Category: Jesus

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11.20.24. The Vinedresser

John 15 Jesus is the Vine…

Have you walked along with the vine dresser as he moves from plant to plant? You watch and see how faithful a worker is he as he takes his hands to carefully lift the vines that are drooping or he takes his sharp shears to cut off the dead vines. Our Master Jesus is our vinedresser and He tenderly lifts us out of our sin that we might produce much fruit. Fruit is the evidence of our abiding in Him. Without abiding, we cannot bear fruit for it is He who gives us life everlasting. 

Jesus said: My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.  When we love one another we are producing the fruit that lasts. When we fail to love, He, Jesus, comes to us to prune us so that we will bear much fruit. 

Yesterday Jesus said we would do greater works than He and today in Jn 15 this greater work is that we love one another. This is the fruit that God looks for in our lives. Are you abiding or is He gathering your drooping vines so that you can  take in the sun to produce a greater work? Beware that the vinedresser does not find a dead vine in you that needs to be cut off. 

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11.19.24.Greater Works

John 14 How perplexing to read these words of our Savior: Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. Jesus was sent to do the work of our salvation but how can I as a mere human do a greater work than He? This is perplexing! 

While on earth,Jesus was held by the nature of his geography and his time limit. However, now with the presence and indwelling Holy Spirit we are not only able but given the privilege to move about over all the earth and present the gospel message that He brought. The day of Pentecost saw 3000 people who claimed salvation but now thousands are hearing and submitting to His Word. We Iive in the internet world with the advantage of seeing and hearing His Word preached and lived out. This is why Jesus said, you will do greater works and is our command to seek and save the lost everywhere. This is our mission statement to go into all the world and preach the gospel. 

Are we going? Are we preaching the gospel? Are we doing greater works? 

We have the good news
Go and Tell
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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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11.4.24. Teacher to Teacher

John 3 From one teacher to another

Nicodemus came to Jesus at night to speak to Him privately. We are never given the reasons for this but the world’s ideas swirl with questions and responses. It is not the time that matters but the discussion and the dialog. 

Nicodemus, a Pharisee, “the” teacher in Israel, a student of the Torah, a religious man outwardly, but inwardly just a man wandering in the desert searching for that living water to quench his spiritual thirst. We have all met them. They are wandering souls just like Nicodemus, thinking they have the ticket to heaven because of position or religious affiliation. I belong to this or that church, I tithe and I give to the poor or as people say today, I don’t drink, smoke or swear. My balance scale will say I have all I need to present myself before God. 

Jesus turns the tables and reminds Nicodemus that he is “the” teacher in Israel and still before God he is just a man. He needs the rebirth of his spirit and soul and he has missed that truth in all of his studies.  Come to Me and be born again from above for unless you are, you will never be able to see or enter the kingdom of God. 

Are you wandering looking for what will take you to heaven? Come to Jesus and be born again. 

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11.2.24. The Firsts…

Listen to wisdom

John 2 The Firsts …

Stop for a moment and consider what firsts you have experienced. Was it your first when you climbed a mountain or swam in the ocean? How about the first time you realized you were a sinner in need of God’s saving grace? What other firsts can you recall?  John recalls the “first” of the many miracles Jesus performed, not in the holy city of Jerusalem, but in small out of the way city of Cana.  John also records the “first” time Jesus cleansed the Temple.

Why are firsts so unique and important? They are markers in our journey of life. They tell something about us as a person, of our walk, of the thoughts and intents of our heart. Sometimes they happen when we plan and sometimes they happen spontaneously like with this wedding scenario in Cana. But, all speak of the markers in the life of Jesus. A praise song captures these firsts: as Miracle Worker, Light in the darkness,My God, that is who You are, You are way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, Light in the darkness, My God, that is who You are. 

What firsts can you share? 

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11.1.24.Shorter Days

God is Light

John 1 Creator to Creation

Next week we will turn our clocks back one hour and the change will be noted. The days are getting shorter and the light is diminished for a time.  Even in this we marvel at the change of seasons and the shortened days. Listen, blessed reader: In the beginning the world was without form and was void of any giving life or light. He, the Creator spoke, let there be light! And the light was given.  Light is one thing we need to be sustained moment by moment. What a gift of the Creator to us the created. How do we respond? 

