We Can Have Hope

Jeremiah‬ ‭17:7‬ ‭- Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD.

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We can have hope. First, however, one has to believe there is a God. Not just any god, but the God. The God who created the heavens and the earth.

• Then one must believe in His Word, the Bible.
• Then one has to believe that God is in control of all things, no matter what anyone else will say.
• Then one needs not fear!

Do you believe in God? Not in a god but the God? There is only one Who can promise eternal life.

Do you believe that He created all things...the earth, heavens, mankind, flora and fauna...you? You were knit by Him in your mother’s womb. The earth in six days.

Do you believe God knows all things? Like the beginning to the end. He knows everything about you too!

Do you believe God is in control of all things? He places the stars in the sky and they move by His hand. Same with the sun, the moon, the planets and constellations. He knows all that is necessary about the weather, our number of days, the seasons. He places people in power and He removes them. All these are to bring about His will.

Do you believe in the Bible? It is God speaking to us, teaching us, showing us past, present...and the future. We would be wise to want to know what He has to say about today's headlines and our future. It's all spelled out in His Word.

Then do you believe all that is written in the Bible? It is not just a book of fables. It is His truth.

Do you believe God cannot lie? He is God and cannot lie because He is holy.

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Do you believe He loves all mankind? And that He might be willing to allow distress in our lives to hopefully steer people toward looking to Him for help? And life.

Do you believe God holds the keys to life and death? He does. Would be wise to consider this too.

Do you believe in heaven and hell? It’s mentioned in the Bible as real places. (Luke 16:29-31)

If you can say yes to these, you know Who is our hope and what our end will be. You know His promises to those who love Him. If you can't, you can still call out to God and ask that He guide you to His truth. He might guide you to someone who can show you how to know God and especially His Son Jesus, who is the only way, truth and life; the only way to our Father in heaven. His thoughts are what count!

Jeremiah‬ ‭29:11 - For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

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He Told Me

John 4:39 - And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all that I ever did.”

The story of the Samaritan woman is well-known. Jesus and His disciples were on their way to Galilee and had to go through Samaria. Jews at that time were not to associate with Samaritans. But God... Jesus rested at a well while the disciples went for food. It was noon and the Samaritan woman came to the well for water (she was an outcast in the community because of her lifestyle and went at an hour no other would go.) 

She met Jesus. He began to talk with her. He asked her for water. She questioned why He would speak with her when He was a Jew. Now you can’t tell me Jesus didn’t know in advance this meeting would take place! I believe it was His purpose to be at that well, that He would be alone with her, that He knew she would show up so He could reveal Himself to this sinful woman. 

He told her He had a gift from God, living water, not anything like the water she had come to collect. She was curious and asked if she might have some. Then He told her exactly what her lifestyle was without condemnation. She was amazed that He knew such things. He revealed to her that He was the Messiah the Jews were waiting for, the One who would save. 

She ran back to tell others in the town. Imagine, an outcast so excited about who she had met she couldn’t contain herself as and here she was telling them some seemingly outlandish thing. The words she said were “He told me all that I ever did.” 

Don’t doubt that Jesus doesn’t know everything you ever did either! He knew all I ever did but He pursued me. He met me at just the right time and revealed Himself. He may not have told me then and there all I had ever done, but in time I realized through His Word that many things I considered just what everyone else does so it couldn’t be that wrong, were indeed wrong. 

This is where some get hung up. They have created their own beliefs of what God would be okay with; or they just can’t believe He would be so stern as to not allow certain lifestyles or words spoken or types of entertainment or acts/attitudes. He knows and He reveals the truth. It is up to us to believe Him, to choose what’s right over what’s wrong. 

Praise God, like the Samaritan woman, He doesn’t walk past us in our sinful natures but gives us a chance to choose to believe, like she and many other Samaritans did.  And many more believed because of His word. (John 4:41) But it’s our choice. You don’t need to believe me. I pray that He will reveal Himself just to you, that He would tell you all that you ever did, so you can believe. 

John 4:42 - Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”

The Scarlet Cord

Joshua 2:12-13,17-18 - “Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the LORD, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token, and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.”
So the men said to her: “We will be blameless of this oath of yours which you have made us swear, unless, when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household to your own home.”

Quickly, the first words above are out of the mouth of Rahab, a harlot in Jericho who helped the men of Israel capture the city. A great testimony of "by faith believing." She had heard, and believed, in this God of Israel and the miracles He brought about. Later, because of her deed, Rahab would become an heir in the lineage of Christ!

You really need to read the entire account in Joshua 2 to get a better picture. Please click on the link!

I read an article which picked apart what the scarlet cord in the book of Joshua symbolized. I already knew that it was symbolic of the blood of Jesus and how He saves. But then it delved deeper, taking the word scarlet apart. It is comprised of three Hebrew symbols (from the Living Word article):
Sheen is the one letter God can use to identify Himself, it is God’s signature, and can mean to consume or to destroy or to press. Noon is the letter that stands for activity or life. Yood is the letter that stands for a mighty deed or a deed accomplished.

Do you see? God is the one who is capable of taking our old lives and transforming (destroying) them (sheen) in order to bring us into a new life (noon) through the act of the shed blood of Jesus Christ (yood). Scarlet...

