John 7:6-8 Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come.”
King Solomon told us in Ecclesiastes 3 that there is a time for everything. Today, Jesus reminds us that there is a time for everything in accordance with God's timing. We often have our own plans and our own way of how we will accomplish them. We oftentimes even try to get God on our timetable, but that is not how life as a Christian should be lived. If we want to get the most out of this life, it can only happen when we seek God, His will, His plan, and His timing. If we seem to be pushing to make things happen, but find that we are not making the progress we were hoping for, it may be time to step back and seek the Lord on the matter. It does not necessarily mean that what we are attempting is not part of God's plan for us; it may simply mean that the timing is not in line with God's timing. When the Apostle Paul sought to go to Asia to spread the Gospel, the Holy Spirit redirected his path (Acts 16:6). Someone wrote, "God is not interested in just the preaching of the Word, but in the preaching of the Word where HE wants, as HE wants and when He wants." The bottom line is this, if we find our plans being frustrated, we may want to step back and ask the Lord, "Lord, is this part of Your plan for me? If so, is it also Your timing? If not, please redirect my path and bring me back here, in Your way and according to Your timetable." In other words, "Your will be done, not mine."
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Romans 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Romans 10:13).
Saturday, July 30, 2022
Sunday, July 24, 2022
Friday, July 22, 2022
He Knows It All
John 6:70-71 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.
Today's verses serve as a word of caution and a warning. Jesus spoke spiritual truths to those who were following Him. However, what they heard was difficult for them to accept. They related what Jesus said to the physical rather than to the spiritual, thereby misunderstanding greatly and following Him no more. The disciples, however, when questioned, chose to continue following Jesus. This is where the word of caution comes into play. The fact of the matter is that even though all twelve continued to walk with Jesus, He called one a devil. There was one in their midst that was going to betray Jesus. However, Jesus made it clear that He was the One who chose Judas to follow Him. I say all this to say that we all need to stop and evaluate prayerfully why we are following and serving Jesus. Service does not equal intimacy. Speaking the "right" Christian words does not equal intimacy. Neither of these even means that we are saved, because salvation does not come by our works. It only comes by true faith in Christ and what He did on Calvary, calling on His Name and trusting Him as Savior and Lord. We can claim to walk with Jesus until He returns, but if our heart is not truly surrendered to Him, one day it will be exposed. This is where the warning comes into play. Jesus made it very clear in His statement that He knew that Judas would betray Him, even though He chose Him. The Bible tells us that all of creation is naked before God and we will ALL give account for our lives. There is nothing in our hearts that Jesus is not clearly aware of. He is aware of every thought, intention, and motivation for all that we do, and claim to do in His Name. Let us be careful to examine ourselves, ask God to examine our heart and show us what is there that needs to be exposed and given over to Jesus. After all, He knows it all.
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Romans 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Romans 10:13).
Today's verses serve as a word of caution and a warning. Jesus spoke spiritual truths to those who were following Him. However, what they heard was difficult for them to accept. They related what Jesus said to the physical rather than to the spiritual, thereby misunderstanding greatly and following Him no more. The disciples, however, when questioned, chose to continue following Jesus. This is where the word of caution comes into play. The fact of the matter is that even though all twelve continued to walk with Jesus, He called one a devil. There was one in their midst that was going to betray Jesus. However, Jesus made it clear that He was the One who chose Judas to follow Him. I say all this to say that we all need to stop and evaluate prayerfully why we are following and serving Jesus. Service does not equal intimacy. Speaking the "right" Christian words does not equal intimacy. Neither of these even means that we are saved, because salvation does not come by our works. It only comes by true faith in Christ and what He did on Calvary, calling on His Name and trusting Him as Savior and Lord. We can claim to walk with Jesus until He returns, but if our heart is not truly surrendered to Him, one day it will be exposed. This is where the warning comes into play. Jesus made it very clear in His statement that He knew that Judas would betray Him, even though He chose Him. The Bible tells us that all of creation is naked before God and we will ALL give account for our lives. There is nothing in our hearts that Jesus is not clearly aware of. He is aware of every thought, intention, and motivation for all that we do, and claim to do in His Name. Let us be careful to examine ourselves, ask God to examine our heart and show us what is there that needs to be exposed and given over to Jesus. After all, He knows it all.
