“I Don’t Want to Do This!”

Nov7

open Bible pen & glasses

 

This morning, I was thinking about a “ministry” writing project I started a month ago and then got discouraged about and quit, feeling suddenly inadequate for the task and just plain stamp-my-foot resistant to doing it.

Conflicted about what to do, I prayed….

“Lord, You know I want to forget about the whole thing, throw the notes away, and pretend I never heard about it. But there it is, niggling in the back of my mind. Did You call me for this project and I am just resisting because its hard work and I’m lazy? Or is this a temptation from the devil to keep me from a blessing and obedience to You?

“What should I do?  Should I just power through?  If so, I so need strength and determination.  I need face-flintedness!”

(Isaiah 50:7 – “For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.”)

“Lord Jesus, were You ever tempted to NOT do some hard thing?”

His immediate answer….

“Ha! My child, you KNOW the answer to that question even before you finished writing the words. You did!  I WAS tempted thus, and I countered it with scripture. Read about it again and draw strength from Me.”

So I did.

     Matthew 4:1-11  “Then Jesus was led up by the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting 40 days and 40 nights, He was hungry.

1) And the tempter came and said, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But  He answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of.'”

2) Then the devil took him to the holy city and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to Him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,”he will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your food against a stone.'”  And Jesus said to him, “Again, it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test,'”

3) Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these I will give to you, if you will fall down and worship me.”  Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.'”  Then the devil left him.

Jesus used the WORD to defeat the devil’s temptations (which were contrived to keep Him from going to the cross and saving us).  This is the way to overcome temptation. The WORD (hidden in our heart, ready to use) keeps us from sin. It is the only offensive weapon in the Armor of God. The Sword of the Spirit is the WORD of God, able to deflect all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

Jesus, I confess…

“I am lazy. I don’t want to do all that is involved in the project (lots of time and work and re-work involved). I’m afraid it will not be good, that I will completely blow it. I want to do fun things instead!  I don’t want to be accountable. Help me, please…

  “For because He himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” Hebrews 2:18

     “For we have a high priest (Jesus) who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses, one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace in the time of need.” Hebrews 4:15-16

   “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”  John 14:26

  “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

12144585-hands-folded-in-prayer-over-open bible

 

It is written.

God’s Word is powerful.

Will I believe it? Act on it?

Thank You, sweet treasure Jesus. What a wonder You are! What a savior You are! What a caring high priest You are.  Thank You!

“You are welcome always to my help and wisdom and love. Just open the WORD.”

SHIPWRECKED!

Jul28

Reading Acts 27 today.   What a lesson!

ship_stormPaul, on his way to Rome to appeal to Caesar on trumped up capital offense charges from his Jewish brothers, is aboard a Roman transport ship, the second one since leaving Caesarea,  accompanied by the Centurion Julius,  more prisoners and soldiers, the ship’s owner, pilot and crew; two hundred, seventy-six in all.

They got a late start (late October/early November) due to (1) the various hearings Paul endured before the Roman Governors Felix and Festus and King Aqrippa, and (2) the observance of the Day of Atonement, the Jewish high holy day. The weather had turned foul, typical for that time of year, but the ship made it all the way to FAIR HAVEN on the off-wind side of the island of Crete.

PAUL: Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.  Stay here for the winter!

THE MAJORITY: (Ship’s pilot, owner, and the centurion in charge of prisoners who had the final say): NO. This is not a suitable place to winter. Let’s make for Phoenix. It’s only a short way.

So, they departed, a deceivingly auspicious warm south wind taking them to sea.

And then the TEMPEST broke loose. A Northeaster of epic proportions.Terrifying, devastating. They were only able to pause briefly on the lea side of a tiny island long enough to run supporting cables under the the boat, haul in the dingy and lower the sails. Then they could do nothing but run before the wind and endure the ferocious gale and sea. So fierce was the storm that they had to cast off the cargo, the dingy, and all the tackle just to stay afloat.

For FOURTEEN DAYS they endured this mighty storm of wind and sea and darkness, with not a glimpse of light from sun, moon or stars. They were not able to eat a bite of food. They were terrified. Abandoned. Lost. All hope of salvation gone.

And then God spoke to Paul in a vision: “I have ordained that you must speak before Caesar, therefore, you and all 276 souls with you… will NOT PERISH.”

PAUL: We must run aground on ‘some island’ (not Fair Haven where they could have wintered). Meanwhile, let’s eat a little….

They did, then threw the rest of the wheat into the sea.

