Tag: Believe

Ask For Wisdom…

James 1:5 (NIV)

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

Yesterday, our Verse of the Day challenged us with this instruction for prayer: Ask, Seek, and Knock! And we referenced this current Verse of the Day in our study. Jesus taught that prayer is the spiritual gift we have been given to have access – access to Him and access to the Father Himself. Not only did Jesus encourage prayer and teach His disciples how to pray, He modeled a life of prayer and often sought opportunities to spend quiet, intimate time with the Father. As believers, we too should ask, seek, and knock as we kneel before His throne of grace. Indeed, God desires intimate time with each of us and to come before Him in prayer! Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. (Cf. Hebrews 11:6)

The Word of God teaches us that we should not be afraid to approach God at any time. Indeed, we are encouraged to approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Cf. Hebrews 4:16) The Apostle John, to encourage us in prayer, said: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him. (Cf. 1 John 5:13-15) But, as we studied yesterday, there is an issue we should consider in this regard – our motives. Sometimes when we ask, we do not receive, because we ask with wrong motives that are self-centered and focused on our own personal gain or pleasures. (Cf. James 4:3) Thus, it is clear that we must ask in accordance with the will of God. Even Jesus taught the disciples to pray in this manner: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven….” (Cf. Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4) It is important that we understand prayer is the spiritual mechanism God uses to align our wills with His will.

With these thoughts in mind, let’s look at our Verse of the Day a little more: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” Here we are encouraged to ask God for wisdom to help us make the right decisions. If you are in the process of making a decision concerning your life, your family, your vocation, your location, your relationships, the use of your time, talent, or treasure; you should spend time in prayer before the throne of God. Why? Because there you will receive wisdom … there you will find confidence and assurance for the decisions you need to make. There you will find a compassionate Father who will give you the wisdom and discernment you seek. And note how James states that God will be generous! He will not reproach us for asking Him for wisdom; rather, He will pour it out on those who love Him and seek to do His will here on earth as it is in heaven….

So, I encourage anyone who is struggling with a decision (great or small), to enter their quiet place and kneel before the Father. In fervent prayer, ask God for wisdom. Ask Him for knowledge, ideas, solutions, needs, resources, or anything concerning you. But be sure to ask Him how the decision you need to make will align you with His will for your life. Inquire how the Father and the Son will be glorified by your decision. The answers you receive should fulfill both His will and His glory. And then you will have confidence He has heard you … and know that you have received what you asked. And so, I will close with this passage, because I think it demonstrates the power of prayer:

John 11:38- 45 (NIV)

Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” He said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” So, they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” When He had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” Therefore, many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in Him.

The Father “heard” Jesus because He prayed according to the will of the Father! And God’s will is for people to believe in Jesus. Likewise, His prayer for this incredible miracle was for people to see the glory of God. Indeed, God was glorified through what Jesus prayed to happen through the resurrection of Lazarus – many people came to faith in Jesus and believed in Him! And so, I pray these two specific purposes will be the first thoughts of our hearts when we come before God in prayer. For the Father will give the wisdom and understanding needed for our prayers to be aligned with His will and to bring Him glory. Where we live … where we work … and the relationships we build through life … are just contexts for us to discover what truly matters to God. When you ask, seek, or knock, the wisdom you are requesting is really how to align your decisions with serving God and exalting Him with your life. When our motives in prayer are God centered and focused, I am confident He will hear us.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king; therefore, wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.” ~ 2 Chronicles 1:11-12

A Child of God…

Galatians 3:26-28 (NIV)

So, in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Our Verse of the Day has some theological implications that should not be ignored … nor is the text ambiguous. Simply stated, for a person to be a child of God, he or she must be in Christ Jesus through faith in Him. Compare this assertion from Paul with the declaration of John:

John 1:10-13 (NIV)

10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right (authority or power) to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but born of God.

