You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me.

John 8:12-8:20

You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. John 8:15-16

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 8:12-8:20, where Jesus continues to teach in the temple in Jerusalem after the Feast of Booths, and he is once again challenged by the Pharisees.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Jesus is the light of the world - v12.  Light allows one to find what they are looking for, and in contrast without light (darkness), we are limited in our ability to find what we seek, and we are trapped. Light is also hope.  When challenged by the Pharisees (that His testimony is false), Jesus issues His own challenge to them by sharing that He was sent by the Father so both He and the Father bear witness to Him (vv17-18), and by standards set in the Old Testament (see Deuteronomy 17:6, 19:15, and Numbers 35:30), Jesus is who He says He is. Jesus also challenges the Pharisees that they judge by the flesh and He does not judge by Himself, but with the Father and their judgement is true (of course because they are all knowing).  We also know that from scripture elsewhere that Jesus judges the heart (1 Samuel 16:7).  In v20 Jesus responds to the Pharisees - who ask Him where His Father is (v19) - by challenging them about their lack of knowledge of both Him and the Father - which is quite damning (literally) because if they truly knew the law they would see Him as the Promised Messiah. Once again, we see how nothing can stop God's plan because even though He is in the temple and the chief priests, scribes and Pharisees sought to arrest and kill Jesus, they were unsuccessful because "his hour had not yet come" (v20). 
• What do we learn from the text about people?: The Pharisees do what people often do, they judge without taking the time to understand - this is in contrast to Nicodemus (who was one of them) - see also John 7:50-51.  
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid judging - this is God's role - seek to understand one's heart condition.  Claim the promise that if we seek Him with all of our heart, we will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13).  Follow Nicodemus' example to get to know God - go to God daily in study and prayer.  

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves!  You are the light of the world and Your Word is lamp to my feet - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You save and for the light You provide. My sin is great and it continues...daily.  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 continue to 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. 

Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Romans 12-13

Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Romans 13:11-12

This morning, I continued my study of Romans.  Using my commentary - Exalting Jesus in Romans (eBook) - I continued with chapter sixteen Living in View of That Day, which covers Romans 12:17-13:14.  My focus today is v13:11-14, which my commentary refers to under the heading "Live in the Light." As Romans 13 closes, Paul urges believers to act - we've seen and experienced the Light and now we must put into practice what we preach and hear. He gives us warnings against debased living...against living in the flesh.

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

My commentary reminds me that Paul's urgency is important because we never know the hour of our own demise nor the hour of Jesus' promised return (Matthew 24:36). We are urged as well to review similar text in 1 Thessalonians 5:5-8.  We must "cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light." Similar text is found in Ephesians 6:10-17.  How we do this is with and through Christ and the Holy Spirit as He enables a Christ-centered life. 

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My Prayer: Heavenly Father - You are an awesome God and You provide the full armor of God and You are a lamp for my feet - thank You for walking with me and protecting me as I go.  I am grateful!  Yet I am undeserving of how You bless me and how You provide salvation.  My sin continues - worry primarily.  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 am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.

Isaiah 48

I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. v17

As God continues to admonish Israel for its wicked ways, He continues to provide hope and encouragement - this is how perfect God - His love is present in all that He does for His children.   Today's verse serves as a great reminder for how we need not look elsewhere for our guidance and direction.

The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand. Psalm 37:23-24

 

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

 

Just as God led the Israelites out of Egypt by fire and by cloud, He continues to direct our ways - as long as we submit to Him (Romans 12:2).

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who gives me all I need to know my way.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love and blessing.  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 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.

Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.

Psalm 143

Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. v8

There is no doubt that without God, I would be lost - God is why I exist and for whom I exist.  He is also a lamp unto my feet.  However, I too often trust in my own abilities and that is why I worry.  

I should trust in God fully, have my confidence in Him, and rest.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.  Hebrews 11:1

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who has transformed my heart and my life and made me more like You...more pure hearted and I am deeply grateful.  Thank You Jesus.  But I continue to be broken and I sin.  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 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.