Monday Morning…

Morning!

Raises his cup of coffee

It is Monday March 31st of 2025.  80% chance of thunderstorms and rain today as the day goes on, but we’ve got a high of 80 to look forward to.    Spring has arrived and so has Monday and if you’re anything like me, Monday is a day of planning, or at least an attempt at trying to plan through the week to see what we will be doing.

Hebrews 3: 12-13

“Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”

The LORD is good. He is merciful.  His loving-kindness stretches to all generations.  He is patient and long-suffering—not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to the knowledge of the truth and repent.  And in the same spirit, as much as it is within us, we are to do good to all men—not rendering evil for evil, but reflecting the mercy we’ve been shown.

We’ve been going through the Psalm 119 Challenge, and I think this week is a good time to slow down—to pause and apply some of what we’ve learned.  David shows us a love for the Word of God that we should aspire to—a deep, abiding reverence that shapes his thoughts, words, and actions.  But David isn’t the only example we’re given. There was another disciple who’s known not just for his faith, but for his love.  The disciple whom Jesus loved—John.

The First Epistle of John, it is said, was written in response to false teaching that had begun to enter the church.  And it’s the opening lines of this letter that I want to spend some time with today.  So, if you would, let’s turn to 1 John…

1 John 1: 1-4

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life- the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us- that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.  And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.”

It is a profound beginning.  It is a strong beginning.  It is a fascinating beginning to reflect on.  So what is John doing here?  He is proclaiming the wondrous works he has seen—just as David did.  He is proclaiming what he has heard.  He is proclaiming what he has seen.  He is proclaiming what his hands have touched—what he has handled and proven to be true.  He is bearing witness to Jesus Christ.  He is testifying to how Christ has been revealed—not as a distant idea, but as present, real, tangible.

Are we ready to do that?

Is our fellowship with Jesus?

This Monday are we preparing to go to work?

Or are we preparing to go to work for Jesus?

Are we fearing the Lord, or are we fearing man?

Proverbs 1: 7

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

The Lord answered a prayer of mine this weekend.  Did He answer any of yours?

Are we chronicling our prayers so we don’t forget?

With all those questions out of the way, let’s get to our Scripture of the day.

Psalm 119: 65-72

“You have dealt well with Your servant, O LORD, according to Your Word.  Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe Your Commandments.  Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your Word.  You are good, and do good; teach me Your statutes.  The proud have forged a lie against me, but I will keep Your precepts with my whole heart.  Their heart is as fat as grease, but I delight in Your law.  It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes.  The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of coins of gold and silver.”

Has the Lord dealt well with us?  Has He dealt with us according to His Word?  Have we given thanks for that yet?

James 1: 2-8

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.  For let not that man supposed that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

Single-mindedness.  To be single-mindedly focused on serving Jesus—whatever it is we’re doing.  The testing of our faith… the testing of our trust in Jesus—it produces patience.  And patience plays an important part in what we are meant to learn.  Some of us are more patient than others in certain things.  But let’s not lose sight of this: While we are waiting on the Lord, let’s stay focused upon the Lord—if we find ourselves in that situation this week.

Maybe, are we struggling with doubt?  My suggestion is to work on single-mindedness to help with that.

Let’s not forget where we were learning…

1 Thessalonians 5: 11-23

“Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.  And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake.  Be at peace among yourselves.  Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.  See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.  Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the Will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  Do not quench the Spirit.  Do not despise prophecies.  Test all things; hold fast what is good.  Abstain from every form of evil.  Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Just in case we have forgotten…

Edify: (Verb)

- To instruct and improve especially in moral and religious knowledge: Uplift

- Enlighten, inform

- Build, establish

Pray without cease.  This has been a big theme of our study this week and a good deal of what we’ve been working on.  I have found that it takes some work to stay single-mindedly focused on prayer throughout the day.  I’ve found it particularly challenging when having a conversation with someone to continue prayer.  I’ve also found it difficult when I am focusing on something to pray without cease as well.  It seems to help when I think of every conversation and every thing I do as if I am doing it with three people.  Because there are at least three people involved with me when I am by myself.  The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit.  It is getting my head to include them in activities without rushing ahead without them that is where I have been learning this last week.

What I have found improving is my singleminded focus on God.  The more we pray, the more we give thanks.  The more we give thanks, the more we live in the Word.  The more we live in the Word, the more Jesus we have.  The more we chronicle, the more material we have to share.

Let’s remember today if we hear The Holy Spirit, not to harden our hearts!

Proverbs 24: 11-12

“Deliver those who are drawn toward death, and hold back those stumbling to the slaughter.  If you say ‘Surely we did not know this,’ does not He who weighs the hearts consider it?  He who keeps your soul, does He not know it?  And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?”

I think this is a good place to start today.