Our “right” to become children of God was GIVEN by Jesus Christ through receiving and believing in Him! We do not have the right to claim that we are children of God except that it has been given us through the authority of the Son. In addition, John records of the teachings of Jesus regarding how those who reject Him are not “legitimate” children:

John 8:31-47 (NIV)

31 To the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” 34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. 38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.” 39 “Abraham is our father,” they answered. “If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did. 40 As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. 41 You are doing the works of your own father.” “We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God Himself.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

Wow! Being physical children of Abraham does not in itself confer the right to become children of God. Jesus said, IF you were Abraham’s children, then you would do what Abraham did. So, what did Abraham do? What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” (Cf. Romans 4:3) A person has to believe God at His Word to become His child through the adoption of sonship (as we have seen in previous studies). Even John the Baptist said to some in the crowds coming out to be baptized by him: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Cf. Luke 3:7-9)

It follows that a true child of Abraham is one who believes God. And to believe God means to believe in the Son that He has sent – Jesus! As the Apostle John wrote:

1 John 5:1-5 (NIV)

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves His child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out His commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep His commands. And His commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

What we see in these passages of Scripture is the understanding that humans have the opportunity or capacity to become “children of God” through the “transformation” that comes from receiving Jesus … from believing in His name and through abiding in Him. When we are born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God; there is a spiritual birth or transformation (rebirth process) that occurs within our inner beings that produces a “child of God”.  Thus, we are born-again through the Spirit of God when we receive Jesus and believe in Him! Indeed, a child of God is something that we become through Christ alone! We are “adopted” by the Father because we abide in His Son. There is no alternative … no other “process” offered in Scripture for us to become “children” of God. Paul was given the ability to articulate this theological concept in practical terms for us:

Romans 8:14-17 (NIV)

14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory….

My friends, I pray that as you begin your day, you will be encouraged to better understand your relationship with God the Father as His child.  No one will ever love you with the depth or passion of love that God has for you through Jesus Christ. Receive His love this morning! Believe in His love for you this morning! It will change your thoughts about who you are in Him.  You are His beloved child … and there is no greater feeling than knowing you are loved by God.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. All who have this hope in Him purify themselves, just as He is pure. ~ 1 John 3:1-3

I Will Come Back…

John 14:1-3 (NIV)

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

We have been celebrating the First Advent of our Lord Jesus Christ; and now our Verse of the Day leading us and stirring our hearts toward His Second Coming! What a great affirmation of the hope to prepare our hearts for the New Year! It is the promise of the Lord Jesus to prepare a place for us … reserved in heaven … and then return to “take” us to be with Him. Notice His affirmative statement: “I will come back and take you….” This is not some empty promise. It is intentional in every aspect. We do not know when that day or hour will come. (Cf. Matthew 24:36; Mark 13:32) But we do know for certain that it will happen! For “God is not human, that He should lie, not a human being, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill? (Cf. Numbers 23:19)

Jesus said He is going to His Father’s House to prepare a place for us there. That it an interesting statement in itself.  What does Jesus intend to prepare?  Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. (Cf. John 1:3) For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him. (Cf. Colossians 1:16) Yet, the One who created all things said He needs to go and prepare a place for us BEFORE He returns to “take” us there. Fascinating! The possibilities of what Jesus is doing … of what He is preparing … are beyond the imagination. Yet, what we do know is that He made a promise to come back … to return and to take us to where He dwells so that we can be with Him. As Gabriel, the angelic messenger declared to Mary: “No word from God will ever fail.” (Cf. Luke 1:37)

I believe the Second Coming of Jesus is what should be capturing our hearts now. His promised return is what should be motivating our own preparation and sanctification for that moment. His declaration here should be enough to convince our hearts – IT WILL HAPPEN! And I believe the Apostle Paul was quite confident when he wrote: “I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. (Cf. Corinthians 15:50-53)

Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” Faith does not doubt or fear. Faith is confidence in what we hope for, the assurance of what we do not see. (Cf. Hebrews 11:1) And He foretold us signs that would appear as the day approaches. He said, “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” (Cf. Luke 21:28) The NKJV translates it – “look up and lift your heads….” I like that imagery because it reminds me some other passages of Scripture:

Acts 1:6-11 (NIV)

6 Then they gathered around Jesus and asked Him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9 After He said this, He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid Him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.”

