John 13:12-17 - The Example of Jesus

John 13:12-17

12 And so when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments, and reclined at the table again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, the Lord and Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master; neither is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. 

Message: The Example of Jesus

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."  

What the Lord is Saying: One of the first things I notice here in this passage is the dual application Jesus gives here of washing feet. In verse 11, He mentions being made clean. And now He also points to the idea that we are to follow or practice the acts that Jesus has done. 

    Luke 6:31 - Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.
    John 13:34 - A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you,     that you also love one another. 

    Matthew 6:12 - And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

In the previous passage, Jesus made it clear to me that being His disciple, being in the Kingdom of God is first found through trusting and accepting Jesus and then we follow through by keeping the commandments of God. Seek Him First though. And then these other things follow. And yet, I do understand that by themselves, these are principals that we want to have in our lives. These are ideas that should be in the hearts and minds of people always - to not simply be served. 

Matthew 10:24-25 - A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master.

Again, people have roles and duties, but that does not make anyone better than another person. And yet the reality is religion has at many times painted a different picture, a picture that makes it seem like religion is controlling people and how they think. But at the heart of the matter here is that we are to be servants and treat others the way you want to be treated. 

This is a tough principal I think sometimes in our lives now to apply - as our world continues down a course of not coming from its foundation of Christian living or defined by biblical ideals, but is shifting what is deemed right and wrong, it challenges the Christian on how they are to live and respond in these situations. I remember my good friend Bobby and I walking together in the mall many years ago and he wondered about a friend that is practicing homosexuality and wondered if he would be invited to their same sex wedding if he would attend. It was a challenging question and one I don't think we were able to resolve with an answer at the time. And yet many would not see any issue with a response either in an affirmative or not. I think these are hard situations in our lives and so I think we need to extend perhaps a little grace to one another even as we have different opinions. 

A prominent pastor and Bible teacher recently gave a response on his national call-in show of him counseling a grandmother's question of whether to attend one of these same-sex or transgender marriages and stating she could go (starting at 16:09) to maybe surprise her with a response that perhaps she wasn't expecting. And yet this response was immediately rejected by a prominent Christian pastor. 

Now I am not saying here there is a link with foot-washing and celebrating sin, but there does seem to be a principal here of the way we treat one another, even the way we treat one another when we disagree. Do we continue to live alongside these people and show them respect or is our response only to address their sin and show that their response to sin will keep them from the kingdom of God, if that is what we believe. I think it is a hard situation and response and so I think it needs grace. 

But this passage is more specifically giving the teaching that as we receive service towards us, we are to return that service to others. We are not to take a position that we are higher or mightier or on a different level from others. We are to remain servants. And yet from that I went off on treating others the same and then wondered if that treatment affects how sinners might trust in Jesus. And so maybe I am just concluding these are hard situations for me to apply. 

Summary: Disciples of Christ must be willing to do what Jesus was willing to do, including acts of service. 

Promise: From Tabletalk -- we can imitate Jesus in being willing to go to great lengths to meet the needs of others. We should begin our service at home, putting the needs of our spouses and children ahead of our own. But we should also put others ahead of us wherever else we may go.

Prayer: Lord, your principals that you give us move me to compassion and serving others. I want to be a person that is about love and yet stand firm on the fact that we are each sinners in need of being restored to You for salvation. Help me to understand these texts and perhaps not get too sidetracked by their meaning as even I have probably done in this lesson. Thank you Jesus for washing the disciples feet and being a servant and being different and showing all mankind that You are different. Give me guidance and forgiveness of others as well, even those I disagree with. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 5:9b-14 - The Lame Man's Greater Need

John 5:9b-14

Now it was the Sabbath on that day. Therefore the Jews were saying to him who was cured, "It is the Sabbath, and it is not permissible for you to carry your pallet." But he answered them, "He who made me well was the one who said to me, "Take up your pallet and walk." They asked him, "Who is the man who said to you, "Take up, your pallet, and walk?" But he who was healed did not know who it was; for Jesus had slipped away while there was a crowd in that place. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse may befall you."

Message: The Lame Man's Greater Need

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: The next set of verses transition to the Jews. After the lame man has been healed, the Jews criticize him for carrying his pallet, despite the fact that Jesus had told him to, "Take up your pallet and walk." The Jews ask who the man is but the lame man that was healed doesn't know. Later, Jesus finds the man in the temple and tells him now that he is well, do not sin anymore so that nothing worse befalls him. 

Sin is worse than being unable to walk properly. Sin is worse than any other human ailment. Jesus did heal the man and in the process took away from the man what the man thought was his biggest problem. 

Is not this our same problem still today? That is, what we think is our biggest problem is not our biggest problem. Following the pandemic and through the COVID pandemic, it because even clearer that our biggest problem people think they have is their health. It is true that health is focused on life and death on this earth and yet our response to sin or rather how Jesus has died for sin is the biggest issue of the day for it determines where our eternal life will be. 

Even prior to the pandemic I saw this continually emphasized in our prayer circles at church, in that what we brought to the Lord in our prayer requests was most often health related matters. I always thought we were like the lame man, thinking this is what is most important. Maybe because as people, this is the only thing in our lives that we feel we don't have control. And so when COVID hit, and life because so fragile, we proceeded to do at whatever level of person inconvenience - preserve our health. 

And yet Jesus says to the lame man and to me -- "do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse may befall you." Our greatest need is to turn from sin, believe in Jesus and move to living each day for Him. 

