TRUTH: The Full Armor of God Series (Part 1)

TRUTH: People believe lies. Lots of lies. Lies about God. Lies about their identity. Lies about true beauty. Lies about real love and intimacy. Lies about security. Lies about what is healthy. Lies about EVERYTHING. People believe these lies over and over and over again.

One of my husbands favorite movies is The Usual Suspects. Although it is definitely a "guy movie" that poses too much violence and vulgarity for my taste, I do acknowledge that it does have a great line in it where the villain makes a very profound statement. He says, "The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he doesn't exist." The statement was actually coined from an early piece of literature entitled The Generous Gambler written by Charles Pierre Baudelaire, a nineteenth century French poet. Nonetheless, it is an interesting concept to consider, don't you think? The devil lies to us about EVERYTHING, including himself. Instead of acknowledging his plans to derail us and calling him out as the snake he clearly is, we forget his corrupted existence.... we forget his sinful motives... we forget his malicious intent, and instead... we believe his lies. I must admit, that is a good trick... but not one that I wish to be the patsy of.

So, to avoid further confusion, let me tell you a few things about Satan. (a.k.a. - The Father of Lies!!!) Let me share the TRUTH about who we are up against... who is behind the deceptive schemes and half-truths that we easily fall prey into believing.

Satan can only produce evil. His goal is to blind the eyes of those who don't believe in Jesus, and to cause those who do to stumble and question their faith and worth. He is an accuser, a tempter, a deceiver, a slanderer, a thief, a counterfeit. He is tireless to destroy and ruthless to mislead. His very name means “adversary” or “one who opposes.” Even though he was cast out of heaven, he still seeks to elevate his throne above Almighty God by fraudulently imitating all that God does with the hope to gain the worship of men and encourage opposition toward God's kingdom. He is tireless in his quest and extremely intelligent, clever, full of pride, and powerful... but not more powerful than our God. Satan will do anything and everything he can to oppose God and those who follow Jesus. He is Beelzebub, the prince of the devils. The constant enemy of God, of Christ, of the divine kingdom, of the followers of Christ, and of all truth; full of falsehood and all malice - seducing to evil in every possible way. He is a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. He has no mercy, no grace, no hope. His only wish for mankind is to separate us from our Creator. He wants us defeated, shamed, guilt-ridden, tormented, depressed, heavily burdened. In short, he wants us DEAD.

So, do you really want to continue believing what Satan has to say? I sure don't.

WHY do we believe Satan's lies? I am convinced it is because many people accept Christ's gift of salvation but then forget to unwrap and use the contents of the fitted armor that accompanies that gift. So, let's take a look at what God's armor includes. Let's read Ephesians 6:11-18 and see what the scripture says about the Armor of God...

"Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."

The first element of our armor is the Belt of Truth. How wonderful would it be if we actually secured this around our waist, wrapping ourselves with God's promises in our daily lives? God considers deception to be an abomination. In Proverbs 6, He tells us that a “lying tongue” is detestable to Him. We are therefore exhorted to "put on truth" for our own sanctification and deliverance, as well as for the benefit of those to whom we witness. What would happen if we just decided to do this... to speak only truthful words to ourselves and others, and to secure our position in the truthful promises of our King rather than believe the lies of the enemy? We would be free indeed! Freedom to look at ourselves, our future, our capabilities, our existence in an entirely new way. This is not news to be put aside or forgotten. This is all part of the GOOD NEWS that must be told and re-told... studied and memorized... sought after and lived every single day - for all eternity!

As Christians, we must be confident in what God has promised to us. His truth assures us that God is good. We are royalty and children of the King of Kings. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. True beauty is a reflection of who we are in Jesus because all things become new and perfect in Him. There is no greater love than the love of our Father in Heaven. The Lord will provide and take care of us because He treasures us over all other creation. We were lost but are now found. And most importantly.... nothing.... NOTHING can separate us from the love of our Father!!!

Ladies, secure that belt and believe these promises. Put your whole trust in the ONE who is faithful, constant, righteous and holy. No matter what happens in your life - remember that those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior have been redeemed and belong only to God. Satan does not have ANY authority over us! So, measure and evaluate what comes your way by these guidelines: (1) Everything that is good is from God and is TRUE; (2) Everything that is not good is of the devil and is a LIE. (3) If you find yourself in a situation that is not good - WAKE UP, GIVE IT TO GOD, AND TRUST YOUR KING! (4) If you feel yourself reverting to old belief systems that tear you down - WAKE UP, GIVE IT TO GOD, AND TRUST YOUR KING! (5) No matter how many issues Satan thows your way with the intent to convince you that you are "less" or that God is unfaithful... DO NOT BELIEVE SATAN'S LIES! WAKE UP! GIVE IT TO GOD! TRUST YOUR KING!

Tighten that belt strap and BELIEVE THE PROMISES OF YOUR KING!

TRUTH: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Believe the Living Word of God, Jesus Christ. He is Truth. He is King. He is the Christ who came to reveal God to man and redeem all who believe in His Name. Believe Him and be FREE!

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the TRUTH and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

Blessings!

~Victoria

© The Devoted Woman | Victoria Anderson

the day my father smiled

Today... especially today on Father's Day, I am always reminded of the day my father died. Now, you are probably thinking, "Oh great - this is going to be a blog full of bummers."

On the contrary... it may sound crazy, but my Father in Heaven gave me the greatest gift when my father on earth passed into glory many years ago.

As some of you already know, my father was diagnosed very early in his life with juvenile diabetes. By the time he married my mother, he was required to take an insulin shot every morning. By the time I was a little girl, he had lost both of his eyes to blindness. Years after that, his body ultimately began to break down, his kidneys and heart began to fail him, and he passed on to be with Jesus when I was a young pre-teen. Now, it may sound silly, but the day my dad died was one of the greatest and most rewarding days of my life spiritually. Let me share with you why...

My brother and I had spent that day with family members because Momba (my mother) was at the hospital by daddy's side. It was not unusual since we had grown accustom to my father being in the hospital for one reason or another. His health was just not good. So, after a day of hanging out with older cousins, we headed to the hospital to reunite with my mother. When I got there, the room was filled to capacity with family members. I remember realizing at that very moment that daddy was gone.

