Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

John 17

Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. v23

In John 17:20-26, Jesus prays for all believers and He prays that they be unified - this is important because churches often are not unified for various reasons.  When the world sees churches as lacking in unity, it gives outsiders an opportunity to claim hypocrisy and it damages the purpose/mission of the church.  When the church (and churches unified with each other) is unified it is apparent to the world (community) around the church and this attracts the world to the church and Jesus.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You have provided me with a great church and I am grateful!  Thank You Jesus.  I am not deserving of the love and blessings You pour out on me.  I worry and I have other sin.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

John 17

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. v17-19

As Jesus prepares to be crucified (v1), He prays to be glorified (v1-5) and for the disciples (v6-17).  My thoughts immediately turn to Zach and Dustin.  I desire to see both of them in Heaven as I do all of my extended family.  I need help to be Jesus in their lives so that they see that Jesus is real and worthy of accepting Him as their Lord and Savior.  I desire for them to be sanctified, which by definition is to be set apart, holy, free from sin, purified.  I, then, must be sanctified - so please Lord help me.

Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has transformed my heart and life - I am grateful for Your love and for adopting me into Your family.  I am not deserving as I sin...daily...I worry, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin and help me turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” v33

Jesus continues to speak to His disciples about what they are likely to face, including being "put you out of the synagogue and kill you killed" (v2). In v33 Jesus promises troubles, and elsewhere in scripture we are told of trials, suffering and difficulties.  But through Jesus' death and resurrection, we have access to the same power that raised Jesus from the dead and it is through this power in Jesus Christ that we can take heart.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the One True God and my personal Lord and Savior - thank You for adopting me into Your family.  I am grateful.  Yet I am undeserving.  I worry and I am lazy.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church,  and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me.

John 15

They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. v21

As Jesus continues to speak to the disciples ("The Twelve"), in the "Upper Room" during the "Last Supper", He encourages (v18-25) them to remain strong in their faith, regardless of the external/worldly challenges they may feel.

At least a couple of key points.  We belong not to the world but to Jesus and His eternal kingdom (v19). This is where our identity lies and it implies that our lives should express who we are and it should be clear to others who we are.  We are to be a light.  This includes our response to hate, persecution, and intolerance, as our response should encourage others to seek God (see also v21) - the implication of Jesus' words are that people treat believers with intolerance in part because they don't know God.

Stephen's prayer to God (Acts 7:59-60) upon his stoning is a great example. Perhaps this left a mark on Saul (Paul).

On the subject of intolerance and persecution, although the context of this video is the approaching end times, John Piper We should respond in love.  Piper uses 1 Peter 4 and the entire chapter is a great read on how we should respond to suffering and difficulty.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who helps me stand firm in my faith - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of all the blessings You pour out on me.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.   Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 
 

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

John 15

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. v7

I continue to ask in prayer that God turn me into a prayer warrior, particularly because of my role as a father and husband, but also because of my love for Christ and others and a desire to serve.  I have been asking God to help me pray for more needs, more of the time.

This morning, through Jesus' words in John and via John Piper my thoughts on prayer are somewhat redirected - not so much away from my and others' needs - but focus more on spiritual/eternal needs vs physical and earthly needs.

V7 and similar words in v16 challenged me this morning to better understand what Jesus means by telling us that essentially we will get everything we ask for in prayer.  I already knew this was not true in an earthly sense - God is not a vending machine.  Jesus places several very important conditions on when we can expect Him to delivery what we ask for, and we must understand these conditions.

John Piper helps us understand these conditions and other important aspects of prayer.

1. Prayer is fruit bearing: "If you are not devoted to fruit-bearing, you have no warrant for expecting answers to prayer. Prayer is designed for fruit-bearing."

2. Prayer is not for gratifying natural desires: "[natural desires] should always be subordinate to spiritual desires; kingdom desires; fruit-bearing desires; gospel-spreading, God-centered desires; Christ-exalting, God-glorifying desires."