I've struggled with this - that is - taking something that has been valued greatly in my life and then seeing that something is more important and then wondering how I am to view that which was previously more important. Like what is our response to COVID or any sickness once we establish that sin is more important? I mean, Jesus healed the man. He wanted to give the man something that was important to him. But we must never lose sight in the fact that sin and dealing with sin is most important. 

We still don't know if this man, that Jesus healed, ever became a saved man. He blamed Jesus for having to carry his mat/pallet.  

Summary: Jesus tells the lame man, after he has healed him, that still his greatest problem remains - sin and how the man responds to it. 

Promise: From Tabletalk, "Our sovereign God may choose to intervene and bring about an unexpected physical healing. It is good and right to pray for Him to do so. Yet we must never forget that people need spiritual restoration far more than they need physical healing. As we minister to others inside and outside the church, let us not fail to call people to faith and repentance."

Prayer: Lord, I love this scripture and its application. It is my heart cry that we would value supremely what you value and that would be our focus always. May sinners be founds saved from the wrath to come and sealed with God for eternity. Lord, help me to make this my greatest focus with people. I'm thankful to hear of Bill who took a moment to do this with an employee at Target. I'm reminded of Dion Lear who had a pen with a simple gospel message that he shared often with others. What's holding me back Lord? 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

Jeremiah 12

I have been starting to read the Bible through - following the M'Cheyne Reading Plan "Secret."

Today I read from Jeremiah 12 and prepared this outline based upon my thoughts from Enduring Word. 

What the Lord is Saying:

JEREMIAH'S QUESTION AND GOD'S ANSWER

Jeremiah's question to God - verses 1-4

• You are righteous God (1)
• Why does the way of the wicked prosper (1)
• The wicked have fruit which you plant (2)
• These wicked know God (speak it) but far from Him (their mind) (2)
• But, you Lord know me (3)
• Prepare the wicked for slaughter (judgment) (3)
• Because meanwhile the land mourns as this seemingly unfairness continues (4)

God's answer to Jeremiah - verses 5-6

• The Lord points him to the real issue - namely he has asked Jeremiah to do something and his response is to look around at the wicked and question their fruit (5)
• The Lord points out that Jeremiah is therefore questioning this present challenge, so how will he fare when the Lord asks him to do something else (5)
• The small challenge was adversity from family (11:21), the larger challenge will be adversity from those outside of family (6)

JUDAH AND HER ENEMIES

God abandons His People to their enemies - verses 7-8

• Jeremiah speaks to the future when God will give his dearly beloved into the hand of their enemies (7)
• Lord - "My people roar against me" - they rebel so God rejects them for a time (7)
• Judah will be as conspicuous as a speckled bird to its enemies and will provoke their opposition (8)

The mournful harvest of the Land - verses 10-13

• As judgment comes the land will be desolate (10-12)
• But the enemies (Babylonians) should take no pleasure because their harvest is because of the fierce anger of the Lord (13)

A promise of retribution and a promise of restoration - verses 14-15

• Even though God used Babylon as an instrument of His judgment, He would nevertheless judge them for their free will evil and brutality against Judah (14)
• Then he will have compassion on Judah (15)

A merciful promise to the nations - verses 16-17

• The Lord extends his grace even to the opposing Babylonians (16)
• Turning to the Lord is great blessing; Turning from the Lord is great judgment (17) 

Summary: I thought this was an interesting reading, namely because it starts with a question many people voice and that is, why do the wicked prosper. But the Lord's response is to not answer the question, but instead wonder why the question was asked and is concerned for Jeremiah and if he is asking this question now, then how will he handle future challenges. Jeremiah then speaks of the Judah being given over to the Babylonians and the judgment which will come from Judah's rejection of God. Eventually, he will have compassion, but Babylon will be the instrument of his judgment, and yet he still holds them accountable for their actions. The Babylonians can return and embrace the Lord. 

Promise: Even though God used Babylon as an instrument of His judgment, He would nevertheless judge them for their free will evil and brutality against Judah.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for the way in which Your word speaks. Questions that we think are new are not. Keep my eyes focused on You. Bring healing to the enemies of God. Draw them to you. Thank you for saving me and providing me compassion. Help me to be faithful to that call. 

Mark 10:31 - The Right-Side-Up Kingdom

Mark 10:31
But many who are first will be last, and the last, first.

Message:  The right-side-up kingdom.

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying: 

Preface -  Jesus has concluded this lesson on salvation by reminding his audience that the heart must leave behind all that it holds dear and go in the opposite way. And we need to realize that persecution may come. And the reward for this type of commitment is eternal life. 

Jesus continues to speak in a way that is different. He started chapter 10 talking about marriage and basically that a man and woman, when brought together by the Lord, will make the extra effort to stay together. He then remarks the favor he places on little children. They are indeed precious and important to him when often they are glossed over in the world. And then he speaks to the idea that all must be surrendered to him, even in our money, if we are truly going to be his followers. 

This passage now centers on a very small verse - But many first will be last, and the last, first. 
Again, at first glance, this passage does not make any sense. In a race, the last finishers are not first, they are last. In a race, the first finishers are not last, but they are first. So, how are we supposed to understand this from Jesus?

Jesus provides these words on the heels of his message to the disciples and followers and even the rich young ruler about the how salvation happens, how entrance to the kingdom of God occurs. It is a conclusion of that message by saying the first will be last and the last first. DeGarmo and Key wrote a song called All the Losers Win. It is this idea that those who are often considered last in this world will be first in the Kingdom of God (the poor, the children). When we forsake all and follow Him sometimes we give up our riches to do this.

Summary - Jesus wants to express something to his disciples and followers and that is His way is different, unique from the worlds way and when we love others the way he has loved us, hopefully they people will see that we are different. In this lesson, the last are first. It is not the wealthy that automatically enter the kingdom of God as wealth can make you feel like you are in need of nothing.

