Category: Jesus Character

Tricksy

God’s Word says, “Let us purify ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, perfecting holiness” — 2 Corinthians 7:1

There was a time
when we didn’t think
that sin was sinful.
We thought, it’s just
a little harmless fun.
We thought, I’m just
looking out for #1.
We thought, even if
mistakes were made,
I am not to blame.

Oh if only we knew then
the tricksy nature of our sin!
Fooled, we put on sin’s ring
and sin-wraiths became,
purchasing knowledge
of sin with pain —
personality corrupted,
relationships disrupted,
we faded from life and love,
enslaved, dehumanized, by sin.

But that was not the end.
While still we scoffed at Him
or paid Him little heed,
Jesus bought for us
a second innocence!
And just as we woefully,
shamefully, selfishly,
learned the meaning of sin,
now joyfully unfolds for us
the meaning of His holiness!

Devotional poem © 2016 Michael Himick. Used with permission.

Perfecting Holiness

God’s Word says, “Let us purify ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, perfecting holiness” — 2 Corinthians 7:1

Letter to Daddy

We’ve been looking at 1 John 3:3, and seeing that once we have hope in Jesus, we want to live pure lives like Jesus. Here’s a devotional poem from Christ-follower Robby Cekander seeing the same. It’s called “Letter to Daddy.”

Daddy,

I’m so joyful yet so weak.
There are days I don’t know
if I’ll make it one more week.

I’ve been cut, hurt, replaced.
I’m trying to be patient,
but I want to see your face.

I’m so tired yet still
I have so much energy.
I believe that means
I’m dead and you live in me.

I’m going to get out of bed
because I want you to see
that I live for you and
I want you to be proud of me.

I love you, Daddy!
Your son,
Robby

Devotional poem © 2016 Robby Cekander. Used with permission.

There are two essentially different ways of life: the way of Christ and the way of sin. In our heart we belong to one or the other, but not to both.

Henry Halley

Surely you know that Christ showed up in order to get rid of sin. There is no sin in him, and sin is not part of his program.

Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase of 1 John 3:5

BC / AD

God’s Word says, “All who have this hope in Him purify themselves, just as He is pure” — 1 John 3:3

BC —
Before Christ,
we reckon backward.
Just as the years
count down to one,
the measure of our life
gets smaller and smaller
until at last life comes to naught.

AD —
but, anno Domini,
in the year of the Lord,
what need have we for BC ways?
We and the calendar repent;
the years get fuller and fuller,
adding and adding more,
until at last life overflows in Him.

Devotional poem © 2016 Michael Himick. Used with permission.