Month: November 2024

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11.18.24. Love!

John 18 Acceptance

How full is your love cup today? Do you choose to love all or do you love piecemeal? Why is love so important? It is the mark of he who has followed the Master. Truth: “ I tell you the solemn truth, whoever accepts the one I send accepts me, and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.” And now you ask me, how do I know whom to accept Lord? Jesus said this is the mark: “I give you a new commandment—to love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. Everyone will know by this that you are my disciples—if you have love for one another” 

Is your love cup full or empty or half-full? Stop and observe, listen carefully. What do you see, what do you hear? Actions speak louder than words so be busy loving so that others will know you have been in the presence of the Lord as you begin today and every day. 

Love is a gift
Share it.
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11.16.24. Chosen by God

Psalm 132 King David was chosen just as you and I …from the foundation of the world. “just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.” [Eph 1:4] Each of us has been chosen by God for His purposes and yet with that comes many trials as well as blessings.

God so loved
God chose

David did not choose to be a king but God sent Samuel to anoint him to rule over his people. He was most likely satisfied to be a shepherd over the sheep of his father’s. All of his brothers stood before Samuel but God chose none of them. Only when God told Samuel that none of these met his criteria did his father send for him. David had no idea what lay before him. From that time on, he suffered many afflictions as well as blessings. His life was transformed at a time when there was already a king in the land. King Saul hated David and tried to eliminate him over and over but God preserved him.

God has chosen you for His purposes. Your life may be filled with problems or it may be blessed beyond measure. Yet, He has a purpose for you to complete His mission in this time frame. Look back over your life and see where God made His choice and what has transpired since then. Stop and give Him praise for choosing you just as He chose David.

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11.15.24. The LIGHT!

John 12 The LIGHT!~

The mornings are dark now with the changes in the time. As I walk about the darkness of my home, I sense the uncertainties of where I put each step and that is why we have night lights burning to guide us. But, soon the sun is rising and with it a new day with the brightness that the sun brings and then the dust bunnies and things that are not in their right places is seen. My neighbors outside lights were brightly shining but now they are extinguished. So it is with the souls of men. Some are walking in darkness because their deeds are evil and they love darkness rather than light. Others hear and rejoice for the LIGHT has come into the world and they submit to its brilliance. 

Eighteen times in this book Jesus refers to Himself as the LIGHT. Light is one of our most precious gifts for it reveals what our souls need to be saved. We once were in darkness of sin, but then the LIGHT came and we submitted to it. The book of Revelation reveals the brilliance of that LIGHT in all of His glory. Ezekiel saw that same LIGHT and was used to tell the people of Israel that He is coming for His own to transform them…if they will yield to them.

Where are you today precious reader? Are you walking in the darkness or has the LIGHT of the world removed it so you can see and praise Him who is the LIGHT? 

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11.14.24. God’s glory!

John 11: God’s glory revealed

open the eyes of my heart Lord
I want to see you high and lifted up shining all of your glory

In John 9, the disciples asked Jesus who caused the man’s blindness. Jesus said no one’s sin caused it, but it was to reveal God’s glory. Here Lazarus is sick and Jesus again says It it for God’s glory and so that He himself would be glorified through it. It is interesting that in John 9 none of the disciples gave God glory for the blind to be seeing. In John 11 we see that men did not give God glory for the resurrection of Lazarus, instead they sought to kill Him for this miracle of life. 

This miracle of resurrection of Lazarus would prove to all that He is God’s Son with power over sickness and death. It is for this reason he came…to glorify God.

When I see the work of the Lord, do I stop and give Him words of affirmation and glory or do I still seek self glorification? 

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11.13.24. Who is Jesus to you?

John 10 Discerning Truth

As the people listened to Jesus there came divisions. Some questioned who he was, others noted that “Many came to him and began to say, “John performed no miraculous sign, but everything John said about this man was true!” [Jn 10:41] 

When we hear the claims of Jesus is this our response? Do we read this chapter and learn from Jesus about thieves and robbers in contrast to himself? How do we respond? 

Today stop and consider what this chapter teaches and decide: Is Jesus who He said He was, or do we pick up stones to kill him? 

Are you spiritually blind or free?
Do you believe Jesus is who He said he is?
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11.12.24. Where are you today?

Psalm 131 Pride vs Humility

Be humble not prideful
God will not share His glory with another

The Proverbs writer told us that one of the things God hates most is pride. As we read this psalm we see that King David has not only learned this, but also is contented to be humble before God. Where do I find myself in this psalm? Where do you find yourself? 

