John 13
At the final supper of Jesus and His disciples we find Him washing their feet, which was an act reserved for a servant. That is why we read Peter’s response in verse 8 when he told Jesus “no”. He did not want Jesus to serve but instead lead but Jesus told him, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will… Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to Me.” You see Peter and the other disciples felt energy building as they believed something great was about to happen but their idea for their teacher to lead a great rebellion freeing their generation from the tyranny they faced strangely was not God’s plan. Jesus was reminding them of His ever loving and caring example that He wanted them (us) to follow as He prepared them for His departure. Jesus was not blind or deaf to their heart’s cry for freedom or ours but it was and is not the physical restrictions He had come to break but those of the spirit and this would not be understood until after His death, burial, and resurrection. Father God gave us His Word so that we may know the truth and therefore be made free! One day the wrong will be made right and those to whom injustice has been done He will raise them up and they will fly like eagles on wings of glory. For they will rise as He calls them unto Himself but only the Father knows when and how this will happen for it is not for us to know but ours is to be faithful and trust that He knows what is best for His children, His sheep. It is then when the mysteries of His words in Revelation will be made clear, just as the words Jesus spoke in the upper room that day was made clear after He rose from the grave. So hold on, something great is about to happen.
Friday, October 26, 2012
Thursday, October 11, 2012
His Vast Love
As vast as the deep reaches of space is I believe it is not large enough for us to escape His love! Who knows what the next life holds but I know this, He has a purpose for each and every one who belongs to Him and the things we go through in this life are preparation for the one to come. You’ve heard it said, “It’s not the destination but the journey that brings the most joy.” Though our minds cannot grasp what God has in store once Jesus comes for His bride to miss out on the personal time with our Lord in this life throughout the valleys, great plains, and mountain tops is to miss insight into His heart for us. We will never pass this way again so take inventory of His loving kindness, His wondrous grace, and His mysterious heart of adventure and know there is purpose in all Jesus said and did, not only what we read in His Word but also where He is leading us today for one day the reasons why will be answered and when we look back we will wonder why our faith was so small.
Friday, October 5, 2012
My sheep know my voice
John 10
Jesus said his sheep know his voice and will not follow another. Have you ever been mid-stream in something and hear a small still voice say, “Don’t”? Somehow you know the difference between your own thoughts and God’s voice (it’s confirmation of the Holy Spirit). After hearing this from times past and unsure what to do I go ahead and do what I originally intended then end up learning a valuable lesson. Thankful for God’s grace it doesn’t take too many times for me to realize what is happening and I began listening, even waiting for it before making life changing decisions. Just like the boy Samuel heard God’s voice three times before the older wiser Eli told him that this is God’s voice. Samuel’s reply once he knew who was calling him was, “Speak, your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:10 NLT). I too want my response to be, “Speak Lord and quiet my soul for I purpose to hear you.”
Jesus said his sheep know his voice and will not follow another. Have you ever been mid-stream in something and hear a small still voice say, “Don’t”? Somehow you know the difference between your own thoughts and God’s voice (it’s confirmation of the Holy Spirit). After hearing this from times past and unsure what to do I go ahead and do what I originally intended then end up learning a valuable lesson. Thankful for God’s grace it doesn’t take too many times for me to realize what is happening and I began listening, even waiting for it before making life changing decisions. Just like the boy Samuel heard God’s voice three times before the older wiser Eli told him that this is God’s voice. Samuel’s reply once he knew who was calling him was, “Speak, your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:10 NLT). I too want my response to be, “Speak Lord and quiet my soul for I purpose to hear you.”
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Children imitate their father
John 8
Jesus makes it very clear that people imitate their father, though the people that day claimed to be children of Abraham their actions and beliefs made a case against their own report. Jesus saw through their words and recognized their actions to be consistent with that of the enemy. God is just, holy, and the Father of truth if He is your Father then you will be like Him. There are many claims today of people in the media being Christians, even co-workers, friends, and family though we cannot judge or condemn we are expected to know from who they come from by their words and actions. Jesus told us these things so that those who believed Him would not be led astray.
(John 8:31-32 NLT) Jesus said to the people who believed in Him, "You are truly My disciples if you remain faithful to My teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
The moment we listen to direction from sources other than God we open ourselves to being led down the wrong path. If we do not spend time in prayer or time reading His Word how will we know Him, how will we be led by Him when life requires us to make choices? If our prayer life is not consistent with the Word of God are we not confusing ourselves into believing something other than truth? It’s not enough to pray, people from every religion pray but we are to hunger and thirst for righteousness, to desire His presence in our daily lives and each day know Him more. When we go to school or work, when we come home to be with our families, even when we are alone our one desire shall be God’s presence in our own lives. One of the big problems with the people Jesus was speaking to in chapter 8 was that they were not aware of their own blindness for in their minds they knew they descended from Abraham but they did not know him. You see blood lines don’t matter, whether Jew or Gentile makes no difference that which leads to eternal life is determined by whom you follow and imitate.
Jesus makes it very clear that people imitate their father, though the people that day claimed to be children of Abraham their actions and beliefs made a case against their own report. Jesus saw through their words and recognized their actions to be consistent with that of the enemy. God is just, holy, and the Father of truth if He is your Father then you will be like Him. There are many claims today of people in the media being Christians, even co-workers, friends, and family though we cannot judge or condemn we are expected to know from who they come from by their words and actions. Jesus told us these things so that those who believed Him would not be led astray.
(John 8:31-32 NLT) Jesus said to the people who believed in Him, "You are truly My disciples if you remain faithful to My teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
The moment we listen to direction from sources other than God we open ourselves to being led down the wrong path. If we do not spend time in prayer or time reading His Word how will we know Him, how will we be led by Him when life requires us to make choices? If our prayer life is not consistent with the Word of God are we not confusing ourselves into believing something other than truth? It’s not enough to pray, people from every religion pray but we are to hunger and thirst for righteousness, to desire His presence in our daily lives and each day know Him more. When we go to school or work, when we come home to be with our families, even when we are alone our one desire shall be God’s presence in our own lives. One of the big problems with the people Jesus was speaking to in chapter 8 was that they were not aware of their own blindness for in their minds they knew they descended from Abraham but they did not know him. You see blood lines don’t matter, whether Jew or Gentile makes no difference that which leads to eternal life is determined by whom you follow and imitate.
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