As I surveyed the room in what seemed like slow motion, I looked at the sad faces of those I held most dear.... my mom, brother, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. I was about to burst into tears, when an overwhelming thought came over me. "Vicki, your mother just lost her husband. Your grandparents just lost their only son. Your brother just lost his father. Your aunt just lost her brother... etc." Immediately, I felt compelled to start comforting everyone in the room. I'm not sure if it was the healthiest response. But at the time, all I could think of was how I would have time to grieve in the days to come, but my family needed my love NOW. (Especially my older brother who it seemed to hit the hardest.)

The day was filled with tears and family members uniting together. My mother was incredibly vulnerable yet incredibly filled with the strength of the Holy Spirit while we walked to the lobby with the last remaining visitor. Then, for whatever reason, Momba said to my brother and I, "Let's run up the stairs and try and see daddy one more time before the coroner takes him away." With that, the three of us, like little children, ran up several flights of stairs to be alone with my father's body one last time.

When we reached my father's room, his body was still in the bed. My mother, brother and I walked over to kiss him for the last time. I remember thinking, here was a man who suffered physically the entire time I knew him. He endured horrible pain every single day. He gave up his sight. He lost all control of his organs. He had more burdens placed upon him than anyone I'd ever known. Here was a father who never complained about his physical issues, but rather used them to teach his children about God's grace and ultimately became an advocate for others suffering from the same ailments. Here was a man who made blindness tolerable and taught others with the same disability how to keep Christ first in their life. Here was a husband who had an uphill battle from the beginning... and many questioned if he and Momba should even have married to begin with because they would have very few "normal" years to enjoy. But they did, and the Lord blessed them with family and short but precious time together that transcended all things normal - bringing God personally to their home as they lived together trusting Him each day. I would not be alive today without the faithful walk of my father. There would be no family legacy from his life had he listened to all those who did not believe in God's grace and plan.

While the three of us entered into the hospital room, my mother, brother and I prepared ourselves for the worst... we knew his body would appear lifeless and defeated. It had endured so much. Now, daddy's life on earth was over. Yet... as we approached him, we were surprised to find the body of a man who had a smile... yes, a SMILE on his face. A smile that was not there only moments before when we were in the room with the whole family. A smile that confirmed so much spiritually.

When we saw my father for the last time, we instantly knew that his hospital room was FILLED TO CAPACITY with angels rejoicing and welcoming him HOME! We knew that he would never feel pain again. We knew that the first face he saw after years living without sight was JESUS precious face! We knew that the only organs he would every need to think about again, would be the kind playing worship hymns to his faithful Savior! We knew he no longer had any burdens! Praise the most Holy Lord of Lords - my father was smiling!!! What a memory to leave with your children. What confirmation to leave with your spouse. Even through death God has a plan to open doors to those who believe in Him. If ever my father... my Father... wished to offer us a LIVING lesson displaying the secure certainty of eternal salvation with Jesus... in this last moment - there it was. A smile. Thank you, Lord.

Throughout my own life, I have been faced with countless blessings and trials. However, no matter how difficult things have been, the Holy Spirit frequently reminds me of the day my father smiled. As the years continue to pass, I'm comforted to know that my daddy is still smiling with Jesus in heaven. He is free, healthy and at his happiest. I know that he is there celebrating with the angels each time those same family members who visited his hospital bed arrive into glory... my grandfather and grandmother (his earthly parents), my aunts, uncles, etc. As I type this with tears of joy, I know he will be there when I leave this world. I know he will be one of those rejoicing the loudest when I too see my Savior for the first time.

Blessed be the Name of our generous Father in Heaven. He is so real, ladies. He is so wonderful. Do not let this world of sin and especially death turn your eyes away from His grace. Instead, rejoice with me and SEE HIS GLORY. The best... the very best of our Redeemer is only a breath away. Time will pass, but His kingdom comes... His will is being done! Live each day remembering that! Amen!

"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die." (John 11:25-26)

Thank you, Jesus.

Blessings!

~Victoria

© The Devoted Woman | Victoria Anderson

what do you have?

What do you have? Do you have clothes on your back?... Shoes on your feet?... Food to eat?... Family?... Friends?... Access to health care and medicine?... Gainful employment or the opportunity to find work?... Do you have shelter... furniture... a bed to sleep on at night? How about a pillow and blanket for that bed? Do you have a means of transportation?... Will you eat a meal today? Will you talk on the phone, read a newspaper, hear music, watch television?

What do you have?

Did you know that over two billion people in the world live on less than $2 per day; and 1.1 billion of them live on less than $1 per day. Few have ever received more than a high school education. Many cannot even read. Several will die because they do not have basic medical care. In fact, there are over one billion people who are undernourished. Worse, there are over 1.4 billion people on our planet with no access to safe drinking water. Today alone, almost 9,500 people will die from hunger.

I think it is extremely easy to focus on what we don't have and forget about what we do. In truth, many of us have more than we realize. We are wealthy in the eyes of the world economy. The mere fact that we have the resources to be on the Internet right now rather than living in a cardboard box and eating garbage to survive is saying something. Furthermore, many of us enjoy freedom in our countries to openly pray and worship without fear of being locked away or worse. We are able to congregate in church each Sunday... We are blessed to be able to read our own translated version of God's Word without worry of death and persecution.

What do you have?

Rather than worry about what you do not have, I encourage you to stop and think about all the blessings you do have? Whenever you find yourself questioning God's provision for your life, please stop to remember the hope we have in our eternal salvation and heed the words of our Savior regarding our needs being met while we are here on earth. Jesus said in Matthew 6, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:25-34)

Ladies, let's thank God for the gracious gifts He continues to give us. Let's share His love to others as He provides for our needs. Let's stop worrying about what we do not have and leave our fears and selfish worries on His altar. Instead, let's seek Him first and share His love to others. We have more than we could ever need because we have LIFE eternal. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. We have blessings beyond measure in the safe care of our Father in heaven. Let's never forget we belong to Him and He is faithful to those that love Him.

What do you have? You have Jesus!

Blessing!

Victoria

© The Devoted Woman | Victoria Anderson

let there be light

Let there be light...

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. (Genesis 1:1-5)

And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth." And it was so. God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day. (Genesis 1:14-19)

Isn't it interesting that God's initial decree of light is not the light of the sun? In fact, according to scripture, the sun, moon and stars were created on day four in the creation account. So what gave our new earth this "good" light approved by the Spirit of God? What separted our planet from darkeness and allowed the very first evening and morning to occur?

