February 27, 2026

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”

(1 John 3.18)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

I want to hit “pause” for a moment in these reflections on the disciples who accepted the call to be followers of Jesus. It is important to me that we understand the impetus of being a follower of Jesus. To do so, I have chosen the Elder John’s words written among his epistles to the Christ fellowships under his charge. We, of course, know of the Epistle to the Seven Churches which He transcribed during the revelation he received from the Resurrected Christ, The Book of Revelation. But, there are three epistles he wrote that share the heart and mind of expectation as followers of Christ. These epistles help us to see that by the end of the first century in which Jesus of Nazareth lived, the thrust of the missionary and evangelistic message to the world which had passed from those who worshipped at Temple to those who worshipped as members of the body of Christ, the Church, was conflicted by a similar problem. That problem, as revealed in 1 John 3.18, was living out a faith in word alone. Lip service. Name-dropping. The whole of the gospel of Jesus Christ was bound by the word “righteousness.” Such righteousness was not presenting oneself as the Jewish leadership did. He summed up their efforts by calling them “blind guides” and “white-washed tombs.” They “wore” their faith as a garment which hid the heart, mind, soul and spirit from all others. In a fashion, their “profession” of faith masked their true intention, and not all that well, much in the same fashion as the Temple Veil which separated the people from the Holy of Holies. In other words, their duality in life betrayed the true faith which God had called them to be and to do. Jesus would say to them, “I have not come to do away with the Law of Moses and the teachings of the Prophets. Rather, I have come to show how they are to be lived out, to be fulfilled.” (Matthew 5.17)

What Jesus did was change the word “righteousness” from something that was said as if it could not be achieved unconditionally to something everyone was expected to be able to do. Righteousness was not earned but given. It, like true love and grace, were gifts shared by those who truly loved and were perfect (perfected and perfecting.) Impossible? If we thought so and think so, then we make a mockery of the very word so many love to display, “[With men/people this is impossible;] with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19.26) Notice I have blocked off a part of that scripture so many espouse. I do so because so many do not quote it with the rest. They demonstrate a selective witnessing to go along with their selective listening. Further, the quote of that passage in minimalism takes the focus off that passage in its maximum application. Listen to the context of what Jesus was saying. It comes toward the end of the summation of the story of when a rich young ruler asked Jesus, “What must I do to inherit, or gain, eternal life.” The theme and purpose of that encounter and the teaching derived out of it was all about salvation. The rich young ruler could do many things. He had even fulfilled most of what he was taught fulfilled the Law and the Prophets. He gave to charity. He supported his parents. He made his image known in the community. Yet, even he knew there was something lacking. For all his worth, the surety of eternal life either eluded him or worse, he sought affirmation from Jesus that his words of charity and abstaining from situations that would challenge his opportunity to fall short of God’s intention. Jesus said to the confident rich, young ruler, “If you want to be perfect, then sell all you have and give it to the poor; then, come follow Me.” I want us to hear that word “perfect.” Jesus introduced us to that word in The Sermon on the Mount. In fact, the “perfect” teaching existed essentially in the middle of what had been recorded as the words of Jesus to those who “hungered and thirsted for righteousness.” In Matthew 6.33, Jesus said, “Be perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect.” Wow, it would seem that then would have been the “perfect” time for Jesus to say “What is impossible for men/people, is possible with God.” With God all things are possible. Not everything is needed. Not everything is necessary. In truth, lots of things don’t ever have to be actualized. Yet, the question of “perfect” and “possible” are never lifted up out of context. That context is all about “salvation.” Salvation is impossible without humility, confessing one’s sins, admitting one’s faults, giving God the credit and the glory, maintaining a focus on one’s spiritual life development by being a student of the Word of God and ultimately, and finally, by living out the very Word of God in right relationship with God and one another. Oh, it is possible when our pursuit is the righteousness of God. And Jesus this, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; all else shall be provided.” Now, we can hear, “This is impossible with men/people but totally possible with God.“

So how is it that our own discipleship can be authenticated? It isn’t by just saying so. It isn’t by walking around claiming to be a follower of Christ. It isn’t by doing good works with the intention of being cloaked with the appearance of righteousness and godliness. John said to those churches under his purview, “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” The qualifier in those actions was truth. The truth was the declaration of our real purpose on earth as shepherds and stewards of the flock of God’s people that they might become the people of God. It was about preaching, teaching and modelling the gospel of Jesus who came to show us how to fulfill and live out the very word of God. That “word” was ‘love and grace.” It was about demonstrating the power of perfection which comes in knowing that only God can make it happen. We make it real in our lives by proclaiming the gospel as the singular truth and the basic foundation for the building up of life that is eternal. It comes not by saying “I love you” but in the demonstration of authentic love which leads to the very gates of Heaven all the way to the footstool of God.

TODAY’S PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING:

Father, in these days we are finding the need to believe even more than ever before. We all have known trouble, some in greater ways than others, but You are offering us the assurance that we will not be consumed by it forever. Regardless of the “time” we are in and the “time” we have been given, we ask for Your Holy Spirit which Jesus asked You to share with us, to lead and guide and direct us in the paths we should go. Teach us what we still need to learn. Empower us to put that learning into action. Bless our actions not as a works righteousness but as righteous works of faith, hope and love in Jesus’ name. AMEN.