Category: Good Life Journal

Scripture:

John 12:20

Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.

Observation:

Jesus is preparing the disciples. He knows what is going to happen, but the disciples don’t know. There is not yet a death on the cross; there is not yet a resurrection. Jesus is telling them that surely you will weep, but soon you will rejoice.

Application:

In my life, during times of grief or mourning, I must remember that with faith in God I will eventually see joy return to my life. I must remember that dawn always follows darkness. How much darker can it get than when the perfect loving Jesus is tortured and nailed to a cross? Where is our faith then? Do I remember that Jesus will rise, “after a little while”? I don’t ever know how long my darkness lasts. Jesus only told the disciples, “in a little while”. His time and timing is not for us to understand or question. I do know that eventually there will be joy. I have to know this and believe this without question. Eventually Jesus rises and my ultimate price for my sins is paid for. Joy comes. So when I am beaten down and possibly tortured I have to have faith that eventually God will work it out to my joy and His glory. This world will not win. Even if my final triumph is death and resurrection, I will conquer this world just as Jesus did.

Prayer:

Father, I believe that your world will triumph. Just as Jesus overcame the world, I believe that I can too. I have to stay in your world and focused on You. When the going gets rough, I have to lean in more to you. It is only thru Jesus that I can overcome this world. Amen

– Don J

Scripture:

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. (John 15:4 ESV) You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. (John 15:16 ESV)

Observation:

This can be a very familiar section of Scripture. Jesus is rapid fire with instructions and consequences of either obedience or disobedience. He speaks of the world at large and the church small. He identifies and defines the Father’s reaction to us. Jesus also defines His relationship with us as well as defining our relationship to Him. Question: Can I really abide in Him?

Application:

Goodness, I like to cherry pick this chapter of John. But I have come to realize I can cherry pick so much in John 15 as to miss what Jesus is saying in order to get a scripture that gives me warm fuzzies. Over the past number of years I am trying to get out of that habit and really read what the scriptures are saying and not skim over the unpleasant or the implication parts. I see one particular phrase repeated over and over in John 15: Abide in Me. Jesus goes on to describe different issues that can happen to tempt me to NOT abide in Him: I can get into a place in my life where I am not bearing fruit (read: results of being a Christian); I can get into a place where I am trying to bear fruit all by myself (independently) and apart from Jesus; I do not study and embrace the Word in my life (I read Ps 119 frequently through the year—that guy knows about the supremacy of the Word of God); I don’t elect to serve, look for opportunities to serve, implying I am not a friend; I have issues with worldliness in my life; and, I look at my life and the things that I think are horrible are nothing compared to what Jesus encountered (am I greater than my Master?). So, what is the magic bullet of Godliness? Could part of it be “Abide in Me?” That is easier said than done sometimes. 2nd Cor 13:5a says “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.” I realize this isn’t some reference to make myself doubt whether I am a disciple or not (being Justified in Him) but to do diagnostics on my heart to determine whether I am abiding in Him. Just like I have to run my Disc Clean up and Defrag on the computer, I have to frequently run the same in my heart asking the Holy Spirit to bring up the issues of my soul that needs addressing in a sanctification sort of way—and being OK to go seek out help to identify issues that I am ear-blind to the Holy Spirit. A good friend is a good way to get a good read on my life—even if it hurts or takes some time to get there. Finally today, I must remember what God says about me: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you…” I may think that I volunteered for this Christian life, but I couldn’t have unless He chose me first. Therefore, that has meaning for “He who began a good work in (me) will complete it to His Glory…”

Prayer:

Lord God, Humbly I thank You that You have done all the hard work concerning my salvation. I did not and do not deserve your love and mercy towards me but am grateful that You looked upon me and wanted me despite my sin. Help me to abide in You—not superficially, not without depth, but to grow evermore to abide in You. Let me see what that entails and help me not to shrink back from the effort it will take. For Your Glory I remain humbly a servant, AMEN.

-Rick Sutton.