Promise: Our churches should look different to the world. We should have a way of conducting ourselves that stands out, rather than mirrors what we are seeing in the World.

Prayer: Lord, your messages are indeed different. They are unique. Help me God to be this type of person. Help me to be sensitive to my wife's needs and not to be so focused on fulfilling my needs. Lord, I am weak. I need your strength to help me through this type of living. I am a selfish creature that often thinks that getting my way is what will make me happy. But, serving others holds a greater role in our lives.

Mark 8:22-26 - The Blind Man at Bethsaida

Mark 8:22-26 -
22 And they *came to Bethsaida. And they *brought a blind man to Jesus and *implored Him to touch him. 23 Taking the blind man by the hand, He brought him out of the village; and after spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, “Do you see anything?” 24 And he looked up and said, “I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around.” 25 Then again He laid His hands on his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly. 26 And He sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”

Message: The Blind Man at Bethsaida

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying: 

Preface: After feeding 4,000, the disciples still talk among themselves when they get in the boat and realize they have no food. Jesus simply wants them to look to Him. He is there provider. He continues to show them his hand of providence in all things, they still struggle with anxiety and worry.

Now they (Jesus and the disciples) are in Bethsaida. Jesus was in the district of Dalmanutha, near Magdallan, just west of the Sea of Galilee. Bethsaida is north. There is not much distance between the two places. The sea of Galilee is 8 miles wide. My guess is that it is about 8 miles between the cities, perhaps one could get there in 1 day.

As he arrives, a blind man is brought to Jesus and they implored Him to touch him. The blind man didn't come to Jesus on his own, but was brought to him. He brought him out of the village. It is thought that the healing occurred outside of the City because Jesus was concerned about the town's unbelief and he would refuse to perform miracles before those who continued to not believe or accept His teachings. Jesus is ready to answer questions of anyone that asks, and yet answering people's questions is not his mission. He is on the scene to change hearts and those people's hearts just want to question, not necessarily be changed.

There has been a remark here that this particular healing is unique because of the stages. One, Taking the blind man by the hand. Two, He brought him out of the village. Three, spitting on his eyes. Fourth, laying His hands on him. It isn't immediate, but progressive. In other instances, by now, the person would be completely restored and yet, here, the person is not. As after doing all of this the man's sight was not fixed: “I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around.” He has been spit on by Jesus and Jesus has laid his hands on him. Previously, a woman touching the cloak of Jesus brought about immediate healing. So Jesus does not embody a transformation. So, it isn't that all you have to do is touch him and you are saved, but Jesus has something to do with the healing, in his time.

There is a moment when Jesus decides to heal and sometimes he doesn't decide. Sometimes I wish the Gospel had a story about someone coming to Jesus and him not healing the person. Because it happens in life. Not everyone is healed. Some people implore him but are still not healed. And this is a hard thing at times to reconcile in our lives. And people not getting what they want, often results in no belief. People expect everyone to be viewed equally. But, in this lesson, perhaps is the reminder that Jesus makes the decision.

It states again He laid His hands on his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly. Why did this healing need two touches? It didn't, but it seems Jesus was communicating something more here, perhaps to this man, perhaps to us, perhaps even to the disciples.

Also, the faith of the blind man is never mentioned here. 

Summary: Jesus heals a blind man, outside of the City of Bethsaida, a place of unbelief, so he heals outside of those that would question him. He heals with progression, after placing his hand on the blind man two times. In the same way, we need to implore Jesus repeatedly.

Promise: God does not always do what we ask, when we ask; he has reasons. Healing can be a process. It can take time. It may not happen at all or in the manner we think it should.

Prayer: Lord, keep teaching me through these readings. As I read about the lessons you were teaching people at the time, you still can have a lesson for me today. I admit, at times, I do not understand the way you work, the suffering that people experience, the healing of some, but not of others. But, I am still a follower. My following isn't about you doing what I want, for you show me that I can trust You no matter what. 

Mark 8:1-10 - Feeding Four Thousand

Mark 8:1-10
1 In those days, when there was again a large crowd and they had nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples and *said to them, 2 “I feel compassion for the people because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat. 3 If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way; and some of them have come from a great distance.” 4 And His disciples answered Him, “Where will anyone be able to find enough bread here in this desolate place to satisfy these people?” 5 And He was asking them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven.” 6 And He *directed the people to sit down on the ground; and taking the seven loaves, He gave thanks and broke them, and started giving them to His disciples to serve to them, and they served them to the people. 7 They also had a few small fish; and after He had blessed them, He ordered these to be served as well. 8 And they ate and were satisfied; and they picked up seven large baskets full of what was left over of the broken pieces. 9 About four thousand were there; and He sent them away. 10 And immediately He entered the boat with His disciples and came to the district of Dalmanutha.

Message: Feeding Four Thousand

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying: 

Preface: Jesus, after spending time in Tyre and Sidon and Decapolis area, it seems, trying to get away for a bit, also spent time healing a demon possessed daughter and a blind man. Prior to this Jesus was emphasizing to his disciples and even the scribes the focus on the heart of man, as the Pharisees continued to emphasize the outward works. Jesus is really concerned about the heart.

Yet, people still have needs. This story of the feeding of four thousand reads easy. It is a simple story of people in need and Jesus meeting that need. Like the previous story of the feeding of 5,000, the people impacted are a large group of Gentiles, on the road for days, only to see Jesus. Chances are, though it is not recorded in scripture, Jesus spent time with these travelers, speaking to them, perhaps even healing people in various ways. In essence this was a retreat for many, to go see Jesus and see who this man is and what he is about. Rather than sending them away hungry, he takes what food he has and provides it to them.