It brought up Psalm 22:6: But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people. Doesn’t that sound like Jesus...He was rejected and despised...and later crucified. Well, the word worm here is not your typical meaning. We know to consider someone a worm is like the lowliest creature underfoot. In this instance it means a scarlet, crimson or blood worm, or in Hebrew, tolah. It attaches itself to a tree. It’s offspring feed on its body and when it is about to die they are covered in red. After three days the worm falls to the ground and turns white! Christ has done the same...He was on the cross, shed His blood died for our sins if we receive Him, and three days after this death He arose again clothed in the white of righteousness. And so can we through Christ. We are covered by the blood...

In case you're interested in more information on this worm: Crimson worm.

This Word of God is amazing. I’ve often felt, but could not explain, how there have got to be thoughts and ideas between each letter, word, sentence and line. This just adds to this thought. To say the Word gives life or is life is an understatement. To study the Word takes us deeper in relationship with Him as we recognize Him and into hidden meanings that just open up His Word.

I have a book I go to once in awhile called the Red Thread by Leonard Yonkman. It describes how Jesus can be found in every book of the Bible, and what His name in every book. I’d like to complete it some day!

I’m so thankful for a God whose Word does not go void. Do you know this God? Have you decided to know Him? Did this little “study” interest you? He calls. He wants us to humble ourselves and come to Him. Just knowing who He is is not enough. It was by His work on the cross that we are saved, not how good we think we are. It is not enough to be content with just the basics of Christ. The more we know Him the more we can learn of Him. We must know Him more than just as a thought. He must take hold of our hearts; reside there. We must take to heart just what He has done for us.

We are called to come to Christ as little children. Our adult natures, mindsets and faulty beliefs can prevent this. Can you believe as a little child? You know how they take everything in and trust whatever is said. Try this. It’s not our religion. Man came up with religion. It’s not about a religion but a relationship, as Jesus wants. Do you have the Son of God closely, intimately, in your life? Is that scarlet cord a reality for you?

1John 5:11-13 - And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

Loving our Enemies

Matthew 24:12-14 - And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

Ugh. As I read this scripture I contemplated the thought that has been repeatedly going through my head these days, Lord, I know we are to love as You do, but I can't do this without Your help. We are called to love our enemies but when they wreak havoc on innocent people, how do I do that? How do I speak Your word in love like You do? You used words of offense at times. You spoke directly, without sugar-coating Your words. You pointed out sin. And You spoke the truth. Everything You have said is truth. 

The part that bothered me in the verse above was the love of many will grow cold. I wondered if that applied to believers as well as unbelievers. I can see unbelievers growing angrier with enemies or governments or people who some would call idiots. We can so easily spout angry words.

Quickly, though, the thought came...what if this refers to believers? (It does not.) But, might it not be possible? If we do not maintain our focus on Him, couldn't this happen? It's why it's important to keep our minds planted in His Word. And then, aren't we also to love what God loves and hate what He hates? That's to be done with righteous judgment. How many of us truly have righteous ways of judging? Do I?? 

I spent the day with a friend this week and at lunch we talked about how we believe we are in some critical days. God is wanting to prepare His bride, His church, those who believe His return is imminent and possibly soon. He says He wants a bride without spot or wrinkle (Ephesians 5). He prunes us to remove unwanted, unnecessary faults or sins, that we might become spot and wrinkle-free, laundered, as it were, by His blood. If we reject the pruning, we basically reject Him. If we are not being pruned, well, maybe we aren't right with Him. 

So, this love thing has been cropping up a lot in my thoughts, along with criticism and judgment. They go hand in hand in hand! And yet, like I said before, Jesus spoke words that were difficult to hear. He spoke the truth in love. How did He do that? Was it His demeanor or a gentle voice? I can't help but think all a person had to do was look at Him to recognize a difference about Him. I think about if He were to enter my house how I would react. I think I could not stand but fall face down before Him.

This wasn't where I had planned to go with all this but it is linked...loving our enemies (and neighbors) and terrorism. Terrorism is defined as the use of violent acts to frighten people in an area as a way of trying to achieve a political goal, or as a means of coercion. (Webster) There is no place in this world free from terror. We can be angry with the senseless loss of lives if that happens, but we must also realize that these people, our enemies, are as lost as we were at one time, without Christ. They need Him too.

The good thing about knowing Christ is we do not need to be fearful. We will be disgusted, but we will also be constantly reminded that what we see happening in this world is to be expected; it has been prophesied.  The Word has shown us what we need to know and understand. He has and will reveal what is true to those who want to know. He will reveal His promises to those who believe, trust and have faith in Him. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17)...and faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

And we who endure in these beliefs till the end will be saved...from not only the terror in the world but saved from our own destructive sin. There is a greater terror coming. It's one that happens when we are not secure in our belief about Jesus. I hate to imagine what that would be like. It's why knowing Jesus is so important. It's why I continue these blogs. In case someone "hears." The Word says there will be scoffers (2Peter 3:3). I don't mind. I know where my hope and peace comes from. I do what Jesus calls us to do.