Scripture:

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

Observation:

Verse 6 is Jesus response to Thomas question about not knowing where he was going, so how could he know the way. Jesus is the only way to the Father. There is no other route to God without Jesus. Jesus is the truth because God is truth. In John 14:10 Jesus tells us, “Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me.” Jesus is the exclusive source of eternal life for those who place their trust in him. Jesus tells us in Revelation that he holds the keys to death and the grave.

Application:

In contrast to the religious pluralism prevalent today, all roads don not lead to heaven. Although this may appear arrogant, I need to be confident that Jesus is the only way to God and be able to articulate this in a loving way. I must always remember we serve an all knowing, all powerful creator of the universe that is truth and justice. Jesus is in the Father and the truth is on our side. This is an unconditional truth that is not dependent on a given set of variables or situations to be true. I must place my faith and trust in Jesus to not perish, but have eternal life! This is the Gospel and is God’s redemptive plan to save everyone who believes in a broken world.

Prayer:

Father, Thank you for loving us enough to send your Son to pay for our sins so that we may have the way to know you. Let your spirit guide me in your truth as I share your word and interact with others.

-Todd Dawson

Scripture:
John 13:3 “Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God,”

Observation:
Before Jesus rises from the table to perform one of the most humble acts in the history of time, the apostle John gives insight to the state of Jesus, His heart and mind before He does this. Jesus knows fully who He is, what He’s doing and where He’s going. This is essential to serving the needs of others before yourself.

Application:
Serving other people can be exhausting. Especially when those other people do not respond the way that you would hope for them too. These same feet of the disciples that Jesus washed, in just a matter of days would run away from Him and abandon Him in a time of need. The key to laying our lives down in service to people who many times don’t respond the way we hoped, is having a clear heart and mind on who we are, what we’re doing and ultimately where we’re going. Without this clarity, serving others, sacrificing for others, just gets old. The first step to pushing away from the table and committing ourselves to being contributors instead of consumers is clarity on whose we are, who we are, what we’re doing, and where we’re going.

Prayer:
Father I’ve been tested the last couple days in multiple ways with people who don’t respond the way that I would hope they did. Thank you for this reminder. My heart and mind have to be in the right place or I will find myself getting frustrated. Thank you for your perfect love and for your example. May I serve from your love and not my own.

Scripture:

John 12 5-8 NIV

“Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages. ” He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

Observation:

Guilt
Purpose
Urgency

Guilt – People try to make us feel guilty, even when doing good.

Purpose – Jesus said it was intended she do this. Knowing I’m doing it for Christ is important.

Urgency – Jesus said he wouldn’t be here long.

Application:

Guilt – in James I’m reminded guilt does not come from God. Society is in the guilt business. Stay prepared!

Purpose – the more I stay prepared the more I’ll be in the will of God. Intentional!

Urgency – I recently heard someone say one of man’s weaknesses – we believe we have more time!

We don’t have forever to serve Jesus and live the life He created us to live. Keep moving!

Prayer:

Lord thank you for being our light house, or way, our source. I know by continuous seeking of you – I’ll be better prepared to stay in your will. Thank you for this privilege Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.

-James Smith

Scripture:

John 10
Vs 1 – (Jesus said) “Truly, truly I say to you …”
Vs 8 – … “they (the religious leaders)did not understand” …
Vs 2 – “So Jesus again said to them, ‘Truly, truly I say to you …’”
Vs 31 – “The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him.”
Vs 32 – “Jesus answered them, I have shown you many good works ….”
Vs 33 – “The Jews answered Him, “It is not for a good work we stone you, but … because you make yourself God.”
Vs 34 “Jesus answered them …. – Scripture can not be broken – ….”
Vs 40 – “Jesus went away again … to where John had been baptizing …”
Vs 41 – ” … many came to Him. And they said, “John did no sign, everything that John said about this man was true.”
Vs 42 – “And many believed in Him there.”