They ate and were satisfied - thus, they received what they needed to now make their journey home. And they picked up seven large baskets full of what was left over of the broken pieces. People were famished and yet there was still food left over. Another interesting note is that  four thousand were there. Previously, when Jesus fed five thousand, those 5,000 mentioned were men, which meant there were probably closer to 15,000 or more with families. Yet, here 4,000 are mentioned. The other sad part of this story is how slowly the disciples are learning about Jesus and what he can do. His disciples answered Him, “Where will anyone be able to find enough bread here in this desolate place to satisfy these people?” Jesus has already fed and done so many other things for the disciples to see the power that he has and yet they still don't see it.

I think it is interesting here that Jesus doesn't seem make something happen out of thin air, but he uses commodities already present, but multiplies their use. In a similar way, Jesus uses us, his followers and works through us in an amazing way.

Summary: Jesus, after spending time with many people, who have come from far away to see Him, takes care of their need to eat, using what has been provided, multiplying it for what everyone needs. He then leaves, with the disciples on a boat to the district of Dalmanutha.

Promise: From Tabletalk - Sometimes we find ourselves doubting the Lord’s concern for us and His ability to meet our needs. If we were to remember what He has done for us, particularly in rescuing us from sin when we were hopelessly lost, we would find ourselves more apt to trust that He will provide. Think on what the Lord has done for you, and trust that He will come through again because He loves you.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for this message that reminds me that you work through what has been provided, but in a mightier way that it appears. You God are there for us and provide us what we need at all times. You take care of us. I thank You and Praise your name. Help us to get out of the way and let you work.

Mark 5:30-34 - The Compassion of Christ

Mark 5:30-34
30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” 32 And he looked around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. 34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

Message: The Compassion of Christ

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

As Jesus is headed to Jairus to see his daughter, in the crowds a woman suffering from a bloody hemorrhage condition wants to get to Jesus, just to touch him. She knows that this is all she needs, to touch Jesus and she will be healed. This section of the passage provides further detail to the compassion of Jesus in healing this lady.

On this day, I continue to think about the horrific act of violence that happened the other day, in our country, at a high school in Parkland, Florida, where a young man, with firearms, went to a school he attended and had been expelled, with the purpose of hurting others. He had been hurt and had felt like he had been failed. His livelihood, evidently, was that school and being there, and I'm guessing that since he couldn't be there anymore, he wanted the administration and other people to experience his pain and anger. So, in an effort to achieve the most deaths, he shot and killed 17 people. What a huge number and yet not the biggest school shooting, but rather the 2nd biggest in deaths.

We are a people struggling to know how to deal with issues when they don't go as we had planned. My son is in the process of coming off of a drug that has controlled him for many years. He is struggling right now with anger issues and seeing how little things can set him off. He has no outlet for his anger anymore or he has no way to harness it as the drug was calming himself down and providing him relief. O God, help our country, our young people, us, to find comfort and solace and peace in You. Peace is found nowhere else.

This woman in the crowd had complete confidence in Jesus and him being the one that could bring comfort and healing to her. You rescued her God and you can rescue others. I hurt for this community, these families that now will have to experience their lives without a child that meant the world to them. Bring comfort to the families for their pain will not be momentary, but will be lifelong. Help people to heal. Thank you for the police chief that called on the community, the nation to pray. Help us to be a nation that does pray. As a nation, after 9/11 we did so much to guard ourselves from the terrorists that would come into our country and yet, we now continue to struggle with terrorists within.

And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” At first, I see this as an odd statement, like the power that enveloped Jesus, he had no power for the way it left him. Yet, I think Jesus knew what had happened, but his question was for the benefit of the woman who thought that perhaps she go unnoticed by Jesus. And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” The disciples look at it from my perspective - how could Jesus single out one touch when multiple touches were occurring. The question seems strange and unnecessary by Jesus.

And he looked around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. Jesus, in looking around for the woman, had compassion and interest. But the woman, at that moment, almost like the fear that Eve might have had in the garden when she and Adam hid themselves with loin cloths, realizing for the 1st time that they had done something wrong -- this woman, at this moment, wonders if she also has done something wrong. She has been noticed. Perhaps she thought she could just anonymously grab a hold of a garment and then get away, be healed, and no one would notice. But, she didn't flee from him when she saw Jesus looking around, instead she came before him, fell down and told him the truth. Does not Jesus have this effect on people? IT is like a child not running from his parent, but instead falling down before them. Yet, this woman had not done anything wrong, but she didn't know that. But perhaps her appearance in public, due to her uncleanliness and the rules related to that, was her fear. There needed to be an acknowledgement from Jesus. She told him the truth. It is not enough for her to steal a touch, her lips must acknowledge before Jesus her condition and what she requests. Her words are not detailed, but it is said she told him the whole truth. She confessed to him.

And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” And Jesus remarks to results: one, that her faith has made her well. But, this is mentioned separate from the healing of her disease. He also calls her daughter, a word of affection. He wants to show all these people that this unclean woman is a not simply another woman, but Jesus has affection for her. Who saved her? Jesus. How did this happen? Through faith. And now she can go forth in peace. There is no more stain on her, no more blemish, no more uncleanness. She is clean and healed.

Promise: God is all-powerful. Yet, he is tender to those who trust Him. He is powerful, but also a loving Father. He has tender care for His children.