Revelation 1:7-8 (NIV)

7 “Look, He is coming with the clouds,” (Cf. Daniel 7:13) and “every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of Him.” (Cf. Zechariah 12:10) So shall it be! Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Yes, there is a hope! There is a promise! Jesus said, that He would come and take us to be where He is … to a new place … to an inheritance in the Kingdom of Heaven! And we would be wise to lift our heads every day in anticipation of His coming. Yes, this is a time for us to deeply consider the reality of His Second Coming!  So, I will close with the Epilogue of The Revelation for us:

Revelation 22:12-20 (NIV)

12 “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. 14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. 16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” 17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life. 18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll. 20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus….

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

I AM the Resurrection…

John 11:25 (NIV)

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die…

Most of us are familiar with the story that underlies our Verse of the Day. The circumstance is Jesus raising (resurrecting) his friend Lazarus from death. But before this miraculous event, Jesus has a conversation with Martha, a sister of Lazarus, where He discloses another “I AM” claim regarding His identity.  Let’s read the passage for context:

John 11:11-27; 38-44 (NIV)

11 After Jesus had said this, He went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” 12 His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. 14 So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” 16 Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” 17 On His arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. 21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” He said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” 40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When He had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

Who has ever witnessed a person who was dead for four days being brought back to life? It is unthinkable … incomprehensible! And yet, this is the eyewitness account John has declared to us. Lazarus was restored to life in front of a crowd of people. The unbelievable happened right in front of their eyes. Can you imagine? What would you or I have thought in that moment? Would we have bowed down at Jesus’ feet and worshipped Him on the spot? Would we conclude in our hearts and minds that God sent Him? Should our reaction be any different when we see the supernatural occur before our eyes even now in our generation?  What did Jesus tell Martha? He said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

And equally unimaginable is the response of the religious rulers upon hearing of this supernatural power of God being exercised through Jesus. John 11:53 bluntly states: “They plotted to kill Him.” Seriously? And their rationale? “Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. “What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.” (Cf. John 11:47-48) Really? They were more concerned about preserving their religious tradition and their personal glory than experiencing the power and love of God in their lives and His glory?

Yet, I have seen this same rationale … this same phenomenon in the Church today. I see the manifestations and work of the Holy Spirit being suppressed by many of the religious leaders within the modern Church … especially here in America. There are some who assert that the signs of the Holy Spirit and supernatural works ended with the Apostles. Yet, how can that be? Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Cf. Hebrews 13:8) Jesus is still performing miracles before our very eyes. Jesus is still raising the dead to new life. He is still healing the sick, comforting the broken hearted, and setting the captive free. There are thousands upon thousands of testimonies to these wonders throughout the world!

Just as the Father sent Jesus into the world so that we might believe in Him; the Holy Spirit was sent in His Name to indwell believers so that we might be empowered to continue His work and to bring glory to the Father. Before His ascension into heaven, Jesus said to His disciples: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Cf. Acts 1:8) Paul affirmed: “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-disciple.” (Cf. 2 Timothy 1:7) Jesus declared, “Abide in me, as I also abide in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must abide in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you abide in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (Cf. John 15:4-5) And Paul affirmed, “If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.” (Cf. Romans 8:9b)

Oh, how I pray in these last days that the Church will awaken to these truths! Jesus Christ is risen! He is seated at the right hand of God! (Cf. Luke 22:69; Ephesians 1:20; Colossians 3:1) Indeed, our Lord Jesus gave His disciples power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and He sent them out to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. (Cf. Luke 9:1-2) After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place where He was about to go. And Jesus said: “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects Him who sent me.” The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” Jesus replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Cf. Luke 10:1; 16-20)

Some of the ancient manuscripts have this ending passage from the Gospel of Mark:

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen. (Cf. Mark 16:15-20)

Well, I will close with the same question that Jesus asked Martha. “Do you believe this?” Do you believe that Jesus is the resurrection and the life? Do you believe that Jesus continues to perform His supernatural work today so that people will believe the Father who sent Him?  I am convinced that He still does! My own life is a testimony of the One called me out of darkness into light … who performed miracles of deliverance, healing, and salvation within me. Yes, let us celebrate and rejoice in the author and the redeemer of life. “I AM the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Cf. Revelation 1:8)

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

God’s Final Word…

Hebrews 1:1-2 (NIV)

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom also He made the universe.

