I knew when we looked at John 15 that Gene would really add a lot to our conversation. Gene is always encouraging us to abide in in Jesus. I would venture to say that this may be his life verse. (I could be wrong.) He encourages us to remain connected to Jesus through the Word of God and prayer.
How important is it that we remain (abide) in Him? John 15:5 says, "..apart from me you can do nothing." Let me repeat, NOTHING! Any good that man claims apart from Jesus is dung.
Another verse that Gene encourages us with is Philippians 1:6, "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."
We are God's work. Imagine that. All that we are, have, and do, is the work of God! That blows me away!
Back to John 15, verses four and five says, "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. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."
Sometimes in order to produce more fruit, we need to be pruned. That can be painful at times. I'm sure in your life as well as in mine, we can look back at difficult times and see the hand of God. Also in the midst of these times we can find comfort knowing that it is the work of the Lord.
Gene is constantly encouraging us to abide in Christ. Gene also reminds us that we are the work of God and He will complete His work. I'm encouraged, I hope you are too.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Boneheads?
John 13:36-14:14 (The Message) says, "Simon Peter asked, "Master, just where are you going?" Jesus answered, "You can't now follow me where I'm going. You will follow later."
"Master," said Peter, "why can't I follow now? I'll lay down my life for you!"
"Really? You'll lay down your life for me? The truth is that before the rooster crows, you'll deny me three times."
"Don't let this throw you. You trust God, don't you? Trust me. There is plenty of room for you in my Father's home. If that weren't so, would I have told you that I'm on my way to get a room ready for you? And if I'm on my way to get your room ready, I'll come back and get you so you can live where I live. And you already know the road I'm taking."
Thomas said, "Master, we have no idea where you're going. How do you expect us to know the road?"
Jesus said, "I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him. You've even seen him!"
Philip said, "Master, show us the Father; then we'll be content."
"You've been with me all this time, Philip, and you still don't understand? To see me is to see the Father. So how can you ask, 'Where is the Father?' Don't you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you aren't mere words. I don't just make them up on my own. The Father who resides in me crafts each word into a divine act.
"Believe me: I am in my Father and my Father is in me. If you can't believe that, believe what you see—these works. The person who trusts me will not only do what I'm doing but even greater things, because I, on my way to the Father, am giving you the same work to do that I've been doing. You can count on it. From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I'll do it. That's how the Father will be seen for who he is in the Son. I mean it. Whatever you request in this way, I'll do."
We looked at these passages this past Wednesday. I am thankful that we can look at these passages in hindsight. I can only imagine if I had been present with Jesus and the disciples that I would have been just as confused as they were.
First, Peter says he will follow Jesus to where He is going and give his life if necessary for Jesus' sake. Jesus says Peter will not only NOT give his life but will deny that he even knows Him. Peter didn't realize the limits of his own will. He was acting on his own "power" not the Power that comes from weakness (2 Corinthians 12:10).
Next we see Thomas. Jesus says that He will be preparing a place for them and come back for them. He says they know where He is going and they know the way. Thomas said, "Master, we have no idea where you're going. How do you expect us to know the road?" Jesus explains that He is the Road (the Way).
Many teachers and philosophers have come and gone. They want their followers to be lead by their teachings or philosophies. Not Jesus. He says , "Follow Me." We not only follow what He taught but we have to have a relationship with Him because He is ALIVE! HE IS THE WAY! (Read "A Jesus Manifesto" by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola.)
Finally Jesus says that if they know Him they know the Father and have seen the Father. Phillip then says, "Master, show us the Father; then we'll be content."
At this point we all laugh and think these guys are boneheads! We can only do that because we have the advantage of hindsight through the Scriptures, not to mention, the Holy Spirit. I'm sure we would be the boneheads if we were present there that day.
All these "boneheads" eventually do give their lives for Jesus' sake. Eventually they do find their way to where Jesus was going. Now they not only see the Father but live in His house.
Press on and be encouraged.
"Master," said Peter, "why can't I follow now? I'll lay down my life for you!"
"Really? You'll lay down your life for me? The truth is that before the rooster crows, you'll deny me three times."
"Don't let this throw you. You trust God, don't you? Trust me. There is plenty of room for you in my Father's home. If that weren't so, would I have told you that I'm on my way to get a room ready for you? And if I'm on my way to get your room ready, I'll come back and get you so you can live where I live. And you already know the road I'm taking."
Thomas said, "Master, we have no idea where you're going. How do you expect us to know the road?"
Jesus said, "I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him. You've even seen him!"
Philip said, "Master, show us the Father; then we'll be content."
"You've been with me all this time, Philip, and you still don't understand? To see me is to see the Father. So how can you ask, 'Where is the Father?' Don't you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you aren't mere words. I don't just make them up on my own. The Father who resides in me crafts each word into a divine act.
"Believe me: I am in my Father and my Father is in me. If you can't believe that, believe what you see—these works. The person who trusts me will not only do what I'm doing but even greater things, because I, on my way to the Father, am giving you the same work to do that I've been doing. You can count on it. From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I'll do it. That's how the Father will be seen for who he is in the Son. I mean it. Whatever you request in this way, I'll do."
We looked at these passages this past Wednesday. I am thankful that we can look at these passages in hindsight. I can only imagine if I had been present with Jesus and the disciples that I would have been just as confused as they were.
First, Peter says he will follow Jesus to where He is going and give his life if necessary for Jesus' sake. Jesus says Peter will not only NOT give his life but will deny that he even knows Him. Peter didn't realize the limits of his own will. He was acting on his own "power" not the Power that comes from weakness (2 Corinthians 12:10).
Next we see Thomas. Jesus says that He will be preparing a place for them and come back for them. He says they know where He is going and they know the way. Thomas said, "Master, we have no idea where you're going. How do you expect us to know the road?" Jesus explains that He is the Road (the Way).
Many teachers and philosophers have come and gone. They want their followers to be lead by their teachings or philosophies. Not Jesus. He says , "Follow Me." We not only follow what He taught but we have to have a relationship with Him because He is ALIVE! HE IS THE WAY! (Read "A Jesus Manifesto" by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola.)
Finally Jesus says that if they know Him they know the Father and have seen the Father. Phillip then says, "Master, show us the Father; then we'll be content."
At this point we all laugh and think these guys are boneheads! We can only do that because we have the advantage of hindsight through the Scriptures, not to mention, the Holy Spirit. I'm sure we would be the boneheads if we were present there that day.
All these "boneheads" eventually do give their lives for Jesus' sake. Eventually they do find their way to where Jesus was going. Now they not only see the Father but live in His house.
Press on and be encouraged.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)