There is a very real presence of evil in this world. We are all born into it, live it and sometimes die in it. If we know Jesus Christ, we can be secure in Him. Evil will always be around. So will Jesus! He is always available to someone who wants to know Him and trust Him.

John 14:1,27 - Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

The Only Requirement for Salvation

Galatians 3:5 - Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

I have been bombarded by this works thing. Scripture after scripture tells us we cannot work for our salvation. I heard that faith is mentioned about 200 times in just the New Testament as the only condition required for salvation. We cannot work or buy our way, or others', to heaven. Salvation comes in believing and having faith in Jesus Christ. It's an individual, personal choice. Only in Jesus, the only way, truth and life. And that comes first by hearing.

No amount of sacrificing, keeping the Commandments, being active in a church or baptized (as a baby), without first the faith after hearing the Gospel, will save us. We can never be good enough for God's holiness. That is why we need His perfect Son as our Savior. Listen to what Jesus said: This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent. (John‬ ‭6:29)

Also in this chapter of Galatians the Apostle Paul cites Abraham, who by faith ...obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country... (Hebrews 11:8-9)  There are many people of faith listed in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews...Abel, Noah, Sarah, Moses, David, Samson, just to name some of the more recognizable individuals. They trusted God. They weren't all perfect people, but they had faith that God would do, supply, encourage, save.

Look at salvation this way, God calls us to go out to a place He has chosen for us. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope ‭‭(Jeremiah‬ ‭29:11). We know in part but not know fully where we will go. We do know the ultimate end is heaven if we heed His call but we can only trust God in our earthly journey. We do know this, that we will suffer, maybe persecution, rejection or death for our faith, but God also tells us that these trials produce perseverance (Romans 5:3) and if we endure to the end, the end will be glorious. Jesus died for us, after all. He knew suffering and He is able to strengthen us while we are in the midst of it.

So why faith and not works? Because it so totally glorifies God. If we could do anything for Him doesn't that put us right up there as trying to be like God?? Not good. He is glorified in how He changes us, not what we think we can accomplish which puts the glory on us. That's not good either. We must trust in Jesus' death to save us. We must give of ourselves to Him, admit our own shortcomings...no, make that sins...and rely on what He did for us, trust Him. Have this faith in One we do not see but have heard about. It has nothing...nada, zero, zip...to do with anything we think we are capable of doing.

Works play an important part once we have received Christ. We are told faith without works is dead (James 2:17). But faith comes first. So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans‬ ‭10:17‬). Almost everyone has heard the Gospel. If anyone has read any of these blogs, they have heard the Gospel. If one has responded, they've done so in faith. If not...they may not have that faith or they may believe their works will save them, or they just don't care. We cannot do enough good in this world (because no one is good enough...not one person. Romans 3:10)

The opening scripture says that the Spirit of God is what gives us faith...which comes by hearing and this Spirit does the work in us to have faith. We must receive Christ without works but in pure trust and faith that what He says, what He represents and believing that He alone died for our salvation.

Everyone knows that good works are, well, good. If our works come before Christ, they do little to please God, but do a lot to please man, to give man credit. But faith in God followed by works, doing for the Lord after receiving Him, is pleasing in His sight. It glorifies Him. How? Because we have been saved by faith in Him, not by the works which are as filthy rags to God. Here we have a truth about our goodness and our attempt at good works...a two-for-one truth! But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags...(Isaiah‬ ‭64:6‬) Hey, this isn't me...this is God! 

People, to truly know God we must let go of our preconceived, worldly ideas of what God wants, what He looks for. He comes to us in our fallen state out of a pure love for the sick sinner. He wants to change us that we might be righteous through His Son. It's the only way. He's the only Way. We cannot attain righteousness on our own. We need a Savior and His name is Jesus. Call on Him and He will make you whole. He will clean up your act. He promises eternal life only if you choose Him, by faith, by hearing His word, acting on it and submitting (in a perfectly good way) to Him. 

Romans‬ ‭1:16-17‬ - For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith."

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Standing for Truth

Matthew 12:14 - Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.

The Pharisees plotted against Jesus, that they might destroy Him. Pretty harsh word, destroy. His ways were not like theirs. I see vindictive men standing opposed to the words of One who loved and cared deeply for all people. And they wanted to destroy Him. 

We are either for Him or against Him. There's no middle ground. Either we heed His words or we ignore them. We either believe them or scoff them. 

As the Pharisees plotted to kill Him because what He spoke was so opposed to their religious traditions, Jesus continued to walk forward knowing He would die for all mankind. He stood His ground because it was truth. He stood for truth. But the Pharisees could not see it.

The Pharisees would much rather have condemned a man for doing something that by human nature was natural, good and far from sin. And so they condemned Jesus for healing on the Sabbath. They believed His miracles were of the devil.

Jesus rebuked the Pharisees in return and added that He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad. (Matthew 12:30)  And Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come. (Matthew 12:32)

We are in the age to come. His words today are just as truthful as then. Do our words praise the Lord? Or are they idle words? All our words and thoughts will be accounted for some day. Will God find Himself anywhere there? 