CREW: (After “sounding” the depth several times) LAND, HO!!

They released the stern anchors (holding them facing the island) and let the ship go her way. But instead of landing on the beach in the bay, a reef caught her fast by the bow and the stern began to break up under the terrible pounding surf.

SOLDIERS: We must kill all the prisoners! If they escape we will be killed!

CENTURION: (Looking to Paul, remembering the promise of God that none would perish) No! Those who can swim, jump over and swim to shore. Those who can’t swim, grab a bit of flotsam and ride it to shore! GO!!!

Every person arrived safely on shore and then turned to watch the ship disintegrate into the sea. A needless total material loss.

~  ~  ~


Wow. This story taught me to “Trust in the Lord with all my heart, and LEAN NOT ON MY OWN UNDERSTANDING, to acknowledge HIM in IN ALL MY WAYS… because He will direct my path.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)  Obedience and trust. God’s way is always best for us. But if we think our ideas are better, choose to go our own way, disregard the warnings in his Word, then we will suffer loss.

Sure, many of the natives and probably the shipmates were blessed in Malta where Paul and the others were marooned for 3 months – God works ALL THINGS together for our good for those who believe him.

But oh the blessing for the the ship’s owner and pilot if they’d have stayed in the safe fair haven when first instructed and warned… if they hadn’t taken things into their own hands… and if Julius hadn’t feared losing control over his prisoners in that town.

How do you and I respond to the warnings and the promises of safety revealed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

“For God so loved the world that he gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him WILL NOT PERISH but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Sure, perhaps we might have another chance at the end of our life (or perhaps not), but what a waste!  Yes we may be saved, but what COULD we have done for Him with our lives?

WARNING:  There might not be a Paul “aboard your ship” when the end of your life is near. You may just be entirely ON YOUR OWN…

What’s NOT To Love?

Jul12

Reading from 1 John 2:15-17

John  – Son of Zebedee, Son of Thunder, one of the three “inner circle” disciples of Jesus, brother to James, and the longest living  of The Twelve Disciples, referred to himself in humility, simply as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.”

One of the things John writes about in his first letter is LOVE – the love God has for us.

LOVE canstock5305971“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God and everyone that loves is born of God and knows God. He that loves not, knows not God, for God is love.”  1 John 4:7-8

“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.  In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”  1 John 4:9-10

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 1 John 4:16

John also writes about the LOVE that believers (should) have.

LOVE Matthew_22-37“We love Him (God) because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.  1 John 4:11

And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. 1 John 4:21 (with John 15:12)

The Greatest Commandment is to love God with all our heart, mind, soul & strength, and the second greatest  is to love your neighbor as yourself.  Matthew 22:38-39

Jesus even commands us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44).

So…. what does John say we are NOT TO LOVE?

“DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD OR THE “THINGS” OF THE WORLD. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world … is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with it’s desires. BUT, whoever does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:15-17

Just what ARE these worldly things we are to not love?

1. the Lust of the Flesh – This is the desire to INDULGE  – your “self”

2. the Lust of the Eyes – This is the desire to ACQUIRE  – more “stuff”

3. the Pride of Life – This is the desire to IMPRESS – other “people”

 

So then….what is “the will of the Father” (the desires or attitudes) that, in doing, results in life forever (in this context)?  It is the OPPOSITE of the above.

humility PUBLICANpppas00701. “DENY YOUR SELF, take up your cross (the cross symbolizes death; death to self), and follow me (Jesus).” (Matthew 16:24)

2. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures (“stuff”) on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but LAY UP FOR  YOURSELF TREASURES IN HEAVEN… (Matthew 6:19-21) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”(Matthew 6:21)

3. “HUMBLE YOURSELF before the Lord, and He will exalt you.” (James 4:10) “A broken and CONTRITE HEART, O God, you will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17)

The Apostle Paul explains more…

“Put off your ‘old self’ which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness.” Ephesians 4:22-24

HUMILITY a-teenager-prays“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2

“Let this mind be in you, that was in Christ Jesus, who … made himself nothing …. who humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:8-11

After reading the 1 John 2 passage (and connecting verses) I searched my heart to consider whom and what I love?  Am I putting off those “deceitful desires” John writes about?  Whose will am I seeking to do…. my own or God’s?

How about you?

“Therefore be imitators of God as beloved children. And walk IN LOVE, as Christ LOVED us and GAVE HIMSELF up for us, a fragrant offering and SACRIFICE to God.”