Our Verse of the Day has been cited quite often in various commentaries over the past year, and now it is our verse to consider on its own.  Yesterday, we examined the prologue of the gospel account written by the Apostle John … and I think that the inspired writer of the Book of Hebrews simply affirms this truth.  In John 1:14 he wrote: “The Word (Jesus) became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” And Hebrews 1:1 asserts that Jesus spoke the final words revealing the will of God and asserts His ordained authority to do so….

As I think about the revelation of God Jesus communicated as His Son, I think it is important to observe what Jesus said about the words He spoke to the disciples … and shared with the Jewish people … even with us who believe in Him based upon their eyewitness testimony and anointed remembrance. (Cf. John 14:26) Jesus is quite direct about the gravity of hearing His Words … following His teachings … and putting them into practice.  In fact, Jesus declares that His Words will judge us on the last day….

John 5:24-26 (NIV)

24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. 25 Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son also to have life in Himself. 27 And He has given Him authority to judge because He is the Son of Man.

John 12:44-50 (NIV)

44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the One who sent me. 45 The one who looks at me is seeing the One who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. 47 “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. 49 For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So, whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”

John 14:10-11 (NIV)

Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing His work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.

John 14:23-25 (NIV)

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

Mark 8:37-38; Luke 9:25-26 (NIV)

What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their soul? Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when He comes in His glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

Luke 6:46-49 (NIV)

46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. 48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”

Not only has Father God spoken to us through the Prophets … beginning with Moses … He has clearly spoken to us through His Son, our Lord Jesus! And it is imperative that we listen to His voice … hear His words … and obey them! This is how we demonstrate our love for Him.  As Jesus said: “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. (Cf. John 15:7-8) Indeed, His Word must remain in us through the Holy Spirit in order for us to be effective and productive in the Kingdom of God.  So, let us keep ourselves in His Word each day. Yes, let us do our best to present yourselves to God as ones approved, workers who do not need to be ashamed and who correctly handle the word of truth.” (Cf. 2 Timothy 2:15)

A Final Thought:

John 5:36-40 (NIV)

“I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has Himself testified concerning me. You have never heard His voice nor seen His form, nor does His word dwell in you, for you do not believe the One He sent. You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. (Matthew 24:35; Mark 13:31; Luke 21:23)

Your Word is Truth…

John 17:17 (NIV)

Sanctify them by the Truth; Your Word is Truth.

Our Verse of the Day is found in a passage of scripture that captures the content of an intercessory prayer Jesus offered to God the Father. When Jesus was with His disciples just before the time of his betrayal, trial, and execution on a cross; He commenced a profound time of prayer specifically for them and for those who come to faith through their testimonies. The Apostle John recorded this prayer in his gospel account; and it affords the context for our verse:

John 17:6-23 (NIV) – Excerpt from the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus

6 “I have revealed You (your name, your character, your being) to those whom You gave me out of the world. They were Yours; You gave them to me and they have obeyed Your word. 7 Now they know that everything You have given me comes from You. 8 For I gave them the words You gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from You, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are Yours. 10 All I have is Yours, and all You have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, protect them by the power of (keep them faithful to) Your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them faithful to that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. 13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the Truth; your Word is Truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

Here we discover that the disciples (and all those who believe) have been “set apart” from the world through Jesus Christ. And He emphasizes in this prayer that WHAT will “separate” His followers from the world is the Word of God. Yes, this is what the word “sanctify” means. It means to be separated from the world … to be “set apart unto God” and service to Him. It means to be holy … for the One who gives us life through His Son is holy! And, indeed, we should never lose sight of this declaration from the Gospel of John … and his eyewitness account of the glory of Jesus Christ: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (Cf. John 1:1) And, “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom also He made the universe.” (Cf. Hebrews 1:1-2)

