The Devotional - Jhn 18

The Devotional

Comment: In the times of which we live, we do not hear of miracles and signs from heaven. Reaching back to 1970, to the so called “Jesus Movement” during the seventies I heard of a young couple who were returning from their honeymoon, but were lost in the Pennsylvania hills. Traveling north on a country road most of the night looking for Interstate 80 they were becoming desperate. It was still dark, but the sun was starting to come up and the man felt as if he was being warned to slow down. He ignored the warning, the road was straight but there were several rolling hills. He kept up his speed, nearly 60 miles per hour. Again the warning, he slowed to 50 and as he began going up hill, he was urged to stop his car NOW! He slammed on the brake, his wife who was half asleep gave startled scream. The car slide to a stop and in the headlights just a few feet from the vehicle was a little three year girl sitting in the middle of the road. She had woke up and wandered out of her parent’s home just 30 feet from the road. The newlyweds had breakfast in that home that morning and a bonding friendship developed. Also in the course of conversation the four adults learned they were related children of God through the grace of God in Christ.

Challenge: John 6:1-40 – The stories related to you by me are true as I remember them, yet the events in the life of Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God go beyond the memory of a sinner saved by the grace of God. Today, and this is no excuse we are approaching the 2,000^th anniversary of the day that Jesus fed 5,000 men and their wives and children. No doubt there were over 10,000 people that day who ate and were fed to the full by The Son of God.

A lad who just happen to have five small barley loaves of bread and two small fish, is much like the little girl sitting in the middle of a country road early in the morning. What chance? Is it fate? Or what allows these events to happen at the right or wrong place at any moment in time? The answer does not need to be given since there is only one right one and I am afraid that most all of us in our secular world today would give the wrong one.

Also it is not a coincidence that in this same day Jesus walked on the waters of the Sea of Galilee. These miracles the 4^th provides proof that Jesus is the Provider of sustaining physical life and the 5^th provides proof that Jesus Christ is the Protector and controller over all of Creation. We should note that Jesus understands why most of the people are following Him. Notice John 6:26-27.

“Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal upon Him.” Also hearing this answer, the next question that comes to Him is “what shall we do, that we may work the works of God. His answer does not permit (human work) but for mankind to do anything other than to believe; notice “This is the work of God that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

 

Miracles and signs are the work of God to lead people to believe in Christ Jesus, as children of God we are going to see His signs and miracles in our (set apart) life with Him. We ought not to keep them secret, but also we ought not be foolish. We cannot brag, but there will come an appropriate time to reveal who Jesus IS, just as He revealed to the startled disciple in the boat or the frightened couple in the car – John 6:20 “It is I, do not be afraid!” Jesus is and always will be the great “I am”. According to Dr. Constable’s discourse of these verses, Jesus literally said to them in the boat, “I AM, do not be afraid.” See John 8:48-59 and note verse 58.

The Devotional Jhn 17

The Devotional

Comment: As human, we understand the letter of the law and the failure of obedience. We also see the sleight of hand so to speak in that when the law is broken, not everyone is caught. Also in human law there is an unwritten conduct of the margin for error. Levels of abiding in the law vary with the signature (character) of every individual being, whose conscience knows or rejects right from wrong. Thus our character goes before us, even revealed to others by the chances/steps we take of abiding or cheating. Does all of this matter? From one human to another it may cause a bump or two in the road and it may redirect a person’s relationship with another, but somehow we seem to get by, pushing the envelope of the law to the limit under the guise of whatever I do in my own eyes is right, and neglecting the truth that I am only deceiving myself.

Challenge: John 5:16-47 – Rejection or acceptance; this long discourse of the LORD is one of many found in the Gospel of John, these discourses usually follow something that the LORD has done, like a miracle or sign to get people to look to God, that is to look beyond the obvious. He begins “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.” If Jesus were less than God in the flesh would He have made that statement? I think not, since He is not seeking His own human glory.

Throughout this discourse He claims equality with the Father, God is a Spirit and those who worship the Father through the Person of Jesus Christ, worship God in Spirit and Truth because the Truth is in Jesus (John 4:23-24 and Ephesians 4:21). For many religious people this claim of identity does not fit into their framework of ritual and law, so Jesus as God is rejected. The rejection of the Son of God and His authority as God is the major crippling factor in churches of the so called New Testament of today.

If you fail to understand this, read Revelation chapters 2 and 3, but first read chapter 1. Now in John 5:24 – “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My Word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but is past from death to life. ONLY God Himself is capable of performing this action of hearing and believing on any one person. Why? Judgment is already in place by God on all of mankind, no one except the SINLESS ONE IS EXEMPT – John3:17 and John 3:36. So it is that the only one who can lift this judgment from us is God.

This is GRACE, it is not of works. I cannot tell you that I have personally obeyed God and that is how I intend to get to heaven, if this were my understanding of Jesus, it would be insane. One look at any of the Old Testament Saints, David for example ought to be enough to understand that God does not judge on a scale of good or evil. David did both good and evil in the sight of God. David suffered in time for this, yet he found that God was always faithful because David’s heart was bent Godward.

If your heart is bent to living by the law of right and wrong you are a “hunchback”; everything you see is base and limited by temporal living, one day it will pass away. Yet if your heart is bent by grace (Ephesians 2:8-10) than you are an “archback”, your eyes are fixed on the Author of Faith, He is God. Do not marvel at this Truth, for the hour is fast approaching when those who believe will come forth to the resurrection of life eternal. But to those who did evil and called it good as they could through the law; to the resurrection of the condemned.

Thank you!

We do not get opportunity to speak as much as we ought, I mean; personally one on one. Time, distance, opportunity and other factors of life are the cause. Yet I know as you do as I remember, there is a spot reserved in my heart that longs to see and speak to you. So as the apostle Paul relates to his friends and relatives in the LORD, even to those who are separated from the Kingdom of God in Christ, that when I remember you and the days we talked face to face, I am so thankful for you and our relationship. 

May your Thanksgiving today be blessed of the LORD.

Jess and Louise Abel