3. The words of Jesus abiding in us prepare us for fruit-bearing prayer.

4. The more we are saturated by the words of Jesus, the more our prayers will be answered. 

Piper encourages us to take heed in Psalm 37:4.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who loves me and who has grown in my heart and life - giving my a life of peace and joy - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  I worry and I have much more sin - please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth.

John 14

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. v16-17

Right after Jesus predicts His betrayal by both Judas and Peter (John 13), He once again returns to His death which will soon come to pass on the cross.  This are unsettling matters, yet Jesus comforts the disciples and these same words can comfort believers today.  He talks about His ascension to Heaven and that He will save a place for us in Heaven.  He then promises us the Holy Spirit to help us.

I definitely feel His presence and am grateful that Jesus is always with me.

The Holy Spirit gives us power - check out this short video from Francis Chan.  

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are great in that You give me life through Your Word, the Holy Spirit, and more - thank You Jesus!  I know You are always with me.  Yet from time to time I worry and I have other sin.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

John 13

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” v34-35

As Jesus sits at the Last Supper with the disciples and predicts His betrayal and Peter's denial (v18-38), He gives them a new command to love one another....as He has loved them.  Our love of one another should glorify God and draw others to Jesus.  In the context of v18-38, one way that we should love one another is to see beyond each's sins and to forgive.  We may have been hurt by someone (either physically or emotionally) but God calls us to forgive and love - even our enemies. 

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  Colossians 3:12-13

Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Luke 6:37

 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well....“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:38-40, 43-45 

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8 

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has forgiven my sins - giving me freedom from the sting of sin and death!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.  

I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

John 13

I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. v15-17

During John's account of the Last Supper, Jesus washes the disciples feet and emphasizes the importance of putting others ahead of yourself.  This point is counter-intuitive.  A worldly interpretation would focus on self-needs aren't getting met if we put others above ourselves.  Yet Jesus' words here must be read together with Matthew 22:37:40 regarding the greatest commandments.  If we love God first, then we will see how God takes care of all our needs - He provides.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and I love You - You provide for all of my needs.  Than You Jesus.  I am not deserving of such care and love.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human praise more than praise from God.

John 12

Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human praise more than praise from God. v42-43

The remainder of John 12 (v12-50) covers Jesus' entrance to Jerusalem during the Passover festival (v12-20).  Jesus addresses the crowd (Greeks and others) and tells them that the hour is soon for Him to die and be glorified, and He encourages them to find life in Him vs in others and the world (v23-25).  Jesus calls out to God and God responds (v27-29).  Jesus also encourages the crowd to focus on what He is saying about the Kingdom of Heaven, the light, etc. vs Satan/this world (v30-36).  

We then come upon v37-50 where Jesus addresses the lack of faith among some of the Jews with v42-43 underscoring where many of us fall down in our faith - it is out of fear of what others may say about us.  Research shows (see Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs) that "belongingness and love needs" are important for our survival - yet believers also should recognize that people CANNOT substitute a relationship for God.  God must come first!  Jesus will fill our hearts in ways that people cannot.

Jesus is living water and our daily bread.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who is living water and daily bread - I cannot survive without You.  Thank You Jesus for adopting me into Your family, for saving me, and for providing for me.  I am not worth such blessings.  I worry and I gossip.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.

John 12

Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him. v9-11

As a follow up post to yesterday where Judas Iscariot objects to using expensive perfume to anoint Jesus, this morning we are reminded of how desperate Satan is to get a hold of us.  MacArthur suggests that, in v11 we see "a conscious, deliberate move away from the religion of the authorities and a move toward genuine faith in Jesus as Messiah and Son of God".  The chief priests would have none of this - hence their plot to kill BOTH Jesus and Lazarus!

According to John Piper, "Satan hates evangelism and discipleship", so it is no surprise that we see the plot to kill Lazarus.  "[M]any of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in [H]im"..."on account of [Lazarus]", and earlier in John 8:44, Jesus accuses those plotting to kill Him of "belonging" to the devil.  Satan was desperate to stop growth of the early church.