When Jesus prayed: “Sanctify them by the Truth; your Word is Truth,” He was declaring to the disciples (and to us) that the Word of God is Truth. You and I can fully trust His Word. Jesus, the living Word of God, is Truth! You can trust Jesus when He said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (Cf. John 14:6) Applying the Word of God to our hearts and letting it transform us and renew our thoughts (minds) is HOW we become sanctified. “For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Cf. Hebrews 4:12)

Again, in order to know the truth … in order to live in accordance with the truth … we have to be studying the truth in order to know it and to put it into practice. Indeed, as Jesus asserted, He gave His disciples the words that the Father had given for Him to impart … “and they accepted them.” So, I encourage you to keep reading … keep meditating … keep receiving from the Spirit the wonderful things of God found in His Word. His Word is our hope … our confidence … our assurance! His Word is alive! It contains truth that transforms. It will empower your life in ways you may not have experienced before. There is always something new … something fresh … awaiting you in the Word of God. And the Spirit of Truth will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. (Cf. John 16:13)

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!


The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. ~ John 1:14

To the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” ~ John 8:31-32

The Work of God…

John 6:29 (NIV)

Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.”

Our Verse of the Day provides a concise answer to the most basic theological question a human could ask: “What does the God of Creation want from His creations (humans)?” Well, here is the answer: “To believe in the One He has sent!” Asked another way: “What is the plan (purpose or work) of God for His people?” Answer: “To believe in His Son … the One who fully reveals the Father to humankind.” His name is Jesus! Indeed, this is a first and foremost imperative for us to settle in our minds and hearts! Everything else in our lives … all the soul searching … all other reasons for living … all the knowledge and understanding we need to respond to God … stem from this one directive for us to follow. Why? Because EVERYTHING that God does in your life and mine is centered on leading us to believe in Him through faith in Christ Jesus! Before we examine the text for our verse, I want us to look at the following scripture to impress upon us why God has purposed for us to believe in His Son:

Hebrews 1:1-9 (NIV)

1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom also He made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So He became as much superior to the angels as the name He has inherited is superior to theirs. 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father”? (Citing Psalm 2:7) Or again, “I will be his Father, and He will be my Son”? (Citing 2 Samuel 7:14; 1 Chronicles 17:13) 6 And again, when God brings His firstborn into the world, He says, “Let all God’s angels worship Him.” (Citing Deuteronomy 32:43-See Footnote) 7 In speaking of the angels He says, “He makes His angels spirits, and His servants flames of fire.” (Citing Psalm 104:4) 8 But about the Son He says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your Kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” (Citing Psalm 45:6-7 – See Footnote)

Here we find our inspired writer crafts a theological framework by which he articulates the person, position, and preeminence of Jesus, the Son of God. I think this is important for us to note the Old Testament foundations upon which we can readily identify the Son … the One the Father has sent and ordained for us to believe in! To be sure, there are countless OT prophecies of the Messiah, but with these prophetic words in view, let us put our Verse of the Day in context to see what Jesus was teaching here:

John 6:22-40 (NIV)

22 On the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except one, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone— 23 however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks— 24 when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. 25 And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You come here?” 26 Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.” 28 Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” 30 Therefore they said to Him, “What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” 32 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.” 35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

What profound, mysterious words Jesus has used to identify Himself! This is a powerful message for us to meditate on because it brings a greater understanding of what God has designed for us since the beginning. Faith in Jesus, the One that God has sent, is life altering … life giving … life sustaining … life perpetuating. Through Him … through believing in Him … we receive everlasting life!  THIS is the work … the will of God the Father for us!  Until a person realizes and understands that true life is only available from “the One who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world,” they will not find the life God has ordained for humans to experience in Him. There is a deeper, richer life we receive in Jesus … one that goes beyond its physical experience and completes our spiritual being.

John 17:1-4 (NIV)

1After Jesus said this, He looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted Him authority over all people that He might give eternal life to all those you have given Him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.

