Pastor Bill's Daily Devotion

This is a sample of the pastor's devotional thoughts that are mailed out each weekday, with some exceptions, to friends and members of the Joy Community Fellowship. So far over the past seven years we have moved verse by verse through Proverbs, the gospel of John, Romans, Titus and 1 Peter. Reading these devotionals is a good way to increase your knowledge of the scripture and attain some personal application for life. If you would like to subscribe to these devotionals you may do this by contacting the pastor at: bpmartin@gwtc.net

Dear Joy Partners,

This is the day the Lord hath made.  Let us rejoice and be glad in it. – Psalm 118:24

This is the day the Lord hath made.  Let us rejoice, be glad and abide in his love.

WE KNOW THAT WE KNOW

Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. – 1 John 2:3-6

Have you seen a father in his son or a mother in her daughter?  Have you seen the Savior in the saved?  In a complimentary way we will often say, “He is just like his dad.”  In an uncomplimentary way we might say, “The nut did not fall far from the tree.”  This same truth holds for those who walk with the Lord Jesus.  They reflect Him by walking just like Him.

There is something more here that we often miss.  This is not just a litmus test on others.  The above verse says, “Now by this we know that we know Him.”  Get a reflection of yourself and thus be encouraged or repent.  We walk a truth or we lie.  We can check ourselves against His command.

This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. – John 15:12-14

If Jesus is your friend you do what he commands and that is to love other Christians.  We can love others and live across the world from them but in the local assembly we have fellowship with one another.  Brian and I have tea and fellowship here at JCF on Tuesday’s at 8:30.  Others of you who attend here are invited.  We mutually encourage one another in our walk and ministry.  It is obvious that there are limitations on others.  Lance and I are talking about a men’s study that meets our schedules and of course there are our regularly scheduled times of prayer, study and worship.  Love happens at fellowship.  We know that we are to abide in Christ and that like the early church we are to study the scripture together. 

So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. – Acts 2:46-47

What do we learn from the above two verses.  Love, fellowship, eat, praise God, grow in favor and let God multiply through saving.   Hard stuff?

Grace and Peace and Joy to you all be multiplied,

PBM