John 10 is so loaded with good verses, it can be overwhelming. I love the beauty of God's Word. In verse 18 Jesus proclaims His authority over His own life. Jesus foretells here that He has the authority to lay His life down, Jesus will give up His life for us by dying on the cross. Then this same Jesus will on the authority given to Him, rise again. Jesus death and resurrection happened through Jesus willingness to sacrifice for us. This was not something done to Him outside of His control, rather it was done under His authority as willing service.
In Verses 24 and 25, Jesus is asked if He is the Christ. His answer is that He already told them and they did not believe Him. The did not believe because they are not part of His flock. Jesus then continues on to proclaim eternal life to His flock and security for them in verses 28 and 29. So if you believe in Jesus it is because you are in His flock. He has given His flock eternal life and no one can snatch us away from Him.
Then Jesus proclaims His deity. This is a great passage to confirm that Jesus Himself claimed to be God. This is not just something that people decided later. It is His claim. No one can convince people with grand logic of this Truth, only His flock will come to believe this Truth. We Proclaim Jesus as Christ and part of the Trinity, not to convince those who are not of His flock, but rather we do so first out of obedience, because we are told by our Lord to do this. Our secondary motivation is to find the rest of His flock. Their response to His calling will show them to us.
Let us go out and proclaim Jesus to the world today, in hopes that we can find the rest of the flock.
Monday, January 24, 2011
John 9 - Jesus brings Sight on the Sabbath
Here in John chapter 9 we have Jesus healing a blind man on the Sabbath. Once again I am reminded that Jesus heals people in order to reveal His glory. I believe that Jesus also reminds us that He is Lord of the Sabbath not subordinate to it.
I ponder today that this same Jesus lives in me. This same Jesus that heals the blind. This same Jesus that has the authority to do mighty works on the Sabbath, this Jesus lives in me. Jesus is the one who created the Sabbath and so He is not bound by it. In a similar way we are not to be bound by a day, but we are to be bound to the one who created the days. As a Christian I need to learn from the "sabbath principle" of rest and reliance on God to provide for us. But our true rest and provision come in our rest in Jesus Christ. So whether you can take a "sabbath day" on a Sunday or Saturday or Monday or whatever day, the focus and source of our rest is Jesus the one who can work to heal and restore us everyday.
I ponder today that this same Jesus lives in me. This same Jesus that heals the blind. This same Jesus that has the authority to do mighty works on the Sabbath, this Jesus lives in me. Jesus is the one who created the Sabbath and so He is not bound by it. In a similar way we are not to be bound by a day, but we are to be bound to the one who created the days. As a Christian I need to learn from the "sabbath principle" of rest and reliance on God to provide for us. But our true rest and provision come in our rest in Jesus Christ. So whether you can take a "sabbath day" on a Sunday or Saturday or Monday or whatever day, the focus and source of our rest is Jesus the one who can work to heal and restore us everyday.
My Jesus, My Lord, My God, Lord of healing, Lord of Rest, thank you for sustaining me today!
Monday, January 17, 2011
John 8 - Live in the Word
As I read John 8, so much good challenging stuff in there, yet I am again reminded of the depth of our relationship. Jesus wants us to "abide" in His Word. In Verse 31 and 32 He tells us this in plain language. We are without excuse, His language is clear "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
Now I ponder this word "abide" and its meaning: to dwell, to stay with, to remain in, to endure. I am to dwell on, stay with, remain in and endure with His Word. The Word is to be where I stay, where I sit and exist. It is to be at the core of my thinking and so affect the outflow of my living. Jesus Paid the ultimate price for me, He is my Savior and my Lord. He is the very Creator God of the universe and I owe Him everything. It is He who calls me to this type of existence, not so that I can become really knowledgeable in the Bible. His calling to us is so that we will know Truth and through the Truth Freedom! Jesus brings freedom to me. Praise Him for His massive benevolence, what a gift, what a wonderful new life that is given.
So if we are to be His disciples (which we are called to be) then we are to be immersed in His Word.
Now I ponder this word "abide" and its meaning: to dwell, to stay with, to remain in, to endure. I am to dwell on, stay with, remain in and endure with His Word. The Word is to be where I stay, where I sit and exist. It is to be at the core of my thinking and so affect the outflow of my living. Jesus Paid the ultimate price for me, He is my Savior and my Lord. He is the very Creator God of the universe and I owe Him everything. It is He who calls me to this type of existence, not so that I can become really knowledgeable in the Bible. His calling to us is so that we will know Truth and through the Truth Freedom! Jesus brings freedom to me. Praise Him for His massive benevolence, what a gift, what a wonderful new life that is given.