Let's look at John 9 - where Jesus restores the blind man's sight. Read with me these verses:

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. "Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, "Isn't this the same man who used to sit and beg?" Some claimed that he was. Others said, "No, he only looks like him." But he himself insisted, "I am the man." "How then were your eyes opened?" they demanded. He replied, "The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see."

Isn't it interesting that this disabled man was blind from birth? I find it also interesting that the disciples first question to God about his blindness was, "Why?" Why was he blind? What sin did he or his parents do to cause such a horrible situation to come about? Why God... why? But look at Jesus answer, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

Wow, let there be light indeed! For here in these passages, Jesus claims Himself as the Light of the world. Jesus is the physical, viewable personhood of the Spirit of the Most Divine. He is God in human flesh. He is the good light that separates our days and nights. Here in John chapter 9, Jesus showcases His governance over our universe by healing a man who was unable to see light. He repaired what could not be repaired. He restored what could not be restored. And how did Jesus do this? How did he change this man's life and allow Him the priviledge to see? With the very earth that God originally formed man in His own image. With the ground He created for man's feet to tread. He covered the man's eyes with mud and then told him to wash it off in order to see.

Notice that the blind man could not obtain his sight or be saved from his trial without first choosing to obey Jesus. In order to be healed, he had to first do as Christ instructed. He had to follow-through in His belief. So he "went and washed"... afterwhich He could see. WOW! What a testimony. For I'm sure this man had endured much ridicule and sorrow from unkind strangers. I'm sure he was pitied and scoffed at and viewed by others who knew him as helpless or worthless. So, this blind man could have thought Jesus to be another hurtful or even unkind person... someone just messing with his condition and giving Him false hope. Sure, the blind man's response could have been to rub the mud from his eyes with his hands and respond in anger or pride while refusing our Lord's offer. But instead, he obeyed.

Note: I'm sure it was no small feet to find the place Jesus told Him to go wash either. He had to do the work to find his way to the pool where God sent him. But, ahh, the reward he received. Can you imagine his eyes intaking the light for the first time? Can you imagine the joy... the splendor... the miracle? Once blind, this man could now see! He was restored, renewed. The Light of the world had revealed Himself... and this man saw that He was good! And now, this man once blind could not move forward in His new life without showcasing and displaying God's glory. For it was impossible for those who knew him before to miss the change. It was impossible to ignore the proof of restoration and the message such evidence conveyed... Jesus can heal what man cannot! Jesus can save where man cannot! JESUS IS LORD OF ALL!

As a believer who claims Christ as King, my life must also be one that displays God's glory. Just like the blind man, I must be willing to obey Jesus' instruction in order for me to be blessed and renewed... to see and experience His Light! In Matthew 5 when Jesus began to preach, He instructed His followers, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16)

Did you get that? Not only is Jesus the self-proclaimed Light of the world, but he has called his people to shine His light... to represent Him before men. Why? So that others will see His goodness through our good deeds - the work of God. So that God may receive all the glory and praise.

Ladies, our universe cannot exist without God's Light. Evening and morning cannot continue without the presence of the Master. In His love, God commanded, "Let there be light," and gave mankind a home of priveledge to walk in His image... to glorify His magnificence... to be a beacon of His love... to know Him intimately. But sadly, our decision to sin and seek selfishness defiled man's sight, corrupting our hearts. Our vision was lost and we became blind, lost, poor, pitiful. But thankfully, the Savior... our loving, merciful Savior offered Himself as a sacrifice to cleanse us of this handicap and restore us to completion. He made Himself human... earthly... from the dust of the ground... so that we may receive Him and eternally know His glory firsthand. Jesus dying on the cross and raising Himself from death proves that Jesus can heal what man cannot! Jesus can save where man cannot! JESUS IS LORD OF ALL!

If we faithfully believe and obey Him... if we live seeking after His blessed gift of restoration... we will be able to admire and enjoy His majesty and love forever. In turn, we will be blessed to worship and know Him as we live mirroring His image. We will glorify Him by shining His presence to others. We will beam in victory because He is the Light that has shown us the safe path home to His kingdom! Can you see Him? Are you even looking?

I ask you to consider these questions: Does your life display God's light? Does your heart showcase His headship? Do your actions resemble His ways? Does your message claim His grace? Does your world spotlight a Savior? For He is indeed good and instructs us to share His message of redemption TODAY...

"Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." (Mark 16:15)

Ladies, this is the day... let there be LIGHT!

Blessings!

~Victoria

© The Devoted Woman | Victoria Anderson

the behavior of true love (part 6)

It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. (John 13:1-17)

As we wrap up this blog series in John 13, let's focus on the final lesson our Teacher demonstrated to his twelve within this scriptural account. Remember, everything Christ did during this last meal was symbolic of His willing sacrifice and the future security of His followers. As such, once Jesus finished giving these men the good news of His new covenant and upcoming kingdom... once He ceremonially broke bread and drank wine, giving them means to remember His earthly sacrifice as our Passover Lamb... then Jesus shared one final lesson to show us how those in His new kingdom are called to behave.

This is Jesus, the King of kings, who lowers Himself so that men might be redeemed. The Master who confidently knows exactly who He is in the eyes of His Father, and is able to extend that same confidence to His beloved friends - friends that He would love to the end! Soon, His earthly goal would be complete. Soon, His death on the cross would guarantee our eternal freedom from sin and death. Do we fully understand this, and what He has done for us?

Here, our Teacher takes off His coat, pulls up His sleeves, and wraps a towel around his waist. He has come ready to wash our feet so that we may walk clean once again. He is ready to serve us. Ready to display His humility in the most demeaning and holy way in order to prove to us that His love is unchanging. This is the behavior of true love, isn't it? For to fully extend love to another, one must be willing to surrender over themselves... their whole self! One must humbly approach their beloved with kindness and gentleness - girding themself as a slave so that the other might be lifted higher. This is the true love in which God's kingdom stands, and Jesus is it's Cornerstone. His love fulfills all requirements of God's law. His love never fails. His love promises life to the fullest!

Yes, in this lesson, Jesus calls each of us to know Him as a close, intimate friend. His love assures us that servanthood and obedience to His Word are the only proven Way to know victory and remain healthy. He urges us to always, ALWAYS, believe His truths. To never waiver from His plan. To reject the enemy who lurks and preys about, and instead focus on His coming kingdom. Focus always on the Passover Lamb! Forever remember His body, His blood, His sacrifice, His promise to save!