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Romans 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Romans 10:13).
Wednesday, July 13, 2022
Would Jesus Be Enough?
John 6:41 The Jews then complained about Him, because He said, “I am the bread which came down from heaven.”
How often have we read the Bible and concluded that God was right about His people Israel? Over and over again the Jews proved that they were, and still are, a stiffnecked people. However, before we go too far here, let us first look in the mirror and realize that we, His church, have also proven to be a stiffnecked people. How often have we demonstrated, by our actions and attitudes, that Jesus is not enough for us? How often have we gone after the things of this world, and put our desires ahead of God's will? How often have we chosen earthly gain over sacrificing for the sake of another person that the Lord gave us an opportunity to serve? How often have we complained about what we did not have, or about how something did not go our way, and showed complete ingratitude for what God was already providing for us? Is Jesus really enough? The Jews complained about Jesus because He did not give them what they wanted, in the way they expected. Are we any different? If so, I will leave us with these words from Hebrews 13:5-6, "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So we may boldly say: 'The LORD is my Helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?'" If God chose to give us nothing more than He already has, or chose that we should lose it all, except our salvation of course, would Jesus be enough?
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Romans 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Romans 10:13).
How often have we read the Bible and concluded that God was right about His people Israel? Over and over again the Jews proved that they were, and still are, a stiffnecked people. However, before we go too far here, let us first look in the mirror and realize that we, His church, have also proven to be a stiffnecked people. How often have we demonstrated, by our actions and attitudes, that Jesus is not enough for us? How often have we gone after the things of this world, and put our desires ahead of God's will? How often have we chosen earthly gain over sacrificing for the sake of another person that the Lord gave us an opportunity to serve? How often have we complained about what we did not have, or about how something did not go our way, and showed complete ingratitude for what God was already providing for us? Is Jesus really enough? The Jews complained about Jesus because He did not give them what they wanted, in the way they expected. Are we any different? If so, I will leave us with these words from Hebrews 13:5-6, "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So we may boldly say: 'The LORD is my Helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?'" If God chose to give us nothing more than He already has, or chose that we should lose it all, except our salvation of course, would Jesus be enough?
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Romans 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Romans 10:13).
Monday, July 11, 2022
Seeing With Eyes of Faith
John 6:28-30 Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” Therefore they said to Him, “What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do?
Sadly, the lack of faith that Jesus dealt with so long ago is still the lack of faith that God often sees today. The great tragedy is that this lack of faith is seen more and more amongst those of us who claim to be born again believers. We proclaim that Jesus is our Savior and we claim that He can do great things; yet, we live life as if the God we serve is unable to overcome the smallest of obstacles and challenges in our lives. We fail to step out and allow God to do great things in us and through us. Instead, we continue to focus on the propaganda, the doom and gloom, and the nonsense that the world is spewing out, and rather than step out and show the world that our God is bigger than all this and has a plan, we shrink back and buy into the fear. Well, I ask all of us today, "Do we believe who Jesus says He is in our lives?" "Are we going out and living a life of service that screams, 'I can't do this on my own, but I have faith in the God who can do this in and through me?'" If we want to work the works of God, then we must believe that God is who God says He is, and is able to do what He says He can do. The people wanted to see a miracle, even though Jesus had already done many. Yet they needed to see more to believe; Jesus knew they would not believe. Are we also so faithless that we have to see it to believe it? Well then, let us try to see what cannot be seen through the eyes of faith we have been given in Christ Jesus, and start living a life that says, "I don't need to see it with my physical eyes to believe it, because I can see it with my eyes of faith." "Besides, I know my God can do all things and He is faithful!"