So if we are to be His disciples (which we are called to be) then we are to be immersed in His Word.
Live in the Word Today!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Learning to BE
I really felt compelled today to write about "BE". I decided as I was praying last night (took a one hour shift from Pastor Brent) that just as much as reading and pondering the word is important, we also need to take time to "BE". So this morning I decided to spend time taking in the awesome depth of creation as I gazed at the stars in the early morning sky. "What an amazing and wonderful Creator we serve" I proclaimed from my heart. I know I need to make sure I take the time to "BE" in my relationship with God. To proclaim His majesty and experience His wonder.
God did not save you or me for us to "do". He saved us first and foremost to "BE". To be His children. To be His family. To be His Church. To be His bride. To be His vessels. To be His servants. To be His hands and feet. To be worshipers. We need to "BE" and out of that He will use us to "do". so often I get it all mixed up and focus on the "do".
I have 2 challenges to share with you today. The first is to take some time to "BE". Get quiet and worship God and enjoy His majesty. The second is to start taking time (like and hour) and pray through your facebook friends list. I could only make it through to the letter E in my list in one hour but I plan to pick up where I left off with another hour soon. We all have prayer lists in front of us every day, maybe we should make use of them.
God did not save you or me for us to "do". He saved us first and foremost to "BE". To be His children. To be His family. To be His Church. To be His bride. To be His vessels. To be His servants. To be His hands and feet. To be worshipers. We need to "BE" and out of that He will use us to "do". so often I get it all mixed up and focus on the "do".
I have 2 challenges to share with you today. The first is to take some time to "BE". Get quiet and worship God and enjoy His majesty. The second is to start taking time (like and hour) and pray through your facebook friends list. I could only make it through to the letter E in my list in one hour but I plan to pick up where I left off with another hour soon. We all have prayer lists in front of us every day, maybe we should make use of them.
Enjoy the Lord today and lift up others to Him.
Monday, January 10, 2011
John 7 - How do I see things
Today as I read John 7 I was reminded about the very name of this blog "Sabbath Moments" and was challenged about what I consider appropriate for "sabbath". Here in Verses 22 to 24 Jesus gives a challenge about the sabbath and circumcision. His point was that these same people that were really upset that Jesus had healed a man on the sabbath would circumcise on the sabbath if that was the day required by the law. Jesus reveals here a hypocrisy.
We could spend our time here talking about Creation ordinances, Abrahamic institutions and the Law of Moses and then the corruption of the way that the law had been used. But I do not feel we need to in order to understand Jesus teaching for the heart today. it is summed up in Jesus words "Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment". I have been challenged to look at the heart of the matter not the outward first glance. Jesus challenge to me here is to not get so tangled up in the strict implementation of the law that we miss the purpose of God.
Do I fall to this? Maybe at times I do? Which is more important? Helping people find freedom from the sin that binds us or making sure we structure our Church services to include all the things to keep the congregation happy? Should it matter if some of my brothers are forced to work on Sunday when I "work" every Sunday? Just like I challenge those shift workers to take a day of sabbath, shouldn't I do that same? Is it more important for us to sit at home in the quiet of the early morning with our Bibles and prayer time or for us to share the scriptures and pray for people through out our day out in the community with people who need what we have been given.
I am challenged, not to change everything, but to live with a desire to see things the way Jesus does. To do things that give God the glory and fulfill the mission He has given us. Lord help me to not get wrapped up in the requirements of my own tradition where things may all "look right" on the outside. Instead Lord, help me to live out the calling you have given and that I would take seriously the "heart" of the matter.
Let's all fight our inner hypocrisy and see to live in surrendered humility to our Lord. May His eyes be in use in us and not our own.
We could spend our time here talking about Creation ordinances, Abrahamic institutions and the Law of Moses and then the corruption of the way that the law had been used. But I do not feel we need to in order to understand Jesus teaching for the heart today. it is summed up in Jesus words "Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment". I have been challenged to look at the heart of the matter not the outward first glance. Jesus challenge to me here is to not get so tangled up in the strict implementation of the law that we miss the purpose of God.