And, if we are indeed His friends (if we love Jesus with all our heart, soul, mind, strength), we will keep His commands. We will mirror His example and gird our hearts in humility. We will become slaves for His good. Why? So that Jesus might be lifted higher and higher! For the only thing that counts in God's economy is our faith expressing itself through Christ's love. As citizens of His coming kingdom, we must recognize and adhere to this new Way of thinking. We must live our lives as lambs following the leadership of our Shepherd. We must love as Christ loves us... to the end!

So, what does true love look like? It looks like the God of the universe washing our feet, ladies! It looks like the Savior dying on the cross to save His people. It looks like the Almighty Father surrendering His most precious Son in order to assure His beloved a celebration feast in His holy presence.

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. (1 John 3:1-3)

But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. (1 John 2:5-6)

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. (1 John 4:7-16)

We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. (1 John 4:19-21)

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. (1 John 3:16)

And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. (1 John 3:23)

For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself. (Galatians 5:14)

Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them. (John 14:21)

This is true love. Not that we loved God, but that He loved us! Yes, God's love is the standard - the Way of the new! And, because His love is patient... we must behave patiently. Because His love is kind... we too must behave kindly. We must not envy. We must not boast. We must not be proud. We must not dishonor. In Christ's love, we are no longer to be self-seeking or easily angered. For in Christ's kingdom, love keeps no record of wrongs... nor does it delight in evil. Instead, Jesus encourages us to rejoice in the truth! Rejoice in the Way, the Truth, and the Life! Rejoice and be glad in Him... everyday!

How blessed a friend we have in Jesus who loves us to the end! How great is the Father's love for us that, in Christ, nothing can separate us from His presence! Today, let us embrace this new kingdom and model the perfect, holy behavior of true love!

Today, let us rejoice and LOVE LOVE LOVE! In Jesus' Holy Name, Amen!

Blessings!

~Victoria

© The Devoted Woman | Victoria Anderson

the behavior of true love (part 5)

It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. (John 13:1-17)

"Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end." According to other scriptural accounts of this last supper between Christ and his twelve disciples, before getting up to wash their feet, Jesus chose to ceremonially break bread and drink wine with His followers. As we established earlier, this was done during Passover - the most sacred time of the Jewish religious year. But read the account that Mark gives regarding what actually happened...

When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me - one who is eating with me.”

They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, “Surely not I?”

“It is one of the Twelve,” he replied, “one who dips bread into the bowl with me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.”

Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it. “This is my blood of the a covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. “I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God.” (Mark 14:17-25)

So, what does this all mean? Why break bread? Why drink wine? Why speak of a covenant and a new kingdom? The short answer is laid out in 1 Corinthians which says, "For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes." (1 Corinthians 11:26)

Everything Christ did during this last meal was symbolic of His willing sacrifice and the future of His followers. By breaking bread and drinking wine with the twelve, Jesus provided mankind a monument to remember His upcoming sacrifice. You see, soon He would die on the cross as our Passover Lamb. Remember that earlier we learned why the Passover was originally celebrated? How God had helped the children of Israel escape slavery in Egypt by instituting ten plagues? The worst of these plagues would end up killing every first-born child in Egypt if Pharaoh refused to let God's people go. Remember, that in order to avoid this horror, the Israelites were instructed to mark the doorposts of their homes with the blood of a sacrificed spring lamb? Well, symbolically Jesus was teaching us that His new kingdom was coming, and in order for us to be a part of it, He would have to become our sacrificial Lamb so that we might be saved and freed from the bondage of sin and death.

Rather than provide us a monument of granite or stone, Jesus gives us the symbols of bread and wine to acknowledge this wonderful new truth. So, whenever we commune to remember Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, we are deliberately acknowledging His monument by eating His body and drinking His blood. This is symbolic to every Christian because we consider our own body as a temple (a house) for God to reside and live. By "digesting" our Lord, we are ceremonially agreeing to mark our doorposts with the Lamb - receiving His perfect, holy solution to avoid the horror of God's judgement for sin. Yes, Jesus teaches that He came to selflessly intervene and save His beloved people so that He could guard His temple from death and sin re-entering. Hallelujah, there can be no sin in God's house! This is the hope and freedom we look forward to in His new kingdom! WOO HOO!

He said to them. “I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God.” Yes, God's kingdom is coming. Jesus died and rose from the dead. After which, He ascended into Heaven and is, at this very moment, preparing a place for us! When He returns, we (His church... His bride) will feast again in the presence of our beloved King! This is the wedding supper of the Lamb in which Revelation refers...

Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.” (Revelation 19:9)

Ladies, isn't this truth wonderful news? Aren't you psyched for the Lord's return?

Tomorrow, we will conclude this series in John 13. We will review the sacrifice and the new Way in which our Savior intends for His people to live as we allow Him to abide in us. He can transform us (as our Creator) into a new, redeemed creature - washed with His holiness and welcomed to His kingdom. This is such an important lesson because it shares the only Way to be with God. (Whom we need to remain healthy!) His is the only path worth seeking! Let us praise the Lamb for His great love! Because of Him, we can live free again!

Tomorrow, we will be studying one final lesson plan from our wonderful Teacher. We will learn from His perfect example so that we may fully understand how our King calls us to behave as citizens of His coming kingdom. However, for now, I encourage you to think about our Savior's loving covenant and the hope in which His monument promises.

Until tomorrow... This, then, is how you should pray: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread." (Matthew 6:9-11)

Blessings!

~Victoria

© The Devoted Woman | Victoria Anderson

the behavior of true love (part 4)

It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. (John 13:1-17)

The evening meal was in progress and the devil had already prompted Judas. Wait a minute. Did we just read that Satan was there? Yes. The devil was lurking about pushing his evil agenda while in the very same room Jesus and his disciples were present. What hatred the enemy has for our King that he would infiltrate the place in which God's only Son eats and teaches His followers. But there he is. Whispering in the ear of Judas. Swaying a conscience to betray the Lord.