Prayer: Lord God, I love this story. I love the faith that this woman has and shows us. She has confidence in You, a confidence that I want to have daily in my life. Thank you for caring for me and desiring to be close to me and showing me continually that you do want what is best for me. Sometimes that best hurts, but in the long-term you are growing me. Help me to continually trust You no matter what occurs. And help me to encourage others. We are a people in need of grace, your grace. Thank you for healing me and making me whole.

Mark 4:30-32 - The Parable of the Mustard Seed

Mark 4:30-32
30 And He said, “How shall we picture the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we present it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soil, 32 yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches; so that the birds of the air can nest under its shade.”

Message: The Parable of the Mustard Seed

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying: 

[Note: My computer has been down all week. I guess its time to get a new laptop. Uggh.]

Once again, the kingdom of God is mentioned, for the 3rd time in this chapter. The kingdom of God could be most simply describing the Church, on earth, or those that have been called by Him. There is community in the Church as we work together for the mission of the gospel and impacting other people's lives. In these verses there seems to be the expansion of the Kingdom of God. In verse 11, what has been given people is this community, while some are outside of it. And then in verses 26-29 was a description of the Kingdom of God and how it works and the fruit of it is being something that only God will produce.

We are the kingdom of God on earth and as such it is understood that we are together, living and working together. There is this community that we have. Two are better than one.

And these verses are likening the kingdom of God to a parable. It is really answering the question - How shall we picture the kingdom of God - how shall we see what the kingdom of God is like or how does Jesus want us to see what the entire or whole kingdom of God is like.

At first, what we see, is it is small. It is like a mustard seed. In comparison to the cultural bodies the church is very small. It is a gathering of a small group of people. Perhaps, it is speaking to the fact that the church, at its beginning, is small. The individual that is called by God begins just as that, an individual. We all begin small.

But then it is sown upon the soil. The Parable of the Sower looked at different soils and the good soil was good because it was ready for growth. The soil was ready to accept the seed or the Word of God. By accepting this seed it is ready to grow.

Though the seed is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soil. Once again, at its inception, at the beginning, the church is small. I love to witness church starts and I think they are more popular today because many are seeing that old, established churches don't have much growth in them. So, church starts are happening more and it is exciting, for they start small and then grown. I think also of churches like Calvary Chapel here that started with a handful of people in the late 70s and early 80s and now they are running 4 services on a weekend with 10,000 attending. It started as a mustard seed. But, still in comparison of the world it is still small as there are many more non-profit and organizations in the world. 

yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches. The growth of the Body of Christ is the original pyramid scheme. One person tells another and suddenly the church is growing and expanding. How often have I heard the testimony of one family member becoming a follower of Christ and then the rest of the family follows. This is the gospel. It affects people in a profound way. Fruit results and yielded a crop and produced thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold (v.8). 

so that the birds of the air can nest under its shade - I think this reminds us of the impact the church has had on civilization. I think of the medical field. All of the hospitals in my city have at their origin something with the church. Compassion has been a hallmark of Christianity and helping one another has been its chief aim. The church continues to show compassion. I think of prison ministries that not only minister to prisoners, but help them transition back into life. I started working with a ministry in town called Next Step that simply helps those coming out of homelessness and prison transition into life. They begin to work and become members of society. There are many of these types of organizations like this and the church heads them all. The church is all about compassion and helping others. 

• The Salvation Army was founded in 1865 by a Methodist. Its original purpose was for the husband and wife, William and Catherine Booth to bring salvation to the poor by meeting their physical and spiritual needs. It is present now in 128 countries. 
• Compassion International began in 1952 by Everett Swanson, a Presbyterian minister, who went to Korea at the encouragement of a missionary, to help children orphaned in South Korea. It now serves 1,700,000 children in 26 countries. 
• Robert Pierce, an American Baptist minister, founded World Vision in 1950, after he did an evangelistic rally in China in 1947, meeting a missionary teacher who who helping a battered child and gave her $5 and promised to send her money each month. It is now active in 90+ countries with 45,000 employees and $2.8 billion in receipts. 
• In my city of Albuquerque, in 1908 Reverend Hugh Cooper, a Presbyterian Pastor, started a sanatorium to meet the needs of hundreds of tuberculosis patients coming into the City. Presbyterian now has 8 hospitals in 7 communities of New Mexico and over 900 beds. 

Promise: Praise God how the mustard seed grows. There is no other explanation for the growth of God's kingdom other than that it is the work of God. This is a beautiful confirmation of the gospel. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the truth of Your word and letting me see its far-reaching effects. Thank you for the way your message has impacted millions. Many birds are impacted by the seed, too numerous to count. You do multiply and help me as your follower to continue to be faithful, listen to you, trust you, not lean on my own understanding, but accept all that you provide. I praise you God. You are great and so faithful. 

Psalm 116:1-9 - An Answered Prayer

Psalm 116:1-9
¹ I love the Lord, because He hears
My voice, my supplications.
² Because He has inclined His ear to me,
Therefore I shall call as long as I live.
³ The cords of death encompassed me
And the terrors of Sheol came upon me;
I found distress and sorrow.
⁴ Then I called upon the name of the Lord:
“O Lord, I beseech You, save my life!”

⁵ Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;
Yes, our God is compassionate.
⁶ The Lord preserves the simple;
I was brought low, and He saved me.
⁷ Return to your rest, O my soul,
For the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.
⁸ For You have rescued my soul from death,
My eyes from tears,
My feet from stumbling.
⁹ I shall walk before the Lord
In the land of the living.

Message:  An Answered Prayer

Time: Based upon authorship and subject matter, Psalms cover a range of centuries. David is mentioned 73 times, Solomon 2, Moses 1, and 50 designate no specific person. It is believed they were compiled around 537 BC. The psalms deal with such subjects as God and His creation, war, worship, wisdom, sin and evil, judgment, justice, and the coming of the Messiah.