Do I fall to this? Maybe at times I do? Which is more important? Helping people find freedom from the sin that binds us or making sure we structure our Church services to include all the things to keep the congregation happy? Should it matter if some of my brothers are forced to work on Sunday when I "work" every Sunday? Just like I challenge those shift workers to take a day of sabbath, shouldn't I do that same? Is it more important for us to sit at home in the quiet of the early morning with our Bibles and prayer time or for us to share the scriptures and pray for people through out our day out in the community with people who need what we have been given.
I am challenged, not to change everything, but to live with a desire to see things the way Jesus does. To do things that give God the glory and fulfill the mission He has given us. Lord help me to not get wrapped up in the requirements of my own tradition where things may all "look right" on the outside. Instead Lord, help me to live out the calling you have given and that I would take seriously the "heart" of the matter.
Let's all fight our inner hypocrisy and see to live in surrendered humility to our Lord. May His eyes be in use in us and not our own.
Friday, January 7, 2011
John 6 - Jesus the eternal giver of life
There is so much in John 6 ... it is full of Truth we could discuss here but I am pressed by the Spirit today about only a couple of verses. Jesus does some incredible miracles in the first portion of the Chapter but verse 26 has deeply challenged me today. In it Jesus says "Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.". How often have I sought the loaves from my Savior? How often have I chosen to seek out the filling of the physical from the one who has given me so much more. I need to seek Jesus as the giver of eternal life, as the source for spiritual food and drink. It is not that Jesus cannot provide the physical, but that should be secondary not primary in how I am to seek Him. Jesus did not come and die on the cross for us to have an easy physical life, to be warm and well fed. Jesus came to give us REAL LIFE, life that has eternal consequence and a depth of freedom that is unknown to humanity alone.
I shall seek You my Lord, for You are the one who gives me true life and Your provision for me is far greater than anything this physical world has to offer.
Then in Verse 29 we are reminded what the work of God is. It is that you believe in Him who He sent. The work of God is that we are to believe in Jesus. So often I have found people who are like the crowd and they look for another sign, another proof, yet it is not about being convinced. It is about the work of God in our lives. What a beautiful reality for us that Jesus tells us in these verses. Here sits humanity in a depraved and fallen state. Enemies of God and seeking their own selfish desires, yet God chooses to work in us so that we may believe in Jesus. My coming to a place of repentance for my sin was a result of God , by the Holy spirit, beginning a work in my life. I believe in Jesus and trust Him as Lord of my life because God began that work in me. Did I have to repent? Did I have to believe? Of course and so do you if you want to receive this eternal, renewed, transformed life that He gives. But I will not fool myself, I cannot convince you to make a change. But I do pray that God might use me and what I share as part of His process in revealing the Truth to you.
Have no fear, Jesus in verse 37 says "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out." Praise God for this level of faithfulness. That Jesus would be willing to receive all of us that the Father gives to Him and to keep us. This is one of those passages that causes me to be humbled by His unconditional Love. Jesus loves us this much that He will not loose us, even though we may not be so perfect, in fact often we are a mess. It is no excuse for us to continue in our sin and garbage, may we never be those who accept our own sin and cling to Jesus Love. My prayer is that we be those who are motivated by this great Love to live to honor and glorify the one who shows this love to us. We are to live as His ant not for ourselves any more. This is where freedom is truly found, the freedom to follow Christ and to be about the mission that He has given to us.
I shall seek You my Lord, for You are the one who gives me true life and Your provision for me is far greater than anything this physical world has to offer.
Then in Verse 29 we are reminded what the work of God is. It is that you believe in Him who He sent. The work of God is that we are to believe in Jesus. So often I have found people who are like the crowd and they look for another sign, another proof, yet it is not about being convinced. It is about the work of God in our lives. What a beautiful reality for us that Jesus tells us in these verses. Here sits humanity in a depraved and fallen state. Enemies of God and seeking their own selfish desires, yet God chooses to work in us so that we may believe in Jesus. My coming to a place of repentance for my sin was a result of God , by the Holy spirit, beginning a work in my life. I believe in Jesus and trust Him as Lord of my life because God began that work in me. Did I have to repent? Did I have to believe? Of course and so do you if you want to receive this eternal, renewed, transformed life that He gives. But I will not fool myself, I cannot convince you to make a change. But I do pray that God might use me and what I share as part of His process in revealing the Truth to you.