Observation :

Jesus is revealing Truth.
The religious leaders didn’t understand.
He tells the Truth, again, even more specifically.
This time they seem to have understood it to the extent that they knew it was strikingly different from what they currently believed.
They were willing to kill the one who delivered this truth.
Ironically, they were willing to kill not only the deliverer of Truth, but the Deliverer of themselves!
It was the religious non-leaders who not only heard Truth, but believed in the One who spoke it.

Application:

Do I want to hear Truth or do I want to hear echoes of what I already think?
Does the Truth draw me in or does affirmation draw me in?
I hope it’s Truth!
Truth is constant. I am not.
If I seek or crave affirmation of what I already think, I will wander down many paths …. And I will find it.
But I may end up “killing” my Deliverer in my life.
If it’s Truth I seek, only one Path reveals it.
Because “Scripture Will Not Be Broken!”
What a powerful statement Jesus makes there.
I may like the sound of what I hear down plenty of paths.
But every path except one leads to a dead end … Brokenness.
Only the path of the Good Shepherd leads me to open pasture … to freedom … to grace … to forgiveness … to belief in the One who holds me in His hand.
John starts his gospel telling us “In the beginning was the Word”.
It is Truth.
It will not be broken.
I do not need to seek more words.
I need to seek the Word more.

Prayer:

God you are Truth.
Help me know you and your Truth more.
When I come up against untruth, show me how to respond with your wisdom.
Help me discern your Truth from my own ideas of truth.
Thank you for your grace and forgiveness when I mistake these.
Amen.

-Dan Shontere

Scripture:

John 11:41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” 45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him 46 but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.

Observations:

This chapter is full of examples of how to live our lives and how Jesus lived his life. Jesus knew that Lazarus was going to die. He also knew that He would raise him from the dead. This was a purposeful narrative of events in the way that Lazarus was raised from the dead. 1. Jesus prayed to his father. 2. God hears and answers prayers Jesus looked to the heavens and specifically thanked his father for listening and answering his prayers. Even saying “I knew that you always hear me”. He knew this but he said this for our benefit. 3. Some people will simply never believe. Jesus had just raised someone from the dead. Read that last part again… “from the dead’. Not healed an illness, not sent spirits out of a possessed body but raised someone that had been dead for four days! Skeptics could say a doctor healed a person or it was the medicine. They could say that the possessed people weren’t really possessed. They can come up with all kinds of rationale to try to explain miracles but they can’t deny this dude was dead for four days. Only our heavenly Father has power over life and death and Jesus used this situation to glorify God.

Applications:

Jesus gives us the example of gratitude in prayer. His first words were, “Father, I thank you.” This story of Lazarus was to glorify God. Jesus did not walk around afterwards saying “look what I did!” Rather he went near the wilderness to be with his disciples. We need to use Jesus’ example. We need to be thankful. We need to be in God’s will and ask Him to use us for His glory. God answers prayer. The answer may not be “yes” or “no” or what we want to hear but God answers our prayers if we are in God’s will. We can’t get frustrated when things don’t go our way. Jesus was frustrated and even angered during this story. The chapter points out a couple of times he was “deeply moved” and was troubled. Jesus knew that even after this extraordinary miracle, there were non-believers. There were people that were more concerned about what Jesus was not doing, why he was doing it and even the timing of when he performed miracles. We can get caught up in this as well. We can worry more about rules, norms and appearances and not be as concerned about the miracles that God is performing in our lives and the lives of others. We can get more concerned about the little things and miss the big picture. God, thru Jesus, raised someone from the dead and yet people still did not believe. That amazes me but also scares me. We are a cynical society today as well. What miracles does God perform today that we just blow off as something other than God’s amazing power?

Prayer:

Father, thank you. Thank you for listening to me. Thank you for answered prayers. Never let me forget that you hear me when I speak to you. Help use me to glorify you.

-Paul Palmer

Scripture:

John 8:5-11 ESV

“Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” This they said to test him that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” 

Observation:

The Pharisees were looking for a “gotcha” moment concerning Jesus. Clearly they thought finding a woman committing a clear violation of the Law (a sin) would be the opening the Pharisees were looking for. Jesus didn’t have any problem seeing what was happening and what was driving this confrontation—a complete misunderstanding about the nature and fact of the judicial relationship between God and Man—and of the Grace and Mercy coming soon through the Cross.