What the Lord is Saying: 

First Glance
I love the Lord because He hears me; he hears my requests. He turns his ear toward me and I can then call on him as long as I live. Death surrounds me and the terror of hell comes upon me to the point that I find distress and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the Lord saying, "Lord, save me, please save me." You are gracious; you give me what I do not deserve. You are righteous; your ways are pure and right. You are compassionate; you are there for me no matter my situation or my condition. You preserve me; I fall and am low and you save me. Therefore, I can rest again. I can rest because the Lord deals with me in a generous manner, lavishing gifts of grace and compassion on me. You have rescued me from death. You have rescued my eyes from tears and my feet from stumbling. I can now walk before the Lord in the land of the living. 

That last line reminds me of the Bash-n-the-Code song sung by Rebecca Sparks called Land of the Living, their first release, back in 1986. "We walk before the Lord in the land of the living. Jesus is king in the land of the living." My guess is that refrain came from this text. 

The idea is I can now walk in life, with people, freely, completely, because I have been delivered. I have been impacted by God's grace. I have been rescued from death, tears, and stumbling. I love the Lord. 

Promise: Regular prayer is what is needed in my life as I need this reminder that I am delivered and forgiven and rescued.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the words from this Psalmist. Thank you for the reminder that You are near. You have rescued my soul from death, my ears from tears, my feet from stumbling. You have shown me grace and compassion. Thank you for listening to me and hearing my prayer. 

Psalm 51:1-9 - David's Plea for Forgiveness

Psalm 51:1-9
¹ Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness;
According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.
² Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity
And cleanse me from my sin.
³ For I know my transgressions,
And my sin is ever before me.
⁴ Against You, You only, I have sinned
And done what is evil in Your sight,
So that You are justified when You speak
And blameless when You judge.

⁵ Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
⁶ Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being,
And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.
⁷ Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
⁸ Make me to hear joy and gladness,
Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.
⁹ Hide Your face from my sins
And blot out all my iniquities.

Message: David's Plea for Forgiveness

Time: The psalms were written by many different people across a period of a thousand years in Israel's history. They are thought to have been compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying:

I've heard that this Psalm is a great prayer for a sinner, pleading for God for His forgiveness. These words here so clearly convey our need for the Lord's love and forgiveness.

Blot out my transgression...wash me thoroughly from my iniquity...cleanse me from my sin...you know...i know...i have sinned, against you God...against you I have done evil. You have every right to judge me for you are blameless. In sin, I came into the world, but what you desire me if truth and wisdom. Purify me then. Make me clean. Wash me so I will be whiter than snow. As a clean vessel, i then will hear joy and gladness from you and I will rejoice. Hide your face from my sins that continue to be committed and see my sins no more. 

It is clear throughout scripture that God's message to people is "Believe." But that belief is predicated on one idea and that is that I am a sinner or I have sinned. It is true, that over time, and even as we age, most of us rid much sin in our lives, but the reality is we are still sinners, whether the quantity is 1 sin or 100. God has always said in scripture that their must be atoning sacrifice for sin. Sin separates us from God and to restore that relationship their must be atonement. Throughout history, he has provided that atonement. For many years it was blood sacrifice in the form of an animal on an altar, a temporary fix, but at all times, people looked forward to a permanent fix- Messiah.

This is what we are asked to believe. Believe God and believe that he has our best interest in mind and that he has provided us with the answer. And at its core there is the recognition that I have sinned and my transgression needs to be removed by a Savior. This is the message then of these verses from Psalm 51. It is the recognition that I have sinned and God is the one that cleans me. Thus, I believe.

But, within acknowledgement of sin and believing that God provides the atonement for my sin, is also then the desire to not sin. But, this desire, I believe, comes about after believing and putting the trust in God's provision, for God then gives us a new heart, with the ability to see our sin for what it is, know that it displeases God and then the desire to go and sin no more. This is an about face that now occurs in the life a believer. It doesn't mean that I will always no longer hate sin for their will be moments that I don't trust God's provision and seek out my own solutions, which often result in sin; but it means that my overarching focus is to live for Christ and deny self, walking by faith, not by sight.

Promise: Christians are new creations in Christ.

Romans 9:14-18 - Justice and Mercy

Romans 9:14-18

¹⁴ What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be! ¹⁵ For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” ¹⁶ So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. ¹⁷ For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth.” ¹⁸ So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.

Message: Justice and Mercy

Time:  This book was probably written between 56 and 57 B.C. Paul was in Greece, probably Corinth when he wrote. It was sent to Gentile believers, but also believers with a strong Jewish element.

What the Lord is Saying:

Again, we are staying with the theme of Destiny or the doctrine that God not only has foreknowledge of future events in the lives of His called ones, knowing their salvation before hand but that He Himself has predetermined their salvation beforehand. It is God determining an outcome before the event has occurred. It is one thing to write about a historical event, documenting that it happened, but scripture doesn't simply document that something happened, but rather it states that God made it happen. 

I think we read the Bible and often don't realize what is going on. When something happens, do we just think that God has allowed that to happen (meaning He could have intervened) or do we think that he makes certain things happen and others he doesn't involve himself with. Do we think that God starts us off and then only intervenes if we ask Him to intervene? 

But, the biggest event in any person's life is whether that person will be saved. Does God simply know in advance that a Christ follower will choose Him or does He do the choosing on behalf of the individual? 