The miracle of Jesus' resurrection was that we might recognize His power and all He holds for us when we seek and receive Him. How can we not think more highly of Him than we do? How can we not want to learn of Him apart from the entertainment value of the History Channel or some Hollywood movie? How can we not want the very truth of only His Word? 

Two thousand years ago Jesus began His last days. The plot to kill Him was in full force and all that had been prophesied would take place. He would pray in earnest to the Father that ...if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” (‭Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭39‬)

He has made Himself very known. There is no excuse for not knowing Him. The sun rises and sets, the seasons come and go, there are births and deaths...year after year. Who controls it all? 

Jesus preached the Parable of the Sower. There were four types of soil into which seed was sown. He likened it to man's ability to hear and understand His words. 

Seed tossed on ground without soil is like His words spoken to one who does not understand. Absolutely no rooting can take place.

Stony soil causes quick growth but no strong root. Stony hearts receive for only a short time because it also has not rooted firmly.

Seeds sown in thorny places get choked out by the thorns. This is like the Word that is received but the things of the world are just too important to carry on in the understanding and knowledge/wisdom of the Word.

Seeds planted in good soil, however, goes on to produce a crop and more seed. This is like those who hear, understand, rejoice in and share the Word that this Word would continue to produce.

Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him. Do we stand for real truth? We either hear or we do not. We either believe or we do not. We either share or we do not. He has made it clear through His Word what is truth. While the Pharisees of long ago sought to kill Him, He lives on. He was victorious in death. 

John 17:17 - Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

BELIEVE

Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭13‬ - Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

I saw someone had posted a photo on Facebook she had taken of a sign that only said BELIEVE... It no doubt had some special meaning. But what did this believe mean? 

My question is: believe what?

Another question, when told to keep the faith, is: faith in what?

I don't know what others believe or have faith in. I know that I believe and have faith in Jesus Christ alone. He is the answer to everything. Hope for "whatever" grows stronger through Him. We can believe He is able to do all He says He can do. We believe that He will do what is best...not always what we expect...and often times for some unknown reason we may never know about...a concept we understand if we know Him. 

In and through Him we awake with strength for each new day. Peace and joy in the midst of trials is evident. You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength. (‭Isaiah‬ ‭26‬:‭3-4‬)

Trusting in ourselves or others is a scary thing. We do not have all the answers. But our God does...so I will trust in Him. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (‭Psalm ‭18‬:‭2‬)

We do not know how to handle some of life's situations. But if we give it to God, leave the trouble at His throne, He will handle it. If we try to handle on our own we get in His way. Jesus said, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” (‭Mark‬ ‭5‬:‭36‬)  And He meant in Him!

When we come to Christ and recognize Him for who He is, our strong tower, protector, wise counselor, Father God, He will come through even if it doesn't always look like it at first. Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. (‭Proverbs‬ ‭30‬:‭5‬)

After I wrote this I read a devotion referring to Romans 1:24-25. The commentary with it stated that there are many who recognize that God exists but do not believe in Him. They will believe what they choose to believe. They might believe a lie, what suits their fancy. When that happens, because it is their choice not to believe in Him He gives us over to those things so desired that are not always of Him. And we end up without hope, joy, peace...

Give in to Him. Give yourself to Him and He will be beside you so you can lean on Him.

2Corinthians 3:5 - Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God...

The Greater Sin

John 19:1-11

So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. Then they said, "Hail King of the Jews!" and they struck Him with their hands.

Pilate went out again, and said to them, "Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him." then Jesus came out, wearing the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, "Behold the Man!" 

Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, the cried out, saying, "Crucify Him, crucify Him!" Pilate said to them, "You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him." the Jews answered him, "We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God."  therefore, when Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid, and went again into the Praetorium, and said to Jesus, "Where are You from?"  But Jesus gave him no answer. 

Then Pilate said to Him, "Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have the power to crucify You, and power to release You?" Jesus answered, "You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin."


What Jesus had to endure. And He endured out of love. What we must endure also, out of love, in love and forgiveness.

My mind is focused on forgiveness. Jesus pleaded, as we will see later, with the Father that He forgive those who hated Him and those who were a part of His death. They did not know what they were doing. They did not know or believe that Jesus was Who He said He was as is evidenced here by the Jews.

The greater sin. Here the greater sin was a Jew handing over Jesus to the Roman authority because they failed to believe Him, thought Him blasphemous and wanted Him killed. But there was also a greater sin in Genesis in the Garden, which sin caused this incident to take place. It was part of God's plan of salvation after that Garden incident. Man sinned, has sinned ever since. Will continue to sin...and for that reason Jesus had to die. He had to die by the hands of both Jew and Gentile (anyone not Jewish) that the words all mankind would be fulfilled. (1Corinthians 5:15, Romans 5:8,18, 6:32)

Pilate was guilty because he did not find fault with Jesus yet punished Him. The Jews were guilty because they did not believe Jesus' claim to be their Messiah and they handed Him over for Roman crucifixion. My mind can't grasp the minute details of all this. I know He had to die for my sins and yours. I know that, as Jesus stated here to Pilate, it was the power of God that was bringing all this about and nothing would stop it. It's why Jesus had nothing to say. It had to be. No excuse. God's plan must take place.