Have no fear, Jesus in verse 37 says "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out." Praise God for this level of faithfulness. That Jesus would be willing to receive all of us that the Father gives to Him and to keep us. This is one of those passages that causes me to be humbled by His unconditional Love. Jesus loves us this much that He will not loose us, even though we may not be so perfect, in fact often we are a mess. It is no excuse for us to continue in our sin and garbage, may we never be those who accept our own sin and cling to Jesus Love. My prayer is that we be those who are motivated by this great Love to live to honor and glorify the one who shows this love to us. We are to live as His ant not for ourselves any more. This is where freedom is truly found, the freedom to follow Christ and to be about the mission that He has given to us.
Spend time today worshiping the one who gives Eternal life and who holds on to you for ever in that life. The one who has set you apart to do His will and to live in the freedom of His love. Worship Jesus today, He is this provider.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
John 5 - Jesus the Judge
As I read John 5 today I was reminded of the joy we are to have as Christians that Jesus our Lord is also the Judge. In Verse 22 we are told that the Father has given all judgement to the Son. Jesus is the Judge, the one who will decide our eternal fate, the one who can cast people to eternal punishment. What an awesome thought. I ask myself the question today "When was the last time I praised God for His judgement?". You may think that is a crazy concept but I really believe that we are to praise God for all His attributes and ways. I need to praise God as the righteous judge who will bring all who are sinful, all evil doers, to justice. No one will escape His judgement and the punishment given. There are no loop holes or technicalities to get freed by.
Some may think I am sounding hopeless, but wait, there is more. This same Judge named Jesus also says in verse 24 that whoever hears His words and believes the Father who sent Him will not receive judgement. What? I thought I just said that no one will escape? It is true, because the very judge who is to pass sentence on us, this same Jesus, paid the penalty already for us with His death on the cross. Jesus judges us guilty, sentences us to punishment and death, then pays the penalty for us and pronounces our debt paid in full.
We can continue to praise Him because it does not stop there, not only are we free from the judgement but the Judge then also brings us home and accepts us as family. We receive all the blessings of being a child of the King of Kings. This Jesus is no mere teacher or prophet, He is God, He is the righteous Judge of the universe, He is the one who passes sentence and pronounces eternal judgement. Yet He is also the one Savior who takes our place in punishment so that we can be transformed and made new.
Some may think I am sounding hopeless, but wait, there is more. This same Judge named Jesus also says in verse 24 that whoever hears His words and believes the Father who sent Him will not receive judgement. What? I thought I just said that no one will escape? It is true, because the very judge who is to pass sentence on us, this same Jesus, paid the penalty already for us with His death on the cross. Jesus judges us guilty, sentences us to punishment and death, then pays the penalty for us and pronounces our debt paid in full.
We can continue to praise Him because it does not stop there, not only are we free from the judgement but the Judge then also brings us home and accepts us as family. We receive all the blessings of being a child of the King of Kings. This Jesus is no mere teacher or prophet, He is God, He is the righteous Judge of the universe, He is the one who passes sentence and pronounces eternal judgement. Yet He is also the one Savior who takes our place in punishment so that we can be transformed and made new.
Worship this Mighty Jesus the Judge today!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
John 4 - Jesus Messiah
Continuing our journey through John to chapter 4 .... there is so much here and so many sermons to preach ... yet today a few lines really resound with me.
The first is a challenge to myself, Jesus was breaking all the cultural acceptable norms. Here he was talking to a woman about life and spiritual things alone without a large group present. Here he was teaching outside the bounds of the church of the day (the Jews) and fellowshipping with Samaritans. I am so challenged that we need to go to those who are not acceptable to the current culture and church communities with the love and care and Truth of the Gospel. It is good to train up Christians, but we should be training then to move into radical ministry like this. Not the acceptable safe mode of common church today. Tough stuff for me as a pastor. I pray that the Lord will help me to live this and help others to live it.
The second is the reminder that Jesus brings true eternal refreshment. The living water He talks about is the symbol of eternal refreshment. Yet so often I find myself worn out and tired and not refreshed. It is a reminder that I am to operate within what He has for me and no matter how hard that is it will be filled with His refreshment. Fits with the whole teaching on the burden being light and yoke easy. It is not saying that I will not endure any hardship, but that His grace is greater and comfort deeper than those hardships.
The third thing for today is such a small line but a HUGE reminder. Verse 26 Jesus says "I who speak to you am He". WHOA! Jesus is making such a simple calm statement to confirm that He is the Messiah. The Savior, The Son of God, The One who would bring freedom. Jesus is the Messiah, I did not need to figure it out, He said it. Let us Worship the Messiah today, the one who came to bring freedom from the bondage of sin and to make a way for us to be in a right relationship with God.