Application:

This is a situation which I can struggle with—the idea that “now I am redeemed; look at all the poor sods who should know better. If only they would stop doing [fill in the offense or condemnation of the moment].” I can fight with myself about condemning others: Maybe they cuss. Drink. Have immoral relations with others. Porn. Pride. Maybe just stays away from meeting at a local church. Fellowshiping. Doesn’t study, pray, and so forth. Has a sharp tongue for spouses. Not kind, short, angry, mean. I keep that “Bar” firmly in sight and measure everyone against it. Oh, yeah—and I do it with scripture references wielded like a sword, chopping up and laying bare anybody that has the misfortune of coming into contact with me. So just like the Pharisees I can be tempted to pick up that stone and hurl it “righteously.” I know why I do it: I forget the Gospel. Sounds like a trite answer but it’s true. I forget that, just like the scripture above, I am always a sinner saved by Grace. I revert to being a Pharisee, thinking that I have a pass before God because I am “doing the right things” and that others “who are not as enlightened as I” need to straighten up and fly right. So my attitude, my thinking, are skewed—away from the Word of God and into some sort of judgmental, condemning, mode of looking at others. It is noteworthy that how I look at others is not the merciful way I look at myself. Jesus doesn’t look at me with condemnation—but do I to others? But why? Why does that happen to me? From a practical side it can be a number of things:; I don’t get into the Word or I just gloss over what I am reading (skimming); I don’t pray well (also skimming); I don’t confess my sin daily to others; I don’t want the Spirit to expose my soul; Stress and anxiety of the stuff that I have to deal with daily (which leads to sickness and lack of sleep which can lead to all sorts of not doing the Fruit of the Spirit stuff), temptation, and, and, and…. At the end of all this thinking I am being self-justified, self-righteous, and self-important. I forgot what I deserve and the price that was paid for me despite me.

Prayer:

Lord God, Please forgive me lapsing into Pharisee. I do that way too often, even if I don’t say anything, I struggle with thinking it. I saw that commercial on TV the other day about “what I do in the dark…” and I was reminded about “what do I do when no one is watching?” Am I still submitting, surrendering, working hard to conform to and embrace Your Word? You are always watching, always there. It is part of “never leaving me, nor forsaking me.” I welcome Your “conforming me to the Image of Your Son”—Please make it always true that I welcome it. Thank you for reminding me that Your Grace is sufficient—that my salvation is dependent by Faith about Your Work on the Cross—not my performance. Just the same, I want to honor you by walking Worthy of the Gospel.

-Rick Sutton

Scripture:

John 9:1 As He went along, He saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

Observation:

Jesus and his disciples pass by a blind man. First, Jesus actually takes notice of him. Even the lowliest in society do not escape Jesus’ love. Second, Jesus knew that he was blind from birth. He knows every one of us. Then, the disciples ask the question, whose sin caused the blindness? Jesus answers that the blindness is neither from the man’s sins nor from his parent’s sin. He explained that the man was born blind so that one day Jesus could heal him and bring glory to God.

Application:

The age old question is why does God allow blindness and suffering in the world? Sometimes it does come from sin. Man has free will to turn from God and to sin. If someone murders me, my suffering is caused by his sin. My suffering could also be caused by my own sin. (John 5:14, “Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.”) Also, the bible has numerous cases where the sins of the parents cause suffering for their children. (Ex 20:5, Deut 5:9) Here however, Jesus answers that this man’s suffering is not caused by sin but to show the glory of God. It makes me think, is my suffering going to ultimately be to bring glory to God? When I go thru tough times, I try to look at it not as punishment, but as a trial. God is testing me and giving me the opportunity to grow my faith. Faith is strengthened under adversity, not fair weather. When I am strong in faith, it pleases God. In this story, the man was blind and was healed by Jesus to show the glory of God. In my suffering, it is not as important what caused it as it is important what I do with it. Do I feel sorry for myself or do I persevere in faith in order to bring glory to God?

