by Paula Mowery
These first John passages are clear that you can’t love the world. We must live as Jesus did. What does this look like? Jesus was a servant and nothing else was more important than the Father.
*Are you imitating Christ in your life? Are you being a servant? List some ways you are imitating Him. Then list some ways you would like to work on becoming more like Jesus.
*Though we have been forgiven for our sins, we should not continue to sin. Is there a pet sin that holds you back? Confess it. Turn from it. Here’s a little exercise. Write down the sin that continues to trip you up. Now, pray to God, telling Him you know that all sin is rebellion to Him and this is the sin you struggle with. Then mark out that sin and literally turn your back on it, asking God to help you do that not only symbolically but in your life.
*Pray that the Spirit will help you to discern false teaching. Write out a prayer here. You might write something like this: Lord, please continue to teach me and lead me through your Word so that I might recognize the difference between those who may deceive me and those who are with me.
Jude 18-19, 23
They said to you, ‘In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.’ These are the men who divide you, who follow mere instincts and do not have the Spirit. …snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy mixed with fear – hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
They who are mentioned in the first verse are the apostles of Jesus. These apostles warned that there would be those who would follow their own instincts instead of the Word of God. These people will cause divisions in churches and among believers.
Jude 20-21
But you, dear friends, build yourself up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you eternal life.
Again, Christians are encouraged here to continue in learning and strengthening of faith. Remain in God’s love. This is a call to persevere even though some may fall by the wayside and try to take us along with them.
*What do these verses in Jude suggest we do for ourselves to stay strong in Christ?
*What are we to do about these that stray?
2 Thessalonians 3:15
Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
We do have a responsibility to our brothers and sisters in Christ. We must not join those who stray but warn them.
2 Timothy 4:1-5
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep you head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
*What stands out in this passage for you personally?
Paul is giving this charge to Timothy, but it could just as easily be given to each Christian today. In the world today there are those who have invented their own form of Christianity or religion. We Christians have to be prepared at any time to speak the truth.
*When was the last time you were an evangelist? In other words, when did you last share the truth of Jesus? Who did you share it with?
*To share Jesus is as simple as telling a person your testimony. Write out your testimony here. Start with your life before Christ and then your life after Christ.
Another passage mentioned in For Our Good is Romans 8:28-39.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: ‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, not anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
*Choose a verse that stands out to you and explain its meaning for you personally.
Things happen as a result of sin, but God works all for the good. There are things that happen which test us.
*Has something happened in your life that causes you to doubt God or His plan? Explain.
*Can you look back and see God’s hand in past situations? Explain.
Bad things happen that we don’t understand, but God is not against us. He is for us and loves us with a love that can’t be severed.
God doesn’t promise us an easy life with no struggles. On the contrary, He warns often in His Word that we will face trials. But his promise is that He will never leave us. He is always near and always loving us. That is where our comfort comes from.
Furthermore, God may even teach us something from our struggles that could increase our faith or our intimacy with Him. Experiencing a trial is not wasted time but more like an opportunity. When we know our struggles have purpose, we can be comforted and overcome.
*Has God taught you something from a struggle in your life? Explain.
Always be prepared to share God’s truths and how He’s seen you through problems as well as the lessons He has taught you along the way.
Please enjoy this sample from Legacy & Love by Paula Mowery, available from Prism Book Group!
Sean Holland Jr. rushed through the hospital entrance, pausing only long enough for the automatic doors to open. He shucked his jacket. The east Tennessee weather was mild for late December. This was his sister-in-law, Beth’s, second trip to the maternity ward, but after today, two-year-old Miranda would be big sister to twin baby brothers. Two late Christmas presents for the whole family. His brother, Richard, had a head start in the marriage and family arena, despite being five years younger than Sean. A fact that tended to bother his mother more than it did him.
Sean stopped at the waiting room door and scanned the room. He locked eyes with his father, who waved him over.
“So, what’s the status report?” Sean looked at his mother, who sat next to Beth’s mother.
They spoke at the same time, glanced at each other, and laughed. Sean’s mother nodded, urging Mrs. Sybrant to go ahead and give the update. “The babies are here, and everyone is doing well. We’re just waiting to be able to go in.” The maternal grandmother’s hands fidgeted in her lap.
Sean breathed a sigh of relief, knowing everything had turned out well. There had been a possibility of complications. He plunked into a seat next to his mother and laid his arm across her shoulders. “That’s great news, Granny.”
Sean’s mother cocked an eyebrow. “That would be Nana. Thank you very much.”