Satan is equally desperate to prevent believers from growing in our relationship with Jesus - he plants our minds with lies - go here to learn more from John Piper on Satan's Ten Strategies Against You.  

To protect ourselves, we have the Armor of God, and our belief that true freedom and joy is found in Christ alone. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who gives me true freedom and joy.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  I worry.  Please forgive me and help me turn from my sins towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

    

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

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. v6

In this story (see also Matthew 26 and Mark 14), Mary pours expensive perfume "on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair" (v3).  Judas Iscariot objects, according to John, not based on his care for the poor but because he was a thief.  As "keeper of the money bag", Judas Iscariot's nearness and ease of access to money was too tempting for him to avoid embezzling funds from Jesus' ministry.  This is a warning for us that are blessed financially - to put in place controls so as to avoid growing comfortable with money and ultimately comfortable with spending it vs using it for God's glory.

Check out this post on DesiringGod.com that posits that Jesus put Judas Iscariot in control of the money bag to teach us what happens when we love money vs loving God.  Scary stuff.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are - You have blessed me beyond what I deserve in all ways - and most importantly by adopting me as Your son.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not deserving as I sin daily.  I worry, I am selfish, and I harsh with my words and actions.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”

John 11

“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.” v47-48

After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (v44), some of those who witnessed this miracle told the Pharisees, and then a meeting was called of the Sanhedrin (v47).  Their chief concern was their own status, position, and power.

We should not be concerned about losing our life - in both figurative and literal senses.  

"Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it." Luke 17:33

 

Instead we are to deny oneself. 

We are encouraged by Paul who writes about the "surpassing worth of knowing Jesus".

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who gives me both eternal life and an abundant life here on earth - thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of such gifts.  I worry and I gossip.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin to encourage, support and hold them accountable in their walk with Christ.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.

John 11

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. v33

This morning's reading in v17-37 struck me on the topic of the Incarnation. In three places (V33, 35, 38), we see Jesus' emotions, underscoring the humanity of His nature of both God and man.  We should take great comfort and encouragement in knowing that "Jesus is fully and perfectly man and has also experienced the full range of human experience. We have a Savior who can truly identify with us because he is man and who can also truly help us in temptation because he has never sinned" (see DesiringGod.com for more on this topic). 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who knows everything about me and knows everything about being human because You came to earth to live a sinless life and to give me the power to gain freedom over the sting of sin and death myself - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a gift and such love.  I worry and I gossip.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly firends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.”

John 11

Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.” v9-10

This morning I started reading the story of Lazarus (v1-43), Jesus' friend who fell sick but was raised from the dead by Jesus.  Jesus, in conversation with His disciples, remarks how He is light.  A few days ago, I posted as well on how Jesus is light.  I don't know how others can go through life without Jesus.

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who is light and so much more - You are everything, in everything, create everything and You love me!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a God.  I worry and I have other sin.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”’ If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside— what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’?

John 10

Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”’ If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside— what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? v34-37

Jesus continues to respond to the Jews challenging Him (v22-42) and just as He uses scripture in Matthew 4 to respond to Satan, Jesus uses Psalm 82:6 to respond to the Jews.  

MacArthur writes: "Kings and judges are set up, ultimately by the decree of God.  God, in effect, invests His authority in human leaders for the stability of the universe (Romans 13:1-7).  But God may revoke this authority (v7).  Jesus, in quoting this phrase ("You are gods") in John 10:34, supported the interpretation that the gods where human beings.  In a play on words, He claims that if human leaders can be called gods, certainly the Messiah can be called God".

In the defense against both sin and others who attempt to question or blaspheme our faith, scripture is our best defense.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You ARE The Word and The Word IS You - and I am grateful that I have Your Word to help me stand firm in my faith!  Thank You Jesus!  I am deserving of such love and blessings.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.