Judas is an interesting, and all too familiar, character. He is the clear example of what not to do with your life. For here is a man who was given the honor of being one of God's chosen twelve. A man who walked alongside the Almighty God during His earthly ministry as Savior. Yes, Judas saw miracles performed firsthand. He heard the Word in human flesh speak. He was frequently around Jesus, but He never had true faith that Jesus was God incarnate. Unlike the other disciples that called Jesus “Lord,” Judas never used this title for Jesus and instead made a point to call him “Rabbi” - acknowledging Jesus as nothing more than a mere teacher. Rather than profess his faith and loyalty to Christ, Judas remained conveniently silent... comfortably investing himself enough to gain fame and exposure, but tragically remaining unengaged and distant with the One who really mattered.

Yes, like so many who attend church today, Judas showed up and appeared to be a follower of God... but let's face it, he clearly wasn't following. Sure, outwardly he convinced everyone around him that he "loved" Jesus, but inwardly his heart had little interest in relating with the King of kings. We can conclude this just by looking at the listed order within the synoptic gospels. Notice how each of the twelve disciples is generally listed the same, with Peter, James, and John always listed first? This is believed to indicate the relative closeness of their personal relationship with Jesus. But Judas is always last on every list. In fact, in all the scripture outlining Jesus' earthly ministry, the only documented dialogue between Christ and Judas involves Judas being rebuked by Jesus after his greed-motivated remark to Mary in John 12, Judas’ denial of his betrayal in Matthew 26, and his actual betrayal to Christ in Luke 22. How sad.

When all was said and done, Judas likely stuck around Jesus because he saw Christ's potential to obtain great political power and wanted a piece of the action. He witnessed the great following of people drawn to Jesus and likely believed he could profit from the collections that were taken. He was the equivalent of the many false prophets and celebrity "Christians" who widely are accepted by the sheep of today with their feel-good books, motivational seminars, and whatever else they can promote promote promote - all attaching themselves to Jesus in order to receive earthly exposure and know financial gain. Jesus is just good business, you know. Salvation may be a free gift of God, but man still tries to find ways to sell it!

However, once business was jeopardized - once Jesus began making it clear that he would soon die, Judas needed a new game plan. His meal ticket could no longer provide him the future and financial assurances he coveted. So, Judas needed to save face amongst those whom he once thought he'd rule over. As such, it made perfect sense to betray Jesus and side with the Pharisees. Rather he bail out before the going gets too tough, right? Rather find a different path than the correct narrow road that Jesus was walking, right?

Thirty pieces of silver is all it took. Judas betrayed. Satan swayed him to commit the unthinkable. And amazingly, our great God still used it all for His good. Jesus was sentenced to death on the cross and the result saved us from our sins! Why? Because of Judas' wicked decision. Because of Satan's evil meddling. Because of mankind's sinful rebellion. Because of God's grace. Yes, God in His sovereign wisdom was able, as always, to manipulate the outcome of every situation for the benefit of His people and the glory of His good kingdom. How wonderful and marvelous our loving God is!!!

Although there is more to look at regarding this account, in the interest of time let's pause at this point to honestly consider Judas' character to that of our own. Let's assess if we are living intimately in love with the Savior, or if we are conveniently silent and comfortably disengaged "Christians". Do we strive to relate deeply with the Savior? Do we know His Word and live by His example? Or are we merely showing up to benefit from His church as we promote ourselves... claiming God when God seems popular to claim?

Ladies, when all is said and done, will your name be listed in the King's book of life? If so, what order will it appear? Think about these things.

Woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born. (Mark 14:21)

Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15)

Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first." (Matthew 19:28-30)

Until tomorrow.

Blessings!

~Victoria

© The Devoted Woman | Victoria Anderson

the behavior of true love (part 3)

It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. (John 13:1-17)

It was soon Passover, and according to other New Testament scriptures covering this same event (Matthew 26, Mark 14, and Luke 22), this was the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread - the day on which the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed. Here in John 13, we are dropped in the middle of suppertime with Jesus and His disciples. Now, before we expand upon the meaning that this particular supper held, let's first pause to consider the commonality and familiarity of these men eating together with the King of kings. Don't you just love the thought of how comfortable it was for ordinary men to enjoy dinner with their Master? How normal it was for them to share a table and engage in conversation with the Lord? Other scriptures that record this account inform us that Jesus and the disciples were actually reclining at the table as they ate. This was customary of that age, but can you imagine it? Twelve guys kicking back, enjoying good food, and bantering as only close friends are known to do... and doing so in the presence of God Himself!

When I think about this scene, I must admit that this is not necessarily the place I naturally go to when I think about my relating with God. It is easier for me to worship the Almighty, Sovereign God of the universe as the only true omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient deity of which I know Him to be. But to consider reclining back and enjoying a good dinner and good conversation alongside Him... no, that's not my go-to image with the Almighty. But that is exactly how intimately He wishes for us to relate.

This isn't the first time in scripture that God presents Himself in such a manner. Think about His interaction from the beginning with Adam and Eve. No two people had more one-on-one exposure with God directly. Even after man's sinful fall, Adam still knew and relied upon God more than we ever have. How do I know this? Well, Scripture tells us that in the cool of the day God would walk through Eden. And God continued to talk with both Adam and his offspring even after man cursed his future. Man's rejection and defiance to God's Word could not change the Almighty's love and faithful friendship. In fact, throughout scripture we see that this is a God who is engaged with His people. A Creator who cares enough for His creation to physically make garments and clothe man so he would not be ashamed. This is a Father who disciplines and loves His children even after they stumble. A Teacher who purposefully demonstrates His life-giving lessons. A Savior who willingly sacrifices Himself in order to redeem and restore man from his sinful mistake. A King who joyfully looks forward to spending quality time celebrating His coming kingdom amongst those faithful to Him.

When I think about how natural it was for these men to both relax and remain in awe of their Messiah, I have to wonder why we all don't strive to better befriend the Savior the same way. Why don't we invite Him to join us in all our dealings? Why don't we ask Him to celebrate every moment? Why don't we welcome Him when we eat, when we interact and converse, when we work, or when we kick back and relax with others? Do we deliberately listen for Him to teach and guide us in every one of these circumstances? And during these times, do we feel free to ask His advise on anything - even the embarrassing things? Do we trust Him enough to drop everything we think we know and follow Him wherever He leads? Is God a true, faithful Friend and confidant who has our best interest at heart? Is He?

Ladies, I encourage you to think about your friendship with Jesus Christ. Think about how you really view Him... not only as the Almighty, Sovereign God of the universe, but also as a Best Friend. Are you comfortable to receive and claim the Messiah as your Best Friend? Is He someone you enjoy spending time with in prayer and being influenced by His Word? Or is He the Almighty, Sovereign God of the universe that you keep separate at arms length?