“Give Me Liberty!”

Jul4

ATT222MA14888213-0023My Bible reading today took me to Acts 13:32-39 

Paul’s sermon to the people in the synagogue at Antioch seems perfect for our July 4th, Independence Day. The leaders there asked him to give them “any word of encouragement for the people,” and Paul preached about freedom.

As with our own liberty in America, his sermon began with a lesson in history. Paul reviewed how God had been faithful to His chosen people, delivering them from bondage in Egypt, teaching (and disciplining) them through the long wilderness journey, and bringing them into the Promised Land.

He reminded them about their most righteous leader, King David, whom God testified was “a man after my heart, who will do all my will,” and about God’s promise concerning him. A savior for Israel (and the world) would come through this David’s lineage. He would be of David’s offspring: Jesus.

Then Paul preached the message of salvation.

Those who lived in Jerusalem, and their rulers, DID NOT RECOGNIZE or UNDERSTAND the words of their own prophets, which they read from every Sabbath. But they “fulfilled” them anyway, by condemning Jesus, and though they found no fault in Him, asked Pilate to execute Him. When He died, they buried Him.

But that was NOT THE END. God raised Jesus from the dead and He appeared to many of those who followed Him, who are now His witnesses.

And now, the CONCLUSION to Paul’s sermon. “We bring you the Good News! (the Gospel)”

1. God’s promise of a Savior was fulfilled in Jesus.

2. Through HIM the forgiveness of sin is proclaimed to you.

3. By HIM everyone who believes IS FREED from everything from which the law couldn’t free you.

“For the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, he condemned sin.” Romans 8:2-3

And Paul’s final warning: “Beware lest what is said in the Prophets should come about…  that, as scoffers, you are astounded (by the Gospel) but perish. “I (the Lord) am doing a work in your days, a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.”  Instead, believe and receive the Good News. Amen!

“If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36

 

“Give me  liberty, or give me death!”  ~~~ Patrick Henry (about the fledgling United States of America)

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Paid in Full

Jun11

My reading today was from John 19:23-42.

crucifiction

 

“After the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they….”

   Wow, what a “ho-hum!”  Just another day’s work in the life of a Praetorian Roman soldier. 

“…They took His clothes and divided them among themselves, four ways, and gambled (cast lots) for his one-piece tunic.”

     Their eyes were down, intent on His things, greed in their hearts, lusting with their eyes, jovial in their competitiveness… all the while, the Son of God hung above them, bearing their sins and the wrath of God Almighty for their sake.   Unmindful were they of the pain and anguish and the drops of blood silently hitting the dust. It was His life in His blood shed for them, and they didn’t see or understand.

“But standing and watching with pain and sorrow in their hearts were His mother Mary, His aunt Salome, Mary the wife of Clopas, Mary Magdalene… and John, his beloved disciple. ”

Jesus gives the care of His mother (even on the cross, His obedience to the sixth commandment is seen) to John (the disciple who will live the longest; the disciple who will receive the Revelation).  And his disciple took responsibility for Mary for the rest of her life. (None of Jesus’ half-siblings believed him Him at this point.)

“Everything else done, Jesus requests liquid for his parched mouth. Sour wine (vinegar, to squeeze out the last bit of saliva from his glands) is given to Him. Then, with a clear loud voice and a last burst of strength, Jesus cries out, “IT IS FINISHED.”

The sin-debt for mankind is PAID IN FULL!  The reason for his birth as a man and the suffering He endured is fulfilled.  His mission is complete. He has glorified His Father (In three days, the Father will glorify the Son!). 

“And Jesus gave up his spirit.” (He handed it over at his own will. No one took it from Him. HE laid it down. John 10:17-18)

The Jews: “Break their legs so they’ll die quicker. All this must be cleaned up by Sabbath’s start.”

 Such insensitivity! Such cruelty!

The soldiers, done with their job and the haggle over Jesus’ clothes, picked up the mallets used to pound in the spikes (or perhaps the blunt side of their swords) and slammed them into the shins of the two thieves, shattering bone and causing them to put their full weight on their arms, which crushed their lungs and suffocated them to death. At Jesus’s cross they realized He was already dead. (Hadn’t they heard his last words or seen his body slump as He released His spirit?)

A Soldier:  “Let’s make sure. We don’t want to get in trouble for not doing our job.”  He thrust his sword up under Jesus’ rib cage and into his heart. Blood and water came out, proving the Creator of the universe, the perfect Son of God,  the Giver of all life… was already dead.

