Grains of Sand

Reading: 1 John 2 How can you tell when a person is a genuine believer? We all have our criteria, sometimes formed by what we want to believe about a person. This is especially true when it comes to those we love the most. John is fairly blunt about what the standard is, as was Jesus. He doesn’t claim that genuine believers are perfect. After all, he has just finished telling them that when they sin they can be assured that God will forgive when that sin is confessed (1 John 1:9). He begins chapter 2 with the same kind of idea. He acknowledges that believers sin, but the way he expresses himself leaves us with the feeling that he isn’t talking about habitual, deliberate sin. John writes: “ But if anyone does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One .” (2:1, NIV). John’s criteria for a true believer is obedience. If you believe in Jesus, you will try to place your feet in the marks left by His footprints. “ Whoever ...

He only appears once on the pages of biblical history. Whatever happened to Matthias? Jesus had returned to heaven after his resurrection. His followers were shut up in an upstairs room praying, and waiting for. . . well, they weren't entirely sure what it was they were waiting for. All they knew was that their Messiah had promised to send his Spirit to empower them for ministry. While they waited and prayed, Peter addressed the group, quoting what is now known as Psalm 69:25 and Psalm 109:8. Based on the prophecy, the apostle suggested that it was time to choose a replacement for Judas. He said: " Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection " –Acts1:21, 22, NIV. Two men met the criteria: Barsabbas and Matthias. After they prayed, they drew ...