Prayer:

Father, thank you for the opportunity to grow closer to you and strengthen my faith. Keep me focused not on the speck in my brother’s eye, but on the plank in my own eye. It’s not for me to understand why someone else is sins or is suffering. Please help me to recognize when someone is suffering and help them somehow to bring glory to God. When I am facing trials, keep me thankful for the opportunity to strengthen my faith in you. Amen

– Don J

Scripture:

John 7:16-18

So Jesus told them, “My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me. Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or merely is my own. Those who speak for themselves want glory only for themselves, but a person who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies.”

 

Observation:

There was much discussion at the Festival of Shelters about who Jesus was. When Jesus taught at the Temple, the people were in awe of his knowledge. Jesus is responding to the peoples’ question about how he has attained such knowledge without formal training. Jesus’ message comes directly from the Father who sent him. Those who truly want to do the will of God will accept Jesus and his teachings versus those who belong to this world and choose to reject Jesus. Jesus’ message is the truth as he is speaking to honor the Father. In contrast, although the Pharisees were well educated in the law, they spoke to honor themselves.

Application:

I must know/recognize that Jesus existed in the beginning, was with God and is God. Therefore, his message is part of God’s plan. In order for me to truly do the will of God, I need to follow the teachings of Jesus and trust Him by turning everything over to him. If I am sharing the Gospel, it is the truth and will bring glory to God. When I skew my conversation and speak highly of myself from a worldly view, this is denying the honor due to God. This lesson is applicable for all and requires no formal training but faith.

Prayer:

Father, Please give me the wisdom to know that Jesus’ message is from you. Let your Spirit guide me to trust you for your will to be done in my life. May I speak truth in a loving way to others that brings honor and glory to you.

-Todd Dawson

Scripture:

John 6:33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

Observation:

After Jesus had fed the 5,000, He then retreated away from the crowd because He knew that their desire was to make Him King by force. When the crowd pursued and found Him the next morning they asked Him why He had left. Jesus responded by telling them they weren’t following Him because of the signs but rather because He had given them bread. He then explained that physical bread is not their greatest need. Rather, eternal life is the greatest need of mankind and Jesus is the “bread of God”.

Application:

1. Recognize my greatest need. As real as hunger pains and thirst are to my physical body, my greatest need has nothing to do with my flesh. Instead my greatest need is eternal life.

2. Recognize who supplies my greatest need. If eternal life is my greatest need I must recognize there is only one place to go to receive it, Jesus.

3. Reject the desire to use Jesus to get my physical desires met without a true desire to follow Him as my Master.

4. Remember that Jesus came down to the world, not just for my family, our church, our community and me. Jesus came to give life to everyone. May I have the boldness to take the bread of life to the ends of the earth. What Jesus offers is what everyone needs, regardless of culture or continent.

Prayer:

Father, forgive me for using you to get my fill. Forgive me for receiving your great love and then being stingy with it. Thank you for the Bread of Life you offer through Christ. Lord, help me continue to trust Jesus as my source of life. May I see myself for what I am; “a beggar who found bread and is telling others beggars where I found it.”

Scripture:

John 5:39-40

You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

Observation:

It’s possible to be in a religion with the Scriptures instead of a relationship with the Savior.

This is scary. They studied diligently!These people really knew the Scriptures. Or did they?

It seems what they really knew was how to use, even the Scriptures, for selfish gain.

They were using Scripture to testify for self not the Savior.

Sound familiar?

Can’t see the forest because of the trees?

Whether it’s attending church, reading the Bible, being good, or even loving others – sometimes I’m doing it for myself.

Sometimes I realize it, sometimes I don’t.

It’s easy to get caught up in playing church, quoting scriptures, and being religious for selfish reasons. It does, after all, feel good.

How can I avoid this? How can I avoid missing Jesus when he’s right in front of my face? How can I avoid killing Jesus for claiming he’s God when Scriptures clearly tell me – He is God!?