Often on the streets we help people understand grace and mercy. When a homeless man comes up to you and asks you for a meal, if you give it him, he has neither earned it nor can he pay it back. By giving it to him you have been gracious. If you are traveling on the road and you are speeding in your car and the police officer stops you, but chooses to not give you a ticket, though you deserve it, he has been merciful toward you. Compassion is being aware of someone's suffering and desiring to relieve the suffering. 

Paul in Chapter 9 of Romans talks about the purposed life of Esau and Jacob and mentions that while in the womb each had a predetermined outcome in life.  This purpose was not based upon what they had done, but based upon a calling. God chose the Israelites, simply because. It is human nature to think that we are chosen based upon someone seeing something in us and then choosing us based upon what they saw. God's choosing may be defined as random. My thinking is God has a purpose and that purpose is only known by Him. 

In Chapter 9 Paul states, God has "mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires." This is saying that we yield to God and his mercy is based upon His desire. People from all walks of life have been shown God's mercy, from the poor to the rich. And people from all walks of life have been hardened. No matter what I think we all end up with the "why" question, wondering why so few believe or why so few have faith even thought Jesus said the road is narrow, but why did it have to be that way. The struggle I think is not that God isn't in control, but questioning his outcome for things. There are so many today that live, on the surface, good lives and it is hard to look at them and realize that their eternal outcome does not appear to be with God. That they would end up being annihilated or eternally punished or separated from God is a difficult outcome to realize they have. I can think of family members, friends, strangers, and can also see how wired they are to not even think about God or to think about God in a very narrow way, putting God in a box. So it is hard to think that those people are that way because of God's hardening. 

Everyone deserves to be punished for their sin. As verse 14 says, "There is no injustice with God." God's justice is always served, for the Christian it is served in the atonement of Jesus for their sin. For the non-Christian it is still served for they have earned their condemnation. There is never injustice. 

So I yield to this verse. It is not simply a Pauline verse, but the message is clear throughout scripture. I do want to say I don't understand it, but I yield to it because I have no reason to not believe it is true. But, it remains difficult. Not that God has mercy and hardens, but that so few have received mercy. 

Would God's power be demonstrated if the majority of people were saved? Our world is merit based. We like this. We like hard work to merit good pay. We like hard work to merit good grades. When a baby is born with a defect, we don't understand it. When a baby is born to a family in which the parents have engaged in drugs and other things that are not God's commandments, then we feel better, not because the baby has received it and deserves it, but because it just makes more sense to us. 

Promise: God has "mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires."

Psalm 119:73-80 - God's Word, Affliction, and Glory

Psalm 119:73-80
Your hands made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments. May those who fear You see me and be glad, because I wait for Your word. I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are righteous, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me. O may Your lovingkindness comfort me, according to Your word to Your servant. May Your compassion come to me that I may live, for Your law is my delight. May the arrogant be ashamed, for they subvert me with a lie; but I shall meditate on Your precepts. May those who fear You turn to me, even those who know Your testimonies. May my heart be blameless in Your statutes, so that I will not be ashamed.

Message: God's Word, Affliction, and Glory

Time: The psalms were written by many different people across a period of a thousand years in Israel's history. They are thought to have been compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying:
So after several stanza's on the need and love for God's word, the Psalmist takes a moment to mention that there was a time in his life when God was not on the throne and he turned away in his affliction. And in these verses he continues a little with those thoughts.

The first verse of each of these stanza's I notice end up being sort of a theme for the section. This is an acrostic psalm, a prayer, and each of the 22 stanza's begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

Lord, your hands made me and fashioned me

There is maybe a new thought here, but I also look back and the preceding verses where he says, "It is good for me that I was afflicted that I may learn Thy statutes. The law of Thy mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver." God's law is of the highest value in my life. It is in my afflictions that I get to know this law better, that I get to know God better. Lord, I do hope this is what comes of difficult times, more devotion to You and Your laws.

Give me understanding, that I may learn Thy commandments
As my maker and my creator, my understanding is dependent on Him. Lord, I yield to You and ask that You teach me. I desire to be obedient to Your commandments and to learn them, but I need Your understanding. Give my children and wife understanding, that they may learn Thy commandments. Give the people that I speak to online and the people at church; help us be a people that are following You all of our days.

May those who fear Thee see me and be glad because I wait for Thy word
I desire to be friends to those that serve and honor You. The Christian desires to be around other good Christians. People don't want to be like evil, but want to be around those that are good. Lord, keep me in the path of the saints and keep my children and wife in those paths. I pray their highest desire and goal would be to be around other strong in faith people.

I know, O Lord, that Thy judgments are righteous
Lord, afflictions are right; they are indeed the highest form of being right; they are righteous. The goal of each person it to be seen right in the presence of God. Jesus, in dying for us, transfers his righteousness to us by faith. It is here I think about God's dealings with me in times of affliction. It is a good thing. It's funny we see these people and do not want to be like them and yet they appear to be the strongest people around, such as Joni Eareckson Tada or Nick Vujicic. It is amazing to hear them talk about the ministry they have. O Lord, I want to run from the darkness, but not from hard times. Show me what it is to be close to You in hard times.

And that in faithfulness Thou hast afflicted me
What an amazing thought -- that in God's faithfulness to me he has afflicted me. It was in my best interest. The affliction is not done in malice or by chance; it was because God saw a good reason why it must be done. It needed to be done. Again, I do not think this way, but affliction is a sign of God's faithfulness.

O may Thy lovingkindness comfort me, according to Thy word to Thy servant
It is through the mercy of God that I am comforted. God will comfort me. Everything else in life is a placebo that provides momentary comfort, but true comfort comes from God. It is through God's mercy that I have any happiness. God and His word brings me peace. Give me comfort God according to Your lovingkindness.