All heads turned when Richard glided into the waiting room and hurried to their staked-out corner. Though his hair and clothes appeared disheveled, his face displayed a goofy smile. Mr. Holland patted his son’s back. “Congratulation
s.”
Beth’s mother stood and embraced Richard. When they stepped back, the new father of twin boys ran his hand through his dark hair. “Thanks. We’re ready for everyone to come in to meet Matthew and Michael.”
“So, the doctor said no sign of those problems he thought would be present at birth?” Beth’s mother asked.
Richard chuckled. “Nope. The doctor seemed surprised, but we told him—that’s the power of prayer.”
Sean suppressed the urge to roll his eyes at his brother’s explanation for his healthy sons. He stayed seated, thinking two sets of grandparents was probably enough without adding an uncle into a small hospital room.
Richard glanced back. “Come on, bro, you gotta come too.”
“It’s not too much?”
“Naw. Beth sent me out here.”
“Okay.” Sean followed the eager entourage.
They gathered in a semicircle at the foot of the hospital bed. Beth lay reclined with a bundle in each arm and some sort of knitted shawl around her shoulders and draped over each baby.
A collective “ahh” emitted.
The new mother glanced to her left. “This is Matthew.” Her focus moved to her right. “And, this is Michael.”
Sean’s mother edged nearer, fingering the soothing blue shawl draped around Michael. “Is this one of Hope’s?”
A smile spread across Beth’s face, and she nodded. “She brought it last week.”
Beth’s mother caressed the shawl’s fringe that fell along Matthew’s back. “Wrapped in prayer.” Her voice cracked, and she sniffed.
Sean wondered about the shawl and its maker, Hope. She must be someone from their church, because he couldn’t recall anyone by that name. He shook off the curiosity when the grandmothers pulled back blankets to reveal pink faces and dark hair. Sean chuckled to himself as everyone bragged about who the babies resembled. He couldn’t see it.
He excused himself, giving the explanation of an early morning interview, and headed home.
As he entered his apartment, the silence was deafening after leaving the excitement of the hospital room. He opened his laptop, clicked it on, and brought up his email. Tom, a magazine publisher, asked if he had anything new. He could use a “touchy, feely” kind of story. Sean wasn’t much of a “touchy, feely” kind of guy, but he’d do his best since Tom had contacted him.
* * *
Hope Weaver shucked her scrubs and slipped into her pajamas. She grabbed an apple from the kitchen bar and as she bit into it, she checked her email. She clicked on the prayer request from her church. She smiled as she read about the safe arrival of the Holland twins.
“Thank You, God,” she whispered.
Hope made a mental note to stop in for a short visit before her shift at the hospital tomorrow.
She remembered her recent shift and her time with little Hannah and her mother. She had prayed for the five-year-old girl at the request of her mother, Karen. The desperation on Karen’s face clutched Hope’s heart. She had prayed that if it was God’s will, Hannah would be healed from her cancer. She prayed for peace and comfort.
Hope plopped into her cozy glider rocker and picked up the prayer shawl she had been crocheting for Hannah and her mother. A few more rows and then the fringe. As she moved the crochet hook in and out, shaping the stitches, Hope started to pray, just like her Mimi had taught her.
When the shawl had been thoroughly bathed in prayer, she began to hum the familiar hymn “It is Well.” At ten-thirty, she pulled the last string of fringe through and tightened the knot. She admired her handiwork, glad she could deliver it tomorrow. A huge yawn signaled bedtime, so she folded the shawl and laid it near her purse.
* * *
Sean jogged through the hospital entrance, nearly crashing into a wheelchair. He halted before making contact. “Whoa there. Sorry. I better slow myself down.”
A high-pitched laugh sounded from the child being wheeled out. Sean’s upbeat attitude slipped a couple of notches when he noticed the child’s bald head.
As he started to stroll on by, he spotted a light blue shawl draped around the child’s shoulders. It resembled the one his sister-in-law had. “That shawl,” Sean said before he could reign in his words.
The slender woman walking alongside the wheelchair smiled and nodded. “Hope.”
“I’m sorry. It gives you hope?”
The woman chuckled. “Well, yes, it does, but the nurse upstairs who made it. Her name is Hope.”
“Ah, I see.”
“It’s a prayer shawl,” the child said. She caressed it. “Here, feel how soft it is.” Before Sean knew what was happening, the child had grabbed his hand and nudged it across the shawl. “See?”
Sean knelt eye-level with the child. “Yes, I do see.”
“I’m Hannah. I’m five, and I get to go home today because of mission.”
“Because of mission?” Sean glanced up at who he suspected was Hannah’s mother.
She laughed and shook her head. “She means remission. Her cancer is in remission, so we’re going home. Thank heavens for the shawl.”