When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 22:14-16)

Please think about it.

Until tomorrow... XOXOXO!

Blessings!

~Victoria

© The Devoted Woman | Victoria Anderson

the behavior of true love (part 2)

It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. (John 13:1-17)

Good Morning, Ladies! Did you meditate over these scriptures yesterday? Did you pray for God to prepare your heart as we deliberately endeavor to dissect His holy Word so that we may further understand His deep love for us and know Him more intimately? I hope so.

Today, let's begin to notice the details within the John 13 account. The Bible tells us that the time of the Passover Festival was nearing. As you may or may not know, Passover is the Jewish holy day commemorating the story of Exodus. In it's biblical narrative, we read that God helped the children of Israel escape slavery in Egypt. While held captive under the tyranny of Pharaoh, God caused ten plagues to occur that would ultimately cause His people to be freed. The tenth and worst of the plagues was that the Lord promised to kill every first-born child in Egypt if Pharaoh refused to let God's people go. In order to avoid this horror, the Israelites were instructed to mark the doorposts of their homes with the blood of a spring lamb. Upon seeing this, the spirit of the Lord promised to pass over their homes and spare the life of the first born. Hence the term "Passover".

The celebration of the Passover occurs as a spring festival that lasts about a week. Today, Passover takes place just before Christians celebrate the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ - our Easter holiday. As such, the Jewish and Christian holidays have been entwined since John 13 which occured right before Jesus (God's only Son) encountered His death on the cross. In fact, the word "Pesach" (originally meaning Passover) came to later mean the same as "Easter" to His followers. Anyway, in the days of Christ the intent of the Passover holiday was to remember God's deliverance of ancient Israel's survival from the last plague of death, and ultimately their new found freedom from Egyptian slavery. The theme of Passover was always about Israel's deliverance. It's message focused on the new life promised and delivered by God to His chosen people.

So, here we are at the beginning of John 13 and the upcoming Passover festivals of freedom are soon to begin. Indeed, this is no accident in the Lord's timing of things. Jesus knew He would soon be reuniting with His Father in Heaven. No longer would He walk physically beside his beloved friends and followers, but would instead become a human sacrifice in order to save them from their sinful transgressions. And, "having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end." He loved until His goal was complete... until we could become complete in His Name. Yes, Jesus loved us to the cross! A cross that promises eternal freedom to His people!

I've always found it interesting that when Adam and Eve chose to sin in the Garden of Eden that God did not altogether do away with mankind and condemn us as He had already condemned Satan. Rather than leave us in a hopeless, plagued, sinful state, God orchestrated a Way to save us. Because of Jesus' sacrifice, we are now able to enjoy freedom from sin. Because of Christ's love for us, we can be passed over by death and brought into the Promised Land of our Master. He invites us to enjoy His kingdom and freely dwell in His presence forevermore. What an awesome, loving God, right?

So, here we are - right before the Passover is about to be celebrated... right before we are to remember Israel's deliverance from slavery and know freedom as a people. And Jesus, who loves us to the end, chooses to proclaim His role as our Teacher and Lord. Don't you find that interesting? Furthermore, don't you think it must be extremely noteworthy to consider the topic in which He chose to teach?...

Servanthood. Humility. Cleansing our walk. Pampering ourselves in the capable hands of the King of kings and Lord of lords. Trusting Him to take care of us... to provide for us... to uphold us with His righteous right hand. Why? Because our God loves us. This is what Jesus wanted His disciples to know and share. His lesson plan was about deliverance, and the freedom and life available to those who follow His path. Interestingly enough, His illustration and method returns us right back into looking directly at the uncomfortable position of slavery. However, this lesson is not as expected. Here, Christ teaches us that a God-centered life of slavery is not the same as the tyranic rule of sin over mankind. For slavery to sin is both harmful and destructive. It is plagued with evil and imprisons and kills it's victims. But Godly slavery (slavery to good) is different... it is about choosing to serve in love as holy, righteous mirrors of Christ. It is about kindness and community. It is about adoration and respect. Yes, Godly slavery offers us the foundation of true love while showcasing the perfection of Christ as our Cornerstone. He is the Redeemer who loves to the end... the Savior who would give up everything to become a humble servant to His beloved people.

Why? To save us!

Why? Because He loves us!

Hallelujah... teach us, dear Master! Pass over all death and destruction and, by the power of your sacrificial blood laid over the doorposts of our heart, guide us safely into your eternal freedom and promise! Remain our holy model of humility and cleanse our dirty feet so that we may walk righteously in your Name. Change our human ways of thinking into your higher ways of love so that we might become slaves to holiness. Slaves to good. Slaves to Christ!

Ladies, let's continue to meditate over this passage in John 13 and make a commitment to love Jesus to the end. He is ready to teach us the behavior of true love and begins by showing us a new kind of freedom based in servanthood. So, let us reject the old and become slaves to His NEW. Our Master is ready to wash clean every captive covered in the filth of sin. He invites us to live in love and surrender to His power. So, let's trust the Messiah's proven path to the Promised Land. Let's surrender to His LOVE because He first loved us... to the end!

In the most basic, humbling act, our Teacher has gotten down on both knees to wash our feet. In doing so, He teaches us the most important lesson in life... it all comes down to moving forward in the freedom of Jesus Christ or remaining chained to the bondage of worldly sin. So, let's get out of d'Nile and leave Egypt! For the rules to whom we will serve are quite clear: "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other." (Matthew 6:24)

Today, let us be devoted women and serve Jesus! Let us surrender our lives completely to our humble Savior and good King! We are so fortunate because our Teacher loves us to the end and has disclosed to us His perfect lesson plan that leads to freedom and wonderful, true LOVE! So, let's learn how to behave holy and follow His example! For how wonderful a Master... how blessed a Friend we have in Jesus!!! All glory and honor are His forever and ever and ever! Amen!

I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. (John 15:15)

Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.  In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. (Romans 6:8-14)

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:34-36)

Until tomorrow... XOXOXOXO!!!

Blessings!

