John made it easy for his readers to understand his letter’s purpose: Assurance of salvation. John says that we can “know” that we have eternal life. Notice he doesn’t say that we can hope, think, wonder, pray… No, he says we can “know” with certainty that if we have received Jesus, we have eternal life!
“Perfect” – (teteleiōtai) has been brought to full development, complete, having finished or run the race to the end. This “perfect love” has no mixture of fear left in it. Fearless love.
Pray for peace in the City of Peace (Shalom in Jeru-shalom). To pray for shalom in Jerusalem is to practically pray for the Lord’s return, as He is the only one who can bring true peace. The most that men can broker is a cease-fire. The city of peace has probably been the center of more wars throughout the centuries than any other. Yet, we do pray for peace in Jerusalem.
The One speaking to Daniel had a similar appearance and effect as Christ did on John in Rev. 1. When we encounter God’s holiness (His wholly otherness and righteousness), it causes fear. Yet, Christ says, “Fear not. For you are very precious to God.” What joy! This is the message of Christmas: “Peace. Fear not. Be encouraged.” For Christ has come and is coming again!
This is a question of love. What/whom do you love with priority? This world or the Father? You can only have one first love. Those who love the Father first do not live by worldly cravings, but by a redeemed desire to please God.
Daniel’s vision of the coming Messiah. The Messianic title, “Son of Man,” was taken up by Jesus, especially as recorded in Luke’s gospel. Christ’s coming in the clouds to rule forever is a not-yet-fulfulled prophesy that Daniel saw. We celebrate His first coming at Christmas. Someday, we’ll celebrate His second coming as Daniel prophesied.
God’s timing is not yours. We must not become impatient because He is never late. He is always right on time.
Wealth isn’t the problem. It’s the attitude of wanting wealth quickly, of a willingness to take any shortcut, no matter the ethic. The one who works to earn over a long time, knows the value of things and how to manage. The one who obtains quickly, loses it the same way. Easy come, easy go. And with that, “trouble.” Those who believe this proverb, won’t waste their dollar on a lottery ticket, but will invest it instead.
Don’t head out into the darkness without a light to shine the way. Every morning we face a new day. Perhaps we think that the experiences of the days behind us will inform our direction forward, but who knows what a new day holds? Only the Lord. Stop stumbling and groping through life, blindly facing another day. Let God’s Word light your way.
Don’t be like the antelope that wandered from the herd only to be eaten by the lions. Stay alert and stay together! The Church is the body of Christ and we need each other. Begin your week worshiping together and gather during the week in one another’s homes, devoting yourselves to the Word, the fellowship, the breaking of bread and to prayer. Stay with the “herd” and stand firm together against the evil one.