Application:

Why and Who

If I keep the WHY In check. I’ll avoid the wrong WHO. Am I doing it for Jesus or me?

Why am I attending church, reading scriptures, working, dating, serving, eating, having kids, playing, getting education, voting, getting married, exercising, loving, etc.?

Jesus answers in Matthew how to avoid the wrong reason (why) and for the wrong person (who).

Matthew 22 – Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

No matter what I do, if I do it as a love for Jesus FIRST, then others (not self), I’ll avoid being blinded by selfishness.

Prayer:

Lord, today we celebrated Easter, that beautiful day when you rose from death. A death which was executed because people were religious with Scriptures instead of righteous with the Savior.
Father please help me not be so close to you yet so far away. Help me love YOU first in what I say and do. In Jesus name I pray. Amen

 

-James Smith

Scripture:

John 4:28-29

So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?”

Observations:

Jesus does not care about norms. This story demonstrates several ways in which Jesus acted in a manner outside of the socially accepted norms. First, Jesus traveled directly through Samaria. By passing through Samaria he ignored social norms, religious norms and cultural norms. The Jews and the Samaritans despised each other, in general. Jews would purposely avoid traveling through Samaria even if it meant taking them far out of their way. The Samaritans were of mixed heritage (they married outside of the Jewish faith), had different cultural beliefs, different religious beliefs and customs, and were hostile to the Jews. Jews and Samaritans did not generally associate with one another. Second, Jesus spoke directly to a woman. This was not a socially accepted practice in those times. Third, Jesus drank from the woman’s water jug. The Jews would have considered him unclean for doing this. Yet, Jesus did not care. He did all of these things anyway. Anyone can spread the Gospel. In fact, it is sometimes the people we least expect who are the boldest. In verse 4 it states Jesus had to pass thru Samaria. This was not forced travel but divine intervention. Jesus knew he had to meet this woman at the well. God chose her to go into the city and tell others about Jesus. She was so excited that she left her water jug. She was able to share the news about Jesus and many people were saved as a result. Jesus picked a woman that society would say was not a model citizen. She was living in sin with a man who was not her husband, was at the well during a time to most likely avoid being seen or having to talk with other women. Yet, this is who Jesus picked to talk to and who went back and spread the news about Jesus to others. Her action caused others to believe.

Application:

Jesus showed that everyone is worthy of being saved. We have to be ready to reach out to everyone and anyone. Jesus spread the word in Samaria, speaking the truth in an area that considered themselves to be following the word but that had twisted the truth and added on to God’s word. They were a despised group yet Jesus showed love and compassion. He did not judge them, he showed them the truth. We have to be ready to defend the Gospel by knowing and understanding the truth to show people that are not following the word where they are being misled. The Samaritans believed that a Messiah was coming. They built and worshipped in their own temple. But somewhere along their path they had gone astray. I need to use this story as an example of what I should not be doing. I should not judge others. I should not have preconceived notions of what people can or cannot do for the Lord based on how I think they are living their life. I should not judge who can and cannot be effective for spreading the Gospel. Jesus picked a woman who was probably shunned and outcast by society to spread the news, He can use anyone. Who am I to judge someone’s effectiveness? Who am I to be prejudiced about how someone else is living their life? I should live as Jesus lived and that is by displaying compassion, love and forgiveness. Not judgement, prejudice or hatred toward others.

Prayer:

Father, we are often too concerned with what others think of us or will think of us if we don’t conform to society’s norms. Help us to realize that you can use anyone or anything to bring people closer to you. Help us to rid ourselves of prejudices and help us to live in love, showing compassion toward others, not judgement or contempt. You are an amazing God. You are a loving God that has shown compassion on me. Thank you for your patience with me.

