Someone Is Already Speaking Up for You
“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” 1 John 2:1 (NIV) You do not have to defend…
You Don’t Have to Hide to Be Loved
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 (NIV) Someone reading this has a secret they carry alone. You have rehearsed how you…
His Faithfulness Doesn’t Depend on Yours
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” 1 John 1:8 (NIV) What happens when your faith feels weaker than it should? Some days confidence comes easy, and other days it…
The Kind of Light That Heals
“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5 (NIV) Light feels like a threat when you are hiding something. Most of…
A Story Still Being Told
“‘Come,’ he replied, ‘and you will see.’ So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.” John 1:39 (NIV) Come and see was never meant to end…
Can Anything Good Come From There?
“‘Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?’ Nathanael asked.” John 1:46 (NIV) Nathanael dismissed Jesus before he ever met Him. Nazareth carried no reputation worth mentioning in first century Galilee. One sentence was enough for Nathanael to write the whole…
A New Name for a Changed Man
“Jesus looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas’ (which, when translated, is Peter).” John 1:42 (NIV) Simon walked in expecting to be introduced as Andrew’s brother. Instead Jesus looks straight at…
He Was Watching Before You Noticed Him
“I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” John 1:48 (NIV) Nathanael thought he was alone under that tree. He was not hiding from anyone, just sitting quietly with his own thoughts. No…
What Are You Looking For?
“Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, ‘What do you want?’” John 1:38 (NIV) We ask questions we already know how to answer. Jesus turns and asks two men a simple, direct question. “What do you want?” is not…
When Silence Becomes Impossible
“As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:20 (NIV) Most people assume courage is a decision made under pressure. We picture Peter and John gritting their teeth to speak bravely. But look…