It was just as Scripture foretold, John explained.  Jesus was lifted up on a tree (crucified) and pierced (with thorns, nails, a sword); and dead by the foreknowledge and will of God. 

crux josephJoseph of Arimathea:  “Pilate, can I take Jesus’ body down and bury it?”

Pilate:  “What? He’s dead already?  Hey, Centurion, is this true?”

Centurion: “Yes, Sir, I pierced His heart  myself. He is dead.” (I saw Him die, felt the earthquake, saw the sun shrouded. Truly this was the Son of God!!)

Pilate:  “Well, okay then. Take the corpse and bury it.”

Joseph and Nicodemus carried Jesus’ dead body to Joseph’s nearby, never-used, garden tomb. They wrapped it in linen cloths, tucking in 75 pounds of myrrh and aloes that Nicodemus had brought. Then rolled a stone across the entrance.

Dead and done.

“But He was wounded for OUR transgressions, he was crushed for OUR iniquities, upon Him was the chastisement (of God) for OUR peace, and with his stripes WE are healed. He has borne OUR griefs and carried OUR sorrows. He was smitten of God, afflicted, stricken…  for OUR  transgressions. He was killed that WE might have eternal life. (from Isaiah 53)

“But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that HE loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (just payment) for our sins.” John 4:6-10 

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

BELIEVE in Him.

Believe the truth – against all understanding – that the sinless Jesus bore your (my) sins on himself, and that the holy, righteous, just Almighty God crushed and killed him for those sins (instead of killing us), that the sacrifice Jesus made was ENOUGH punishment – once and for all time, for all who would believe.

“For God made Jesus, who knew no sin, to BE sin for us, that we might BECOME the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 

 

Lazarus, Come out!

May30

Today, my Bible reading was John 11:1-44

My first amazing insight came from verse 5, about Martha and not Lazarus. It gladdened my heart because I am so much like Martha.

“Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.”

Martha – concerned with many “things,” irritated, jealous, self-pitying Martha; Jesus loved her. Bossy, critical, no-time-for-sitting-and-listening-to-Jesus-because-of-all-the-things-that-needed-to-be-done Martha; Jesus loved her. Martha – resentful, accusing Jesus of not loving them enough to come to them in their need; Jesus loved her. Prickly, unyielding, yet willing to believe and obey Martha; Jesus LOVED her. He loved Martha!

(But Martha will have her day in John 12.)

 

So a certain man, Lazarus of Bethany, was ill and his sisters sent to Jesus to come help (heal) him.  Jesus told his disciples that Lazarus’ illness did not lead to death, but that it was for the glory of God, so that the Son of God would be glorified through it.  And He lingered by the Jordan River for TWO MORE DAYS.

Then he told his disciples, “Let us go to Judea again. Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep and I go to awaken him.”

Hey, he’s sleeping, he must be getting better, thought his disciples.

Nope. Jesus said plainly, “Lazarus has died, and for YOUR sakes I’m glad that I was not there, so that you may believe.”

Martha met Jesus as they were coming. “Lord, IF YOU HAD BEEN HERE my brother would have not died!”

“But… even now,” she conceded, “I know that whatever You ask from God, God will give you.”

Jesus: “Your brother will rise again.”

“Yes, I know he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”

Jesus: I AM the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he dies, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die”

How would Martha, in mourning for her little brother, respond to this?

In faith. “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

Then, seeing their sorrow & weeping, and the compassion & question of their fellow mourners, Jesus came to the tomb.  “Take away the stone.”

Practical, realist Martha said, “Lord by this time he stinks for he has been dead four days!”

lazarus3b“Didn’t I tell you that if you believed you would see the Glory of God?”

So… Martha told them to take away the stone.

After looking to heaven and thanking His Father… Jesus shouted, “LAZARUS, COME OUT!”

And the dead man heard and came out, his hands and feet bound with linen burial strips.

“Unbind him, and let him go,” said the Creator and Sustainer of life.

Oh, Lord, command that I be unbound too, from worldliness, from love of things, from selfishness, self-righteousness, vainglory and pride! Jesus, command that I be let go, freed from these things that weigh me down and keep me from abundant life in You!

(Hmm…were Lazarus’ hands and feet bound individually? Were they bound tight together like a mummy? Did Lazarus rise as a single form and… float out???)

Regardless of how, Lazarus HAD to obey Christ’s command. And if Jesus had not specifically named Lazarus, ALL the dead would have come forth from the tombs!

And one day they will.

