One Way

This morning I had the opportunity to interact with a new believer, a 10 year-old girl in our neighborhood. It was tricky, especially because the follow-up material I used was way above her vocabulary level. Talking to her was frightening, confusing, and yet awesome all at the same time. This was my first time ever following up with a new believer, and I was afraid that I would say something wrong, or she'd misunderstand. I certainly stumbled and bumbled a lot, but still...God's Word does not return void! Man, how I love that verse! I wanted to share something that I thought was really insightful in the follow-up material, and I hadn't thought about in this way before. The section was titled "Dealing with doubts in your relationship with Christ", and I'll quote: "Even though feelings are important, your relationship with Christ is based on facts, not on feelings that can change daily. Doubts, questions and varying emotions are common parts o...

Today I read John 18 and 19--the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus. I was especially interested in John's take on Pilate's reactions. When Pilate asks Jesus what he has done, and if he is king of the Jews, Jesus answers vaguely: "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place." "You are a king, then!" Pilate says in verse (37). Jesus answers: "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." Then Pilate asks the age old question- "What is truth?" Pilate doesn't stick around to get an answer to his question, however, and returns to argue with the Jews. So...what is the truth? "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" (John 14:6...

Today I read chapter 17 of John. This chapter, and the previous two, are the only ones like them in all four Gospels. In chapter 17, Jesus is praying before they leave the house to go to the garden of gethsemane. He is praying for "those that are his"--the disciples and those to come-- and it's pretty awesome when you think about it! The God of the universe praying for US!! "Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name-the name you gave me-so that they may be one as we are one." (vs. 11b) The notes in my Bible say that the word "protect" here likely means "keep from evil and disunity". But isn't it sad? Right here it says there is power and unity in Jesus' name, and yet people go around using it as a cuss word! Why did this happen?? Maybe because we are not one? "I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world ...

In John chapters 15 and 16, Jesus is continuing to talk to his disciples at the Last Supper. Another blow-away verse for me was the following -- "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you." (vs.9) As the God of the Universe, perfect in love, has loved his own Son, so the Son loves us?! These chapters also expounds on what and how Jesus commands-- "If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love." (15:10) Seems like pretty high bar, doesn't it? But the very next verse says-- "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." We are no longer slaves to sin, but slaves to righteousness! This really is joyous news! But here's another twist-- "I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends..." (...

This morning I read John chapters 13 and 14. There's a lot of things I could talk about, but I want to point out some key verses... After Jesus washes the disciples feet he says- "Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you." Jesus didn't just come to this earth, save us from our sins, and leave with no further instruction. He gave us his commands while he was on this earth, and left us always his example to follow!! And on this subject of commands, it seems like a lot of "christians" these days don't like to admit that Jesus gave us commands. Well chapter fourteen totally blows this out of the water. Jesus says at least four times - "He who loves me will obey my commands" and "follow my teachings" and "do what I have been doing". This is another reason that the "faith manifested by works" ...

This morning I read a study on the Helmet of Salvation that I thought was extremely insightful. I know that I will never think of the Helmet the same way again! Here a few of the main points: - The Helmet of Salvation is to protect our minds, guard our thoughts, and keep us from believing false doctrines or any lies of the devil. - Only those who are saved have the protection from wrong thinking that is needed in order to be victorious in battle. Unbelievers have many thought-strongholds, lies they believe from the enemy of their souls, that they are unable to tear down, having no "divine power" to do so. - See Isaiah 59:14-17 ... It is God alone Who accomplished our salvation in Jesus Christ, it is God Who gives us the helmet of salvation. He wore it when He came to earth to do battle with the evil one, and now, having been victorious over Satan through His death on the cross, He gives us the helmet to wear in order to protect us from false doctrine, dark thoughts, intense t...

It's been a while since I was in 2 Samuel, but today, I read chapter four. Joab has just killed Abner, and now Saul's reigning son--Ish-Bosheth, is afraid. Two of Ish-Bosheth's own men kill him in the night, and take his head to David, expecting a reward. But just like when the man from Ziklag came to David, lying about killing Saul, David says this, and I think it's so funny (in a sad sort of way, of course): "As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered me out of all trouble, when a man told me, 'Saul is dead,' and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and put him to death in Ziklag. That was the reward I gave him for his news! How much more--when wicked men have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed--should I not now demand his blood from your hand and rid the earth of you!" These guys thought they were doing David a favor. But they forgot that David was a man after God's heart, and that God never rewards wickedn...

In John chapter 14 verses 1-6, Jesus said: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way ?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me…" And in Matthew 7:13-14 he says: "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Again, in Luke 9:23 Jesus says: "Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves an...