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.

Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.

Proverbs 30

Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. v8

There are those days in my life where I feel beaten down and attacked by Satan and my only desire in these moments is to feel the presence of God.  These past couple of days have been like this.  I don't want to worry.

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. Psalm 55:22

 

Come near to God and he will come near to you. James 4:8

Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:12-13

 

I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. Proverbs 8:17

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him. Lamentations 3:25

 

I know You love me Jesus - thank You.

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who has sustained me through dark valleys and difficult times - thank You Jesus.  I know You are always with me and You provide in all circumstances.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love.  I worry and I often have too much stress.  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 do.  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.

Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you—they are your life.

Deuteronomy 32

Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. v46-47

God's word IS our daily bread - without it we lack sustenance.

[M]an does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Deuteronomy 8:3

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Psalm 68:19

Give us each day our daily bread. Luke 11:3

Two things I ask of you, Lord; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God. Proverbs 30:7-9

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, full of love and compassion for me - giving me many, many second chances - You are SO patient!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such efforts because I fail to give others such second chances.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from my sins towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  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.  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.

At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws.

Psalm 119

At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws. v62 

Daily study and reflection on God's word is His desire for us.  He wants a relationship with us, and He commands us (Matthew 22:37-40) "to love Him with all of our heart, soul, and mind".  For us to honestly love God, we must KNOW Him.  As I posted here, scripture memorization is key and many believe it is the most critical practice we can undertake to know God and His character and all of His attributes.

We must believe that God is our daily sustenance and that we cannot live without Him.

See also verse 57: "You are my portion".

Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. Psalm 16:5

We must depend on God - exactly like the Israelites relied on God in Exodus 16 when God provided manna to eat:

Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’” Exodus 16:12

See also Matthew 6:9-15:

 
“This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come,your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

My Prayer: Lord You are a great God able to provide for ALL of my needs - I know with my head understanding that all good gifts come from above - from You.  Yet with my heart I become distracted by cares of this world.  Thank You that You love me but please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome and turn from my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin, and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.