John 16
Jesus tells us just what we need to know at just the time we need to know it. He tells the disciples certain things “so they won’t abandon their faith” yet there are other things they could not know right then. Jesus told them, “There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now.” (verse 12). What this says to me is that like a good parent with a young child there are certain things the parent allows the child to experience so they might grow but is ever so careful not to allow them things that will hurt them or cause them to doubt the love of the parent. This parent is intentional about stretching the child’s abilities and expanding their horizons but doesn’t overwhelm them with things they cannot handle, even if they think they can. In my world I love to see this happen as God uses me to teach my children but it happens far too little which is one reason I read God’s Word, to be more like Him and understand my need for Him to be ever present in my life and the lives of my wife and children. Jesus points us to the Father and the Father is good, He provides for us mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. His Holy Spirit tells us things, things He receives from Jesus (verse 15) so that we have both peace and joy to the full and that we might know the Father’s heart for us better. All is done so that the Father might be glorified, dwell on this and let it soak into your soul. Father God does not receive glory for glory’s sake but His holiness demands it and by us living a life pleasing to God glory is given to Him. In our obedience the Father’s heart is revealed to us so that glorifying His name becomes our one desire. In knowing Him who we are is also revealed and what His plan for us is, which brings us ever closer to the Father.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Pruned and Purified
John 15
(John 15:5 NLT) "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.” Through this action of ours the Father is glorified just as Jesus glorified the Father throughout His ministry here on earth. Jesus goes on to tell them that He has loved them just as the Father loved Him (verse 9) and again He tells them “Remain in My love.” How do we do this? By simple obedience, how do we obey? Read His Word so that you will know the truth and your spiritual eyes and ears will be opened. Have you ever seen a well-trained, obedient dog with his master? I can tell you that dog is far happier than the one on his own roaming the streets, not knowing where his next meal is coming from and unsure of what danger waits around every corner. His coat is dirty and shaggy; he is skinny and malnourished and cannot trust anyone for fear of losing what little he has. You see we are happiest and the most joy comes from being with the Master because like the dog who loves his owner we have a longing to be there. It was placed by the Creator in the heart of mankind long before we were born and it continues with each new life so that all may choose to either do right or wrong, choose the narrow path or the wide one, choose to spend a life time loving the Father or a life time wondering the earth for something to fill the God-shaped hole. The faithful, Jesus calls “friends” and no longer slaves because He has made known to them the will of the Father but He also reminds us that if the world hates Him they will hate us as well. The world has set itself against the Lord and a mighty, fearful fate they will one day meet because of choices of rejection they have made again and again even though they have seen with their own eyes the miraculous changes the Lord has done in you and me, as we glorify Him with our lives of worship.
(John 15:5 NLT) "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.” Through this action of ours the Father is glorified just as Jesus glorified the Father throughout His ministry here on earth. Jesus goes on to tell them that He has loved them just as the Father loved Him (verse 9) and again He tells them “Remain in My love.” How do we do this? By simple obedience, how do we obey? Read His Word so that you will know the truth and your spiritual eyes and ears will be opened. Have you ever seen a well-trained, obedient dog with his master? I can tell you that dog is far happier than the one on his own roaming the streets, not knowing where his next meal is coming from and unsure of what danger waits around every corner. His coat is dirty and shaggy; he is skinny and malnourished and cannot trust anyone for fear of losing what little he has. You see we are happiest and the most joy comes from being with the Master because like the dog who loves his owner we have a longing to be there. It was placed by the Creator in the heart of mankind long before we were born and it continues with each new life so that all may choose to either do right or wrong, choose the narrow path or the wide one, choose to spend a life time loving the Father or a life time wondering the earth for something to fill the God-shaped hole. The faithful, Jesus calls “friends” and no longer slaves because He has made known to them the will of the Father but He also reminds us that if the world hates Him they will hate us as well. The world has set itself against the Lord and a mighty, fearful fate they will one day meet because of choices of rejection they have made again and again even though they have seen with their own eyes the miraculous changes the Lord has done in you and me, as we glorify Him with our lives of worship.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
If you love Me, obey My commandments
John 14
Jesus knew how important it was for His disciples to be prepared for what was to come and in chapter 14 we see that moment when the One who led them to the battle speaks to their hearts to remind them why they are there. It’s the same reason why movies like Braveheart with William Wallace and Gladiator with Maximus do something to the heart of men – it calls to life a battle cry from deep within us.