When we are looked upon as different because we believe in the gift and power of salvation in Jesus Christ alone, when we remain strong in those beliefs, when we are looked upon as intolerant because we believe what the Word of God says is right and true and believe the sins He points out in His Word are not something we can ignore, we must endure also. We must ask the Lord's forgiveness for those against our beliefs...and for forgiveness when we struggle with their beliefs.

If we do not believe what God says is true, we are His enemies. It's why we need Jesus...to understand what is truth. It's a struggle to constantly remember they know not what they do in regard to those who do not know the truth. It's an area where I need help.

2Corinthians 5:11,13,15,21 - Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. ...He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 

That Whoever Believes in Me

John 12:44-50

Then Jesus cried out and said, "He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him--the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak."


What a mouthful! All this believing! Truth, wisdom, knowledge. Jesus, the Son of God, fully God, fully Man. The Word made flesh. Come to earth to reveal Himself to us that we may have life. A humble Man. A Man willing to submit to a higher Authority, God, His Father. Don't we sometimes struggle with this thing of submission? Um, yah!

I am reminded of what Peter said earlier in John: "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." He submitted to Jesus and what He spoke. We too must take Jesus at His word. We are called to believe in Him, to believe that what He speaks will bring life, even if those words are difficult to hear.

Yet not His words, but the words of His Father. God's words to us! Like Adam received in the garden. Jesus came to this world to do His Father's will, and that included dying for all of us. Jesus asks us to believe in and do the Father's will as He did/does. He is our Heavenly Father, after all. I realize we haven't all had wonderful earthly fathers, but we have one in heaven Who wants us as His own, who loves us more than any earthly father can.

But we need to believe in He whom the Father sent. We need to believe that all His words are true and just, the words of encouragement and the words of judgment. There are always two sides to something. It is wrong to believe that He is only a God of love. If we find Jesus' hard words unpalatable, we reject His words, therefore reject Him, and ultimately God Himself. This is a very dangerous place to be. One cannot say they believe in God but not believe all He has to say, the easy words and the hard. We have to see that.

Jesus did not come to judge but He did come to save. If we do not believe, God the Father will be our judge. (And yet, Jesus is also God!) This is He Who created all things. Not sure I want to be on the wrong side of Him. But if we receive Jesus, believe what He says is true, abide in Him, listen to and heed His words, obey those words, we have the hope of an excellent future, salvation in Jesus Christ.

So He speaks! He speaks of everlasting life. He speaks that we may believe and have life. He speaks under one Authority, a life-giving God. God gave us life in this world, He desires we have spiritual life also, through His Son. That whoever believes in Him... In whom do you believe?

1John 5:10-11 - He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

I Will Not Back Down

Philippians 3:12-14 - Not that I have already attained or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Lord, this is my prayer, that I never give up following You, that I never back down in grasping for more truth about You. 

For some it might be easy to back down in their belief of God. Maybe no results in prayer might be the issue. Thinking God has not heard the prayers or has decided not to answer...or thinking that we are not worthy enough to receive the answer. Or maybe there are too many disasters in life and we come to a time of being worn out for it all.

It's then we are to remember that everything is in God's timing. He knows all we are going through, all our desires...and motives. His timing is everything. Maybe He needs to get us right in our thoughts, or He has to change so done else's heart. Through difficult times we must draw nearer to Him. That's what it's all about anyway...trusting when we just do not see His hand. When we look back after a breakthrough we then see all He has done, all He had to put into place before our prayer could be answered.

So often I refer to life as a puzzle or a spider's web. Pieces must be in place...and everything plays a part, has a reason; one part of the web connects to another, to another, to another. That tangled web we hear about. Yet it's not tangled in God's purpose. He knows just what needs to happen.

I've been thinking on and off all week about trusting in what we cannot see. It fits in with the account of the man blind from birth in John 9. Jesus healed him and he was able to see. He saw Jesus! And I'm assuming after that he believed and trusted in Jesus. And once our spiritual sight is restored and we see Jesus then we are faced with the task of believing in Him when we don't see Him. Those unseen things. If we continue seeking, trusting, obeying despite all odds, we will receive the greatest prize of all.

I don't know if I will hear, "Well done, my faithful servant." I don't really feel I'm doing that much. I have had conversations with others who feel the same way. But maybe I am (we are)...in His eyes. How can any of us judge? We are not to compare ourselves with others. If we think purposely getting out and doing just to prove to God something to Him, our motives are wrong. A matter of the motives of the heart. Maybe I will hear those words based on what I am doing! There's where faith again comes in. There's where plugging along reaching forward to those things which are ahead. Always looking forward, not back at mistakes or wrong directions.

So, I press on. I know what God likes and dislikes. I also know, as stated above, I have not been perfected. We never will be this side of heaven. But we press on to achieve the one thing that is most important...the upward (heavenly) call of God in Christ Jesus. 

Today's thinking tells us that to be politically correct, there are no losers, all are winners. It's better for morale. Not so by God's standards. There is one narrow road we are to walk...or run...on. There is only one Way to heaven and to get there we had better be on that right road. We had better stay on that road, follow that Way, no matter which direction He goes, and press on...in Christ...to receive the prize of heaven. This ending scripture reminds me of that narrow road that few are on.