-Paul Palmer

Scripture:

John 3:1-3,8-9,12,17-18,21
Vs 1 – “There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemas, a ruler of the Jews.”
Vs 2 – “This man came to Jesus by night ….”
Vs 3 – “Nicodemas questioned Him …
Vs 8 – Jesus answered …
Vs 9 Nicodemas questioned Him …
Vs 12 Jesus answered ….
Vs 17 “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
Vs 18 “And this is condemnation, that the light came into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light…”
Vs 21 “But he who loves truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

Observation:

Nicodemas had questions for Jesus.
Jesus had answers for Nicodemas.
Nicodemas thought he had all the answers.
He was “a ruler”.
So, he went to Jesus “by night”.
Jesus had more than answers to questions, though.
Jesus had revelation … illumination.
Jesus spoke in terms of New Birth & Truth & Light.
Jesus also understood man’s motivation.
Man is more interested in condemnation than salvation.
… So long as they are the ones doing the condemning.
Otherwise, Nicodemas would have gone to Jesus “by day”, not “by night”.
Nicodemas didn’t want his actions to be “clearly seen”.
God’s desire, though, is salvation. “… that the world through Him would be saved…”

Application:

Do I have more questions for God or faith in God?
When it comes to God, what do I want more?
Full understanding of Him, or loving relationship with Him?
I used to have this running list of questions I wanted to “understand” about God…
“How’d the whole ark thing go down?”
“What was up with Jonah & the whale?”
Those are just a couple.
But the more I saw people in God’s Word who had encountered God Himself, it seems questions to Him were the last thing on their mind.
People who encountered God we’re face down on the ground in utter awe of the living God!
Now I care more about the “sign of Jonah” than the “story of Jonah”.
Now I try not to “lean on my own understanding”.
It also seems that the more I encounter people today that have questions for God, they often aren’t looking for Truth & Light.
They’re looking for justification of they’re own belief.
And rationalization of their own life.
It’s seems questions of God can be a way of “condemning” Him, not “saving” Him!
If my questions of God aren’t somehow satisfactorily answers, then He’s gone from my life.
As if this is possible!
It reminds me of the 6 year old that “runs away from home”.
… “I can’t eat the whole bag of candy?!”
… “Fine! I’m outta here!”…
All the while, the parent watches from the door as the child walks down the street thinking he’s really “the boss” … “the ruler”.
The child thinks he’s condemned the parent.
The parent wants the child safe.
My Heavenly Father also desires my salvation,
even when I think I understand more than Him.

Prayer:

God thank you that you are the God of Truth, and Light, and revelation.
But thank you even more so that you are the God of Salvation!
God, when I’m tempted to come to you “by night” with thoughts of self righteousness or thinking I’m “the ruler”,
forgive me.
Thank you that you know all and give me peace when I don’t understand your ways.
Help me to love your light and give me the desire to be “clearly seen” … “In God”.
Amen

-Dan Shontere

Scripture:

John 2:9
He did not realize where it had come from, though many servants who had drawn the water knew.

Observation:

John’s gospel starts not with Jesus’ birth, but Jesus as an adult. Chapter 1 starts with Jesus being baptized then calling his disciples. Chapter has Jesus reluctantly committing his first miracle. Then we see Jesus being angry with the moneychangers in the temple.

Application:

At first I wonder why the statement in verse 9 was important to preserve for centuries.
He did not realize where it had come from, though many servants who had drawn the water knew.  Why does it matter that the master of the wedding didn’t know where the wine came from but the servants did? What is the importance of this?
Then I was thinking that this was Christ’s first miracle. Many many more followed. Then I thought miracles take place in our lives every single day. When miracles happen, sometimes we are aware of them and sometimes they slip by unnoticed. The master of the feast was unaware of where this magnificent wine came from. Only the servants and Jesus’ disciples knew about the miracle. Then again maybe of the disciples, only John saw this miracle. This account is not in any other book of the bible. Maybe only John saw it. Miracles happen all of the time. Sometimes we see them, sometimes we are unaware. Often we take the miracles in our lives for granted. It is a gift and a miracle that we wake up every day. I should be more tuned in to the miracles in my life of others.

Prayer:

Father,
Father, thank you for having an interest in my life every day. I know that you are with me always, celebrating with me in good times and holding me up during challenges. Help me to always remember that you are there. Keep me aware of your miracles every day in my life and the life of others.

– Don J