William Wallace, “Yes, fight and you may die. Run and you may live, at least for a while and dying in your bed many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance to come back here as young men and tell our enemies that they may take our lives but they will never take our freedom!”
Maximus, “Three weeks from now I will be harvesting my crops. Imagine where you will be and it will be so. Hold the line, stay with me! If you find yourself alone, riding in green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled for you are in Elysium and you are already dead. What we do in life echoes in eternity.”
Most of us will never engage in hand to hand battle but each one who follows Christ Jesus will face spiritual battle, not just once but again and again and again. Not only did Jesus build up His disciples but He handed them the weapons required for this unseen battle starting in verse one. “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in Me.” Jesus goes on to tell them what awaits the faithful and why they are here. Then He reminds them of who He is and that they have walked with Him and know Him, even though fear is standing at the door. Jesus told Thomas, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me.” He told Philip, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father! So why are you asking Me to show Him to you?” Thomas, Philip, and the other disciples feared what was to come for Jesus was talking about death and separation. I can just imagine they felt like I do many times, ill prepared and without direction but Jesus calls to a deep place within each of us to remember who He is, that He is with us through His Holy Spirit always, that we can ask anything of Him in His name and He will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father (verse 13), finally Jesus calls us to obey His commandments without regard for consequences. The words William Wallace spoke to his men serve as reminders to us that there are times being safe leads us away from our purpose or like Maximus reminds us how dangerous it is to day dream and ignore the here and now. Even though we feel it would be better to turn and run or we remain physically because it is required of us but dream of being somewhere else God calls us to stand and face the enemy, knowing He will go before us and live or die we are free from the bonds that would otherwise restrain us.
Jesus knew how important it was for His disciples to be prepared for what was to come and in chapter 14 we see that moment when the One who led them to the battle speaks to their hearts to remind them why they are there. It’s the same reason why movies like Braveheart with William Wallace and Gladiator with Maximus do something to the heart of men – it calls to life a battle cry from deep within us.
William Wallace, “Yes, fight and you may die. Run and you may live, at least for a while and dying in your bed many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance to come back here as young men and tell our enemies that they may take our lives but they will never take our freedom!”
Maximus, “Three weeks from now I will be harvesting my crops. Imagine where you will be and it will be so. Hold the line, stay with me! If you find yourself alone, riding in green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled for you are in Elysium and you are already dead. What we do in life echoes in eternity.”
Most of us will never engage in hand to hand battle but each one who follows Christ Jesus will face spiritual battle, not just once but again and again and again. Not only did Jesus build up His disciples but He handed them the weapons required for this unseen battle starting in verse one. “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in Me.” Jesus goes on to tell them what awaits the faithful and why they are here. Then He reminds them of who He is and that they have walked with Him and know Him, even though fear is standing at the door. Jesus told Thomas, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me.” He told Philip, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father! So why are you asking Me to show Him to you?” Thomas, Philip, and the other disciples feared what was to come for Jesus was talking about death and separation. I can just imagine they felt like I do many times, ill prepared and without direction but Jesus calls to a deep place within each of us to remember who He is, that He is with us through His Holy Spirit always, that we can ask anything of Him in His name and He will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father (verse 13), finally Jesus calls us to obey His commandments without regard for consequences. The words William Wallace spoke to his men serve as reminders to us that there are times being safe leads us away from our purpose or like Maximus reminds us how dangerous it is to day dream and ignore the here and now. Even though we feel it would be better to turn and run or we remain physically because it is required of us but dream of being somewhere else God calls us to stand and face the enemy, knowing He will go before us and live or die we are free from the bonds that would otherwise restrain us.
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