2 Samuel 7:18-29 - David Thanks the Lord

2 Samuel 7:18-29

Now therefore, O Lord God, the word that Thou hast spoken concerning Thy servant and his house, confirm it forever, and do as Thou hast spoken, that Thy name may be magnified forever, by saying, 'The Lord of hosts is God over Israel'; and may the house of Thy servant David be established before Thee. (verse 25-26)

Message: David Thanks the Lord

Time: Second Samuel is set in the land of Israel during the reign of David and follows the course of his forty years as king of Israel (1011–971 BC). It chronicles the establishment of the Davidic dynasty and the expansion of Israel under God’s chosen leader. 

What the Lord is Saying:

David responds to the Lord with a praise to God. "Who am I" stating that he is only a man. This is our response always. God is great and who am I that God would call me to be His forever and to be His vessel and ambassador. His love is extravagant. "Thou art great, O Lord God; for there is none like Thee and there is no God besides thee." He says, "Thou hast established for Thyself Thy people Israel as Thine own people forever." 

God would allow David to plan for a temple for Yahweh, and Solomon would build it. God promises here with David something that will be fulfilled later. As was done with Abraham. The temple is only built when the people fully rest.

In verse 19, David states, "And this is the custom of mankind, Lord God." It is one thing crazy enough that God would bless David and his descendants, but it is something every greater and surprising to him that God would choose to bless those that come after him. Some extend this to Jesus Christ and that seems too radical to lend itself to this statement. And yet the Lord does use some radical language in verse 13 when he states, "I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever." He first speaks of his son (Solomon) but then extends it to forever. So the idea of David being part of that lineage and spring boarding something that will have eternal benefits for many is not too alarming. 

And here is the thing - God works. He has a plan for His people, but the people do something in response to this - they thank God and praise God for His greatness. "For this reason You are great, Lord God; for there is no one like You." We are a people of thankfulness. 

It is normal for us in life to often want more. It is normal for us to not be satisfied and think there is always something more or better that we should have. Contentment is always a challenge. But we need to be thankful. We need to respond to God with thankfulness and appreciation. David does this. 

And after David does this, he then wants confirmation of it happening. We are a forgetful people. We need to reminded and told again and again. The world is hard and tough and we need that reminder from Him that all will work out. "The word that You have spoken about Your servant and his house, confirm forever." Keep confirming it. Keep reminding me. But not so that I am simply satisfied, though I will be, but ultimately for God to be praised, "so that Your name may be great forever." 

God is going to build David a house. It is needed and God will provide. And praise God that He is doing this. Keep reminding. And I will keep praising. 

Great words. God did it. I thank Him. Tell me again. And I will keep praising Him. 

Summary: David Thanks the Lord for wanting to build him a house, a temple. David asks God to remind him of this blessing God has for him and his descendants and David will continue to give thanks. 

Promise: As we seek the Lord, it is for Him to be glorified while He also provides for us. 

Prayer: God, you are great and worthy of my praise. You promise me much and in response I praise Your name. But I want to hear again what you have promised. And for this I will praise Your name more. And this will continue God. Let more see that life is not about toil and giving and being behind and catching up but there is also reward and God giving us what we need and my response is to keep praising Him. I praise You God. I thank you. 

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

John 19:28-30 - Redemption Accomplished

John 19:28-30

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth. 30 Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

Message: Redemption Accomplished

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: Being crucified was extremely painful. Adding to this was the problem of hanging on the cross in the Palestinian sun which exposed Jesus also to dehydration. 

Jesus has shown us that this entire process has been a fulfillment of scripture and him asking for something drink also seems to point to an application, but it is not clear. As I read the text in verse 28, it seems to say that now everything had been accomplished according to the scripture and my first reading was that the words of requesting something to drink was something extra. Tabletalk proceeds to find verses in Psalms, and most notably Psalm 69:21. But, the actual meaning of “knowing that all things had already been accomplished” seems to exclude the idea of a further accomplishment. It is as if everything has been accomplished and now he seeks some sort of relief for his physical suffering. 

After receiving the sour wine to quench his thirst, he announced "It is finished" and passed away or died. I feel like I need to be saying more about this other worldly and momentous moment. I love the song by Petra titled It is Finished. The idea that Jesus made this statement is the culmination of all that he came to this earth to do - to be God's authority on earth and to also live as man, in a perfect way, staying free from sin - going to the cross to be the perfect lamb. This is what we know now, but as I have read John, has this been the outcome that Jesus has mentioned or is has it been inferred by what He has said. Meaning, the idea that He would be the payment for sin, is that a message that is apparent? I mean, "it is finished" seems to embody that statement. Otherwise, what else is finished? His time on earth? 

But John did specify this as this book began in John 1:29 as he saw the approaching Jesus  “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"

Throughout the Gospel of John, Jesus is clearly shown as the entry point for people to enter the kingdom of God (John 3:5); believing in Him merits eternal life (John 3:15; 6:40, 47; 10:10; 11:25-26; 17:3; 20:31). Believing Jesus also changes the person's ways and actions (John 7:38; 8:12; 14:11). Believe or you will die in your sins (John 8:24). Keep His word and never see death (8:52; 14:21). Jesus will also lay down His life (John 10:15, 17). His time on earth is temporary (John 12:8; 13:33; 16:17; 20:17). The Holy Spirit will convict the world concerning sin (John 16:8). 

"It is finished." It is like Jesus is saying, I have come and done all that you commanded me to do. And now He will return to the Father. I guess it is interesting that it appears the idea that Jesus died for sins is only a reference by John at the beginning of this gospel with Jesus being the lamb of God. 

Summary: Prophetic scripture has been accomplished and Jesus speaks of his thirst and is quenched of that thirst, gives up His Spirit and proclaims, "It is finished." 

Promise: Dr. R.C. Sproul writes in his commentary John: “When [Jesus] said, ‘It is finished,’ He was saying not just that His life was over but that His mission had been fulfilled. His purpose in coming to earth and going to the cross was accomplished.

Prayer: Lord, I am always trying to understand your truth. As I have studied this gospel I am moved by the words that John has put forth to me - the focus being on Jesus and believing in Him and then great things happening - a full life, a life of great action, and an eternal life ultimately. I know for sure I need to believe in You God and it is through Your Son Jesus that You are made known and I do believe in You. Help me to continue to understand the truth of Your word, the truth of who You are and who I can be in You. Thank you Jesus for living a great life. Keep defining truth in my life. 

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

John 17:1-3 - Jesus Prays That He Might Glorify the Father

John 17:1-3

1 Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, 2 even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. 3 This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

Message: Jesus Prays That He Might Glorify the Father

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: Since chapter 14, Jesus has been speaking over a small period of time in what has been labeled as His Farewell Discourse and now in chapter 17 this is often called the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus. 

Intercession is interesting. In Numbers 14, most of the chapter is an exchange between Moses and the Lord. The Lord speaks and then Moses pleads for his people. Moses asks for the forgiveness of Israel and God grants Moses' request and doesn't kill them, but does punish them. In 2 Chronicles 30:27 it is the Levitical priests who speak on behalf of the people. Hebrews 7:25 says of Jesus, "Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them."

As Jesus begins, we see this is a prayer as it describes Jesus, "lifting up His eyes to heaven." I have always thought it was interesting how we always bow to pray. I wonder if we do this so as to not be distracted and yet in some ways it seems more natural to speak to God in the way we speak to one another but with the difference of looking up to the heavens. 

Jesus says, "Father, the hour has come." John 7:30, "His hour had not yet come." John 8:20, "His hour had not yet come." John 12:23, "Jesus [answered them], saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified." - The Hour is the appointed time for Lord's death on the cross. And though while here in this verse it is not yet arrived, the events that culminate it have begun. This is the time. It has arrived. There isn't a surprise. This time has been planned. 

And then Jesus speaks of himself in the third person asking the Father to glorify Himself, the Son. I wonder if Jesus is speaking of His divinity in referring to the Son. This hour that is coming is the result of Jesus being glorified - Jesus' work on earth being completed. Jesus has really done a lot on earth, in a short amount of time. 

In this passage, as has been the focus very often in this gospel - Jesus is pointing to the Father. Now, is he just doing this to make his message more palpable to his audience, primarily Jews? Possibly. Or Possibly his focus is meant to be on God the Father. 

On a typical Sunday at church, I often will people watch and observe what is going on in the church and one thing I notice in our church, more than others I have attended is the complete focus on Jesus. The song selection is really focused on Him. I suppose as I read scripture I see this very even focus in Scripture on all members of the Trinity and as I read John, I see a focus that Jesus has often on the Father. 

The focus in these words is what God has done - "You gave Him authority over all flesh." Jesus and the Father clearly have the same authority. And this authority has a purpose, "He may give eternal life." This is the purpose of Jesus - to give eternal life to all, in His name. If there is one big message in the book of John this is it -- the giving of eternal life to all in the name of Jesus from the authority of the Father. 