“The shawl is why you’re going home?”
“Sorta. This is a prayer shawl. It represents a lot of diligent prayers lifted on Hannah’s behalf.” The woman patted the girl’s shoulder.
Sean’s mind suddenly kicked into reporter mode. “So, you say this Hope is a nurse here?”
“On the pediatric floor.” Hannah’s mother glanced out the door and back. “Here’s our ride. Nice talking to you, Mr.?”
“Sean. Sean Holland.”
Hannah waved as the wheelchair rolled toward the awaiting minivan. “Bye, Mr. Sean.”
“See ya, Hannah.”
Sean stood transfixed. Was this feeling in his gut the sign of a story in the making? He could certainly use the check he would get for that “touchy-feely” article for Tom. He was saving for an overseas trip somewhere. A good travel piece could give him another avenue of reporting. What could be better than traveling to some exotic location?
Sean jolted from his thoughts when the empty wheelchair whizzed past him, pushed by a tall man dressed in pale-green scrubs. Sean glanced at the gift bag in his own hand and remembered the reason he was here.
He rushed to the elevators to deliver the two teddy bears. With twin boys in the family now, there would be lots of buying double gifts.
* * *
Hope readied to leave, with one last check of her reports. She smiled when she glimpsed Hannah’s name. Her goal with each child remained a discharge from the hospital, even though her heart ached with the child’s absence. Better well than cooped up here. She thanked God for Hannah’s cancer remission. Hope was thrilled that Hannah and her mother were now believers. She had built a relationship with them over the little girl’s bouts in and out of the hospital over the last year. Their time together had given her the opportunity to share Christ. Hope’s Mimi had always said, “If we’re open to the Lord’s leading, He’ll let us in on what He’s doing.”
Hope made her way to the maternity floor to check on Beth and the twins before she left. She knocked lightly and heard a “come in” from inside. Beth sat up in the bed, cradling one bundle while the proud daddy held the other, sitting near the head of the bed.
Both looked up and smiled—beamed might describe the expressions more fully.
“Pretty as a picture,” Hope said in a low voice. “Just missing big sister.”
Beth nodded. “She’s with Nana and Grandpa. I’m sure she’s living it up.”
Richard rolled his eyes. “It’ll take days of detox after being with my parents.”
Hope chuckled. “Do you need anything?”
Before the couple could answer, a man breezed in. His hair was dark brown and coiffured in a short, messy, stick-up-on-top style. His baby blue eyes seemed to dance. He looked Hope up and down and then took a step back. “Oops, should I come back?”
Hope glanced at her attire. He probably thought she was the Holland’s nu
rse. “No, I’m off duty. Just came by to check on everyone.” She turned to go. “I’ll let you all visit.”
“Hope, wait,” Beth said.
At the mention of her name, the man’s head jerked around, and he stared at her. Heat rose from her neck to her cheeks under his scrutiny.
Richard stood. “This is my brother, Sean. Sean, this is Hope.”
Hope recognized the resemblance. Both brothers had baby blue eyes and broad shoulders.
Sean stepped closer and studied Hope’s face. It unnerved her.
“The same Hope who makes the magic shawls?”
“Excuse me?”
“You’ll have to excuse him. He’s a writer, a reporter—full of questions, always looking for the next story. Am I right?” Richard glanced at his wife.
Beth chuckled and nodded. “Yeah.”
Hope looked Sean in the eyes and tried to keep her voice even and matter-of-fact. A warmth in her chest signaled meeting him wasn’t an accident. “I do make shawls, but not magic ones. They’re called prayer shawls.”
There was an awkward silence as Sean held her gaze. Finally he blinked and shook his head. “Yeah, prayer shawls. I met a little girl downstairs. Hannah?”
Hope smiled at the mention of Hannah and nodded. “Little Hannah. I’ve prayed a lot for her.”
“Obviously, Hannah and her mother think that’s why she’s going home and in remission.”
Hope noted the sound of doubt in his tone. She straightened as tall as her petite form would allow. “God answered our prayers. He does that, you know?”
Sean diverted his gaze. “So, how are those boys?”
Hope could see from Sean’s reaction that the subject of God was a sensitive one. Why? Sean’s parents and Richard and Beth were believers and active at the same church Hope attended. “I’ll leave you all to visit. I need to get home.”
As she started toward the door, Sean’s hand caught her shoulder. Their eyes met once again. “I hope I didn’t offend you. It was nice to meet you.”
Hope’s chest fluttered, signaling her increased pulse rate, but she wasn’t sure why. “Nice to meet you, too. Night.”
