible Reading: 1 John 2:12-17

Jesus, You already know what it is like to live in this world and be tempted by Satan.  You understand everything I am going through because You have experienced life first.  Thank You for being the Savior Who cares for each one of us so much.

Dianna L. Brisco

Step into the Light

Anyone who hates a Christian brother or sister is living in and walking in darkness.  Such a person is lost, having been blinded by darkness.

1 John 2:11

Marcus was three and wanted to be a big boy and help put away his clean laundry.  I thought this was a wonderful idea, so I piled his little arms full of clean socks.  He made trip after trip to his bedroom until all his socks were put away.  The next morning I went to his dresser and opened his sock drawer.  Empty!  Marcus came running when I called him.  He peered into the empty drawer with a confused look on his face.  “What did you do with all your socks, Marcus?”  He shrugged his little shoulders, pointed a chubby finger and declared, “I dunno.  I put ‘em right here!”  For days the missing socks remained a mystery.  One night as I was passing his room with the hallway light on, I discovered his toy chest was pushed out a little bit from the wall.  There were his socks!  He had piled them all neatly right behind the chest where the hallway light cast a sliver of light into his dark bedroom.  I brought Marcus to his room and showed him where he had put his socks.  His eyes lit up and he said proudly, “Yep, no munsterds there!”  He had been afraid to enter the darkness of his bedroom to put his socks away so he placed them in the only ray of light, beside the door and behind the toy chest!

There is something ominous and spooky about the darkness.  Jesus says that He is the Light of the World.  Love is the key to walking in the Light, because we can not grow spiritually while hating others.  Our growing relationship with God will result in growing relationships with others.  So step into the Light and get out of the darkness, away from treating others with disrespect and selfishness…away from all the scary “munsterds”!

Bible Reading: 1 John 2:7–11

Dear Father, love should be what makes me different in this world.  Love should be the unifying force and identifying mark of the Christian community.  Help me to be servant minded and treat all others with love and respect.  Use me as Your light in this dark world.

Dianna L. Brisco

Take My Life

Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Christ did.

1 John 2:6

Sometimes it is difficult to forgive those who hurt us.  Just imagine how difficult it would be to forgive everyone, no matter what they had done.  That is exactly what Jesus has done.  No one, no matter what he or she has done is beyond forgiveness.  When we are feeling guilty or condemned for something we have thought, said, done, or even haven’t done, John offers reassurance.  We know we have sinned!  It eats away at us. Satan, The Great Accuser (Revelation 12:10), is telling us we deserve the death penalty.  When we feel this way, let’s not give up hope for there is Jesus!  Jesus Christ is our advocate, our defender, and the Judge’s Son.  He has already suffered in our place.  He can stand before God and plead our case.  His death has already satisfied the wrath of God against sin and paid the death penalty for our sin.  In Him, we are forgiven and purified!  Thank You, Jesus!  Have you turned from all known sin, received Christ’s forgiveness, and committed your life to Him?  This is the most important decision we can ever make in our lifetime…a decision our very life depends upon.

Bible Reading: 1 John 2:1-6

Forgive me Father for my sins.  Thank You so much for Your Son, Jesus and for giving Him to die for me.  I accept His sacrifice for my sins.  Take my life and make it pleasing to You.  Thank You, Father.

Dianna L. Brisco

(previously posted 6/9/08)

We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind.

-Isaiah 64:6

For the next ten weeks, we will be studying the Ten Commandments and their relevance to our daily lives even today. In Matthew 5:17-20, Jesus talks about the importance of the Old Testament. He knew the Scriptures so well that by the age of twelve; he amazed even the rabbis with His understanding and ability to teach in the synagogues. Frequently He quoted Old Testament passages when rebuking Satan, teaching the disciples and others, and talking with His Father. Jesus came to earth, not to destroy the Old Testament teaching, but to fulfill it. We must have faith in its authority and pray for the Holy Spirit to help us apply it to our lives.

The most widely acknowledged standard of morality in the western world is the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17). Much civil law is based on it, and there are many people who consider themselves superior moral beings because as they say, “I keep the Ten Commandments.” But do we? Does anyone? We appeal to the fifth commandment, which requires us to honor our father and mother. But have we ever dishonored our parents? Have we ever spoken in a dishonoring way? Acted in a dishonoring way? Are we always properly thankful, respectful, and obedient to them?

We appeal to the sixth commandment, which forbids murder, and we feel good about this because we haven’t actually murdered anybody. But have we forgotten that God looks on the heart and judges by thoughts and wishes as well as by actions? Have we ever been angry enough with someone to want to hurt him or her? Jesus said on one occasion that even speaking a defamatory word is enough to incur God’s wrath for breaking the commandments (Matthew 5:21-11).

We appeal to the seventh commandment, but are we guiltless here? The seventh commandment forbids adultery. Jesus said we are guilty of this even if we only lust after another person (Matthew 5:28). Have we ever stolen? Never misrepresented the figures on our income tax in order to pay less? Never kept the change when we were given more than we should have received? Never borrowed something and failed to return it? Have we ever lied or wanted something that someone else has?

And what of the four commandments that deal with God and our responsibility to worship and honor Him? The standard of the commandments shows us all how sinful we are…“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23). Is there no hope?

• First, recognize you are a sinner.
• Second, confess your sins to God.
• Third, commit yourself to Jesus Christ, trusting in His death for your salvation.
• Fourth, get on with following Jesus and obeying His commands.

Bible Reading: Romans 3:21-31

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us Your Only Son to take the punishment for our sins. We claim our righteousness through Jesus Christ, our Savior! Amen!