John 17:3 is such a huge verse that Jesus is speaking, "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." To know God, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. Eternal life is what we want. We want to know that our future is secure. We don't want to go to another place of not being with God. We are selfish in this way. We only want good things to come in our life. We hate mistakes and bad times and situations. But Jesus takes us beyond what we want to declare that the goal of our lives is to know God. We are to know God. Life is about knowing God. And Jesus Christ. This is the purpose of God's spirit, to communicate the knowledge of Jesus and what He has done and Jesus is all about the Father and His business. 

Summary: Jesus voices in this prayer that the hour has come for the son to be glorified with the Father. Jesus came to give us all eternal life and this is a life of knowing God and His Son Jesus. 

Promise: "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."

Prayer: Lord, what a joy it is always to read and study your word and specifically the words you have given to us through John and the difference a little in his emphasis from the other gospel writers, namely that Jesus gives eternal life. That is clear and remains clear. Lord, I love to study your words but it remains hard at times to talk to people and spend time sharing with others and conveying these words that I am learning and talk to people open and honestly about them. Lord, your words seem clear. I am to know God and in the process I receive eternal life, but my zeal and goal in life is knowing God. 

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

John 14:16-17 - The Promise of Another Helper

John 14:16-17

16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17 [that is] the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you. 

Message: The Promise of Another Helper

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: As I am reading and studying theses passages here in John 14, they seem to be foundational passages. Jesus is speaking to us. He is responding to the disciples, namely Peter, Thomas, and Philip, and their questions to Jesus about where He is going, why they can't follow, and who God the Father really is. And even as Jesus gives answers that don't always give the disciples peace but rather give them more questions, He also is giving them comfort and a mission in life and reminding them while He--Jesus--is not there with them, they are not alone without Him and now in these verses He mentions a Helper. Basically, "I am leaving, but you are not alone." Or "I am leaving, but in reality I am still here with you." 

Jesus must leave. Going back to verse 31 of John 13 He says, "the Son of Man glorified." Jesus has a purpose. The disciples are baffled and scared. They are void of the full picture of Jesus and what He is going to accomplish. They have fear and so Jesus proceeds to give them comfort. Jesus continues to say, "Believe Me." 

I am involved in an online ministry or forum. The forum is based upon the idea of the gospel. The gospel is presented and through that gospel conversations result. Most of those conversations are with people who agree with the gospel or the good news of Jesus Christ and want to make it a part of their lives and live it. But some conversations are with people who don't agree with it, think it is false, or have a different version of good news. Recently, in this forum I have been speaking with a man that has said God, the Bible, all of it is garbage. It is fake. It is manipulation. It is about controlling the masses. His arguments are simple and so far, lake much depth. This means good news is just not religion. And instead the good news is science is where it is at and defines everything in life and yet right now, in our conversations, there is little meat to what he is saying. But, in many ways he is asking me to believe him, to trust him. 

At this point of the gospel I am much further along in my encounter with Jesus. He has come and been born and come into the world and is asking people to "Believe Me." He wants people to listen to Him, to His words and trust Him. His audience is mostly made up of people who already believe in God. He is asking them to believe also in Him. He is asking them to trust that He and God are equal in their purposes, not the same. He still remarks that there is a difference, but He is trying to convince His audience that God's purpose is His purpose. And this purpose now has a future culmination. Along the way He is stating that believing in Him is all people need and will give them full life, eternal life. People will have everything they need because He is all they need. And the written words give us examples, supernatural examples of work that He has done. But those works need to also be coupled or combined with what He is saying. Clearly some people are only interested in the supernatural aspects but He is wants them really, first and foremost, to believe in Him. 

I suppose I just mention this because with the atheist and with Jesus the words seem to be; Just believe Me. 

So Jesus is now saying, "And." This "And" that begins this passage is Jesus continuing the thought. In our preceding verses Jesus mentions the continuous motion of life, "Asking" and "Doing." I think my Atheist friend is just telling me to "Believe" and "Do it." But Jesus is stating here that we ask and do. Preceding the asking is "believe." So really we have (1) believe, (2) ask and then (3) do or obey. Interesting. With God we have something different and that is prayer or asking. Jesus in these verses even echoes that sentiment by saying, "And I will ask the Father." Jesus in verse 16 is practicing in some ways what He said in verse 13 and 14 when He told His disciples to ask Him. The difference in those verses is He is telling His disciples to ask Him. But here he is asking the Father. Verse 13 and 14 was to ask in His name and then He will do it. 

I jump to another tangent here for a moment thinking about prayer because even in a prayer I have mostly me talking to God. I suppose I am emulating the Lord's Prayer, but I am ending the prayer with these words of "In Jesus' name." And yet in verse 13 and 14 and now in verse 16 the agent that is working in either Jesus or the Father. 

In verse 16, what has been asked is for Help. But not simply help, but a helper - an active agent. A living, active agent. Someone. And this help will never leave us.  "He may be with you forever." Jesus realize He is not always with them. But this Helper won't ever leave. And this "Spirit of Truth" is only for those who believe in Jesus. So the Spirit only helps the Believer is what Jesus is saying. In other words, we have something special and distinct from the world. We have a helper. The disciples have a helper. 

And "He abides with you, and will be in you." This is really dynamic. We have a Spirit of Truth and this Spirit will be in us. Forever. 

Summary: Jesus is leaving, but He is sending to those who believe in Him a Helper and this Helper will always be with those that believe in Jesus. 

Promise: Thank Jesus for the gift of the Helper, the Spirit of Truth. 

Prayer: God, you are in heaven and your name is great. Thank you for a new day, to arise, to get up and start anew. I need your strength today to radiate in me. I am tired and I know I am at the end of my week and still have things I need to do. Thank you for this truth. Thank you for Jesus. And thank you Jesus for giving me help. Even though you left, you provide Help and that help is always in me. For many years I did not really realize it because I did not talk much of the helper, the Spirit of Truth, but now that I have picked up on it, I am constantly amazed at His presence and how is with me through all of life. And I need Help. I believe in You and I want to obey You, but I need Help. So I keep asking for your help. Help me. Give me strength. Give people strength for each day. Life sends me curve balls all the time. Help me. Thank you for the comfort of knowing that You are there and others are near by also to encourage me. 

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

John 12:20-26 - Death and Glory

John 12:20-26

20 Now there were some Greeks among those who were going up to worship at the feast; 21 these then came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip came and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip came and told Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. 26 If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.

Message: Death and Glory

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: This chapter starts with Mary anointing Jesus which had the disciple Judas questioning it, then he went to Jerusalem as Passover was near and was greeted their with people crying out Hosanna 'Save Me' and blessing Jesus' arrival and Jesus comes on a donkey. But these things were not understood by the disciples at the time, though later they would look back and understand. Despite of this many still were understanding though the Pharisees were bothered that people were understanding. 

Verse 20 mentions Greeks who were part of those going to worship. Verse 21 they want to see Jesus. Philip told Andrew and both came to Jesus (verse 22). And then we have some lessons by Jesus. As I look at the Bible, now and through chapter 17 will be a lot of Jesus talking and speaking. 

Jesus begins in verse 23 by saying His hour has come. Up to this point he had mentioned it was not yet time for his departure. Hour is an interesting word for it seems to refer to time more than only an hour. It is language that is often said in the Bible that is not literal but refers more to a span of time. Either way, Jesus realizes the Son of Man will be glorified. Jesus refers to himself in the first person and as he does says Son of Man. This title has great meaning for Jesus will be the perfect man in taking away the sin of the world, substituting as the animals did annually, but Jesus will do once and for all. He has mentioned thus far his authority that comes from the Father.  But conversely is his person, fully man. Son of Man is simply a term for human. Ezekiel was called a Son of Man. 

In verse 24 he makes a reference to a grain of wheat dying to produce fruit. He says, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit." It is interesting because he clarifies a little what He means by the hour having come for him to be glorified. He speaks of a grain of wheat falling from its stalk, no longer receiving nourishment from it and falling to its death. 

Alone. This is interesting because there seems to be something significant here. Jesus will die alone. Salvation is not a group effort it is his personal death. He will die. He is also alone in salvation. He is it. There are no other answers for the salvation of man. And so he compares himself to this grain of wheat and is speaking of Himself. 

I don't know it is an interesting phrase of meaning. Once it goes to the ground though, it will bear fruit. His death results in resurrection and out of this resurrection will come fruit. Many will be saved out of this resurrection. Disciples are washed in the blood of Jesus to bear fruit. 

In verse 25, Jesus mentions further that to love life is to give it up. Jesus loves mankind. He loves all people. God loves the world (John 3:16). But to keep people always with God he must lose that life. And Jesus mentions one must hate their life to have life eternal. We must give up our life. Again this is another phrase that speaks to life and giving it up or surrendering it. 