He now prays that all Israel would come to this conclusion as he has: “Israel, hope in the Lord now and forevermore.” That is where we need to be today and tomorrow and beyond. Where is your hope today? 

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11.11.24. Can you see?

John 9 Disdain and God’s Glory 

This is one of my favorite chapters in the NT for it shows us both the ignorance of those who are spiritually blind to those who have received the LIGHT and go on to stand firm in the face of the rejectors. The Pharisees having witnessed the healing of the blind man reveal their true heart when they ask Jesus: “are we blind too?” Jesus answer is profound! “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin, but now because you claim that you can see, your guilt remains.” [v 41] 

This is the place of the spiritually blind. Truly Paul was right when he wrote: “the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God.” [2 Cor 4:4] 

The Pharisees considered themselves the teachers who are endowed with the scriptures and the truth but their question only reveals their hardened hearts. How often do we see the spiritual change in a person and ignore the truth that it is Jesus who is the LIGHT that can change a heart? 

Seek out the spiritually blind and speak the words of truth to them so they may draw near to the LIGHT and be saved. 

From blindness to sight
Satan blinds, God reveals
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11.9.24.Questions and Answers

John 7 Every year, Joseph and Mary took Jesus to Jerusalem for the festival. When he was 12 yrs old he stayed behind talking to the Dr’s and Rabbi’s unbeknown to Mary and Joseph. As then and now, the learned men asked this question:”How does this man know so much when he has never had formal instruction?”  When his earthly parents found him, he asked them why they were concerned. Do you not know I must be about my Father’s business? Now here in John 7 we find a repeat of that same question but now Jesus is fully grown and he again reminds the Pharisees that his ‘teaching is not from me, but from the one who sent me.” 

He then asked them this question: “Hasn’t Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law?” 

As a believer in Christ we are often befuddled by those who seem to be so wise,  just like the religious leaders. But, we have two gifts to help us: the indwelling Holy Spirit and the inspired Word of God to teach us, rebuke us, correct us and train us in righteousness. [2 Tim 3:16] God has blessed us with these so that we can be instructed by them but the real question is: Are we about the Father’s business today? 

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11.7.24.Proverbs Wisdom

Proverbs 26 Wise vs Fools

The study note in the NET Bible says this about this chapter: “The first twelve verses of this chapter, Prov 26:1-12, are sometimes called “the Book of Fools” because they deal with the actions of fools.” We should be wise to listen carefully to the words of this chapter lest we fall victim to foolhardiness and we too become as a fool. In Proverbs chapter thirteen we read the warning: “He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer harm.”  

What is the lesson the Proverbs chapter is teaching us but that very principle of chapter thirteen. Choose wisely with whom you will join forces. Paul in writing to the Ephesianchurch had this to say: “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.  So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” [Eph 5:17] Later the brother of the Lord, James wrote this to the ones dispersed: “Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.” [James 3:13] 

Be wise
Learn by observing, interpreting, applying

Today choose wisely and demonstrate wisdom to those with whom you connect. Honor the Lord with wisdom and avoid the fool at all costs. Proverbs 26 gives us the wisdom to discern those who are fools. 

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11.4.24. Sufferings Blessings

Psalm 126 Proof of God’s Care! 

The Jews have been in Babylon for 70 +/- years per God’s decree for their sin. What were they doing there? Jeremiah told them to build houses, build families, etc. As they lived and worked there in Babylon, one man, Ezra, studied and spent his time recording the words of God. Another, Ezekiel, lay on his side after making a replica of Jerusalem for x number of days. When the time drew near for God’s plan for their release, because of these faithful men, the people began to now recall:  “The Lord has accomplished great things for these people.”  The Lord did indeed accomplish great things for us. We were happy.” [Ps 126:3] The great king Cyrus released them and all of the Temple’s treasures and they sang this psalm as they walked for months from Babylon back to Jerusalem. 

Stop and consider these words and praise God for even in the midst of deep trials, He has done great things for us.He has sustained us, provided for our every need, built families, brought men to teach us about God. Surely this is a day to praise Him. 

What blessings do you recall as you think about your trials? God has done great things for you. Romans 5:3-5  “rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance, character, and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts.” These are the great things God has done for you as you look back at your time of suffering. 

Jesus paid the debt
Now we can rejoice
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