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

John 3

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them. v36

My mom has read John and is now reading other books of the Bible - praise.  I am hopeful that she understands who Jesus is and what He offers all of us:

...love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, power, peace, etc. (fruits of the spirit) Galatians 5:22

He also offers forgiveness of sins, an unchanging, loving God that is always available to us...and so much more that it is beyond human description.

I am not so sure she does but I am prayerful that she can and that she can see Jesus in me and others.  Otherwise as John indicates here...the option is not good.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the God I love and a God the only God for me.  You bless me well beyond what I deserve and You are always there...even when I blow it.  You welcome me back...always...Thank You Jesus. Help me with my worry and forgive me for it.  Help me turn away from my worry and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

"He must become greater; I must become less."

John 3

"He must become greater; I must become less." v30

There is no doubt that Jesus is greater than I and of course is pure, holy, and blameless, both when He lived on earth and also now as my Lord and Savior.   I greatly desire, desperately so, to become more like Him and less like me.

My Prayer: Jesus, I need You desperately in my life for all things...provision, health, protection, comfort, etc.  ¹⁷ Every good and perfect gift is from above James 1:17.  Yet I neglect my relationship with You.   Thank You that You love me anyway Jesus but please forgive me.  Help me turn from my neglect of my relationship with You and help me turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

John 3

He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” v2

Nicodemus is an example of someone who engages with Jesus - He truly desires Truth and even though he has doubts he is willing to engage and believe in Jesus.  He ultimately became a believer* because his heart was open to receiving Truth.

*MacArthur, John (2005-05-10). The MacArthur Bible Commentary (Kindle Locations 45135-45136). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.  

My Prayer: Jesus, I desire Truth...I do.  Help me with my unbelief!  I want You to grow in my heart because I desperately need You.  I sin - I struggle with worry, selfishness, impatience, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me.  Help me turn towards You...help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people.

John 2

But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. v24

Many believe that Jesus lived an exemplary life - worthy of emulation.  Yet Jesus was more than a man He is the messiah - God Himself. My love for Him must be based on a correct view of who He really is - He is Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit...the Trinity.  Once we recognize who Jesus is, we then recognize who we are in relation to Jesus and it then becomes apparent that we are not Jesus, we are incapable of becoming Jesus, and that we are nothing without Jesus.

The Sermon on the Mount recognizes this as such with the following verse:

Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth. Matthew 5:22

Humility is key in our relationship with Jesus - denial of self and recognition of our weakness, etc. play a critical role in Jesus growing in our heart.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed great and I am not...not even close.  I am nothing without You and I need You desperately in my life.  Yet too often I rely on my own powers and I worry too much when my own powers fall short.  Thank You that You love me despite my sin...my worry, etc.  Please forgive me for my sins and help me turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

“My hour has not yet come.”

John 2

“My hour has not yet come.” v4

Jesus often responds to requests or please for help not with a yes or no but with a statement or a question - His response is not often what we seek but it is what He seeks in particular He seeks growth and maturity in our faith.  In this case Jesus responds to His mother with a statement that makes it clear that God's timing is different than our own and that we need to be mindful of this and perhaps He wants us to be more patient or He wants to be more aware of the current circumstances and how these circumstances are part of God's plan.  We often want to change our circumstances when God has us just where He wants us. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus - You are indeed a great God and Your will, design and plan is perfect.  I have seen it play out in my life time and time again and I am prayerful and hopeful that I can be patient in Your timing.  Many times I am not however and I get frustrated or angry - sometimes in inadvertently at others.  Yet You continue to forgive and bless me.  I am not worthy of such love as I continue to be impatient and often angry.  Forgive me Jesus and help me turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

John 1

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. v12-13

In the past few years, I've recognized Jesus as the greatest gift of all time and the verses above support my claim - that are are given the right to become children of God and all that goes along with that.  Forgiveness, eternal life and so much more!  The fruits of the spirit - Galatians 5:22 - are a great way to describe what accrues to us as result of believing in Jesus:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience (LJPP), kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control (KGFGS). Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

My Prayer: Lord, what a great God You are and what an amazing gift You are - the greatest gift of all time!  I am not worthy of such a gift - yet You bless me all the same.  Thank You Jesus.  Please forgive me for my lack of belief - I place too much faith in my own plans and powers and I worry - these are just two sins among my many!  Help me turn towards You and love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures

Luke 24

Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. v45

Faith in Christ is only possible with the help of Christ. 

