Our Unchanging God

 

     Our Minnesota weather has been a typical roller coaster as winter turns to spring. 70 degrees one day followed by 30 and the chance of snow. Our bodies don’t have much of a chance to assimilate to the drastic changes. It is often true of life.

     Navigating life’s ups and downs can be tricky. In the book of John, Jesus reminds us over and over again that He is God. He will supply the answers to all of our needs.

“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” John 8:58

     Jesus is the past, the present and the future. He always was, always is and always will be. He is the everlasting God.  Throughout John’s Gospel He continues to repeat this message. “ I AM” the bread of life (6:35), the light of the world (8:12, 9:5),  the door (10:7), the good shepherd (10:11,14), the resurrection and the life (11:25), the way and the truth and the life (14:6), the vine (15:1)

     If your soul needs nourishment, feed it with His bread. If darkness is closing in around you, let Him be the light to guide you out. Looking for a new beginning? He will be the door. Feeling lost and alone? The good shepherd will be your comfort. You can be renewed by His death and resurrection. You will find real life in the great I AM. He is the way. He is the truth. He is the life. Has a storm encompassed you? Become rooted deep in the vine and you will remain standing.

     I pray for those going through tumultuous times. Jesus never changes. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. May God continue to guide, bless, nourish and comfort each of you with His transforming love, into all of the gifts He has planned for you.

Dear Jesus,

Our greatest gift is knowing You. Thank you for being all things to us. Give each of us Your special and unique care for each day. Thank you for the families and friends you give us. Show us how to treasure them every single day. You will provide us with everything we need.

Amen

The Holy Spirit

 

     The words of Jesus were confusing even to His followers. After Jesus’ death and resurrection, the words were made clear. For all of us on the other side of the resurrection, we see Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah, the Savior. Rather than needing the signs and wonders of a miracle, we gain the Spiritual knowledge we need to follow Him. Jesus spoke these words about the Holy Spirit that was to come.

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. The world cannot accept Him because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him for He lives with you and will be in you.  John 14:16-17

“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who goes out from the Father, He will testify about me.  John 15:25-26

“But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the advocate will not come to you, but if I go, I will send Him to you.  John 16:7

     The Holy Spirit, our advocate, our teacher, our comforter, our counselor, could not be sent to us until after Jesus arrived back in heaven. Through this Spirit we have the very breath and power of God, to guide us into truth, to decipher the word of God, to help us discover and to use the Spiritual gifts God has given us.

     Jesus not only gives us the promise of eternal life and eternal love. He gives us His own Spirit to give us hope and joy throughout our lives. Be filled with the Spirit today, the Holy Spirit of the true and living God. Jesus is the way.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  John 14:6

Dear Father in Heaven,

You are the triune God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We thank you for filling us with the gifts of the Spirit. Guide us in Your wisdom as we allow Him, the Advocate, the Counselor, the Teacher of our souls to show us the next step.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Eternal Words

 

     Will you give Jesus a chance? In the sixth chapter of the book of John, Jesus is speaking of things that will not make perfect sense until after his death and resurrection. His words will never make sense to some. As He speaks, He knows in His heart that there will be those who will not listen. He is speaking to a group about the things of the Spirit.

The Spirit gives life, the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you-they are full of the Spirit and life.  John 6:63

     At this time, some of His followers turned away and left Him. There are many today that take a peek into Christianity and walk away. After some of the followers left Him, Jesus asks;

“You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.  John 6:67

  And the answer?

Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words to eternal life.” John 6:68

     Is it time to find eternal answers? Is it time to get rid of the fear of death? Only then can we live. Jesus has the words to eternal life. Believing and putting our trust in the death and resurrection of the Savior comes with a guarantee. Our flesh counts for nothing. The everlasting, forever, eternal part of us can live in paradise with our Father in heaven through Jesus, our Savior. To whom will you go?

Dear Father in Heaven,

We praise You for giving us the gift of eternal life through Jesus, Your Son. We do not deserve it, but Your all-powerful love found a way to bring us back to You. One day we will be with you forever with no more tears and no more pain. Please open hearts today to hear Your words of eternal life, to believe, and to accept Jesus.

Amen

 

For God So Loved The World

 

     Are you unsure about faith in Jesus? Are you wondering if He is real and if you can trust Him as Savior? We are going to take a peek into the Gospel of John this week. John’s Gospel is different from the other three, (Matthew, Mark and Luke.) John’s words are more relational, more profound, John’s Gospel is a great place to begin in the Bible and a good place to return time and time again.