1Corinthians 9:24 - Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

Faith in I AM

John 8:48-59

Then the Jews answered and said to Him, "Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?" Jesus answered, "I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges. Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word he shall never see death."

Then the Jews said to Him, "Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, 'If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.' Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Who do You make Yourself out to be? Jesus answered, "If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God. Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, 'I do not know Him,' I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day! and he saw it and was glad."

Then the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I Am." 

Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.


More questions and answers, accusations and truth, unbelief and attempt to show. I didn't want to use the word show so I looked for a synonym. It turned out to be the right word! To show means: to cause or allow (something) to be seen; to give information that proves (something). (Webster's).

Jesus wanted these Jews to see and know who He was. Their spirits were not teachable. They had their minds set that this Man could not be who He said He was. He was trying to open their minds to His truth. He wanted them to understand about faith...in Him.

Jesus came only to honor His Father. He came to earth to live among men for this purpose, knowing He would be questioned, accused, condemned, persecuted and crucified. He came for the purpose of showing all mankind the way to salvation, Jesus, the Way. He knew the obstacles and the cost.

He truthfully told these men they could not know the Father because if they did they would believe and know Him. But, again, they could not understand. Their minds could not comprehend. And I think that's the issue with many. Our minds cannot comprehend fully; it has to come from our hearts. We have to be touched by God in our hearts to receive and have faith in His words.

Abraham knew God and, by faith, knew there would one day come a Messiah. Death will come to all men physically, but Jesus tells us we will never taste that death if we, like Abraham, put our faith in Him. Abraham had faith in God in the Old Testament. We have faith in Jesus in the New Testament.

Jesus is God. Jesus was in the beginning with God (John 1:1). "Before Abraham was, I Am." One and the same. It's a heart and faith issue. These men could not comprehend this. There was no childlike faith. We must know Jesus by this childlike faith in our hearts. We must seek Him for eternal life. We must know Him or like Jesus said: If I say, "I do not know Him [God, the Father]," I shall be a liar like you.

These are Jesus' words; if we believe them we will not see death.

There are still questions and answers, accusations and truth, unbelief and attempts to show. As Jesus did as His Father asked, so those who believe in Jesus are called to do. It's called evangelism or witnessing. It's about continuing as the disciples did. It's speaking of what we know and what we've experienced. It's about keeping alive the truth of Christ by passing down those words that will never die because they are truth. It's about sharing Christ through whatever manner God has given us, through words and works...but not first without true faith.

Believing must be the first thing we do. Belief comes from the heart, not the mind. God knows the difference between heart and mind. He also knows our motives when we share Christ.

And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned." And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. (Mark 16:15, Galatians 6:9)

Unless You See Signs and Wonders?

John 4:43-54

Now after the two days He departed from there and went to Galilee. For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things He did in Jerusalem at the feast.

So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implores Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. Then Jesus said to him, "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe."

The nobleman said to Him, "Sir, come down before my child dies!" Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your son lives." So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him saying, "Your son lives."

Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him." So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, "Your sin lives." And he himself believed, and his whole household.

This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.

What is it with us that we cannot always just take God at His word? The Bible is filled with examples of miracles and signs that God/Jesus performed. In the Old Testament God performed miracles, set people free, provided for them, kept them safe in extreme circumstances. There were always good reasons for these things. That He would be glorified, that people's faith would enlarge, that trust in Him would grow. Yet, some still forgot or wandered away from Him just the same. There are still good reasons and the reason are still the same!

God also had prophets to speak of things that would occur. Some of these prophetic words have yet to be seen but it does not mean they won't. If we have read about the prophecies that took place shouldn't we have faith? If God told us a child would be born of a virgin and it occurred, then we should believe all that was written, even about last days and Jesus' return.

The New Testament brought about another hope and miracles performed by this Baby born of a virgin. Greater than all the prophets He was. He spoke of Himself and had the proof. It's recorded for us that we might know and believe.

But why is it that people still don't believe? Like Jesus said, "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe."  Even the littlest things can be signs and miracles. I can look back in my life and see before I knew Christ where I could have been in some rough situations or harmed in some way, but I wasn't. I believe it was God's hand upon me because He had other plans for my life...even if they are not earth shattering. But if one person is changed somehow, hey, great. There might be a situation that does not go well, is difficult, painful, because He wants to build our faith and use this testimony in someone else's life some day. God is in control. He's the same today as He was yesterday...something I say a lot!

It's sometimes easy to say doctors healed someone with their medicine. But what about the wisdom God imparts to the doctor? And we have to be careful not to always place the emphasis upon a person healing someone. It is always God's power through a person. He is always in control. If man takes the credit for a miracle isn't that like saying he is God? Shouldn't all praise be to God?

God never changes. He performed miracles and brought about signs all throughout the Bible. It was for them to believe and trust in Him. Yet today many don't recognize signs. Or we give credit where credit is not due. Have we become a people who will not believe unless we see a sign? What about just believing in those things we do not see? The example of the nobleman is great (and there are others). Jesus proved He could heal just by speaking a word, not by touching the son. He only told the nobleman to go his way. And I ask, isn't the Book filled with similar examples of miracles and healings? We should believe because of that!

