by Pastor Cecil | Mar 15, 2012 | 1 John
1 John 4:18-19
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because He first loved us.
There it was, propped in front of my computer monitor—the note I had made for Joyce many months ago. Back then I had taken a sheet of thick paper and folded it in half. I then printed the words “I Love You!” across the front. I put it on her desk to let her know I was thinking of her and that I loved her.
It was not long before I would find the note propped up on my desk or in some other conspicuous place. It has been a joy to use this simple little piece of paper to let the other one know that we are thinking of them and that we love them.
It may seem silly for a couple that has been married for almost 58 years to leave a love note for the other, but it always brings joy and a smile when we see the note at an unexpected moment. I always smile and feel the love we have shared over these many years. I never want that love to grow cold!
God has left His supreme love note to us. It is His Son, Jesus, who came into the world as a baby in a manger. It is as if the love note is propped up in front of us because He wants us to see, day in and day out, that He is always thinking about us.
One way we share our love for Him is to spend time reading the greatest love letter in history, the Word of God. The more time we spend with Him the more we feel surrounded and enfolded in his love. Tell Him you love Him!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 29, 2011 | 1 John
1 John 2:3-6
We know that we have come to know Him if we obey His commands. The man who says, “I know Him,” but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys His word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.
There are far too many phony people in the world who claim to be born again believers. I won’t call them phony Christians, because you either are a born again Christian or not one at all. Like my dad used to say; “If it don’t quack like a duck and don’t waddle like a duck, it ain’t a duck!” (Grammar was not his strong point).
Today’s Scripture mentions the necessity of following God’s commands and walking in the same way Jesus walked. How do we know what His commands are and how do we know how He walked? The only way is by spending time reading the precious word of God.
I fear that many Christians have fallen into the trap of letting others format our view of what it means to walk with God. The danger of only listening to what others say about the Word of God is that they may be slanting the interpretation to support their own view.
Here is my honest conviction about how we should conduct ourselves. Set aside quality time to read a substantial portion of the Bible. Have a notebook close at hand to write down insights the Holy Spirit will bring to your mind. Always read with a questioning mind: What does it say? What does it mean? How do I apply it to my own life? Try it! It is God’s will for us to know His plan for our life.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
(360) 570-0074
Special News! My book, 100 of Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations, is now available on Kindle books. Just go the Kindle store and type in Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations, or Pastor Cecil Thompson.
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 18, 2011 | 1 John
1 John 2:16
“For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.”
A young woman in one of my Bible Study classes was the daughter of an ordained minister. She shared with us about one church her father served as pastor. In his former church it was customary for a group to stop by a café for a time of food and fellowship. Following his first Sunday evening service he mentioned that he and his family were going to stop a local café for a bite to eat and they would be glad for anyone to join them.
It was almost as if he had thrown a bomb in the middle of the floor. In that group they had established that it was a sin to eat out on Sunday and here was this new preacher encouraging the people to transgress the law.
This incident may be an extreme illustration of the things people consider sinful, but it is safe to say that a great number of people have a list of the dirty dozen or the nasty nine sins. Most are wrong actions—actions that have been committed.
In reading James chapter four we find another sin. It is not what we have done but rather what we have not done. James 4:17; “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” So it is not just doing bad things that is sinful, but also failing to do good things. When was the last time you felt the Holy Spirit nudge you to do something for the Lord and you held back? Have you confessed it as a sin? According to James 4:17 we are guilty as charged. Let’s start obeying when we feel the Spirit urging us to act.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
(360) 570-0074
P.S. – You can find previous E-Votionals covering a variety of Scriptures and topics to help you in your walk with the Lord at www.Daily-E-Votional.com Please feel free to forward this E-Votional on to your family and friends.
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 15, 2011 | 1 John
1 John 2:16-17
“For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.”
Philip Bliss was a gifted hymn writer. He wrote many well known hymns during his short life of 38 years. Both he and his wife were tragically killed in a train accident December 29, 1876. In June, 1870, after listening to the chorus of the hymn Oh, How I Love Jesus, Philip Bliss wondered if he had emphasized more on his love of Jesus and had neglected to write of Jesus’ love for him. That led him to write the hymn, Jesus Loves Even Me.
Jesus Loves Even Me
I am so glad that our Father in Heav’n; Tells of His love in the Book He has giv’n; Wonderful things in the Bible I see; This is the dearest, that Jesus loves me.
Refrain: I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me.
I am so glad that Jesus loves me, Jesus loves even me.
Though I forget Him, and wander away; Still He doth love me wherever I stray;
Back to His dear loving arms I do flee; When I remember that Jesus loves me.
Refrain: I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me.