     John was an eyewitness to the life of Christ as one of His disciples. I love the fact that John calls himself, “the disciple whom Jesus loves.” (John 13:23) Those words can be said by each one of us. You and I are the ones whom Jesus loves.

     It’s all about love, this Gospel, the Good News of Jesus. Let’s begin our peek into John’s words with a familiar verse.

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.  John 3;16

     It’s all about love and believing in the Son of God. The word, “believe” is written in John’s Gospel almost 100 times! Accepting the love of Christ and believing in His death and resurrection sums it up. The message is good. This message is real. This message is for you, the one whom Jesus loves. What does He ask of us? To believe.

Dear Lord,

This Good News of Yours appears to be too good to be true. We make it so complicated and confusing. Let the message of Your love sink in once and for all as we believe in You and inherit eternal life.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

More and Even More

 

     Jesus offers the abundant, Spirit-filled life. He offers grace upon grace and we move from glory to glory reflecting His image in ever-increasing ways, as He offers us more love. The “more” and “even more” of Jesus is available 24/7 to those who love Him.

He has saved us and called us to a holy life-not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time. 1 Timothy 1:9

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20

     Jesus saw you before the beginning of time. He loves you. The reflection of Jesus offers us an inner peace, a deep joy in spite of circumstances, a patient heart and a generous soul. The people around us may need a dose of Jesus.  Could it be you? Can you represent Him? The angriest, most critical, most arrogant, addicted, culturally different people you know need Him more than most. You may not think they deserve Jesus.

     Neither did we.

Dear Father,

You love us, each one of us, right where we are. Change us into Your image with the help of Your Spirit. The abundant life is filled with the giving and receiving of God’s blessings. It’s how life works in the realm of the Holy Spirit. We don’t get it, but we want it.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

More Spirit

 

     Are you recognizing the potential to gain the “more” of Christ? How about the “much more” of His love and His gifts? Our gravity-bound, earth-dwelling selves know how to love. But the love of God is beyond the moon and the stars for us beyond earthly measure.

“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”  Luke 11:13

     We give good gifts to our children and want the best for them. But “how much more” God gives to us! Did you notice what Jesus instructs us to do? That’s it. Ask for the Holy Spirit. This greatest of all gifts will be your teacher, your guide, your comforter, your intercessor. The very Spirit of God is within you. Sit with your heavenly father and ask for “more” of the Spirit and feel the power of the resurrected King.

Lord,

We ask for complete filling of Your Spirit, the same Spirit that dwells with You! You always have more to give and You tell us to ask. We pray to You this morning in Jesus name.

Amen

 

More Glory

 

     Moses came as close as any man to the presence of God in the Old Testament. God hid Moses in the crevice of a rock and placed His hand over the crevice as His glory moved past. The closeness of the glory of God, even hidden in the rocks, shone on Moses  When he descended from the mountain-top experience, he had to wear a veil in order for the Israelites to look at him!

     As Jesus died on the cross, the veil of the temple ripped in two. (Mark 15) This veil is believed to have been 30 feet long and 30 feet wide and as thick as a man’s hand. This enormously heavy veil enclosed the inner sanctum where the presence of God’s glory resided. It was called the “holy of holies.”  Only the high priest could enter the sanctuary on the holiest of days.

     Here we are, in the days of God’s grace, beyond the cross and the resurrection. See the “more” of Christ in today’s verses. Paul wrote these words through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, about 30 years after the resurrection.

Even to this day when Moses is read a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.  2 Corinthians 3-15-18

     These are some life-transforming verses. Let them sink in. We are being transformed into Christ’s image with ever-increasing glory! From glory to glory, the more and even more of a relationship with Christ. In the book of James (Jesus’ half-brother) we see the word of God compared to a mirror. As we read and meditate and learn from it, we are transformed more and more into the image of Christ.

     Reflect God’s glory. Let Him take over and transform your life as only He can. The veil has been lifted forever. It’s His work, not ours. Become that jar of clay.  As He molds you into His work of art, remember His temple, that inner sanctum where He resides, now resides within us. Hallelujah!

Dear Lord,

These words are miraculous and awe-inspiring. Only you could take sin-filled man and fill them with something beautiful and holy; Your Spirit. Let it be said of us that we are Yours.

Amen