Paul McKenzie

Memory Verse, Sunday Review, October 12, 1 John 16-20a

"If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

"We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth hi not. And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true,"

We are (sadly) nearing the very end of this letter, and much of the end of this week has been spent on review. It has been a labor of love for me, for this is one of the first books I memorized as a Christian, many years ago. It is like an old friend, a very wise old friend that teaches me more every time he speaks.

This is the great wisdom of God's Word. It is relevant for every season of life. Words that had little meaning to me in my youth, now have great meaning. There were things that I read that simply went over my head until I experienced them during the half-century I have been on this great pilgrimage toward the Light.

I truly understand the difference between knowing the Father as a child, and knowing "him who is from the beginning". As a child in the faith, just newly born-again, I had that great assurance that my sins were forgiven. As I progressed, I've learned the utter depth of my sin, and saw what a price He truly had to pay to reconcile the world to Himself.

As a young man, I knew the importance of the Word of God, and through my path of obedience and disobedience I learned the difference in "knowing" the Word of God, and "abiding" in the Word of God. It's not a book of rules, but living words of life. A daily bread graciously given us. Words revealed to us that make us more like Him.

And, I've learned that He deliberately made us "interdependent" with one another. We learn about His love as we love one another. We find that loving one another is reflecting the love He first gave to us. And we learn it primarily in a local fellowship of like-minded believers, the oasis given us to prepare us to walk in light in the midst of a dark, lost world.

For we know Him that is true. Every true believer can testify to that truth. It is "a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it." (Revelation 2:17) It is a seal of the Holy Spirit, (Ephesians 1), sealed so deeply and permanently in our hearts, that no one can take it away.

So, as you get ready for church (you are going to church, right?), ponder this: "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." (1 Peter 2:9-10, NIV)

And if you have not yet received mercy:

Today if you hear His voice, harden not your heart.

Memory Helps:

"If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them 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 you should pray about that. All wrongdoing is sin and there is a sin that does not lead to death.

"We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true." (NIV)