~Victoria

© The Devoted Woman | Victoria Anderson

the behavior of true love (part 1)

It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. (John 13:1-17)

This is quite a humbling passage to read, isn't it? Can you even imagine God in human form washing your dirty feet? Can you visualize Jesus taking off His coat, pulling up His sleeves and wrapping a towel around his waist similar to how a waiter might tie on his apron? Can you envision Him filling a bowl with warm, soothing water, placing your rough, smelly feet inside it, and massaging away all the filth and grime as you relax and enjoy His pampering?

In this passage, we see the eternal, almighty King of kings choosing to gird Himself as a slave. For us, he chooses to get down on both knees and serve rather than be served. Here, we witness the Messiah intentionally lowering his noble stature so that His beloved friends and followers may be renewed and refreshed... so that each disciple may know their Master's touch while He purifies their footsteps with His cleansing love. What an amazing God! And how precious we are to Him.

Incredible!

Ladies, for the next few days, I think we should linger in these verses and pause to consider just how much Jesus really loves us. In these important scriptures, the Savior exemplifies His complete adoration, explains His necessary plan, and then exhorts us to follow His sacrificial Way. Yes, here we clearly see the Light of the world demonstrating His love of a lifetime. And He willingly does this as our Teacher, showcasing that true love is not merely an emotion, but an attitude... a choice that produces godly action.

Here, God instructs His every follower and disciple to focus on the most menial and lowly of tasks in order to teach us how perfect love behaves. Indeed, these verses have much to offer us. There is a lot here to absorb! But if we are to be messengers of the Savior in any capacity, we must learn to love as He loves. We must live as Christ teaches us.

Let's meditate over these verses in John 13. Let's ask the Holy Spirit to put into proportion our prideful human "entitlements" in contrast to the Master's hands-on display of service and true love. Our perfect Teacher is here with towel and basin in hand. He is ready to teach us the behavior of true love. So, are you ready to receive His holy and renewing pedi-CURE? I sure am! Today, let's prepare our hearts in prayer so that we may further dip our toes into His soothing Word.

Until tomorrow... all praise and glory and honor to our wonderful, loving God! Blessed be His Name!

XOXOXOXOXOX!

Blessings!

~Victoria

© The Devoted Woman | Victoria Anderson

reorganizing, remodeling, redecorating

I love watching any kind of home reorganization, remodeling and redecorating show. It is always so much fun to see a team of organizers and designers swoop in, clean out and revamp someones old, tattered space and transform it into something fresh, functional and lovely. It is a joy to witness someone take the time to find the correct way to release themselves from the weight of being burdened down with too much stuff. Basically, I love seeing a homeowner accept the realization that what they have tolerated in the past is no longer working for them today, and, in fact, holding them back from experiencing a more fulfilling life. So, they call in the professionals and skeptically put all their trust in the experts who know how to change things for the better. They enter into the process with high hopes to refresh and regain a new start to their life while transforming their surroundings to a healthier status.

Once committed, the homeowner finds themselves thrust into cleaning out the sacred items from their past and letting go of decades worth of accumulated trinkets and junk. I'm certain that in the beginning of their lives, they never thought they would one day become weighted down with so much baggage, but the evidence now before them proves contrary. So, in the interest of betterment, old furniture is removed, useless family belongings are sold, and out-of-date clothes are donated away. Everything they have come to depend on in the past is under strict assessment to insure it is truly valuable and useful for their life. If it is deemed unworthy, they let it go. They must let it go. For the goal is to begin anew - a terrifying yet freeing process for anyone to bravely take on.

Once freed from their old baggage, the homeowner has a clean slate to further along their reconstruction. Their designers take great and deliberate care to architect floor plans and sketch out workable layouts to turn each room into a more esthetically pleasing and functional living space. They decorate and implement working solutions within each room so that every square inch is tailored to compliment the desired lifestyle of the homeowner. When the entire process is complete and the final unveiling takes place, the homeowner is welcomed into a new and improved space that promotes openness, organization, peace, and the freedom to live and flourish in a more relaxed personal environment.

Ahhhhhh!

I guess I love these types of shows because they remind me of the reorganizing, remodeling and redecorating that is currently underway inside of me. I too realized that I was just tolerating the baggage of sin in my life... and it wasn't working. Years of sinful strongholds began to accumulate until the enemy had weighed me down so much that I lost sight of who I was and what my true home should really look like. And even though I was skeptical to change, I knew I needed help. That is when I accepted Jesus as my Savior and gave over my life to His expertise to lead me into new and better surroundings in the presence of my Creator. Now, I look to the example of Jesus to teach me what is really important... what has eternal value. Anything that is not good - that does not meet His holy standard to become healthy, has to be let go. I must let it go if I am to flourish in the openness and freedom that a life in Christ gives. In His presence, I am able to relax in the complete security and beauty of The Almighty.

I love witnessing how God reconstructs every square inch of my heart. Yes, sometimes it can be terrifying... but when we are brave enough to seek truth and be transformed anew in His Name, we are able to more personally experience the grace of His everlasting richness and the marvelous freedom of His glory. How I long for the day when I can relax at His feet and say, "Ahhhhhh!"

Thank you, Lord, for restoring my soul each and every day. I anxiously await the hour when my restoration is complete and I am blessed to see you face-to-face. I long to worship at your feet and be ultimately amazed at the unveiling of your eternal Kingdom. Thy will be done, Jesus.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Revelation 21:1-4)

Blessings!

~Victoria

© The Devoted Woman | Victoria Anderson

so how about some good news... TRUE LOVE!!!

So how about some good news... some awesome, unmatched, wonderful news...

God loves us!

Let me say it again. God loves us... all of us!!!!

Anyone who is stuck in this tainted world filled with the corruption of sin.... God loves!!! It's true! No matter who you are! Really!!!

God loves us soooo much that He sent Jesus, His only Son (a Son, perfect and without the corruption of sin)...

God sent Jesus to come to earth and die as a substitute for mankind. You see, according to the Bible, sin is punishable only by eternal death. YIKES! I hate death, how about you? To think that this life would be all there is... that after living only a short time I would be eternally gone, dead, lost?!?  Wouldn't that would be awful?

But God made a way for me, a sinner, to be restored and receive eternal life... that way is JESUS!!! And because Jesus is God in human flesh (God's Son), he accepted death and took on the lawful punishment for our sin.

Why did He do this?

Jesus did this so whoever... and I mean WHOEVER (meaning anybody)... whoever believes in Him as their Savior, their God, their King... those who believe in Jesus as their Lord shall not be punished with eternal death. (OK, I just have to say WOO HOO!!!)