John 10

When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice. v4-5

Jesus continues addressing the Pharisees (v1-21), accusing them of being "thieves and robbers" and wolves (v1,10,11-13) for leading the Jews astray.  Jesus then contrasts Himself as The Good Shepherd (vs thieves, robbers, wolves) who knows His sheep (and His sheep know Him - v3-5,16), and who saves and protects His sheep from harm (v9, 15).  

John Piper calls out critical aspects of this story as (1) He "[came]  that [we] may have life , and have it to the full, and (2) Jesus has "authority to take [life] up again" (v15).  

Yes - we are saved.  But Piper correctly explains how Jesus gives us SO much more....more than our earthly minds can imagine.  Piper says, "[w]e want more than mere life. We want abundant life. Overflowing life. Deep life. Weighty life. Joyful life. We don’t just want to survive. We want to thrive at every level of our human being. We were made for this".   We also have this for eternity!  This is the essence of Jesus - heavenly abundance!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who gives me life - to the full, and for eternity!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such gifts...I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Jesus said,“For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”

John 9

Jesus said,“For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” v39

The story of Jesus healing a man born blind continues in John 9 with the Pharisees throwing the man out of the temple - as the man dared challenge the Pharisees (v27-34).  Jesus seeks to reassure the man as He finds him later (v35-41) and makes a distinction between physical and spiritual blindness.  We must recognize that we are all spiritually blind without Jesus - it is only through Jesus that we have sight and this sight is developed over the course of a lifetime via our journey with Christ.

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105

I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. Isaiah 42:16

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who has given me the gift of sight and You daily help me see Truth and give me wisdom and words to say in my role as spiritual leader of my household - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such gifts.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.

John 9

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. v3

We often ask ourselves why bad things happen to people - we may sometimes never understand, but generally speaking, we know God is in all things and He is in control.

For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. Colossians 1:16-18

We exist to glorify Him so we must try and view what is happening in our lives through the lens of how our present circumstances serve to glorify Him - in the present, in the future, and for eternity.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what a great God You are - I have seen how difficult circumstances have glorified You and blessed me and others.  You are amazing and I love You. Thank You for being MY God.  I am not deserving of such a God. I worry...please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

John 8

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. v34-36

As Jesus continues to teach in the temple courts throughout John 8, He is challenged throughout on a number of key points - only one of which is my focus this morning.  There are many in the world who believe that being a believer means LESS freedom.  Yet Jesus addresses this in v34-36 and I can testify in my own life over the validity and truth in these verses.

See also Freedom in Christ. 

They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.” 2 Peter 2:19

We instead should be slave to God.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are that You give me freedom from both sin and from the sting of sin and death - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving such love and such gifts.  I worry, I gossip, etc. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Jesus said, “I am with you for only a short time, and then I am going to the one who sent me. You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.”

John 7

Jesus said, “I am with you for only a short time, and then I am going to the one who sent me. You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.” v33-34

In v25-52, as Jesus continues to teach during the Festival of the Tabernacles (one week), there is division over who Jesus is and attempts are made by some of the crowd (implied the Jewish leaders, elders, chief priests, etc.) to seize Jesus.  What everyone in the story cannot understand is that Jesus is following God's plan for His life and there appointed times for everything that is to unfold, including Jesus' ultimate arrest and crucifixion.  Jesus is telling everyone that He will be going to Heaven to sit at the right hand of God but the time for this to occur has not arrived (v30, v44).  There was ample opportunity for Jesus to be arrested as Jesus was not armed (see also v45-52) but it was not the right time.

God is in control.

John Piper does an excellent job explaining the role of free will (a very difficult topic in the context of the Bible) and he encourages us to focus not on the mystery of free will but on our relationship with Him and what we can understand with greater certainty - God loves us, He is always with us, God's promises, etc.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what a great God You are - I KNOW You love me, You are always with me, and Your promises always come true!  Thank You Jesus for being my God and for adopting me into Your family.  I love You.  I am undeserving of such love and grace.  I sin far too often.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.