John 17
Throughout the Bible we are shown that God is our hero and that He chooses to use flesh and blood to bring His deliverance. Moses in Exodus, Joshua at Jericho, Boaz as Ruth’s kinsman-redeemer, Job as God explained that we are but vessels for the Master’s use, Nehemiah as God’s protection and His constant love, and the list goes on. What do these lives have in common? When each one gave all they had God’s glory covered them and deliverance came to those God had chosen. In the same way Jesus was glorified as God’s deliverance came. Notice Jesus no longer was leading them to believe but instead they believed He was sent from God (verses 7-8 NLT) Jesus prayed, “Now they know that everything I have is a gift from You, for I have passed on to them the message You gave Me. They accepted it and know that I came from You, and they believe You sent Me.” Jesus was about to give everything and it was in that hour His disciples believed and their eyes were fully open and though they did not know it they were now prepared to take their stories, God’s story to the world. Our lives are no different if we are to ever be used fully by God then when God’s appointed time has come His glory will be on us and in us – this glory is evidence of God’s presence and the answer He is giving through our lives will benefit those He chose to deliver, if it is not bigger than you, if the message does not reach further than you alone could reach then is not of God and his glory has not yet come. In all things be faithful and He will grow you to full maturity. Know this, there is a very specific purpose for your life, in you is a piece of God’s puzzle and only when you are fully alive in Him will that answer be offered to those in need. You will recognize it because it will reflect your very core, the very thing you have felt but could never put your finger on. You will recognize you are in the right place when you come in contact with a people group that you are drawn to unexplainably, you will recognize the time is near when your heart is burdened with the things of God like never before and you will see it when what is revealed is larger than yourself, reaching far beyond what your own eyes can see. Yes at that moment you are fully alive and in the same moment God’s deliverance has come to those whom He chose.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Take heart I have overcome the world
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.
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.
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.
Friday, October 26, 2012
Unless I wash you...
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.
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.
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.”
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