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Romans 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Romans 10:13).
Sadly, the lack of faith that Jesus dealt with so long ago is still the lack of faith that God often sees today. The great tragedy is that this lack of faith is seen more and more amongst those of us who claim to be born again believers. We proclaim that Jesus is our Savior and we claim that He can do great things; yet, we live life as if the God we serve is unable to overcome the smallest of obstacles and challenges in our lives. We fail to step out and allow God to do great things in us and through us. Instead, we continue to focus on the propaganda, the doom and gloom, and the nonsense that the world is spewing out, and rather than step out and show the world that our God is bigger than all this and has a plan, we shrink back and buy into the fear. Well, I ask all of us today, "Do we believe who Jesus says He is in our lives?" "Are we going out and living a life of service that screams, 'I can't do this on my own, but I have faith in the God who can do this in and through me?'" If we want to work the works of God, then we must believe that God is who God says He is, and is able to do what He says He can do. The people wanted to see a miracle, even though Jesus had already done many. Yet they needed to see more to believe; Jesus knew they would not believe. Are we also so faithless that we have to see it to believe it? Well then, let us try to see what cannot be seen through the eyes of faith we have been given in Christ Jesus, and start living a life that says, "I don't need to see it with my physical eyes to believe it, because I can see it with my eyes of faith." "Besides, I know my God can do all things and He is faithful!"
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Romans 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Romans 10:13).
Sunday, July 10, 2022
Why Do We Seek Him?
John 6:24-27 when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You come here?” Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”
John tells us that the people sought after Jesus, after they had been miraculously fed. Note that when they questioned the Lord, He does not really answer their question, but instead speaks to what the real issue was in respect to what was really on their minds and in their hearts. The people were seeking Jesus, not because He was offering them eternal life, but because they had been fed. Far too often we seek the Lord, not for what He can do to transform us spiritually, but for what we can gain physically. We seek to be healed from a sickness or illness, when the most serious ailment we are suffering from is the sin that is leading us down the path of eternal condemnation. We seek Him for physical bread and earthly reward and gain, when what we need is the Bread of Life Himself. The treasures we should be seeking are the rewards that await us when we faithfully serve Him and others; the rewards we will receive when we are finally home with Him. We are so focused on the world and all that it offers, that we often seek God like some genie in a bottle who will give us what we need in order to be comfortable in this world. Instead, we need to seek a genuine, intimate, relationship with Him. So, my question to all of us today is, "Why Do we seek Him?"
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Romans 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Romans 10:13).
John tells us that the people sought after Jesus, after they had been miraculously fed. Note that when they questioned the Lord, He does not really answer their question, but instead speaks to what the real issue was in respect to what was really on their minds and in their hearts. The people were seeking Jesus, not because He was offering them eternal life, but because they had been fed. Far too often we seek the Lord, not for what He can do to transform us spiritually, but for what we can gain physically. We seek to be healed from a sickness or illness, when the most serious ailment we are suffering from is the sin that is leading us down the path of eternal condemnation. We seek Him for physical bread and earthly reward and gain, when what we need is the Bread of Life Himself. The treasures we should be seeking are the rewards that await us when we faithfully serve Him and others; the rewards we will receive when we are finally home with Him. We are so focused on the world and all that it offers, that we often seek God like some genie in a bottle who will give us what we need in order to be comfortable in this world. Instead, we need to seek a genuine, intimate, relationship with Him. So, my question to all of us today is, "Why Do we seek Him?"
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Romans 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Romans 10:13).
Saturday, July 9, 2022
Never Alone
John 6:16-21 Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them. Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing. So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid. But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.