My Prayer: Lord, You are able to do all and I need Your desperately in my life.  Help me overcome my unbelief and my lack of trust.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?"

Luke 24

They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?" v37-38

Once again, as I posted yesterday, the scripture I read today from above shows the disciples' response to Jesus' resurrection as an indication of their inability to truly listen to and have faith in Jesus.  Not that I would be able to do any better myself, I recognize that I must draw and stay close to Jesus so I DON'T fail to listen  and fail to have faith.

My Prayer: Jesus, what a great God You are!  I know You love me...despite my sin!  Thank You Jesus.  Please forgive me for selfishness - I truly desire that You will help me turn from this sin and towards You.  Help me be the man You intend for me and help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

Luke 24

Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened. v12

Jesus had predicted all of this and had even told the disciples what would happen - yet none of the truly listened to Jesus and responded accordingly.  Of course, Jesus knew they were not listening but it still begs the question for me - I am truly listening to Jesus and what He says to me?

I certainly hope so....I pray however that Jesus can help me stay close to Him and His desires for me.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I indeed marvel at the perfection of Your will and Your power.  You have worked miracle after miracle in my life and You continue to love and serve me - what a great God You are.  You are the only God for me.  I am not worth such love and blessing Jesus - in as much as I say You are my God I often act otherwise and this is sinful.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus.  Help me be turn away from such sin and towards You.  Help me be the man You intend for me and help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again.

Luke 23

Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. v20

Pilate knew of Jesus' innocence yet he could not withstand the pressure of the Chief Priests and Elders who conspired to have Jesus killed.  This begs the question then: to what extent would I be willing to defend Jesus in the face of pressure.

Peter, for example, denied Jesus three times in the face of great pressure, perhaps even under threat of his own life.  I am in no way saying that Peter failed but herein lies the truth....when we are weak and we allow Jesus to reign in the face of our weakness, we gain strength.  I certainly have my doubts that I can, under the threat of losing my life, defend Jesus.  Yet what I am certain about is that the only way I CAN is WITH and THROUGH Jesus.

I can do all things through Him who gives me strength. Phillipians 4:13

My Prayer:  Lord You are a great God, able to do all things and I have seen you work miracles in my own life.  I am not worth such love and blessing Jesus.  I am selfish, quick to anger, slow to listen, arrogant and full of pride, etc.  Thank You that You love me no less because of my sin and You even suffered and died for me as a demonstration of Your love for me.  Help me be the man You intend for me.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Strengthen my faith and help me deepen my love and trust for You Jesus.   

That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies.

Luke 23

That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies. v12

Our earthly influences are key to sustaining a life pleasing to Jesus Christ.  I've previously posted here, here and here about how these earthly influences are key and how prayer works to prevent us from falling into temptation.

In the case of Herod and Pilate they became friends through a common bond of apathy towards Jesus Christ.  I certainly don't want to have friendships like this in my life.

Paul's words are particularly striking today:

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You indeed are a great God - pure, holy and blameless.  You certainly could have adequately defended Yourself to stop Your crucifixion but You willingly went to the cross - for me.  Even knowing everything about me.   What a great God You are!  I am not worth such love and blessing.  I am impatient, selfish, angry, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus.  Help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me be the man You intend for me and help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Luke 22

And he went outside and wept bitterly. v62

Just as Peter wept bitterly when we confront our own sins and recognize what Jesus has done for us it is inevitable that we have the same response.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I recognize what You have done for me and in the face of my own sins, I am overwhelmed.  You are the greatest gift of all time and I am clearly not deserving!  I am selfish, angry, impatient, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway despite my sins.  Please also forgive me Jesus and help me turn from these sins and toward You Jesus. Help me be the man You intend for me and help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.