I am so glad that Jesus loves me, Jesus loves even me.
Oh, if there’s only one song I can sing; When in His beauty I see the great King,
This shall my song through eternity be, “Oh, what a wonder that Jesus loves me!”
Refrain: I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me.
I am so glad that Jesus loves me, Jesus loves even me.
Jesus loves me, and I know I love Him; Love brought Him down my poor soul to redeem; Yes, it was love made Him die on the tree; Oh, I am certain that Jesus loves me!
Refrain: I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me.
I am so glad that Jesus loves me, Jesus loves even me.
If one should ask of me, how can I tell? Glory to Jesus, I know very well!
God’s Holy Spirit with mine doth agree; Constantly witnessing Jesus loves me.
Refrain: I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me.
I am so glad that Jesus loves me, Jesus loves even me.
In this assurance I find sweetest rest; Trusting in Jesus, I know I am blessed;
Satan, dismayed, from my soul now doth flee; When I just tell him that Jesus loves me.
Refrain: I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me.
I am so glad that Jesus loves me, Jesus loves even me.
Click on the following link to access Jesus Loves Even Me, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Christian Music Videos.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
360-570-0074
PastorCecil@Daily-E-Votional.com
P.S. – You can help! Please consider encouraging one other person to subscribe to our devotionals by going to the Daily-E-Votional.com website and clicking on the “Subscribe” button. This worldwide ministry asks for no funds and is sent to glorify our precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 14, 2011 | 1 John
I John 2:15-16
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.”
When I was a boy we were different. Those of us who were Christians did not do the things unsaved people did. When we bowed before the Lord and confessed our sins and invited Jesus to come into our heart, it meant leaving the world behind.
Somehow, that all seems to have been changed over recent years. Somewhere along the line it became more important to be accepted by society than to live a sold out life for Christ.
In the New Testament Church, persecution and death were a constant reality for those who named the name of Christ as their Savior. What was worth living for was worth dying for, and vice-versa.
I fail to see that same spirit in today’s typical church. Today we see churches so close to the world in appearance and behavior that it is hard to tell where one leaves off and the other begins. We have been “sold” the lie that we must get with the times and be contemporary in order to draw people in, especially young people.
I want to close with this thought: I may never be called upon to give my life for the sake of Jesus, but I sure want to live in such a way that I will be ready to do so. If Christ is truly real in my life, the things of this world should lose their appeal.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
360-570-0074
PastorCecil@Daily-E-Votional.com
P.S. – You can find previous E-Votionals covering a variety of Scriptures and topics to help you in your walk with the Lord at www.Daily-E-Votional.com.
P.P.S. – I have completed my first book, 100 of Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations. The cost is $12.95 plus shipping. You can now order it online by going to https://dailyevotional.com/prior2020/book-by-pastor-cecil . . . You may want to consider this book as a thoughtful gift idea for those who do not have Internet access or as helpful sermon illustrations for your Pastor.
.
.
.
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 24, 2011 | 1 John
1 John 4:7-11
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
I am sick to death of the self-centered, self-seeking concept of love that is to be seen all around us. True love is a love that costs us dearly without the expectation of receiving something.
In my pre-teen years, the school teacher was our ultimate authority. I can recall one teacher who walked around the room with a ruler in her hand. If she was unhappy with something you were doing, she would bring the ruler down across the back of your hand. One day she hit my hand for something and the ruler broke. She went into a tantrum as she blamed me for the broken ruler.
Some years ago I recall reading the illustration of a male teacher who was punishing a class bully. He made the boy go outside and cut a switch and bring it back. The teacher asked the class (most of whom had been bullied by this boy) how many lashes he deserved. It was a significant number.
The teacher called the boy to the front of the room. He was trembling with dread at the thought of his punishment. Instead the teacher leaned across his desk and demanded that the boy give him the punishment. Soon the boy, as well as the entire class was sobbing. They begged the teacher to have the boy stop, but he demanded the full punishment.
Why did the teacher do that? It was to teach his class a lesson about the high cost of love. He explained to them that this was the same love that God demonstrated in sending His precious Son, Jesus, to take our punishment upon Himself. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 Have you received God’s greatest gift?
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
360-570-0074
PastorCecil@Daily-E-Votional.com
P.S. – You can find previous E-Votionals covering a variety of Scriptures and topics to help you in your walk with the Lord at www.Daily-E-Votional.com.
P.P.S. – I have completed my first book, 100 of Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations. The cost is $12.95 plus shipping. You can now order it online by going to https://dailyevotional.com/prior2020/book-by-pastor-cecil . . . You may want to consider this book as a thoughtful gift idea for those who do not have Internet access or as helpful sermon illustrations for your Pastor.
.
.
.