The first is a challenge to myself, Jesus was breaking all the cultural acceptable norms. Here he was talking to a woman about life and spiritual things alone without a large group present. Here he was teaching outside the bounds of the church of the day (the Jews) and fellowshipping with Samaritans. I am so challenged that we need to go to those who are not acceptable to the current culture and church communities with the love and care and Truth of the Gospel. It is good to train up Christians, but we should be training then to move into radical ministry like this. Not the acceptable safe mode of common church today. Tough stuff for me as a pastor. I pray that the Lord will help me to live this and help others to live it.
The second is the reminder that Jesus brings true eternal refreshment. The living water He talks about is the symbol of eternal refreshment. Yet so often I find myself worn out and tired and not refreshed. It is a reminder that I am to operate within what He has for me and no matter how hard that is it will be filled with His refreshment. Fits with the whole teaching on the burden being light and yoke easy. It is not saying that I will not endure any hardship, but that His grace is greater and comfort deeper than those hardships.
The third thing for today is such a small line but a HUGE reminder. Verse 26 Jesus says "I who speak to you am He". WHOA! Jesus is making such a simple calm statement to confirm that He is the Messiah. The Savior, The Son of God, The One who would bring freedom. Jesus is the Messiah, I did not need to figure it out, He said it. Let us Worship the Messiah today, the one who came to bring freedom from the bondage of sin and to make a way for us to be in a right relationship with God.
Worship Jesus the Messiah!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
John 3 - Born of the Spirit
As I progress through John, I feel I need to remind anyone who is reading this blog that it is not an exhaustive study at all. This is about the insights God is placing on my heart through His word in my daily reading. I would encourage all of you to be taking in the Word daily if at all possible and also to be studying it exhaustively.
In verse 6 Jesus rightly divides the flesh from the spirit. I am so reminded today that my faith is based out of the Spirit and not the flesh. I cannot be born into a Christian home and just be a Christian. I cannot go to Church all my life with my parents and by default be a Christian. I need to be "born of the Spirit" or "Born Again". The nature of Christianity is first and foremost based in the Spirit. God works in us by His Spirit to give us life. A new life that we could never have in this flesh. What a wonderful gift, what a wonderful miracle that God works in us. Jesus re-enforces this in verse 8 by reminding us that we cannot see and understand how this happens it is like the wind. I love it. God decides it, just like He decides the wind and the weather.
I will celebrate and worship my God , who gave me a new life in the Spirit. Not by the flesh, not by the country I live in, not by the family I have but by His Spirit, a gift of Grace, something I could never earn or do. Salvation from God to us, that we do not deserve and cannot earn. While I deserved punishment and death for my sins - He gave me life.
In verse 6 Jesus rightly divides the flesh from the spirit. I am so reminded today that my faith is based out of the Spirit and not the flesh. I cannot be born into a Christian home and just be a Christian. I cannot go to Church all my life with my parents and by default be a Christian. I need to be "born of the Spirit" or "Born Again". The nature of Christianity is first and foremost based in the Spirit. God works in us by His Spirit to give us life. A new life that we could never have in this flesh. What a wonderful gift, what a wonderful miracle that God works in us. Jesus re-enforces this in verse 8 by reminding us that we cannot see and understand how this happens it is like the wind. I love it. God decides it, just like He decides the wind and the weather.
I will celebrate and worship my God , who gave me a new life in the Spirit. Not by the flesh, not by the country I live in, not by the family I have but by His Spirit, a gift of Grace, something I could never earn or do. Salvation from God to us, that we do not deserve and cannot earn. While I deserved punishment and death for my sins - He gave me life.
What a wonderful savior!!!
Monday, January 3, 2011
John 2
As I read John chapter 2 again today a couple of statements really stood out to me. as usual there is so much we could focus on in here but here is what God is placing on my heart.
During the wedding at the beginning of chapter 2, Jesus is approached by His mother about the problem of the wedding running out of wine. In verse 5 Jesus mother says to the servants "Do whatever He tells you". I really was challenged by this line. Do I "Do whatever He tells me"? Here we have these servants who probably did not know Jesus like we do. Yet they brought what they saw as water to the master of the feast. Do I follow Jesus to the point of risking being seen as stupid or silly or foolish? We can now read and understand that the water had been turned to wine by the time the master tasted it. But place yourself in the servants shoes, "put water in those jars, draw some out and take it to the master". I would be thinking that I will probably be beaten for being an idiot, brining water when wine was asked for. So often I find myself wanting to follow Jesus when I understand and what He asks makes sense to me. I am challenged today that I need to follow with faith, even at the point of being seen as incompetent, by faith I need to follow Him.