It is no big secret that in this life we will experience trials and tribulations. Jesus promised that we would, in John 16:33, but He also promised that in Him we would have peace. Just like the disciples experienced in these verses, sometimes we will encounter storms in our lives that rise suddenly and catch us unprepared. In other accounts the Gospels tell us that Jesus spoke and calmed the storm. This portion of Scripture tells us that Jesus was not with the disciples when the storm hit them, but walked in the midst of it toward them, entered the boat, and with Him they reached the other side. We, on the other hand, have the Holy Spirit with us, as born again believers, always, and the presence of God who never leaves us, because of what Jesus did for us. The Lord Jesus is always with us. Therefore, no matter when the storms of life show up or how severe they are, we can know with all certainty that the One who calms all storms and sees us through them is always with us. No matter what happens in life we can be assured of one thing, the Lord is with us and we are never alone.
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Romans 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Romans 10:13).
It is no big secret that in this life we will experience trials and tribulations. Jesus promised that we would, in John 16:33, but He also promised that in Him we would have peace. Just like the disciples experienced in these verses, sometimes we will encounter storms in our lives that rise suddenly and catch us unprepared. In other accounts the Gospels tell us that Jesus spoke and calmed the storm. This portion of Scripture tells us that Jesus was not with the disciples when the storm hit them, but walked in the midst of it toward them, entered the boat, and with Him they reached the other side. We, on the other hand, have the Holy Spirit with us, as born again believers, always, and the presence of God who never leaves us, because of what Jesus did for us. The Lord Jesus is always with us. Therefore, no matter when the storms of life show up or how severe they are, we can know with all certainty that the One who calms all storms and sees us through them is always with us. No matter what happens in life we can be assured of one thing, the Lord is with us and we are never alone.
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Romans 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Romans 10:13).
Tuesday, July 5, 2022
A Life of Submission and Obedience
John 6:15 Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.
Are we living life in accordance to God's plan for our lives? How much effort are we putting forth in making sure that we are allowing God to guide our steps, rather than allowing our desires, and the world's wisdom, to guide our steps? Jesus is King of kings and Lord of Lords, and one day He will return to rule and reign here on earth, but when He came the first time, He stayed focused on carrying out God the Father's plan of redemption for us. He refused Satan's offer in Matthew 4, and now when the people desired to make Him King over them, He departed to the mountain; once again refusing to detour from the Father's plan. He demonstrated great humility and obedience to what was set in place for Him to accomplish while He was here. Are we following Jesus' example by serving God as He directs, or are we trying to live our life based on what we want, and on how the world tells us we should live it. Are we trying to serve God based on what we want to do for Him and expecting Him to follow our plan, or are we submitting to His will and obeying His commands? Our best life lived for Jesus is one that is a life of submission and obedience to the Lord's will and His Word. A life lived outside of those boundaries is a life wasted with little to no eternal rewards. When the world tries to convince us that it can make us king of our own little universe, let us not forget that the same people who wanted to make Him King were the same people who later cried, "Crucify Him!"
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Romans 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Romans 10:13).
Are we living life in accordance to God's plan for our lives? How much effort are we putting forth in making sure that we are allowing God to guide our steps, rather than allowing our desires, and the world's wisdom, to guide our steps? Jesus is King of kings and Lord of Lords, and one day He will return to rule and reign here on earth, but when He came the first time, He stayed focused on carrying out God the Father's plan of redemption for us. He refused Satan's offer in Matthew 4, and now when the people desired to make Him King over them, He departed to the mountain; once again refusing to detour from the Father's plan. He demonstrated great humility and obedience to what was set in place for Him to accomplish while He was here. Are we following Jesus' example by serving God as He directs, or are we trying to live our life based on what we want, and on how the world tells us we should live it. Are we trying to serve God based on what we want to do for Him and expecting Him to follow our plan, or are we submitting to His will and obeying His commands? Our best life lived for Jesus is one that is a life of submission and obedience to the Lord's will and His Word. A life lived outside of those boundaries is a life wasted with little to no eternal rewards. When the world tries to convince us that it can make us king of our own little universe, let us not forget that the same people who wanted to make Him King were the same people who later cried, "Crucify Him!"
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Romans 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Romans 10:13).
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