1 John 5:13-21

13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
 16 If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.

 18 We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him. 19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. 20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true—even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

 21 Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

Introduction and Background on 1 John 5

Why did I choose this for devotion this morning?  As we celebrate Christ rose from the dead and alive in our lives, we are looking into the implications for us.  This passage is an awesome reminder of the live that we are promised with in light of Christ's resurrection.

In the beginning of the chapter 5, we are reminded that everyone who believes Jesus Christ is the saviour who died and overcame death for the purpose of forgiving our sins are children of God.  Regarding the testimony from Spirit, blood, and water, the testimony of the manifestation (showing) of the Spirit, atonement for sin from crucifixion of Christ, and baptism of Jesus and his followers in water are testimony from God.

Reflection on 1 John 5:13

Why did John write this letter?
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. (v.13)

Does God listen and answer our prayers?
Having Eternal life 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. (v.14-15)

How can a sin not lead to death (v.16)? Recall (The wages of sin is death... Romans 6:23)
Our new nature of being children of God is our real identity.  As we expected, Satan will use our old nature to tempt us, causing us to fall and stumble into sin.  This sin does not lead to death, but how do we reconcile with Romans 6:23?  We reconcile the verse in Romans 6:23 by knowing it completely.  The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:8-9).  When we stumble to sin, confess to God right the way, and the Spirit will lead us to live a life that is more like Christ.

What should we do when we see a brother or sister commit a sin?
a) Condemn him or her and never talk to him or her again in order to preserve purity
b) Gossip and let the rest of the group know to shame him or her for repentance
c) Pray for him or her to repent and trust that God will give him or her life
d) Nothing and keep on being encouraging to him or her

What are the characteristics of people who are born of God?
We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him (v.18)

Who has given us meaning and security?

We know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true.  It is the eternal life we have through Christ that gives us true meaning and security (v.20).

Application

1. During your prayer time, ask God for more faith and pray more boldly for things according to his will.

2. When you see a brother or sister sinning, (prideful/rude words, gossips, uncaring towards others, etc), ask God to guide him or her to repent so he or she can experience life

3. Pray and give thanks that we are God's children, and pray for three of your friends' salvation so they can have eternal life in Christ.

Mark 15:33-47

 33At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour.
34And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama
sabachthani?”—which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
35When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling
Elijah.” 36One man ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and
offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to
take him down,” he said. 37With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. 38The curtain
of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39And when the centurion,
who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said,
“Surely this man was the Son of God!” 40Some women were watching from a
distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the
younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41In Galilee these women had followed
him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him
to Jerusalem were also there. 42It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before
the Sabbath). So as evening approached, 43Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent
member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went
boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 44Pilate was surprised to hear that he
was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already
died. 45When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to
Joseph. 46So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in
the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against
the entrance of the tomb. 47Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw
where he was laid.

Meditation
The death of Jesus has been recorded in all four gospels. Different people
reacted differently. If I were there in person, what would be my reaction and
my emotion?

Personal Note:
I would be afraid when I witness the horror who what's happening to Jesus Christ and the earth being shaken.

Romans 8:31-39

 31What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be
against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how
will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33Who will bring
any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who
is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised
to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35Who shall
separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or
famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
 we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37No, in all these things we are more
than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither
death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor
any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be
able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Meditation
1. How might trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger or the
threat of death cause us to question God’s love for us (vv. 35-36)?
2. In spite of these things, why does Paul proclaim that we are “more than
conquerors” (vv. 37-39)?
3. Look again at the powerful words of verses 38-39. How does this give me
courage to persevere?

Personal Note:
Trouble and hardship caused me to question God's love for me.  I used to think that being a Christian means a safe, protected, and smooth life.  I learn that God's love allows me to have peace and joy despite the hardships that I am facing.  I have only knew a few people who suffered persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, and threat of death because of Jesus Christ.  We are more than conquerors because Jesus Christ has conquer death.  We as God's children through accepting the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ cannot be separated from God.  No trouble in life can separate me from the love of God that is in Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:50-58

 50I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom
of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51Listen, I tell you a
mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52in a flash, in the
twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead
will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53For the perishable must
clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54When
the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with
immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been
swallowed up in victory.”
 55”Where, O death, is your victory?
      Where, O death, is your sting?” 56The sting of death is sin, and the power of
sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord
Jesus Christ.
 58Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give
yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the
Lord is not in vain.

Meditation
1. If someone is writing a tribute for my memorial, what would be written in it?
How would I like people to write the letter announcing my death?
2. Tell Jesus all my thoughts and emotions right now.  Stay quiet to allow the
Holy Spirit to minister to me now.

Personal Note:
I would like people to remember me as a committed follower of Jesus Christ.  I am encouraged by the last verse: Stand firm, let nothing move you, and always give fully to the work of God, because my labour in the Lord in not in vain.  As I am praying and working on how to be a faithful co-worker with God in bringing his kingdom on this earth, I realize there are attacks physically, emotionally, and spiritually from every direction. God wants my whole being and I am giving my whole self to Him.  I trust that receiving God's invitation to work with Him for His glory is the way to go.