1 John 2:24-25 (NIV)

24 As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is what He promised us—eternal life.

1 John 5:10-12 (NIV)

10 Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about His Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

If you have the time, I encourage you to read John Chapter 6 in its entirety. I think it will challenge you as it challenged the people and the disciples as Jesus spoke to them….  Meditate upon it because Jesus draws upon an Old Testament event (manna in the wilderness) and utilizes its supernatural reality as a spiritual metaphor (bread from heaven) to explain His purpose … His mission … and the ultimate work (will) of God. Indeed, Jesus came to DO the will of the Father who sent Him. And we see God’s work in Him … through a human body … portrayed as bread from heaven to be consumed. It is an incredible concept for us to embrace; and I can relate to the many disciples who questioned: “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” (Cf. John 6:60) But Jesus responded: “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are Spirit and life.” (Cf. John 6:63) And so I pray we will see the application….

Well, there is a lot of theology here for us to digest. (No pun intended) So, I will leave it to Holy Spirit to guide you into the truths to be found. (Cf. John 16:13) I ask God to fill us with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that we may live lives worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God…. (Cf. Colossians 1:9-10)

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

The Bread of Life

John 6:35 (NIV)

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

I am happy this verse appeared this morning because it reminds us WHO is the source of our life.  The metaphor of “bread” or “food” in some translations is used to connote “sustenance” or what sustains life.  Jesus declared!  He did not whisper or just casually mention His identity as our “sustenance” for life.  He proclaimed “I AM” the One who sustains you!  I will be THE LIFE within you!  When you come to me, you will never go hungry.  When you believe in me, you will never thirst.  Jesus said, “I am the Way and the Truth and the LIFE. No one comes to the Father except through me. (Cf. John 14:6) So I want us to grab hold of what Jesus has declared to us: “I AM the bread of life.”  Jesus is sufficient! He is all we need to know for a fulfilled life as we sojourn in faith here on earth….

John 6:25-40 (NIV)

25 When they found Him on the other side of the lake, they asked Him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” 26 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval.” 28 Then they asked Him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” 29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.” 30 So they asked Him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.” 35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of Him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of Him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those He has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

So I pray that we will always abide in WHO sustains our lives. It is Jesus and Him alone! He was sent by the Father from heaven to be our life-giving bread … the sustainer of our being.  Indeed, it is through Him that we are born-again to new life and become a new creation! We are His affection … His delight … His treasured possession! In Jesus, we will not be lost; rather, we will be raised up at the last day.  He has promised!  He has declared it! And we have to do is believe and offer the fruit of thanksgiving…. Amen.

So Now You Know….

Have a Blessed Day!

Believe and Have Life

1 John 5:12 (NIV)

Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life….

I think this verse fairly well distills the Gospel message down to a single sentence.  It is the conclusion of what it means to embrace the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus.  We are to believe in Him. We are to abide in Him. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. To reject Jesus is to reject life itself … for our lives came from Him in the first place. “In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.” (Cf. John 1:4) Everyone who believes in Jesus will have eternal life in Him.  (Cf. John 3:15-16) Jesus said, “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” (Cf. John 6:39-41) These passages bring full meaning to His promise: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (abundantly).” (Cf. John 10:10)

You and I, believers, HAVE abundant life now in Jesus Christ! “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (Cf. 2 Peter 1:3-11)

The Apostles have made this message clear for us and all who will believe in Jesus.  And this is the message we need to share with prodigals and unbelievers. There is no life outside of an abiding relationship with Jesus Christ. (Cf. John 15:5-6) “This is how we know that we live in Him and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God.” (Cf. 1 John 4:13-15) “Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about His Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. (Cf. 1 John 5:10-12)

So I pray these words will encourage you.  I hope they will bring clarity to why the Gospel is so important to live and to share!  This is straightforward truth, and I pray that those who hear it will be changed by it, repent, and come to a full knowledge of God and His great love … which He has lavished on us through His Son.  Amen. 

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them. ~ John 3:36

So Now You Know….

Have a Blessed Day!