These are the words of Jesus that feel the hardest for me to obey in this life. To hate one's life is just so opposite to how my life is lived. I think often of the pandemic and this complete focus people had on preserving life. I never saw it more clearly than during this time. And I suppose I continue to witness it in this life - this zeal and 100% desire to stay well, to preserve life, to keep going. And yet that approach seems so opposite to these words. If there is one thing that continues to keep me hiding from the preaching of the gospel it is this - I love my life. Not that I think I will be killed for sharing my faith, but in that thirst to do things that protect me and my well being and keep me from being embarrassed or labeled a radical, I stay hidden from the public eye. I talk of everything going on in this world but the salvation of others. In sharing about my week, it is all about what I have experienced in that week. Nowhere am I losing my life. I might lose my life to serve others but even often in serving others there is selfish gain in stroking pride, in stroking my accomplishment, in thanks. There just isn't enough 'surrendering.' There is self protection. 

And so verse 26 is the natural next verse -- If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him. After losing one's life, we then serve Jesus. And in this service is a promise - serve Me and the Father will honor him. And so that's it. Serve Jesus. Lose one's life. Die to your life and it will bear fruit. Lose one's life. Serve Jesus in losing one's life and dying to it. I am a servant. Larry Norman wrote that song and I remember him saying he wrote this about his dad because his felt this expectation to do what his earthly father said. He couldn't do what he wanted to do in his life. Instead he is a servant. And yet born out of that experience by Larry Norman in which he seems to write almost in anger is the idea that we can be the Lord's servant. Do this serve and your life will be honored. See the connection - to have one's life honored by Father God, what must we do? Serve Jesus. The two are connected. 

Summary: Greeks looking for Jesus and then Jesus speaks about his future death and how He will and we need to lose our lives to find fruit and abundant life. 

Promise: Serve Jesus and the Father will Honor you. 

Prayer: O God, your words are truth and life to me and yet assaulting to me. It is so hard God because I love myself too much. And instead I need to love You. Not simply more than I love myself. I need to love You. Lord, keep assaulting me with these words and training me and teaching to lose my life for Your sake. Lord, I need to make more mention of You in my day. I need to lose my life. I need to follow You in losing one's life, hating one's life, serving you Jesus. This is my journey and if I am being honest my real desire and ambition as a Christian, a Christ-Follower. 

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

John 6:45-51 - The Bread of Christ's Flesh

 John 6:45-51

45 It is written in the prophets, 'AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me. 46 Not that any man has seen the Father, except the One who is from God, He has seen the Father. 47 Truly, Truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he shall live forever; and the bread also which I shall give for the life of the world is My flesh." 

Message: The Bread of Christ's Flesh

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: And so the bread of life discourse continues. Jesus is the bread of life from the Father go give us eternal life, to those who believe. By believing, we will have our most significant need met in Him. We will have no need to hunger and thirst for God's acceptance of us as we will have what we need for all time. The Father provides the Son the people that will believe in Him, drawing them to himself. Jesus will never lose them. Jesus has seen the Father. He is the only one. He is exclusive. 

We are told here that we can eat of the bread, thus we can eat of Jesus. This is interesting as we even observe the Lord's Supper. His body is broken for us and we eat it. We are to take the Lord and He is to be a part of us. He is not simply a trophy in our lives but we are to make Him life, in our life. In contrast to the manna of the wilderness, eating of this bread will bring about eternal life. 

I do not see in these verses any instance of "easy believism" or the idea that just believe and a person is all good and accepted into the kingdom of God. What I see is verses that confirm that the Father is the one that draws the person to an understanding and desire to believe and the person responds in faith. I don't think this is automatic, but the convert has a response of faith. In these verses, the willing person eats of the bread. Again, something is required of the person. 

Throughout this book thus far, the message is simple: believe and receive eternal life. Our response is simple, Answer the Call. 

Summary: We must eat the bread of heaven in order to have eternal life, and this eating consists in believing in Christ. 

Promise: God chooses His elect for salvation, but we cannot know we are saved until we believe. Believe in Him alone this day for salvation. 

Prayer: Lord, the message is clear to me. Believe. I am to answer your call and believe and you will grant me eternal life. I believe God this is the way to be saved. I know some believe this is a way to be saved, only for a certain time, this time, and later on more is required of a person, but these words seem to communicate to me that this is not simply for a time period, but for all time for this is the message throughout this gospel. Continue to enlighten me though Lord. And continue to draw people to an understanding of You. 

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

John 6:36-40 - The Father's Gift to the Son

John 6:36-40

36 But I said to you, that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not 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 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I Myself will raise him up on the last day. 

Message: The Father's Gift to the Son

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: I was talking to my brother night before last. He is teaching through John now with Bible Study Fellowship and we were recalling some themes in this book. The one theme that I see over and over is John is telling us how Jesus and His message is one of eternal life. And it really amazes me as I read this text as well. The last lesson was on the Bread of life whereby Jesus is speaking to the multitude, going through scripture in the synagogue (v. 59) and continuing to speak to these folks about believing in the Father and believing the Father sent Jesus and Jesus is providing them eternal life and this need for eternal life now is equivalent to bread that we need to live on and yet Jesus as the bread of life is greater than anything else in this world. 

I was speaking to someone at church yesterday as class ended. We had been discussing heaven and he remarked that death is not even a reality for a Christian for we will never die. And I remarked that the church is often about retraining and realigning our lives to the truth of God's word. Every week it is the same. It is about getting us back in line with God and His word. 

And here once again, Jesus repeats this message to them, but in these verses refers back to the Father and His Gifting the Son. I've already studied these themes before in Chapter 5 of the Father granting to the Son. And yet both Father and Son are eternal based upon our understandings of them throughout scripture. 

This passage is sort of depressing. People have Jesus right there in front of Him and He is explaining Himself to them and they are not believing (v. 36). And as such, this message of divine election seems to be being taught here by Jesus. Verse 39 seems to be a big idea on this, "that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing." And in verse 37, "All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out." Those ideas. The Father gives Me. And whoever He gives me will not be cast out. I will not lose. And yet many don't believe. There is no losing people. People don't get lost after getting found. 

Tom Nelson was talking about this recently in a message I was listening to him preach on from Hebrews. The message is called Two Cents and a Handful of Lettuce and he speaks of people that renounce their Christian faith and comments that there is no coming back of these people. These folks do not come back to the gospel. It is just a start reminder of people that get drawn to the Lord and are truly saved. We must watch their entire life. 

Summary: The Father has gifted people to the Son to be saved and the Son gives eternal life and possessing these people, Jesus will not cast them out ever and He will never lose them. 

Promise: Everyone who has been chosen comes to believe in Christ alone for redemption. We can know we are His elect by believing in Christ and showing authentic belief and faith in Him. 

Prayer: Lord, sometimes these messages are hard to read and accept, but yet God you have chosen Your people and You will not lose them. Your ways are perfect. I pray for more chosen people and that You would direct me to those that I need to disciple and help. Give me wisdom in how to help people and encourage them. I need your strength Lord. I need You. 

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

John 6:30-35 - True Bread from Heaven

John 6:30-35

30 They said therefore to Him, "What then do You do for a sign, that we may see, and believe You? What work do You perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, 'HE GAVE THEM BREAD OUT OF HEAVEN TO EAT.'" 32 Jesus therefore said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. 33 For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world." 34 They said therefore to Him, "Lord, evermore give us this bread." 35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst."

Message: The Bread from Heaven

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: After Jesus has walked on the water, coming to the disciples after he went alone to the mountains, following feeding the multitudes through a miracle, he approaches the multitude again and speaks to them in the synagogue (John 6:59) to hopefully show them through words and direction that following Him is not about gaining personal needs alone. There is a danger in coming to Jesus only to benefit oneself - such as getting healed or getting our needs met with food or finances. Jesus is not simply a Santa Clause or genie that grants wishes. Rather we are to believe in Him. Our food is being focused on the eternal life that He provides. 

In life, this is normal. The reason we often do things is fueled by our own selfish desires or needs, but Jesus is wanting us to learn to define our life based upon His ways. 

The previous passage is the beginning of a larger message on Jesus, the Bread of Life. This has been called, 'the Bread of Life Discourse.' We need bread to survive. Jesus is going to show us that He is the bread we need to survive.  

Going back to what Jesus said prior to verse 30, He was trying to get the multitude to take their focus off of what they expected Jesus to be and see Jesus and hear the message He has come to preach. Jesus is not simply a figure of their political liberation, but to give them life, eternal life. But they still don't get it and respond in verse 30 with "Show us a sign." And they provide an example of the type of sign they are thinking - Bread from heaven in a similar way to the the bread (manna) Moses brought to the people while traveling in the wilderness. 

And Jesus basically says, "You are looking at your bread for life." It is me. It is I. So you want a sign, you want something, I am that something that You want. 