I Thessalonians 4:16 says of Jesus’ second coming, “The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command… And the dead in Christ will rise!”

O glorious day!

_______________________________________________________________

Colossians 2:13-14: “When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses by canceling out the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”

John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting LIFE.”

For victory over death and the grave, and for eternal life, thank You, Jesus!

 

The Good Shepherd

May27

Today’s Bible reading brought me to John 10:1-30

In these verses Jesus says He is…

shepherd.sheepfold

…The SHEPHERD of his people  

Psalm 23 lists the many benefits the Shepherd provides for his people – take a moment to read it (see below). One of those benefits may be needed in your life right now, and you can ask God for it. (Lord, lead me in paths of righteousness for Your name’s sake!)

The sheepfold is where God’s people dwell in safety and satisfaction. His sheep know this place and eagerly follow the Shepherd through the door.  Everyone who enters the place of safety by Jesus will be saved, and go in and out and find pasture.

…The DOOR of the sheepfold

Jesus is also the Door, the only true entrance and access to the sheepfold.   (“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. NO ONE comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6)

…The GOOD SHEPHERD guarding the door or gate of the sheepfold with His own life

Jesus is the Good Shepherd, not a hired hand who cares nothing for the sheep, but the Good Shepherd who loves his sheep and lays himself down at the gate, or door, to protect them all through the night. Jesus laid down his life on the cross, in order that his people might be saved.

The Bible calls us…

sheep

…The SHEEP

It’s not really flattering to be compared to sheep.

They are dumb, they wander off and get into trouble, they lay down in places where they can’t get up, if they stand too deep in moving water to get a drink, their wool gets saturated and pulls them under and away. They get frightened to the slightest unfamiliar noise or movement. Burrs and bugs cling to their wool and they can stink, and the follow each other blindly… even over a cliff.

The Bible says of us,  “All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned—every one—to his own way;  and the LORD has laid on him  the iniquity of us all.”  Isaiah 53:6

For you were like straying sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd of your souls.” 1 Peter 2:25

BUT…  “My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” John 10:27-28

Jesus is the Good Shepherd, the Son of God, but He came to earth as a man, to identify with us (sheep), to show us how a life pleasing to God is lived, and to be the substitute sacrifice for our sin.

John the Baptist called Him…

lamb

…The Lamb

“Behold, the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world.” John 1:29

Jesus (God Himself) humbled Himself and took on the form of man. He lived a perfectly righteous life before God and man. Then this “spotless Lamb” became the sacrifice for our sin.  “God laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”  Then he crushed him (punished the sin of all who would trust in Him) so that we might live (eternally).

“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”  2 Corinthians 5:21

 SHEPHERD who cares for me, LAMB who was sacrificed for me:  JESUS.    Thank You!!

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PSALM 23

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.  He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Our Daily Bread

May19

Image

John 6:37-66  I read this section this morning and pictured the scene.

The crowd of 5000 men (plus women and children) had been fed by Jesus the previous day, by breaking a little boy’s five small loaves into pieces, blessing them, and giving out them out until everyone had had their fill and then some!

Jesus had to slip away into the mountain, because He knew the would come – mob style – and make Him their king. (Imagine someone who could miraculously feed you from almost nothing!!  

The next morning they found him again, intent on more of the same…..

 

Give us BREAD!” Cried the thousands! “Give us bread! BREAD like Moses gave us! BREAD so we won’t hunger! BREAD so we won’t have to labor! BREAD! Give us bread every day and… we will make you KING!”

“I am the Bread of Life, he who comes to me shall never hunger.”

“GIVE US THIS BREAD FOREVER!”

“My father gives you the TRUE bread. The Bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

“Wait, what does he mean he came down from Heaven? Isn’t this Joseph and Mary’s son?’

“I am the Bread of Life. He that believes on me has everlasting life.”

“Grumble, grumble.”

“I am the Living Bread that came down from heaven. If anyone “eats” of this bread he shall live forever.”

“This is a HARD saying, who can listen to it?  Man, all we wanted was bread.”

 

(“You ask and don’t receive because you ask amiss that you may consume it upon your lusts.” James 4:3)

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How often I am concerned only with “my daily bread” and forget the rest of the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples about how to pray.

First off my lips should be a realization and praise for who God is – holy, almighty, immutable. Praise Your name forever!

My desire after that should be for HIS will to be done, and HIS righteousness and HIS kingdom to come, and how He could use me to accomplish it in my small way.