The Creator left heaven and came to a spiritually darkened world that He had created, but as He walked and talked among them, they didn’t even notice! How about us? Do we notice the Light, the true Light from heaven? But, so they would be without excuse, the Creator sent His messenger to this darkened world, John the Baptist.  He was sent to introduce and speak a Life Giving Message so all might believe in HIM. “But to all who have received him—those who believe in his name—he has given the right to become God’s children.” 

Where are you today? Are you still wandering in the dark or are you walking in the Light, the Holy One of Israel? 

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10.20.24. Called, Wrapped, Kept.

Jude 1 The Believer’s Protection

How does one encourage those who are suffering untold persecution physically, spiritually, or even emotionally. The first words of Jude give the believer in Christ enormous words from God as to how they are loved and protected from the evil one. Jude reminds his readers and us in turn: you are called, wrapped in the love of the Father and kept until the time of your departure. Each of these descriptions are words of encouragement in times of distress as these readers were. 

It is the Holy Spirit who calls us out of darkness into glorious light of salvation.He speaks to our heart words that tell us that from eternity past our names were written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. God calls and we answer, yes Lord. 

Secondly, Jude tells the reader that they are like a precious present wrapped not in paper and ribbon, but in the wrappings of the love of God. Wrapped has the connotation of being protected from the weapons of the evil one who seeks to kill and destroy. 

Thirdly, Jude says they are kept safe both physically and spiritually until one’s death date arrives. The evil one may seek to end our lives early but nothing will happen to us until God chooses that departure date. 

Be encouraged today as you ponder these words of Jude who loved Jesus just as you do. 

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9.21.24 Do’s…Don’t’s

1 Cor 10 “Do’s and Don’ts”

Can you hear your parents saying those words to you as you grew up? Paul considers himself the parent to the Corinthians, and as such, he reminds them of those who went before them and they did not obey the Lord thus incurring consequences. That is the same for us today. God has given us the “do’s” so that He might bless us and the “don’ts,” thus incurring the consequences if we do not. 

So where are you obeying the Lord today OR are you disobeying? Read this chapter closely to learn what is acceptable and what is not. 

Paul reminds the Corinthians of their ancestors: they were all drinking from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.” But, then they were distracted by the idolatry of the nations around them and fell into their ways. Beloved, this should not be! “God was not pleased with most of them, for they were cut down in the wilderness.” You may not be in the literal wilderness, but you may be in a wilderness of your choices. At one time you chose to follow the Rock, Jesus but along the way you were distracted by the glitz and glamor of the world. John reminds us to not love the world or the things of the world for they will pass away. 

Today where is your focus? Are you devoting yourself to the earthly things or to the eternal things? Check your heart and your actions. 

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Chosen by God

God so loved

Psalm 89 The Calling of David and You

God called the nation of Israel out of Egypt,not because they were more numerous or more wise or more strong.  God said He chose them “because of his love and his faithfulness to the promise he solemnly vowed to their ancestors that the Lord brought them out with great power, redeeming them from the place of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” [Deut 7:7-9]

In this psalm God’s call to David was similar: “I have made a covenant with my chosen one;I have made a promise on oath to David, my servant.” [Ps 89:3] It wasn’t because of his strength or riches or fame. He chose David, just as He has chosen you, because He looked down from heaven and found David and you as one who would be faithful. He chose you from the foundation of the world to be His servant. With this choice, God promised to love, protect and be faithful to you in all of your work and exploits. 

Reader, think on this: you were chosen! God found you and birthed you to be a part of His kingdom. Jesus said “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that remains, [Jn 15:16]

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Free at Last!

Rom 8:1 no more condemnation

Romans 8 NO Condemnation

Satan is our adversary and as it says, his one motivation is to find or seeks to kill and destroy. He uses many means to keep us from being at peace and his tool is to remind us and to rehearse in our minds our past sins. Yet, as Paul writes, we have powerful advocates in the Holy Spirit and Jesus who are our intercessors in these times. Their prayers and words to the Father assure us of this: we are forgiven, sealed and prepared for the kingdom’s work both here and in the future. The older I get, the more I appreciate vs 1: there is therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. Secondly, when I can’t pray for one reason or another, the Holy Spirit knows the problem and He intercedes for me to the Father. His words are far more eloquent than mine. They reach the deepest hurt and the deepest thoughts of my heart. 

Amen and amen! Not condemned but free! 

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