Jesus back in John 3 talked about being born again. Jesus is continuing to give that message, though stated another way. In John 3 something must happen to the person to be born again: they must be regenerated by the Spirit of God. For a person to understand and come to Jesus, they must be changed by Jesus. [This remains a puzzle to me. Jesus is showing people how they need to come to Him not with their own agendas and yet that coming to Him is only by the Spirit prompting people.] And this food is eternal life. 

Once again, I go back to Psalm 23:1 - The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. Or I shall not have a need to want. Or I shall lack nothing when the Lord is my shepherd. My shepherd will provide me what I need. 

Summary: Jesus tells the multitude that the Father provides the true bread of life that they need and Jesus is this bread, giving us eternal life and therefore, we shall not hunger or thirst again. 

Promise: Only Jesus can give us eternal life, reconciling us to our great God. 

Prayer: Lord, it is interesting to me how your message of salvation and what we need is so similar throughout the scripture. It is a repeated message that You want me to define my life by what You are telling me is the meaning of life. I am out there often in the world trying to define my world and my ways on what the world tells me is important. And yet once we have this salvation, once I have it, I need to keep coming back to You so that you define in me everyday what I am to know, what You want to impart to me. 

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

John 6:22-29 - The Work God Requires

John 6:22-29

22 The next day the multitude that stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other small boat there, except one, and that Jesus had not entered with His disciples into the boat, but [that] His disciples had gone away alone. 23 There came other small boats from Tiberias near to the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 When the multitude therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they themselves got into the small 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 get here?" 26 Jesus answered them and said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves, and were filled. 27 Do not work for the food with perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man shall give to you, for on Him the Father, even God, has set His seal." 28 They said therefore 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 has sent." 

Message: The Work God Requires

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: Thus far in this chapter Jesus has fed 5,000 and upon seeing this the people wondered if Jesus was their prophet, the one to come and rescue them from their land problems and political difficulties, but Jesus goes off to himself alone, to the mountain. The disciples head to the sea to get to the other side, Capernaum and while they are in a sea storm, Jesus shows up, walking on water and coming to them. 

The multitudes now looked on, having seen the disciples leave in the boat and seeing Jesus there now in Capernaum, but did not see another boat that Jesus had been in. After eating the bread (and fish) that Jesus provided they got into boats to go to Capernaum, again seeking Jesus. Once they arrived, they asked Jesus how he got there. Jesus, as is typical, does not answer question directly as He has more to say to them. And Jesus responds, saying to them, that they continue to follow because they have had a personal experience with Jesus - having been benefactors of the feeding of loaves of bread now and fish. Stated another way, people come to Jesus because they want something - personally. This is not necessarily bad, but Jesus wants them to want more than a miracle. He says "You seek Me not because you saw signs." The people are not seeking after Jesus because they are trying to discover more of God and more of who God has sent. The signs purpose is to point to Jesus and to show that Jesus is more than a mere man, even more than a miracle healer, but He is the Son of God. 

Back in verse 14 and 15, the people want something, but Jesus has a different mission. We must be willing to look at Jesus and embrace who He is. Instead, we come to Jesus with a wish list of what He is supposed to do for us. He is the genie in a bottle, a Santa Clause type. We are selfish. We are needy and Jesus is going to grant us what we need so we can fulfill our life now. 

But now they are to work not for food (Do not work for the food that perishes). Do not focus only on this life, this temporary life. 

Carrie Underwood, the country singer, sang in 2009 with the song of the title, Temporary Home:

"This is my temporary home
It's not where I belong
Windows in rooms that I'm passin' through
This is just a stop, on the way to where I'm going
I'm not afraid because I know this is my
Temporary home"

Instead of comfort coming from getting my needs of this present life met, I need to focus on eternal life, "for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man shall give to you." And even as Jesus is explaining this they still feel like they must do something, but Jesus says to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent."  Their response is again wondering what work they need to do. But Jesus says to them, the work you do is only to believe. 

This is the message that I need to be trained on each day (I Timothy 4:17-18) because I too often am trained by a message of "It is all about me and all about me now." Jesus says life is all about Him. Trusting Him. Loving Him. 

I have seen this before and it continues. Jesus responds to questions and situations in a different manner and way than people expect because His agenda is different and His prescription to people is rather simple: Follow Me and Believe. 

Summary: Jesus talks to the multitudes, helping them see that they only need to believe in Him in this life and not go after that which meets their own temporary needs of this life. 

Promise: We do faith following a regeneration by the Holy Spirit of us. We are to be filled with Christ and with His grace. 

Prayer: Lord, I am reminded in this text of how I am so focused in this life and going after that which pleases me. I suppose it is a natural way in which I live, but I do want to be trained by You so that My life is being lived in the way that glorifies You. Help me to glorify You. It all needs to come back to You. This is a tricky balance in My life. I suppose I can't help most of the time pleasing myself, but I want to be a person that is focused on the needs of others. I will self-protect myself and will naturally take care of my needs, but my work needs to be for others, for you O God. You will satisfy what I need. Help me to understand this further Lord and to understand You further and How you work in Me, in people to bring them to faith and a knowledge of You. I love this simple milk but I also love solid food that I discover through these same words. Keep teaching me. Keep challenging Me to share this truth with others. 

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. 

John 4:35-38 - The Work of Sowing and Reaping

John 4:35-38

"Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. Already he who reaps is receiving wages, and is gathering fruit for life eternal; that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this case the saying is true, 'One sows, and another reaps.' I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labor." 

Message: The Work of Sowing and Reaping

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: After speaking to the Samaritan woman, the disciples arrive to Jesus, having gone off to get food, but Jesus remarks that the true food or the true sustenance of life is to do the will of God and accomplish His work. This reminds me of Matthew 4:4 and the first temptation that was presented to Jesus by the devil when he asks Jesus to "command that these stones become bread." But He answered and said, "It is written (Deuteronomy 8:3), 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'" This is how we truly live, on the Word of God. 

Jesus continues to expand on his words providing to the disciples the imagery of planting seed that will then be harvested. But as he has been doing thus far in explaining the truth of his message, he brings us to message of eternal life. Amazing to me how this continues to be the message John is presenting to us from Jesus. Jesus points the disciples to the fields remarking "they are white for harvest." 

The white fields seems to refer to a harvest crop of corn. Whether it is four months of harvest, Jesus' point is that there is a time period in which one waits for the harvest to reap, but the harvest of bringing people to eternal life, the harvest fields such as He saw from the Samaritan woman and her conversion and then spreading the news that resulted in many coming to Him to hear, this all speaks to a harvest that is ready to reap. There is a plentiful field of ripe corn. 

"He who reaps" is he who takes the time to labor in the Word to convert sinners "is receiving wages" meaning is receiving something infinitely more valuable than what man can give. Again, the parallel thought to the day in which we work and work and work and receive wages. Well, this is working that results in almost easy money. The reaping of the work is ripe for wages. "and is gathering fruit for life eternal." The fruit that is gathered in a harvest is for the benefit of many. It benefits myself and it benefits others. The salvation of people has a big effect on life, on others. Christ does a great work in the life of a converted soul, to the point that this soul will impact many. 

Fruit is really an interesting idea because fruit benefits me. As I enter into time of harvesting and bringing people to the knowledge and acceptance of eternal life, it yields a fruit that benefits many but also benefits me. Paul in Romans 1 mentions a desire to visit those in the Roman church and states, "And I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that often I have planned to come to you in order that I might obtain some fruit among you also." There is fruit, personal rewards, in sharing the truth of the message of the Gospel with others. And we need this fruit, this food, this living water - to survive? I think it is not simply to survive but to flourish. 

It makes me also think of Steven Curtis Chapman's song, "More to this Life" with these lyrics:

And there's more to this life than living and dying

More than just trying to make it through the day

More to this life, more than these eyes alone can see

And there' s more than this life alone can be.

"he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together." There is joy together. 

And verse 38 concludes also that sowing and reaping is often done separate. One sows and one reaps. The body of Christ is working together, each with different gifts, and it results in some seeing the labor and some maybe involved in the labor but all work together. 'One sows, and another reaps.'

Summary: The one who sows and the one who reaps bears fruit, and the harvest is ripe, for seeing many arrive to life eternal. 

Promise: Even now, Christ is working through His church to plant spiritual seed and reap spiritual fruit, and all of us are called to participate in this work by exercising our gifts for the sake of the advance of the gospel.

Prayer: O God, what a joy you provide for us to enjoy the fruit of the gospel. Lord, is the harvest still ripe? Sometimes God it doesn't feel like it and yet, sometimes I am not sure if we are being clear in our presentation of You. Help me to navigate this and preach your Word in a clear way. If you deem me to be a laborer, I am content with this. If I can reap, thank you for this. Be glorified. 

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

John 4:16-22 - Debating Theology with Jesus

John 4:16-22

He said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here." The woman answered and said, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You have well said, 'I have no husband''; for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly." The woman said to Him, "Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship." Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall you worship the Father. You worship that which you do not know; we worship that which we know, for salvation is from the Jews." 