God wants to be with us... relating and loving us. He does not want our souls to die forever. He wants us to live with Him. He love us, remember!?? So, He wants to give us the desires of our heart and spoil us in His glorious care... ALWAYS!

So, Jesus came to earth to die for us. Then He overcame death and lived again because He could!!!... He IS God in human flesh! A miracle for us to conceive, for sure... but here is the cool thing... God is in the miracle business! Only God could overcome death. So, only God has the power to save us from our sin!

In doing this, those who accept Jesus as their Redeemer and choose to follow His holiness will live happily and with a complete and fulfilling purpose in the good, perfect, loving and healthy presence of Almighty God... FOREVER. WOO HOO AGAIN!

With God, there is no guilt, no shame, no depression, no defeat... With God, we are free from sin and all the hopelessness it brings! With God, we can have true, everlasting FREEDOM by following His Word!

See, God didn't send Jesus to the world to condemn mankind... Rather, He sent Jesus to come and save us!!! How great is God? How blessed are we to have a God that loves us enough to actually overcome sin and death for us?

This news is really, truly awesome! This news is worth sharing!

PRAISE THE HOLY NAME OF JESUS CHRIST!
HE IS GOD!
HE IS THE REDEEMER!
HE IS KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS!

So, if you haven't already... won't you accept God's loving gift of salvation? Won't you enjoy precious freedom from death today? Won't you be blessed in His presence and surrounded in all that is good? Won't you choose to follow Jesus and trust God to redeem you and make you a new creature in His loving care? Won't you live the rest of your life on earth with the wonderful knowledge, wisdom, and hope of being part of God's Kingdom forever? For His Kingdom is definitely the only one worth being a part of! People, God is worth seeking and following... I promise! HE promises!!!

Jesus is the ONLY WAY to find true, lasting, real peace... He is LOVE... TRUE LOVE! (OK, come on and say it with me: WOO HOOOO!)

So, let's start living life following JESUS - the CHRIST, the MESSIAH to the world! He has so much in store for us and wishes only for us to live in His abundant grace! Open up a Bible and spend the rest of your physical life on earth learning about Him. Get to know Him personally! Be in His presence today and forever!!! Follow the Savior and BE SAVED!

Jesus is worth it, people... HIS WAY, TRUTH, LIFE IS SOOOO WORTH IT!!!

XOX!

LOVE LOVE LOVE!

 ~Victoria

© The Devoted Woman | Victoria Anderson

live ladylike and display His grace!

This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

Ever since moving to a southern state, one thing I have really noticed is that the men here are generally more gentlemanly and manly men. No disrespect to the boys back North. I know several men there that have thoughtfully and intentionally increased their politeness levels. However, in my opinion, the level of sensitivity and courtesy initiated here in the southern states seems to be more plentiful. (It's wonderful!) As such, the more I encounter a hunky human hero of manly refinement, the more it causes me to want to be more ladylike in return, for their sake as well as mine.

On our weekly dinner date, my husband and I were discussing this very topic while considering the overall attractiveness and impact that civilized, social graces offer. And this got me thinking... thinking about my own life and my representation as a Christian woman... more importantly, as a Christian lady. For how often do I deliberately make the effort to behave in true ladylike fashion for the sake of Christ? How often do I act in a manner that showcases the classiness of God's kingdom - choosing to do so (to the best of my gifts and ability) as a refined, knowledgeable, and well-spoken ambassador of Jesus Christ?

Oh, what an opportunity and honor God has given each of us to reflect on the excellence of His kingdom! How paramount it is that His devoted women always choose to embrace their God-given femininity and accurately display His grace in the best possible and most becoming light of holiness.

So ladies, to this thought I encourage you to live graciously. Not just as well-mannered women, but as purified ladies who represent the elegance and love of Jesus Christ. Make each day a new, higher standard to offer up your heart, your attitude, your speech, your appearance - your whole life as a faithful representation and form of worship toward the King of kings! Align your femininity with God's holiness and be used as a beautiful reminder of Christ's exercised kindness, justice, and righteousness. You are important to God. You are treasured and blessed in His Name. Live as such! Live ladylike and display His grace!

Blessings!

~Victoria

© The Devoted Woman | Victoria Anderson

we need so little... He gives so much!

Sustenance: Nourishment, Warmth, Rest.
What do we need?
What do we REALLY need to survive on this planet?

Blessings: Advantages, Favors, Mercies, Benefits.
How many gifts?
How many gifts does God supply to enrich our lives each day?

Thankfulness: Responsiveness, Knowledge, Realization, Appreciation.
How grateful are we?
How grateful do we express ourselves to the Creator every morning, every evening?

Devotion: Allegiance, Esteem, Adoration, Cherished.
How passionate are we?
How passionately do we love God and love others in Jesus Name?

Believer, TODAY WE ARE ALIVE AND LIVING FULLY IN JESUS NAME!

Yes, He is our treasure.
He deserves all our glory.
He was, and is, and is to come.
His kingdom comes.
His will is done.
So, here on Earth (this side of Heaven), start your day off right!

Praise the Lover of Your Soul, for He gives so much!
Worship Him today!
Honor Him today!
Pay tribute to Him today!
Believe Him today!
Get to know Him more intimately today!
And tell others about Him TODAY!
For He has given you your daily bread.
He has forgiven your sins and has provided you hope and a new future.
Rejoice! For He is God.
He is faithful.
And most importantly and evidently... HE LOVES YOU!!!

So, look around to everything true, everything noble, everything right, everything pure, everything lovely, everything admirable, everything excellent, everything praiseworthy.
Notice all the blessings, the extras, the gifts that He continues to give so that we might live in Him FULLY!
Think about these things.
Think about how great our God on High really, REALLY is!
How glorious are His Ways!

Enjoy your King, dear Believer!
Enjoy your new, healthy life in Jesus TODAY!
For this is the day to rejoice and be glad in Him!
This is the day to praise and submit to our Kinsman-Redeemer - the One who freely gives and gives and gives to His beloved bride.

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! (1 John 3:1a)

I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10)

Lover I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice. I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey; I have drunk my wine and my milk. Eat, O friends, and drink; drink your fill, O lovers. (Song of Solomon 5:1)

The LORD will keep you from all harm - he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. (Psalm 121:7-8)

Blessings!

~Victoria

© The Devoted Woman | Victoria Anderson