Dealing with Jobs and Careers – 5

… Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15

Work…does it ever end?  Is it possible to ever be caught up?  As I was feeling overwhelmed by undone work, I could hear my son happily singing his three-year-old version of Zaccheus Was a Wee Little Man from his tricycle outside.  I stopped folding laundry and looked out the window as Marcus’ tricycle wheel ran off the edge of the sidewalk.  He sat for a moment and then looked upward praying pitifully, “Please God, help me.  I’m stuck!”  I whispered my own quick prayer that my little boy would not be disappointed when his tricycle did not magically become dislodged for him.  My son then hopped off the tricycle and awkwardly pulled it back onto the sidewalk.  He remounted and began pedaling once again. I could hear his joyful; “Thank You, God!” as he continued pedaling.

I put down the laundry and went outside to give my wise son a hug.  I had seen the faith and gumption of a three-year-old, as he not only called out for help, but then he took action in order to overcome, got back on the right path, and joyfully went on his way.  The task of unfinished laundry was put into its proper perspective as I chased my squealing toddler down the sidewalk.

Bible Reading: Psalms 95: 1-7

Forgive me Father when I get so busy that I don’t appreciate my family and the many blessings You give me each day.

Dianna L. Brisco

Dealing with Jobs and Careers – 4

“If what he has built survives, he shall receive his reward.” I Corinthians 3:14

As a parent, I have tried to pass on my love of working hard and doing a good job.  Our children were given chore charts before they could read.  I drew a picture of each chore they were to complete daily.  They were so proud to pick up their toys, sort the socks by color, and “help” mommy cook supper.  As our children grew, so did the complexity of their chores.  I made sure Bible Study was always listed for them to check off daily.  Not that it was a chore, but it was a responsibility I hoped to become an automatic habit.  Helping our children become self motivated workers is one of the greatest gifts we can give them.

As school started again this year, our oldest daughter is a senior at Ursuline College near Cleveland.  She is a long way from home but not from the lessons we tried to teach her.  She goes to classes, works two jobs, plays college golf, and attends her church and small group Bible studies.  It thrills me to see how she organizes her life around self gratification for a job well done.  Our second daughter is now a freshman at the University of Dayton.  I took her and her clean laundry back to college today and was amused to see a To Do List on her desk.  She had everything she needed to get done organized by class and color setting next to her Bible.  I can’t be with my girls everyday now, but I see the life lessons I tried to teach them kicking in…and now for our twelve year son!  Teaching responsibility and self-motivation to our children is so important.  Do you have something which has worked well with your children you could share with other parents in the comments?

Bible Reading: I Corinthians 3:10-15

Father in heaven; help me to work hard doing the tasks You want me to accomplish.  And thank You for the privilege of being a mommy.

Dianna L. Brisco

Dealing with Jobs and Careers – 3

“The laborer’s appetite works for him; his hunger drives him on.” Proverbs 16:26

We learn in Ephesians 6:6-8 that labor is a worthwhile cause and the Christ-follower’s work should be performed as a service to our Lord.  Our work should be performed with a Christ-like attitude.  My grandpa always told me I should sweat at least once a day in order to grow old happy.  He took his own advice to heart and was an excellent example to younger generations of what hard work with a good attitude could accomplish.  He would walk his fields looking for large stones uncovered by his plow.  He would grunt as he struggled to lift or roll each stone to the ever growing piles in the fence row.  I picked up what I could, but my stones were puny compared to his.  Grandpa didn’t care.  He smiled at my own grunts and efforts. We worked until the sweat streaked down our dusty faces.  It felt good!  “Is it time to rest yet, Grandpa?”  He would encourage me to pick up some more.

As the piles of stones became larger and larger, I asked my grandpa what we should do with them.  He said he’d been working on a plan but we needed more rocks.  Spring after Spring we picked up rocks.  Finally we had enough.  I didn’t know what we had enough for, but grandpa knew.  The next time I went to visit grandpa, he took me by the hand and led me downstairs.  There were all our rocks!  He had mortared them together into a gigantic puzzle of a fireplace!  He had used my puny rocks to fill in the cracks between his large ones.  The fireplace was beautiful.  He handed me a marshmallow and a stick with a twinkle in his eye and a satisfied smile on his face.  Now it was time to rest and enjoy the fruits (or warm, toasted marshmallows!) of our labors.

“Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” John Wooden – renowned basketball coach

Bible Reading: Ephesians 6:6-8

Thank You for my grandpa and other special people through the years who have taught me how to work hard with a happy heart.

Dianna L. Brisco

Dealing with Jobs and Careers – 2

“The laborer’s appetite works for him; his hunger drives him on.” Proverbs 16:26

Joseph was the son of Jacob and Rachel who was sold to a band of traders by his jealous brothers. He was enslaved and imprisoned in Egypt, but still managed to become an important official under the pharaoh.  He was a hard working man of integrity.  He used his job to influence people for God.  Joseph was eventually reunited with his father and brothers when they came to Egypt to buy grain.  A model of faith and forgiveness, Joseph saw God at work in human events.

As we go away from home or stay at home this week to do our jobs, can we learn from Joseph’s example?  When other people plan to harm us, can we let God bring good and glory to Him through the situation?  When we feel enslaved and imprisoned by our jobs and expectations, can we still manage to work hard for God?  Can we use our job and the people around us to bring honor to Him daily?  I challenge you to bring integrity, hard work, peace, and forgiveness into your place of work this week by being a Joseph…or a Josephina.

Bible Reading: Genesis 37:1-4, 23, 36 and Genesis 45:3-8

Almighty Father, teach me how to be a person of integrity.  Let my hands do all my work as if I am working for You and nobody else.

Dianna L. Brisco