Message: Debating Theology with 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: Jesus has now told the Samaritan woman about living water and that this living water, when requested, He provides her something that causes her to actually never thirst again. He provides her eternal life. Interesting how eternal life is likened to living water. Water is something we need to survive each day on this earth. It sustains us. Even when we are fasting, we are drinking water. And Jesus says to take living water from Him merits eternal life. 

I also think back to Jesus' words in chapter 3 and he remarks, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." Could there be a link between the two? Is the water in chapter 3:5 referring to the living water that Jesus is speaking of here? 

Next up in our study of the encounter Jesus has with the Samaritan woman is Jesus asking about her husband and she admits she does not have a husband and Jesus clarifies with this woman that she actually has had five husbands. Again, this woman, is an outcast. She most likely comes to the well by herself, not the common practice, because no one will come with her. She was rejected in her community by her sexual immorality. She's had five husbands already and the man she is with right now is not her husband. She admits this. Upon Jesus confronting her, she does not lie or hide. Before him, she admits that she has no husband. Could it be that because of the way Jesus speaks to her she has a need to be honest and admit her sin? "the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly." And yet she at first tries to hide by saying she has no husband. 

Upon hearing this, though, the woman is astonished and further understands Jesus as being someone different. He's already mentioned living water. And now he know about her and her past. And yet she knows he is still speaking to her. I am reminded that this is significant because Jews were very careful about associating with anyone or anything that was deemed unclean. Surely this woman would be an example of someone unclean. And yet Jesus in these back to back passages speak to a religious leader and a social outcast and both have the same need - spiritual rebirth. 

Even though the woman is an outcast she has understanding of spiritual matters. She understands the difference between the Samaritans and the Jews. The Samaritans only worshipped here and only recognized the first 5 books of the Old Testament and other alterations. And Jesus acknowledges this but also makes me mention that the past ritual of where one should worship is not the issue of the moment - but rather the issue first and foremost is salvation and it is from the Jews (v. 22). 

Jesus makes it clear that where you worship or the surroundings will not be important. There will not be limitations to worship. Salvation will be different. In chapter 3, I saw something significant and that is the ability of a person to even see their need to believe and be born again (v.16) came about from the Spirit (v. 6,8) and in this awakening their sin is exposed (v.19).   

There is clearly something really different here. And it is like it isn't over yet and there is more to understand. 

Summary: The woman's sin of being with a man not her husband is exposed by Jesus and Jesus points to her a time when worship will be different and salvation from the Jews. 

Promise: In the Gospel, our sin is exposed and we acknowledge our estrangement from God. The Gospel does more than make life better. It improves and satisfies the condition of us. 

Prayer: Father, you are real and true and Jesus is true and Holy Spirit, you have awakened me to know You and have salvation in You. Thank you for continuing to teach me through the reading now of Your word. Keep enlightening me and others and help me to speak the truth of Your gospel to others. Expose people. Expose their sinful nature so they see you are the answer. 

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

John 4:10-15 - Eternally Satisfying Water

John 4:10-15

Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." She said to Him, "Sir, you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep; where do You get that living water? You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself, and his sons, and his cattle?" Jesus answered and said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water shall thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water than I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." The woman said to Him, "Sir, give me this water, so I will not be thirsty, nor come all the way here to draw." 

Message: Eternally Satisfying Water

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: Yesterday, I started Jesus' encounter with the woman at the well in Samaria, after he left Judea, possibly due to the concern that he was gaining popularity and that the Jewish leaders of the day might expose him. As he goes to Samaria, he encounters a woman who we would typecast as an outcast and yet he interacts with her like he would with anyone else. 

Jesus has asked her for a drink and her response is not in providing him the drink but rather is wondering why a Jew would be speaking to a Samarian woman. Jesus follows this up by giving an answer that I think says, either you provide me a drink or you should realize that I am different from your average Jew and can provide you something way better than water. 

His response is somewhat revealing a mystery. "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." If only she knew. If only she knew who she was addressing. And that He provides a gift of God which is the living water. Jesus gives living water. 

And then, like Nicodemus who wonders how he could be born again, this woman does not understand and thinks living water is better water than what she is drinking, but still water. But Jesus clarifies the water that He is offering -- "but whoever drinks of the water than I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."

This water is something that will cause her to not thirst again. I think this is an important note about the water because he is denoting the water will spring up to eternal life but also that the water will produce in her a need to never thirst again. All she had to do was ask and He would give. But one does need to ask. Jesus shows that a person needs to ask. A person needs to know they have a need and yet in receiving it is a gift. Jesus wants to give gifts and again, all that he wants is a request. Eternal life is given for asking. It is bestowed for asking. I do not see how from these verses, even the verses in chapter 3 that any thing more could be stated needing to be done to receive this eternal life. Now I do believe we do see that obedience follows receiving the gift. But that is later, right now it is simply asking. 

Summary: Jesus lets the Samaritan woman know that living water is eternal life and for her to receive she must ask. 

Promise: Take what He is offering and we will never thirst again.

Prayer: Father, thank you for providing this message and the promise of eternal life. Thank you that you want to provide us gifts and all that we must do is ask. It is amazing that it is this easy. It is this simple and yet this profound. It is amazing that so many are too proud to ask. How easy is the gospel message. Lord, direct me to the living water that brings eternal life. Lord provide it to me. I am asking. I want it and I want You. Thank you for this free gift. 

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

John 3:16 - God's Love for the World

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Message: God's Love for the World

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: As I study and read now today's passage John 3:16, probably the most well-known verse scripture in all of scripture, I notice that part of the verse is a repeat of verse 15, "that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life." It is also a repeat of John 3:13, "but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man" though stated more succinctly. In a way, it is a summary of what He has stated before, yet he adds that "God so loved the World." 

It is interesting but for a long time the John 3:16 flew high on Sunday at NFL football games when kickers kicked the extra point. What is sad is the man that raised these signs actually was not what one would call a strong Christian and had some issues, marrying 4 times and is now in prison. And yet he had an influence possibly on this verse being a stalwart now in society. It is a verse that most Christians have memorized. 

And yet it is a verse that I am not sure the non-Christians reads in its entirety for it focuses on Love, Hell, and Heaven and most I think stop at the Love part. Christ is shown as the only way to avoid perishing. This means he comes at a time when people are perishing and provides the answer to this problem. 

Yet, the Love is significant. When one thinks of the God of the Old Testament as told through its writers, I don't think it is "Love" that we focus on. Instead I think of a God set apart, creator, the one who has been ignored, sinned against. But Jesus does something here that has not since been spoken. He states that God loves. Alexander Maclaren says, "‘God loves’ is the greatest thing that can be said by lips." 

And this Love is personal because our belief is meant to be personal and individual. So I can know that God loves me. 

The remarkable thing about this passage is the focus on the world, "Believe" and that somehow Jesus is making it well known that to bring about eternal life a person must simply believe. Belief is not a works oriented word, but it is actually something that occurs in the heart. And yet believing in Him, Jesus, the Son of Man, means we are believing in all He is and all that He has done. So, that needs to be central in that belief. But, again, I don't see that there is anything that I have done to make myself worthy of believing apart from believing. But instead Jesus says that the work is Himself and that God gave up the Son. One things of Abraham and taking his only son up to offer him as a sacrifice and we see this picture but it is made clear that man does not sacrifice, but rather God provides the sacrifice of His Son for us. 

Romans 5:6-8 speaks of this same idea though focusing on Jesus dying for us, "For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

The verse speaks of a general love God has for the world, but in saying that people must believe, we can know that there are many that do not believe in Him. In life often, Jesus is not the name coming off of people's lips. God is mentioned, but Jesus is often not mentioned. 

Also of note is perishing and eternal life. These outcomes can occur before the grave. People without the love of Jesus and believing in Him are even now perishing. But those who have Christ and believe are living in eternal life or hope. The hope contrasted by the perishing is powerful in our world today. 

Summary: God's love is significant and is a love that up to this point has not been mentioned in this way by God for His people and yet it is a love central to our Bible and changes everything about us who believe for eternity. 

Promise: The love of God is not a given, so we should be grateful for it and be careful never to speak of His love as something that we are owed or that He must show.

Prayer: O God, I thank you for your great Love for me. It is a love that does not change. I believe, and yet I know my belief in You changes and is like wind and chaff sometimes that waves. I have times of denial and I am embarrassed by this. I have times when I hide my belief. But God you love still. And You have saved me from all penalty and grant me a hope and a reality of eternal life that is remarkable. Thank you God for saving me. Thank you for making me whole and presenting me Jesus before God for all eternity. 

John 3:14-15 - The Son of Man Lifted Up

John 3:14-15

14 As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; 15 so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.

Message: The Son of Man Lifted Up

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: Jesus was in heaven, he descended to earth for us, to tell us the things of God. And he remarked that he is the Son of Man. I looked at this yesterday and learned about it. But also the "Son of Man be lifted up." 