But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.

Luke 22

But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him. v51

Only Jesus is the judge.  One of the most prominent verses on whether we are to judge or not is in Matthew:

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Matthew 7:1-2

The flip side of whether to judge or not is love.  How can we judge if we love:

 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”  Matthew 22:37-40

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You love me despite my sin.  You love and forgive me so I am to love and forgive others.  I am not to judge...yet I do.  Thank You that You love me anyway Jesus but please forgive me for judging others.  Please forgive me and help me turn from my sin towards You.  Help me be the man You intend for me.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

"Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

Luke 22

"Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” v46

Echoing yesterday's post, prayer works and in this case Jesus asks the disciples to pray as a means to draw near Christ...and to protect against the influences of Satan and sin.  
I deeply desire to be more in prayer.  
My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed my provider, my healer, my power, my refuge...and all else.  You are everything I will ever need.  Yet I often neglect my relationship with You and hence fall prey to sin....impatience, anger, pride, arrogance, selfishness, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus.  Help me turn towards You and away from sin.  Help me be the man You intend for me and help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength. 

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

Luke 22

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” v42

As Jesus was praying the night before his crucifixion, his prayer was immediately answered:

An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. v43

This encouraged even more fervent prayer from Jesus:

And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. v44

I know prayer is important, it works, and I need to focus on prayer with my wife.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I know You hear and respond to all of my prayers.  You love me.  I know this.  I am not worth such love and blessing.  I sin and fall short of the glory of God.  I am impatient, arrogant, prideful, angry, harsh, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus.  Help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me be the man You intend for me.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.

Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.

Luke 22

Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot,one of the Twelve. v3

We are born in His image but the "patterns of this world" (see post from yesterday) clearly have an influence.  In John 12, it states that Judas was keeper of the money bag:

But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.  John 12:4-6

Apparently, Judas became too fond of money and this allowed Satan to overtake Jesus in Judas' heart.  We should all be wary of the influences we have and "not conform to the patterns of this world."

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You indeed are great, Your ways and Your will is perfect.  I desire You to transform my heart and my life to become more like You.  I desperately need You as I continue to struggle with sin - selfishness, arrogance, pride, anger, impatience, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus.  Help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me be the man You intend for me and help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."

Luke 21

"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." v33

While the above verse struck me the most from my reading this morning, the broader text also struck a chord:

“Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap.  For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth.  Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple. v32-37

In particular, verse 34 seems to go hand in hand with verse 33 in that we should avoid all the earthly and worldly concerns and distractions that are ever present during our daily lives and instead devote our hearts and minds to knowledge and love of Jesus Christ.

Paul echoes this sentiment in Romans: 

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed everything I will ever need - my physical wants, emotional needs, spiritual needs, etc.  I need to go elsewhere for all my needs.  You will always provide.  You have blessed me beyond what I deserve.  I am selfish, angry, impatient, etc.  Thank You for Your love despite knowing everything about me, including my sin.  Please forgive me and help me turn away from my sin towards You.  Help me be the man You intend for me and help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

"At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory."

Luke 21

"At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory."  v27

Jesus is coming back and we must be ready.  We live life as though we are strangers in this world, depending solely on Jesus for everything.  Be ready.

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. Matthew 25:13

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed great as You are the source of all life and all good things come from You.  And You provided abundantly....all of my needs.  Yet I often go elsewhere to satisfy my physical and emotional needs.  You love me anyway and I am thankful but please forgive me Jesus.  Help me turn from these earthly and worldly distractions...towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me be the man You intend for me