There are intersections in life when we bump into Jesus and He has advice for how we should be living: how we work, parent, manage money, handle sex, etc.
Church should be a place where you can belong before you believe.
“When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, for they also had been there.”
John 4:45 NIV
They remembered Him as the guy who went crazy in the temple and chased all the merchants out with a whip!
“Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine."
They remembered Him as the guy who turned water into wine. Everyone wanted Him to come to their party!
And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum.”
John 4:46
Desperation always draws us closer to Jesus - when we are willing to try anything!
“When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.”
John 4:47
He runs 20 miles to Galilee and finds Jesus and begs Him.
““Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.””
John 4:48 NIV
Don't focus on the miracle, focus on Me (Jesus).
“The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.”
John 4:49
The man is left at a crossroads. Will He make more demands or will he believe. Just like us, He is at the intersection and must trust and obey or go our OWN way. Will we do what WE think is right or what Jesus has told us to do and trust Him to bless us?
“The man took Jesus at his word and departed. While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.” Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household believed.”
John 4:50-53
He believed, he obeyed, he took action, and Jesus blessed Him. He walked by faith and not by sight. The moment he did, Jesus changed everything!
Are you willing to take Jesus at His word, no matter what circumstances you are facing?
For more wisdom on how to live life, see: www.truthatlife.com
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Sunday, January 10, 2016
Roadwork - Part 2
What do you do when you're headed down the road of life, and life punches you in the gut.
We cry out to God for help. And we need it now. And it seems like He doesn't do jack. Is it that He can't help me or He won't help me. Which is worse? Why won't He help. Should I continue to believe?
What do you do when you're on the road and it feels like you hit a dead end?
“Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.”
John 11:1-7a
Jesus did jack. When Mary and Martha inquired as to when Jesus was coming, the answer was, "He's not coming."
““But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?” Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.” After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.””
John 11:8-15
Jesus had a better plan - to do a greater work - to build their faith.
“On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.
and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
John 11:17, 19-21
She was pissed. She gave Jesus a piece of her mind.
The question was, "Will Martha still believe and push through?" Will you? Will you push through the trails and still believe? It doesn't always turn out great. Jesus said, "In this life, there will be troubles." Even if things DON'T EVER get better, will you still believe - still trust and obey?
“But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.””
John 11:22-27
Martha continued to believe that in the end it will work out great - she will spend eternity in heaven. Will you?
For more wisdom on how to live life, see: www.truthatlife.com
We cry out to God for help. And we need it now. And it seems like He doesn't do jack. Is it that He can't help me or He won't help me. Which is worse? Why won't He help. Should I continue to believe?
What do you do when you're on the road and it feels like you hit a dead end?
“Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.”
John 11:1-7a
Jesus did jack. When Mary and Martha inquired as to when Jesus was coming, the answer was, "He's not coming."
““But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?” Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.” After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.””
John 11:8-15
Jesus had a better plan - to do a greater work - to build their faith.
“On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.
and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
John 11:17, 19-21
She was pissed. She gave Jesus a piece of her mind.
The question was, "Will Martha still believe and push through?" Will you? Will you push through the trails and still believe? It doesn't always turn out great. Jesus said, "In this life, there will be troubles." Even if things DON'T EVER get better, will you still believe - still trust and obey?
“But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.””
John 11:22-27
Martha continued to believe that in the end it will work out great - she will spend eternity in heaven. Will you?
For more wisdom on how to live life, see: www.truthatlife.com
Sunday, January 3, 2016
Roadwork - Part 1
Life is like a journey. We are all on a road going somewhere. Some roads lead to a dead end, some go in the wrong direction, and some have accidents ahead! Nicodemus was a Pharisee in the time of Jesus who was wondering where his road was headed. Was he living a life good enough to get into heaven, or was there something more that he needed to do?
“Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.””
John 3:1-2
Nicodemus came to see Jesus at night so no one would know. We do the same thing. We don't want anyone to see us. And we sure don't want anyone to see us doing something "religious." What Nicodemus and we really want to know is, "Are we ok, are we good enough?" There is a void in our soul - a want that is always seeking to be fulfilled.
“Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. ””
John 3:3
What the??? What kind of bizarre statement was that? Actually, it was a deep spiritual truth. Our SPIRIT has to be born again. Re-birth happens when we turn back to God - when we repent. When this happens, it is life giving water to our parched, dry spirits.
“Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.””
John 3:5-8
What does this mean - how can it be?
““How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?”
John 3:9-12
What does this mean???
“No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven - the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.””
John 3:13-15
The snake on a pole in Moses' time, was a foreshadowing of Jesus and His personal sacrifice on the cross to heal us all. Today, this symbol is on every hospital and ambulance (a snake wrapped around a pole, inside a blue cross).
“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
Only people who would believe in Jesus would have eternal life and be healed - saved from the consequences of our sins! Who is this available to: EVERYONE. What must we do: BELIEVE IN HIM.
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.”
John 3:17
God loves us. He does NOT hate us.
He did NOT come to condemn us or anyone else on this world.
"Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
John 3:18
The condemnation is not from God, it is from us. We condemn ourselves.
Those that condemn themselves choose to walk in the darkness. Those that accept Jesus choose to walk in God's light. Choose Jesus and walk in the light.
For more wisdom on how to live life, see: www.truthatlife.com
“Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.””
John 3:1-2
Nicodemus came to see Jesus at night so no one would know. We do the same thing. We don't want anyone to see us. And we sure don't want anyone to see us doing something "religious." What Nicodemus and we really want to know is, "Are we ok, are we good enough?" There is a void in our soul - a want that is always seeking to be fulfilled.
“Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. ””
John 3:3
What the??? What kind of bizarre statement was that? Actually, it was a deep spiritual truth. Our SPIRIT has to be born again. Re-birth happens when we turn back to God - when we repent. When this happens, it is life giving water to our parched, dry spirits.
“Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.””
John 3:5-8
What does this mean - how can it be?
““How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?”
John 3:9-12
What does this mean???
“No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven - the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.””
John 3:13-15
The snake on a pole in Moses' time, was a foreshadowing of Jesus and His personal sacrifice on the cross to heal us all. Today, this symbol is on every hospital and ambulance (a snake wrapped around a pole, inside a blue cross).
“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
Only people who would believe in Jesus would have eternal life and be healed - saved from the consequences of our sins! Who is this available to: EVERYONE. What must we do: BELIEVE IN HIM.
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.”
John 3:17
God loves us. He does NOT hate us.
He did NOT come to condemn us or anyone else on this world.
"Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
John 3:18
The condemnation is not from God, it is from us. We condemn ourselves.
Those that condemn themselves choose to walk in the darkness. Those that accept Jesus choose to walk in God's light. Choose Jesus and walk in the light.
For more wisdom on how to live life, see: www.truthatlife.com
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