Jesus our Lord begins verse 14 speaking of Moses holding up the bronze serpent. Numbers 21:4-9 sets up this message. The Israelites are complaining to God about their conditions even though He had saved them from slavery in Egypt. Because of this complaining, God sent a plaque of fiery serpents. People began dying and they called for relief. Moses placed a bronze serpent on a pole and the Israelites who had been bitten and looked up the serpent were saved, those who did not look died. 

Jesus mirrors this by saying that just as the bronze serpent must be lifted up (and people be saved) so also must the Son of Man (Jesus) be lifted up and people be saved. 

This lifting up that Jesus mentions is him being lifted up or raised up on the cross or his crucifixion. Some parallel verses to this thought:

John 8:28 - So Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me.

John 12:32 - And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.”

John 12:34 - The crowd then answered Him, “We have heard out of the Law that the Christ is to remain forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”

For Jesus to be lifted up it is to die for sin and yet this is connected with His resurrection which defeats sin. And so in verse 15 he states, "whoever believes will in Him have eternal life." 

Summary: We must believe in Jesus that He was lifted up on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. 

Promise: There is only one place where salvation can be found, and that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Prayer: Father, you are holy and true and your ways are always correct. Thank you for Jesus and lifting Him up on the cross to save me from the penalty of my sin. I Believe. Thank you for making it that easy for me to have eternal life. Help many others to believe. 

John 1:4-5 - The Word of Life and Light

John 1:4-5

4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

Message: The Word of Life and Light

Time: Jesus' disciple John, the brother of James, the son of Zebedee was one of the inner circle of Jesus' most trusted companions. It's most likely that John wrote his gospel while he was in Ephesus, and that he wrote it for an audience that lived outside Palestine, perhaps in Asia Minor. John appears to have had in mind members of a Jewish community who had come to believe that Jesus was the Messiah, but who had continued to worship in the synagogue. 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: Yesterday, I started with a discussion introducing John. In that introduction, John takes us back to "in the beginning" to charge that Jesus was there, with God and was God and all things came into being through Him. John helps us better understand Jesus. In chapter 20:31, he states that his purpose in writing is to believe Jesus. And we are to have Life in Him. 

Today in verse 4, he brings this to my attention even more. In Him was life. It is an interesting word play because we all have life. We are breathing. We are walking the earth. We are living. And yet John calls attention still to this word "Life" and directs us to the idea that this life is different with Jesus. And the life that John is communicating He also says is the Light of men. In verses 1-3 John mentions Him as creator - God in Genesis 1 creates the world and everything we see with a Word and John characterizes Jesus as the Word and in creating life, Jesus now is shown as life. And He is also the Light for all. Light illuminates and shows us the Way. The morning light comes into our world and shows us the way. 

When I do a quick word study of life I see it is the Greek Word Zoe and it is speaking of everlasting or eternal life. Matthew 7:14 mentions us entering into life and few will find it. Matthew 19:16 is the rich young ruler asking about eternal life. Matthew 25:46 contrasts this eternal life with everlasting punishment. And so life is lasting and eternal and continuous. But, I think life is also speaking of breathing and Jesus is that. 

There is a peace we who believe in Jesus have about life that I don't think is present in this world. Often, I hear followers of Christ wonder how non-followers make it through life without Jesus. Jesus brings purpose and fulfillment to life. He is life and that life with Him is eternal. 

"...and the life was the Light of men." This life, this eternal life, this full life is what we want. It is what people want everywhere. It is what they are looking for. We work and yet in that work we want more. We want time off to enjoy and drink and be with people we love. We desire to have a family. We want to succeed in our vocations, as parents, as children. Jesus said in John 14:6, "I am the Life." And so this life lights our way. This is the same light that Jesus mentions is us. With Jesus in our Life as the Life then we also as His children are the light to all around us. 

And this light is in opposition to darkness. "The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." When Jesus is not a person's Savior and Lord, the light, who is Jesus, is not fully comprehended. 

It is almost as if John is looking for those words to help us see and understand the fullness of Jesus and Him in our life. He is beginning. He is life. He is light. Before there was light there was darkness and Genesis 1:2 describes, "The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep." And then light happened by the Word of God. 

Summary: Jesus - the Word - is beginning, is eternal and complete life, is light to our way, which darkness cannot fully comprehend. 

Promise: Unbelievers benefit from life and truth even while failing to recognize that these things come from God alone. It is our job to remind those around us that life and light come from God and that the Lord calls us to repent and trust in Him to benefit from His life and light eternally.

Prayer: O Father, I love these words. They are simply and yet they are are full and complete. They are everything to me and to our World. You are life, full life, and eternal life. And you are light, coming out of the darkness and shining to me and to our world. Life and light is evident to all and yes, I need to help all understand that you are the Source of all life and light. 

TABLETALK - August 2017 Article Summaries

I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am now working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of August is about the Body of the Lord - the Church recovered in the Reformation; July was the right use of God's Law; June was justification by faith alone; May, Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation, Scripture; January, the doctrine of God. 

Christ's Body

The Body of Christ - The Church is the Body of Christ and Christ loves the church. We are to imitate Christ and see that the Church is how Christ carries out His purposes in the world. The Head of the Church - Christ is Head of the church and he only has final authority and gives life to the church. Life is found only in Jesus Christ our Lord. - The Church We Can See - Belonging to a church is not optional, for anyone. We are meant to live in a community with other believers, to hear the Word of God preached, and to grow. The Church We Cannot See - What we see is the Visible church, the invisible church only God knows because He is omniscient and that is the Church we cannot see. 

Truths about the Church from the Apostles Creed

Church Unity - The church is bigger than our local assembly; there are core beliefs among the invisible church. One People Throughout History - God has only one people; throughout the world there are people that share doctrines and truths despite their being differences in where we attend or belong. God's Holy People - By being in Christ, though we still have a fallen nature, God has set us apart as holy, as his saints. True Catholocity - God's people includes men and women from every tribe and every tongue that hold to the biblical gospel. The Apostilic Church - we are fellow citizens with all people from all tribes and tongues throughout history, united by being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets teaching, thus apostolic, with Christ Jesus being our cornerstone.

What the Church Does and Believes

Preaching Christ and His Commandments - A church needs to be committed to faithfully preaching the Word of God. Administering Sacraments - Sacraments (The Lord's Supper and Baptism especially) need to be part of a church existing, but they also need to be rightly administered. The Discipline of the Church - We need to be a people that encourage repentance to keep the church pure and set apart.

Church Leadership Offices

Prophets and Apostles - There is a foundation of how the church begins and that foundation is the apostles and prophets. Evangelists, Shepherds, and Teachers - Only mention of pastors in the New Testament. 

Purpose of the Church

Our Arena for Growth - It is being at church, present, that we are to be equipped, build one another up, in order to grow in maturity. Communion in Gifts and Graces - As believers joining in Christ’s sufferings we have community, exercising our spiritual gifts, in order to grow up the Body of Christ. Receiving and Giving God's Love - We come together because of His sufferings, but once we are together, we are to be about exercising our gifts to build up and grow one another, and it is done with love. 

Significant People from Church History

The Witness of Polycarp - Athanasius' Defense of the Incarnation - Thomas Aquinas and the Knowledge of God - John Calvin's Offering to the Lord - Jonathan Edwards and the Beauty of Christ

What I've learned from this study

As I finish this study now on the church body, I am left with the conclusion that church is not optional. That we must assemble with one another and that community is something we all need. First and foremost, it is important for each of us to come together regularly and agree on the principles of the gospel and that who we are is because of Christ and we are to boast in Him and what He has done for us individually and collectively. For the sake of the gospel, we are striving to be a part of the invisible church which is the church only God knows because only He knows the true condition of each person's heart. What we are doing as we assemble is meeting up with the visible church or those that we see. Yet, we must realize that there are those with us that are not part of the true church. And we are not all alike that are in the church. The church is made up of people from every tribe, every tongue, throughout history. And the church is more than one place. The invisible church I believe is made up of people in all walks of life, attending all different types of churches and denomination of churches today and in history. I think we need to be careful to avoid the temptation to boast in anything but Christ and this includes boasting that our church is the only true church. As such, we need to remember that we are all still fleshly beings with temptations and are influenced daily to live in manners more pleasing to Satan than God. This happens even in the church. But Christ is the head and we need to be centered on Him. Once we are in church, we need to submit to our leaders. A church needs to be committed to preaching the word of God and observing the sacraments - The Lord's Supper and Baptism. We need to keep encouraging the Gospel, turning from our sin, and returning to Him. And just as there is service and work in our world, it is to be present in our churches. We are all members of the Body of Christ. The church leaders that are often paid are not the only members, but we are all to be serving with the gifts that He has given us. Why? To grow me and to grow one another. This was probably one of my biggest learning aspects in this study and that is that tendency in me to be selfish. And the reminder that in serving I am to be about helping others grow. This is why ministry continues to call me in life - to talk to people at the mall, online as I do, and others face to face - and I need to do this at church as well with that Body of Believers. This is what life is really about - getting myself grounded but then also serving others to help them grow in Christ. 