I am not advocating that we check our brains at the door so to speak. Rather I want to be challenged to obey when I know the clear direction He has given me even if it does not make sense to me. This is the essence of living by faith. Join me in living by faith this year.
During the wedding at the beginning of chapter 2, Jesus is approached by His mother about the problem of the wedding running out of wine. In verse 5 Jesus mother says to the servants "Do whatever He tells you". I really was challenged by this line. Do I "Do whatever He tells me"? Here we have these servants who probably did not know Jesus like we do. Yet they brought what they saw as water to the master of the feast. Do I follow Jesus to the point of risking being seen as stupid or silly or foolish? We can now read and understand that the water had been turned to wine by the time the master tasted it. But place yourself in the servants shoes, "put water in those jars, draw some out and take it to the master". I would be thinking that I will probably be beaten for being an idiot, brining water when wine was asked for. So often I find myself wanting to follow Jesus when I understand and what He asks makes sense to me. I am challenged today that I need to follow with faith, even at the point of being seen as incompetent, by faith I need to follow Him.
I am not advocating that we check our brains at the door so to speak. Rather I want to be challenged to obey when I know the clear direction He has given me even if it does not make sense to me. This is the essence of living by faith. Join me in living by faith this year.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
John 1
As I was reading John 1 today I decided to pull out some of the text that really speaks to me. This is not an exhaustive study but rather what God is using to engage my heart today.
2: He was in the beginning with God.
3: All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4: In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6: There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7: He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.
8: He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9: The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
10: He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.
11: He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
12: But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
13: who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14: And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15: (John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'")
16: And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
17: For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
This reminder not only of the Deity of Jesus but also the deep reality of why He came. He came to enlighten us. This may sound all new age and spacey but the enlightenment is about the light that shines in the darkness. You see Jesus exposes our darkness through His light. His light is our only answer for the darkness of sin in our hearts. Through this same Jesus we are given the right to become children of God! Not just servants, not just hired hands or mute followers, but children. We can be a part of His family.
This same Jesus brought us Grace and Truth. Jesus by grace offers forgiveness and through Truth exposes sin and gives wisdom. When we surrender our lives to Him we receive grace upon grace. I am so reminded that when we repent of our sins He extends grace to us as His children. Then He continues to extend that grace to us as His children because we are still not free from the ties to the sinful flesh of this body in this world. Our sin is always our own to take responsibility for but PRAISE GOD we are set free from our sin to live as His children. we no longer have to live in our sins, we receive forgiveness and the strength to move forward away from that sin.
i am reminded that God does not want some weekend children, He does not want visitation rights. God wants you to be all His... ALL HIS ... giving part of yourself to Him was never the deal. ALL is the deal, anything less is some form of religion and NOT what Jesus came for.
Lets live 2011 as fully surrendered children of God.
John, Chapter 1 (ESV)
1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.2: He was in the beginning with God.
3: All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4: In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6: There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7: He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.
8: He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9: The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
10: He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.
11: He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
12: But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
13: who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14: And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15: (John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'")
16: And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
17: For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
This reminder not only of the Deity of Jesus but also the deep reality of why He came. He came to enlighten us. This may sound all new age and spacey but the enlightenment is about the light that shines in the darkness. You see Jesus exposes our darkness through His light. His light is our only answer for the darkness of sin in our hearts. Through this same Jesus we are given the right to become children of God! Not just servants, not just hired hands or mute followers, but children. We can be a part of His family.
This same Jesus brought us Grace and Truth. Jesus by grace offers forgiveness and through Truth exposes sin and gives wisdom. When we surrender our lives to Him we receive grace upon grace. I am so reminded that when we repent of our sins He extends grace to us as His children. Then He continues to extend that grace to us as His children because we are still not free from the ties to the sinful flesh of this body in this world. Our sin is always our own to take responsibility for but PRAISE GOD we are set free from our sin to live as His children. we no longer have to live in our sins, we receive forgiveness and the strength to move forward away from that sin.
i am reminded that God does not want some weekend children, He does not want visitation rights. God wants you to be all His... ALL HIS ... giving part of yourself to Him was never the deal. ALL is the deal, anything less is some form of religion and NOT what Jesus came for.
Lets live 2011 as fully surrendered children of God.
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