After recognizing who God is and giving myself to Him, Jesus then said I can confidently – as a small child approaches her Daddy – ask for my daily needs, with sure expectancy that they will be supplied according to my Heavenly Father’s riches in heaven.

Confession of my sin – for which Jesus has ALREADY paid, and the acknowledgement and thanksgiving for His forgiveness of them all – past, present & future – should raise JOY in my heart.

A plea for help in temptation and deliverance from evil as I walk in His will and his way will remind me to seek his face, listen to the Holy Spirit’s promptings and obey his Word.

Bread (daily sustenance) is vital to life, but this life will eventually pass away.  Believing in Jesus – the True and Living Bread of Life – is the only way I will have ETERNAL life and be raised alive again in that last day. Thank You!

Mother’s Day

May11

My Bible reading today was so appropriate to MOTHER’S DAY. (Thank you, God!)  It was from John 2:1-12

Jesus, with five of his new disciples and his mother Mary, attended a wedding in Cana. They were probably family or close friends with the couple.

Towards the end of the ceremony the wine ran out (a BIG no-no). Mary went to Jesus for help. For maybe 15 years she had been depending on her oldest son to “take care of things” since she was probably a widow by then. It was “natural” for her to do so now.

But Jesus, at 30, had just embarked on “His Heavenly Father’s Business,” his mission as the Messiah and Savior (sin-sacrifice) for his people. Perhaps Mary didn’t know about his recent 40 days of fasting in the wilderness, or his baptism, or the sign of the Holy Spirit descending on him, or John the Baptist calling him “the Lamb of God.”

She only knew Jesus was her son and he could somehow (she may not have expected a miracle) take care of this embarrassing family problem.

But the time had come to set things straight. Jesus firmly, but tenderly, let his mother know that their relationship had changed. She would now have to depend on her other sons for physical help. He had different work to do.

Perhaps not understanding, she nevertheless told the servants to do what he said. Jesus, honoring his mother (the 6th commandment), performed a miracle, changing the water in several large pots into premium wine.

John calls this the FIRST SIGN (out of 8) that would be Jesus’ credentials as the Messiah, the Son of God.

Steve Hanks ArtworkAFTER THE WEDDING, verse 12 says that Jesus, his disciples, his brothers, AND HIS MOTHER went down to Capernaum for a few days.

I wonder if during this time Jesus tenderly reminded Mary of what the angel had told her and Joseph before he was born – that he was the Son of God, and that his mission was to be the Savior of his people.

Did Mary remember her own words to the angel, “I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word?” [i]

Did Mary then remember old Simeon’s prophetic words to her when they went to the Temple to dedicate Jesus?  “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is (violently) opposed, AND A SWORD WILL PIERCE THROUGH YOUR OWN SOUL ALSO, so that thoughts from many hearts will be revealed.” [ii]

Was she now beginning to feel that sword pricking her soul as she watched Jesus withdraw from her and begin to fulfill his Heavenly mission?

Did Mary’s thoughts also revisit that panic time in Jerusalem, when she and Joseph had searched for the 12-year-old Jesus, finally –after three days – finding him in the temple sitting among the teachers, listening to them, asking them questions, and amazing all who heard at his answers.

Did she remember his words?  “Know you not that I must be about my Father’s business?” [iii]

It must have been HARD for her to let “her boy” go. To become his servant instead of his mother. To finally believe in him as the Savior of the world…. as HER own savior.

A further shock came to her when shortly after this time in Capernaum they went to Jerusalem for Passover and Jesus – her son, the Savior and Son of God – took cords and violently turned out the animals and merchants and money changers from the temple, saying, “Do not make my Father’s house a house of trade!” [iv]

There would be other revealing times, but Mary eventually learned this lesson:  Jesus considers ALL who “do the will of the Father” as his mother and brothers and sisters. [v]  The Father’s will is for us to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. [vi] Those who do, become God’s children  [vii] and joint heirs with Jesus. [vii]

Mary’s soul would be pierced through as she watched her beloved son hang in agony on a cross. But oh, the joy that would flood that soul to see Him resurrected in glory.

My Lord and my God!

 

Think about  Mary on MOTHER’S DAY!  Remember her joys, her sorrows, and the important lesson she began to learn at a wedding celebration in Cana.

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[i]     Luke 1:38

[ii]    John  2:34-35

[iii]   Luke 2:49

[iv]   John 2:16

[v]    Mark 3:35

[vi]   John 6:40

[vii]  John 1:12

[viii] Romans 8:16-17