Here also is a summary of the articles from Tabletalk for August 2017. 

Searching for Truth - Dr. Burk Parsons (editor of Tabletalk magazine) - As a pastor, when people find out he is one, they react in many different ways. Most of the time their response will be to start asking various questions. We are inquisitive people by nature and in this age, many are searching for answer's to life's ultimate questions. Pastors do have a responsibility and probably more opportunities and yet like a pastor, each Christian is a theologian and apologist. Every Christian is to always be ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence (I Peter 3:15). As people ask questions, we must be ready to speak and the Holy Spirit will give us courage and compassion to speak the truth in love. It is the Holy Spirit that opens people's eyes and makes them alive to the glory of Jesus Christ. 

The Role of Experience - R.C. Sproul (founder of Ligonier Ministries, founding pastor of Saint Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, Fla., and first president of Reformation Bible College) - We live in a time when personal experience or personal feelings have been elevated to the final criterion of right and wrong (e.g. divorce and no longer feeling like being married; homosexuality based upon the feeling of being attracted to the same sex; even Christians made decisions based upon how they feel). People always said the 4 minute mile could not be achieve, then Roger Banister in 1954 achieved it. Experience is a good teacher, but the problem is when we see it as always the final authority. Experience is not a license to disobey God. Some people claim an experience with the Holy Spirit that led them to do things contrary to scripture but this is impossible. Only the creator can be the final arbiter of right and wrong. 

Is There a God? - Dr. Sinclair B. Ferguson - (Ligonier ministries teach fellow and author of many books; previously served as senior minister of the First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, S.C.) - This question is both easy and hard to answer succinctly. First, to answer the question - "Why is there something there, and not nothing?" The cosmos, my existence, and my ability to reason all depend on the fact that life did not and could not come from nothing, but requires a reasonable and reasoning origin; time + chance = reality is impossible. Second, this God is the biblical God for 2 reasons: God grounds what we know of the cosmos and His existence is the only rational basis for rational thought and communication. Atheists must borrow ultimately from the tenets of the Bible to even define their thoughts. What is good, true, rational, intelligible, and beautiful has no substructure. Even my conscience is fabricated as is "meaning." The Atheist has traded what is plain to them and repressing what they deep down know to be true: Romans 1:18–25. Our hearts are restless until we find him and begin as the Bible begins with, "In the beginning, God..." 

Is the Bible the Word of God? - Dr. Michael J. Kruger (President & Professor at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC) - Skeptics often question the Bible, calling it fanciful stories, but it is a Spirit book and "the natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God" (I Cor. 2:14). (1) - Scripture itself has divine qualities - it convicts (Heb. 4:12–13), it encourages (Ps. 119:105), it comforts (v. 50), and it brings wisdom (v. 98). All others have woven together a single, coherent message. (2) - God worked through man to reveal His word at the correct time; despite much scrutiny, the words are proven to be historically reliable. (3) - It is a book with words that people have been using, trusting, reading, and applying for thousands of years. Jesus even said: "Scripture cannot be broken" (John 10:35).

Does God Care? - Dr. John Blanchard (1932-2021; apologist and teacher; director of Popular Christian Apologetics) - Atheists say no God; deists say God marks the field and watches from the grandstands. Yet the Bible says differently. After Adam and Eve sinned he said, "Where are you? (Gen. 3:9). And then he would send a redeemer to rescue them. And throughout history, God's care for his people is recorded. "He delivered them from their distress (Ps. 107:6)." Despite all Job went through he stated to God, "your care has preserved my spirit (Job 10:12)." We often don't treat God well and then David asks, "What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?" (Ps. 8:4). Hard to comprehend and yet "because He cares we can cast all of our anxieties on him." (I Peter 5:6-7). And as He cares for us we are tasked to take care of others, of "orphans and widows in their affliction" (James 1:27). 

Is Jesus Really God? - Dr. James R. White (author, director of Alpha and Omega Ministries) - Read the words of Jesus and the writings of the disciples, in their context, and Jesus being God is the conclusion. (1) Jesus at His trial. When the chief priests were trying to find testimony to put Jesus to death - "Are you the Christ?" "I am. You shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power." The priests heard this statement and accused Jesus of blasphemy (Mark 14:55-54). Looking further at Psalm 110:1 - My Lord (Jehovah) says to my Lord (Adonai). David is writing and Adonai is a person of authority and based also on 110:5 - The person of authority is the Messiah. And Daniel 7:13 - There came on like the Son of Man, like of human descent - Not merely a man, but the Messiah. (2) Jesus defending the healing of a man on the Sabbath by stating both He and His Father (God) are able to work on the Sabbath showing God His Father and Himself equal with God (John 5:10-18). (3) Jesus states he has authority over life - and states He will lay His life down and take it up again or rise again (John 10:17-18). (4) The disciples speak - Titus 2:13 - God and Jesus Glory appears; 2 Peter 1:1 - God and Savior are righteous; John 12:41 - His Glory; This language is not merely of a man. He is worthy. We cannot be neutral about Jesus. He is worthy of our praise. 

Is There Only One Way of Salvation? - Dr. James N. Anderson (Associate professor of theology and philosophy at Reformed Theological Seminary) - "Have it Your Way" was the Burger King Slogan of the 1970s and as in consumerism this same message is brought into our thinking of how we achieve heaven or the afterlife or acceptance by from God. Yet, Jesus was clear - only those that believe in Him have eternal life (John 3:14-17). It is a clear message from Jesus. He said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (14:6; Matt. 11:27). As CS Lewis says - Either He is Lord over all, or He is Lord at all. The charge is arrogance to the Christian and yet we do mean that all other religions are wrong. And yet we are a people that often wants to negotiate in matters of life and death. In medicine, it seems ludicrous to not accept the cure for a disease and yet we all think we know best. Yet, God will not compromise His truth. His way is the only way as is voices by His apostles (Acts 2:39; 4:12; 16:31; 20:20–21; Rom. 10:9–17; 1 John 2:22–25; 4:14–15; 5:12–13). Yet, it must be that we truly do not understand the problem - that we are sinners standing under the righteous judgment of God, unable to make adequate atonement for our sins. Only Jesus removes this enmity between God and man, bearing the penalty for our sin (Rom. 5:6–11; 2 Cor. 5:18–21; 1 Tim. 2:5–6). 

Is God Unjust - Jared S. Oliphint (Phd. student in philosophy at Texas A&M and Th.M. student at Westminster Theological Seminary) - In the garden, Adam took the bite of forbidden fruit and God introduced earthly justice, resulting in his death, though it was a delayed sentence. But God also showed grace and mercy, two new ideas. God's people ask God to end betrayal, slavery, exile, and death. God's justice is fulfilled on Good Friday. Ultimate rest from injustice will be found in a new, eternal home. 

Why do Bad Things Happen to Good People? - Dr. Greg Lanier (professor of New Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary) - Bone cancer in children, terminal cancer, abuse of a neighbor's child, terrorist bombings, hurricanes devastating entire islands. Important to distinguish between the head/intellectual side and heart/emotional side. Does the suffering of good people disprove God? 1. The question assumes there is "good" and "evil." Thus, a standard, hopefully a Godly one that determines right and wrong. "Evil" people do not think they are themselves evil. 2. Presupposes that suffering matters because humans have a unique dignity over animals and we are not randomly on this earth. Rocks and trees do not suffer. 3. There can be good reasons from God for suffering (punishment for sin Judges 2:11-15; display God's justice Rom. 9:19-26; driver sinners to repentance Ps. 119:71; the death of Jesus accomplished the good of salvation Acts 2:22-24; 4:8-12). 4. Despite evil and suffering, God is still benevolent to people. The idea of "do good, receive good, do bad, receive bad" does not hold true. Despicable people can prosper. "the sun rises on the good and the evil; rains on the just and the unjust Matthew 5:45." In other words, God's ways are not man's ways. It is inevitable, thus our response together, with one another, is to comfort one another with the loving comfort we have received from God (2 Cor. 1:3-7); grieve with people (Rom 12:15); bear one another's burdens (Gal. 6:2); and point people to Jesus who will wipe away every tear and one day all will be fixed (Rev. 21:4). [My observation: the conclusion is God knows best and He is in control. I still think sin is evil and has far reaching results on mankind that go even beyond quid pro quo in which there is a favor for a favor. And in general man thinks they know best always and always wants to be in control.]