May Thy compassion come to me that I may live
It is the Lord's tender mercies that I need...to live. What a great promise that is found here in God's words. Lord let me experience thy mercy and favor.

For Thy law is my delight
I will find my happiness in obedience to Your words. God, protect me in times of trouble. You are able. You are completely everything to me.

May the arrogant be ashamed, for they subvert me with a lie; but I shall meditate on Thy precepts
Light and darkness do not work together. It really should not be a big surprise when the lawless, arrogant, wicked ones treat God's children with contempt and lies. There is no reason that people should be mean and wicked, but they are. They do not like the light. The evil one does not want to change his ways so he will not be kind to the righteous.

May those who fear Thee turn to me, even those who know Thy testimonies
I need friends that are God's children. There may be those that are arrogant and wicked and living in darkness that do not desire my companionship, but O God, keep Your children near to me and in my sight. Keep me close to those that are near to You.

May my heart be blameless in Thy statutes, that I may not be ashamed
Lord, I pray that there is no defect in me, no imperfection in regard to Thy Laws and commandments; keep me close to them, guided by them because I do not want to be ashamed. Paul said he was not ashamed of the gospel meaning he had no reason to deny its power and his love for it as he speaks to others and so may my obedience to your statutes be in a way that I am not ashamed at how I live or am living.

Promise: Affliction sometimes is the result of evil people, not ourselves being evil.

Jesus Calling: June 14

I have Loved you with an everlasting Love. Before time began, I knew you. For years you swam around in a sea of meaningless, searching for Love, hoping for hope. All that time I was pursuing you, aching to embrace you in My compassionate arms.
     When time was right, I revealed Myself to you. I lifted you out of that sea of despair and set you down on a firm foundation. Sometimes you felt naked--exposed to the revealing Light of My Presence, I wrapped an ermine robe around you: My robe of righteousness. I sang you a Love song, whose beginning and end are veiled in eternity. I infused meaning into your mind and harmony into your heart. Join Me in singing My song. Together we will draw others out of darkness into My marvelous Light. 

Jeremiah 31:3
English Standard Version

    the Lord appeared to him from far away.
I have loved you with an everlasting love;
    therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.

Isaiah 61:10
English Standard Version

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
    my soul shall exult in my God,
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;
    he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress,
    and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

I Peter 2:9
New King James Version

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Prayer
Lord, thank you for loving me. Thank you for not looking at my efforts or works or the way I think. I thank you that you don't hold your love based upon my thoughts. Your love is everlasting. Thank you for drawing me to yourself. You lifted me out of the mire and despair and put my feet on the rock. I pray more and more would understand this love.

Note: The devotion and scriptures are from author Sarah Young. If you haven't already, please purchase the book and support the author.

Also, bookmark https://bibletags.blogspot.com/2019/06/jesus-calling-366-days.html to have an easy link to the entire year of these entries.

Romans 9:14-16 - God's Sovereign Mercy

Romans 9:14-16 -14 What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be! 15 For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.

Message: God's Sovereign Mercy

Time: Romulus founded ancient Rome about 753 BC. By 600 BC it had become a wealthy, flourishing city with a monarch. Around 500 BC, the monarch was overthrown. A republic resulted and after war, Rome became the only great power in the Mediterranean, succeeding the empire of Alexander the Great. Before and after the birth of Christ, Rome's dominion continued to expand to about two thirds the size of the continental US. At the time Paul wrote, Rome had a population of about 1,000,000. Most were slaves. It was a vast empire, but had many religions present. It is unknown how the church started in Rome, but Gentiles and Jews both were involved. Paul was writing to address a problem, but he wanted to be there and perhaps, make Rome his base for his missionary journey's

What the Lord is Saying:

Romans 9 begins with the question of can Jesus really be the Messiah when God's chosen people have rejected Him? Yet, Paul shows through two examples, Isaac and Ishmael, then Jacob and Esau, that God is the one that chooses. And his choice is not based upon man's works. God chooses based upon His good pleasure.

Verse 14 follows up then with a natural question. God does not treat people in an unfair manner, does he? Or is God unfair? And verse 15 and 16 further clarify and state that God does what He does based upon God being God. God's choice isn't based upon the performance of man.

I think these verse are so clear in that statement. And yet it is important I think to note what these verses are not saying. They are not focusing on man, but only on what man is not doing. All the focus is on God. And I think it is important that we still have a Bible that tells us to pray and share the good news and disciple and train for Godliness and obey commandments.

And I think this is very hard for many people to wrap their brains around. This verse assaults our pride. It makes us think that we are not of value, yet we are. It makes us think our actions are not needed, but they are.

I think the problem many people have with God is they define him based upon their own thinking and not on the Word of God. If we would just hold onto these truths and let them be our guide, I think life would be defined so much differently. I'm not saying that we wouldn't still have questions. There will still be mysteries and uncertainties, but we can always rest on God and His truth and believe and trust Him.

The problem many people have is rather than defining life by what God has done, they define life from what man has done and when they do that, they get angry and walk away. When a loved one dies a death at a young age, when someone kills another human being, when a person suffers tremendously without dying, when one person has much and another has little, in all these things people look and stare and assume God can't be real. They watch seemingly good lives lived and then assume good outcomes must result. It is difficult. No doubt. It is hard to know people, to learn from them, to spend time with them and then to naturally wonder of their eternal state. We do want so badly to remain with people. We don't want to believe that there is a hell. We don't want to believe there are tough outcomes for people. 

Promise: If grace is owed, it is not grace. God chooses. Grace is free. God is merciful and compassionate.