Believe because He is who He says He is!

1Peter 1:7-9 - that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

Light and Dark

John 3:13-21

"No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

He who believes in Him is not condemned, but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."

The Book of John is amazing. It so shows us who Jesus is. It's a great read. John 3:16 is one of the most popular verses. That God so loved the world...He sent His Son to live among the sinners that He might make Himself known to them as the One who they must believe in to be saved. We love hearing about His love, don't we?

Jesus, the Light, lived among us who lived in darkness. A huge step down from the holiness of heaven into an evil world. If we are all sinners at birth, we live as evil beings, according to the Word.. We do. Only Jesus was perfect. That is why we need Him, to believe in Him, follow and obey Him...that our evil would be covered by His blood.

He came to earth to reveal Himself to man. Those who walked with Him, who were healed by Him, saw His miracles, saw Him go through an agonizing death and then saw Him once again alive, risen from His grave, have shared their testimonies with us that the Word would not be forgotten, that others would believe in Him also. Just because we weren't there doesn't mean it didn't happen. See how over the years many people have still believed and follow Him. He won't go away!

But there's that word again, believe. It seems to mean different things. It's a heart attitude, not a mental one. We cannot just know who Jesus is but we must have a heart knowledge of Him. We know Him and our lives change; we move away from that which He has said in His Word is evil...which is where we can get hung up. Who wants to believe they are evil?

In His own words Jesus claims those who do not believe are condemned. Sounds pretty harsh for a loving God, One who so loves the world. Many believe He is only love, that His judgment was only an Old Testament characteristic. But He does not change. He's the same today as He was then. It is we who must change.

So what does God claim is evil?

Proverbs 6 gives us a sampling of what He abhors: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren. Galatians 5 adds: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idol worship and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies. There are more...including teaching as doctrines the commandments of men (false preaching, teaching), Matthew 15.

If we say we know Jesus but continue to do evil, we don't know Him. All right, I can say I still struggle, like we all do, with some of those things above. We are not perfect. As long as we are on this earth we wrestle with our flesh. That's where this heartfelt belief in Him comes in. If we are in Christ, if we have given ourselves to Him, we are a new creation. Who can understand this fully? It's God's grace, that free gift He gives that we cannot work for. And we should not purposely sin after this new birth but when we catch ourselves, repent of it. Without that repentance we are guilty.

This is a hard teaching from our Lord. Some prefer not to know Him because they prefer their lifestyles, find it too difficult to let go of those things that are so all consuming. A lifestyle out of God's will is what He calls evil, darkness. The light (Jesus) is hated because of what it will expose. Seems we have so much to hide. But there is a freedom that also comes from letting go of what is considered evil by God.

Once we let go and are in God's will, understand His truth, what we do we know comes out of hearts wanting to do for God. Doing right is a lifelong process. He purges us that we might become more like Him. It's why we go through trials. There are always lessons to be learned.

Monday was the start of Passover. The Israelites were told to apply lamb's blood on the door posts of their houses to protect themselves from God's wrath as He went through Egypt killing all first born of each house. That is like what Jesus's blood applied to our hearts does for our safety. It comes in the form of a spiritual act of receiving, believing, following and obeying Jesus Christ. Amen!

1John 1:6-10 - If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

You Have Not Seen Me

John 21:1 - After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: …

Jesus had been crucified, buried and arose from the grave. Now He set about to return for the sake of the disciples.

He had just been with them and had shown Himself to doubting Thomas. He told him: Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.

The next account confuses me. We don't know how long after the Thomas incident this took place. It only states later it was the third appearance...and this happened in the next chapter! We do know Jesus only returned for 40 days so this time could not have been too long since Thomas.

Peter and some of the others decided to fish one night. Peter just makes the very blunt statement: I'm going fishing. What might have been on his mind that led him to just drop everything and go fishing? Perhaps Jesus' visitations were looming in his head and he just needed to do something familiar, ordinary, to take his mind off, or to think about, things. What happened next is a bit like when some of the disciples were met on the road to Emmaus and talked, walked and listened to Him but didn't recognize Him.

They caught no fish that night. Jesus was on the shore waiting for their return. I can't help but sense a warm love that Jesus must have had for these ordinary men. They didn't recognize Him again! He called to them and they didn't recognize His voice. He asked if they had food but of course they hadn't caught any fish. So, again, like one other time when He asked Peter to cast the net on the other side of the boat and it was filled. Well, by this time I would have thought, hmmmmm, this sounds familiar! Click!

But no. They cast the net as they are told and it fills up. Finally: Therefore, that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" And Peter heard this and he put on his outer garment and plunged into the water.

Why, I ask, did they not catch (no pun intended) on sooner?

I wonder if we are all periodically blinded to the Lord's voice, recognition of Him or something He has done because other things consume us? These disciples had just had the Holy Spirit breathed on them. Wouldn't a bit of discernment or recognition have kicked in? Do we, like perhaps they, only look for the big things in our lives as being of the Lord and not the little day to day occurrences?

We can sense His presence at all times if we just remain aware. Viewing/hearing His character in nature, in the unvoiced protection against an accident, in locating lost articles, or just a word from the Lord from His Word one morning.