Are the Bible and Science Compatible? - Dr. Keith A Mathison (professor of systematic theology at Reformation Bible College) - The issue here is how one defines the Bible and science. If one is a book of fairy tales and the other a book of facts, then obviously there will be conflict. Christians believe God is infallible. He reveals himself through his works that we see and read about in His Word. He is always truthful so if we think there is a conflict then the problem is our interpretation. Because humans are fallible, if there is a problem it is always man, never God. Science is not to blame. Science reveals to us the works of God. General revelation is God revealing Himself through His created works. Special revelation is God revealing Himself through His word. Between the two there is no conflict. For example, some find in scripture words that infer the earth as a flat disc and yet if it is true that it is a sphere based upon what we see and what science says, then the problem is our interpretation. How we interpret is always the cause of misinformation. Science and scripture are compatible unless we make them incompatible. Science is not the problem. False philosophies masquerading as science is the problem. As usual, it comes down to interpretation.   

Who Are You to Judge? - Gregory Koukl (president of Stand to Reason and author of Tactics and Story of Reality) - "Judge Not" (Matthew 7:1) is often misunderstood. To judge is to find fault. True moral guilt (admitting our fault) though is central to the Christian message. It seems acceptable to warn people that they may be caught by the law if they are breaking it (i.e. speeding in a car). Secular society believes that no one is allowed to pass judgment of any kind. Morality is now a matter of personal opinion. And yet this is not really true because judgment is warranted when it suits the secularist. Again, the complaint is against absolute truth. Often the thought is people want to be left alone. The best way to counter this is by asking questions. Ask "What do you mean?" This helps you understand what people are feeling as it is possible an apology is in order. Clarify that the standard is God's standard. Can also say, "Are you saying it's never right to point out a wrong? If so, they why are you doing it with me right now?" However, we are not trying to catch people in a fault or be clever, but we are aiming to have people recognize their sin, so that this will turn from it and toward the mercy of God. 

Is This Life All There Is? - Dr. Bruce R. Baugus (Associate professor of philosophy and theology at Reformed Theological Seminary) - God has put eternity in man's heart (Eccl 3:11). In each person is a deep seated sense that there is more to this life than this life. Humanity is fascinated with the afterlife; it is a cardinal principle of every religion. It is why living only for temporal pleasures rarely satisfy. Epicureanism (300 BC) argued that pleasure was the chief good in life; this is the way of living many Americans are in today. And yet the sense of eternity is stamped on our hearts. Jesus constantly spoke of the dilemma of man - 2 eternal states - a glorious kingdom of peace and a dreadful place of outer darkness. He issued sober warnings of each. And as such He asks people to receive Him by faith or reject Him. "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26). 

Marriage as Two Pilgrims - Rev. Jason Helopoulos (Associate pastor at University Reformed Church in East Lansing, Michigan) - The Christian marriage is different from other marriages around us: “they are heirs with you of the grace of life” (1 Peter 3:7). Our marriage is centered on Christ and eternity. Our goal is the same as every Christian, but we go forth with it side by side. We are one flesh as Ephesians 5:28 says, “Husbands should love their wives as their own bodies.” As such, when one hurts, the other hurts, injuring a spouse is injuring both; encouraging a spouse is encouraging both. And each one know the other person's weaknesses, strengths, temptations and knows how to encourage the other person. Thus, we go forward as coheirs and co-laborers united in one flesh. 

The Fruit of Patience - Robert Rothwell (Associated editor of Tabletalk and resident adjunct professor for Reformation Bible College) - I struggle with being patient. But I would like to be patient. My problem is a fear of the unknown. If I know what is going on, then I don't have to wait. Yet, waiting reminds me of my utter dependence on God and His Word. Examples: Abraham brought on more struggles taking on Hagar to get a son instead of waiting for Sarah. Instead of waiting for Samuel, Saul lost his kingdom when he offered sacrifices at Gilgal. Fear brings impatience, doubt, fear, and often greater sin. The ancient Israelites waited 400 years after Malachi to hear from God again, and awarded with the Messiah. We wait on eternal life. But in me waiting doesn't mean God is not working. He is working, but moving according to His perfect plan and purpose. He is working according to His plan, not my own. I can be patient. 

Shining God's Glory - Melissa B. Kruger (women's ministry coordinator at Uptown Church (PCA) in Charlotte, NC) - Two thoughts come to mind this morning - reading the Mark Stuart book and the meaning behind the song, "Never Gonna Be as Big as Jesus" and the reality in that song that we don't need to try. Jesus is who He is. I am who I am. I'm never going to be as big as him. So no reason to try. The other idea was at the end of the Sunday School lesson was not asking for opportunities but seeing the opportunities God gives me. They are there. Then I read this article that Melissa gives us about cleaning silverware with tarnish and a simple way of using aluminum foil and a bowl of water and dish detergent and waiting and in time, the tarnish would be transferred from the silverware to the foil. This is what Jesus did for us. Our sin got transferred. He took our sin and now we can shine of the glory of God. But am I shining? I'm not. I'm living in this state of misery and not shining. 2 Corinthians 5:21 - "For our sake - he made him to be sin...so that in him we become the righteousness of God." The tarnish has been transferred. And I can shine the righteousness of God. I don't have to scrub myself clean. He made me clean. He did all the work. And now I can shine by loving Him, His truth, walking in His ways, and living in obedience to His commands. 

Discipleship and Growth - Jonathan Leeman (editorial director of 9Marks; elder at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC) - Everyone disciples. Everyone leaves a dent on someone - toward righteousness or wickedness. What impact will I have? "Today, I want to help others follow Jesus." (1) Begin with love. We follow people who love us. (2) It works through instruction and imitation. "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ (I Cor. 11:1)." "Speak the truth in love...to grow...build up one another (Eph. 4:15, 29)." (3) Discover differences in one another. "God arranged the members in the body as He choose (I Cor. 12:17-18)." (4) It is churchwide. Everyone needs each other (I Cor 12:21). (5) Do it to equip others to do the same (2 Tim. 2:2). 

Finding Contentment Through Boasting - Tyler Kenney (Digital content manager at Ligonier Ministries) - A condition of our fallen hearts is instead of rejoicing when we see God's goodness to others, we become envious, antagonistic to their happiness and discontent with our selves. All people experience this but the Christian knows they should respond differently for God has given us every spiritual blessing (Eph. 1:3) and we are to be content since we have all things (I Cor. 3:21; Phil. 4:11). Knowing and doing are different but the Holy Spirit is there to equip us. In 1 Corinthians 4, Paul addresses a problem the church has in rallying behind a certain preacher stems from a worldly desire to exalt themselves through association. By favoring a certain leader, the people are trying to puff themselves up (I Cor. 4:6). Some boasted in Paul, some in Apollos, some Cephas, some Christ (I Cor. 1:12). Thus the world pulls us to divide our allegiance - be it sports, leaders, even preachers. Yet, Paul reminds people that we are all essentially nobodies and yet God is pleased to call us all His own. No one is to boast in men, but only in God; this is where true contentment lies. I Cor. 1:29-31 - no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.

The Need for Rural Ministry - Kyle Borg (Senior Pastor of Winchester Reformed Presbyterian Church in Winchester, Kansas) - Author ministers in community of rural America, in Kansas, in a town of 551 people. He wonders if church associations are focused on rural America though it still makes up 15-20% of our population. In these cities, substance abuse, poverty, suicide, broken families, tragedy, and danger effect people at a larger proportion than those in the big city. Rural ministry is worth our time. We need to include these cities in our mission work and church starting endeavors. 

Keeping the Faith in a Faithless Age - Albert Mohler (President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky) - (Note: I noticed online that this article was published in 2004.) - The Christian church is no longer the center of western civilization and right and wrong are being redefined. It seems modern people act as if God did not exist. The church must speak from the words of Scripture. 

A Time for Confidence - Stephen J. Nichols (President of Reformation Bible College in Sanford, Florida, chief academic officer at Ligonier Ministries) - Paul was one of the most intelligent people to ever live. He has every reason to have confidence and yet he counts all as loss for the sake of Christ. He never focused on Himself, but all instead on Christ. As we admire Paul and who He is and what He did, we can always see that there is someone else behind the scenes that is working everything out in Paul's life; and this is the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ. The doctrine of justification is one of imputation. This teaches that our sin gets imputed to Christ. And Christ's righteousness gets imputed to us. In the presence of God we are now clothed in Christ's righteousness. In His passive obedience, He paid the penalty for our sins; in his active obedience He lives a perfect life. Thus, this is why not a day should go by that we don't rejoice in the Gospel. John and Charles Wesley are examples of men trying to get to God and then discover that Christ has done it all for them. In response, Charles wrote a hymn, And Can It Be. What made Christianity such a problem for Rome in the 1st century was its monotheistic stance and its desire to proselytize. Thus, being a Christian impugned you to death at any time and the death of Christians became a sport. Despite the fact that they lived exemplary lives, they were hated because of what they believe. Christus was hated and put on a cross and Christians are disliked even today. We still hold onto the truth of Gospel for we know it sets us free.