If our minds are kept on Him, on those heavenly things, we may more easily recognize Him. Stay attuned to what just might be from Him. I'm not saying that EVERY thing, EVERY thought, EVERY word is from Him. But I believe we can discern. And that's what confuses me. Why didn't these disciples recognize Jesus right away?

Were they still so in awe of His return? Did they think the two past occurrences were it and didn't expect to see Him again? Were they just so deep in this "I can't believe He came back" attitude? Don't we do that too? I can't believe that just happened--when it really did and you really DO believe it.

We can believe Jesus died for us. When we have that marvelous moment of recognition of Jesus in our lives, we know something has changed. And yet there are times we ponder: Why did this happen? Why me? Was it for real? It's like a moment of unbelief even though we do believe.

Thank You, Lord, for your presence throughout the day. I pray for those continual thoughts of heavenly things as I go about my days. I pray that prayer of I believe; help my unbelief (Mark 9:24) should it ever crop up. Admonish me to cast my net on the right side if my unbelief arises. Take me back to the day when my sight was restored and I saw with the eyes of my heart who and what truth is…that first day I believed with all my heart, mind and soul. How I love Your Word. There are days I could just bask in it. Good portion of days can just slip by sometimes. I'm feeling blessed because I have not seen You physically. But I have met You spiritually.

John 20:30-31 - And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

Desperation to Faith

Desperation to Faith

Hebrews 4:16  - "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

I see a similarity between two amazing women in the Bible, one from the Old Testament and one from the New. Both these stories are extremely important, and well discussed. These two women were Esther, the Queen of Persia, a Jewish woman, and a woman known only as a woman with an issue of blood. No name. If you know the stories you might know the similarities.

Esther, a Jew, was called by God to save her people from the hand of one evil man who had a grudge...against one single, solitary man, Mordecai who was Queen Esther's cousin. Haman wanted all of Mordecai's people killed, wiped off the face of the earth just because of this one man's refusal to bow to him (because it was against Mordecai's religious beliefs to bow to anyone other than God). What power and captivity our egos, pride and humiliation can have over our lives.

Esther became Queen of Persia without anyone knowing she was a Jew, no doubt God's plan. Long story short, Esther was urged to speak to her husband the king regarding the word that had gotten out and the decree made that all Jews were to be killed. She knew she had to do this by faith because for her to approach her king unannounced could mean her death. Her faith-filled statement was: And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish! (Esther 4:16). When she approached he held out his scepter which was the sign that he was accepting of her appearance. She was safe; the king in the end granted her desires to save her people. Thankfully, our King's scepter, His hand, is always outstretched when we choose to approach.

The woman with the issue of blood, with no name, had to do a similar thing. I point out no name only because this could be any woman, or man, today. Jesus was in a throng of people. He reached out to the people He was encircled by as they requested salvation, deliverance or healing. Unbeknownst to Him this woman had worked her way through the crowd. Because she had this of issue of blood it meant, by the customs of the day, that she was considered unclean and was not allowed to be in the presence of others. It is suggested that this woman was crawling on her hands and knees to get to Jesus to touch the hem of His garment so as not to be seen by the people. Just like Esther, she was in a desperate state.

This hem...the hem of His garment: it would have been a shawl or sash of sorts that all Jewish priests (He is our Great High Priest) wore (and still do). Sewn delicately into that sash were blue threads whose fringe would hang at the end of it. This blue thread is called a tzitzit. Through a number of Hebrew definitions they are also called wings. It was worn as a reminder to the Old Testament priests that God's word and His will prevailed over self-will. In Jesus' case it would be His only desire to do the will of His Father. And what was His will...to bring deliverance, to heal, physically and spiritually. This woman, being Hebrew, would have known this and perhaps this Old Testament Scripture came to mind as she determined to press through the crowd: But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves.  (Malachi 4:2). The definition for wings here means edge, border or the corner of a garment. 

This woman had been ill for twelve years, her money spent seeking doctors to no avail. Like Esther she only had one more possible Source of help. Like Esther she sought a King. Like Esther she needed to reach out for deliverance. The blood issue might not be illness for us but a deliverance from whatever holds us captive. This woman took a chance; not that Jesus would have ignored her. But as Esther reached out her hand for her king's scepter, this woman reached out for the healing hem of Jesus' garment. She had as much tenacity and faith as Esther. And [Jesus] said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction." 

No matter what our consuming need might be, we are told we can reach out to Jesus and He will supply our need. He will provide deliverance. He will save us from destruction. This need might be great or small. If we truly believe and have faith that God can help, we need only search for the hem of His garment, spiritually.

We can have faith the size of a mustard seed and God will acknowledge us. These two women were both tenacious in their acts. They reached out to their king/King and received deliverance. Each knew they could fail but in their determination they chose not to concern themselves with failure. Their lives were at stake; they had no place else to go.

Let us believe that we can have this same faith for something in our own lives. Let us realize we may boldly approach His throne of grace. Think about one thing you would reach out to the Lord for, believing He will come through.

Luke 7:50 - And Jesus said ... "Your faith has saved you, go in peace."