Friday Thought -- November 28, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!’ So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus’ head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. They still did not understand from scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.” (John 20:1-9)

The most amazing and meaningful event in the history of the world occurred while no one was watching. In the middle of the night, or more accurately, in the early morning hours, something astounding happened inside the tomb of Jesus.

Jesus came out of His grave clothes. He left them just lying there on the rock ledge on which they had placed His body. The stone was moved. The heavy stone that several women knew they could not move, someone else had rolled it away from the entrance to the tomb. Jesus was gone.

Now that’s strange. Dead men don’t just leave their tombs! Jesus did! That’s just the first sign that would prove Jesus came back to life. The second, and more convincing sign, would happen again and again as Jesus Himself appeared to followers of His.

Jesus had to rise from the dead, that’s what the scriptures say. Why? Because if death held Him in its grip, there would be no hope for us. If He couldn’t conquer death for Himself, what chance is there that He could conquer it for us. Conquer it for Himself, He did! Conquer it for us, He has done that, too!

He’s not in the tomb any longer. His grave clothes were there, but He wasn’t. He’s alive, He still is! Now that’s amazing and wonderful and life-changing!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Thursday Thought -- November 27, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

Today is Thanksgiving! The food is being prepared for a great feast. Family and friends are about to gather or perhaps already have. Parades are on TV. Football games will come on this afternoon. It’s Thanksgiving and it’s a great day!

The modern history of Thanksgiving probably dates to the Reformation, especially in England. Days of Fasting were declared when there was some disaster or difficulty that was being faced. Days of Thanksgiving were declared when special blessings were being enjoyed.

In the United States, the origin of Thanksgiving can be traced to the Puritans in New England who celebrated God’s goodness with a week of thanksgiving and praise. It took a presidential proclamation by Abraham Lincoln to fix the date of Thanksgiving on the same date in all the states … at least in the Union states.  The fourth Thursday of November was chosen during the presidency of Franklin Roosevelt and is a fixed tradition today.

The Bible is filled with expressions of thanksgiving to the Lord.

“We give thanks to you, O God,

We give thanks , for your Name is near;

men tell of your wonderful deeds.” (Psalm 75:1)

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;

His love endures forever.” (Psalm 107:1)

“Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor

and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever.”

(Revelation 7:12)

Today, on this annual day of Thanksgiving, take time to give thanks to the Lord for His blessings to you.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Wednesday Thought -- November 26, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.” (John 19:38-42)

Joseph and Nicodemus made good partners. They were both hesitant to go public with their interest in Jesus.

Some time earlier, Nicodemus wanted to talk with Jesus, but didn’t want his friends and associates to know it, so he went at night to see Him. Joseph was a disciple, but only secretly. There was fear in him. He was a member of the Sanhedrin (Mark 15:43) and wondered what the rest of them would say and do if they knew he was a disciple of Jesus.

But there was something about Jesus’ death that made these two hesitant followers willing to take a risk. They risked being found out. They risked others questioning what they were doing.

At Jesus’ death, they were willing to do what they were not willing to do in Jesus’ life. It must have pleased Jesus to know they were caring for His body. It pleased Him to know they were willing to take a stand for Him, even though it took His death to make them do it.

There are many people who still want to be secret followers of Jesus. There is fear in them. Fear of what friends and associates would say and do if they knew they followed Him. We’ve seen what they do to outsiders, to those who are different, those who don't quite fit in. They can be brutal. We don’t want to face that kind of ridicule, too.

But there is something about Jesus’ death that should make those hesitant followers be willing to take a risk. Look closely at Him, hanging on the cross. Remember how much He was willing to do for us. See the extent of His love.

If He will do that for us, can’t we go public for Him? When they saw it, Joseph and Nicodemus did!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Tuesday Thought -- November 25, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

The day of Jesus’ crucifixion was the day before the Jewish Sabbath. As evening approached, and with it the beginning of the Sabbath day, the Jewish leaders became concerned about Jesus and the others being crucified with Him. They did not want to defile the Sabbath by having them on their crosses when the holy day started.

Pilate agreed to deal with their concerns and sent soldiers to break the legs of the three on the crosses, an action that would quickly bring death. When they came to Jesus, John records: “But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.” (John 19:33-34)

John includes this remarkable testimony: “These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: ‘Not one of his bones will be broken,’ and, as another scripture says, ‘They will look on the one they have pierced.’” (John 19:36-37)

The first prophetic statement came from Psalms and the second from the writings of Zechariah. Both of those books were written hundreds of years before Jesus was even born. How did the prophets know of the details that would surround the death of the Messiah? They didn’t. They didn’t even know what they were talking about. But God did! God deliberately had those phrases included in the Old Testament so that when Jesus died Bible students could look back and affirm that what happened was what God knew would happen and what God planned to have happen.

The death of Jesus, down to the details, did not come as a surprise to the Father. It was His plan and it happened to accomplish His purposes. That’s how much He loves you. He planned for the provision of your salvation, down to the details, hundreds of years before Jesus came, thousands of years before you were even born!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Monday Thought -- November 24, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty.’ A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (John 19:28-30)

It is finished -- the plan to redeem man that God had put into motion before the foundation of the world.

It is finished -- the sins of all mankind have been paid for.

It is finished -- the work for which Jesus left behind equality with God.

It is finished -- He has preached the good news to all to whom He would have the opportunity.

Jesus came into this world to do the work that the Father had appointed Him to do. He left when the work was fully completed. There was no failure in the cross. There was no sense in which Jesus left this world with the frustration of incomplete work. It was all done and He gave up His spirit with a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment.

It didn’t look that way to the unbelievers, and probably not to most of the believers. But Jesus knew that He had accomplished everything for which He came. All of His work was done. All that was necessary for man’s salvation was finished. The work would never have to be redone, just accepted.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Friday Thought -- November 21, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, ‘Dear woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.” (John 19:25-27)

While He was dying, hanging in agony on the cross, Jesus thought of the needs of others. If there ever was a time when a focus on self could be justified it was on the cross. But even on the cross, Jesus exemplified the kind of attitude He longs to see developed in His followers.

Paul included this instruction in his letter to the Philippians: “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:4)

That is what Jesus modeled on the cross.

With His death, His mother would be left lonely and in need of help, and Jesus thought of her situation and cared about her. Even when His own need was greatest He saw her need and provided for her.

Self-centeredness pervades our society. We are so focused on our own needs that we don’t even see the needs of those around us. Selfishness goes along with it. Even when we see the needs of others, we often do nothing to reach out to help meet them.

Jesus is calling us to be different from our society. He modeled what He meant for us to live.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Thursday Thought -- November 20, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, ‘If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.’” (John 19:12)

Pilate was the most powerful man in Judea. He was the representative of the Roman Emperor. His word was law. But he couldn’t escape the power of the crowd.

“Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus.” (John 19:16)

He gave in to the demands of the crowd and allowed Jesus to be crucified. He knew what was right, but could not stand up to the crowd and do it.

Then he had a sign made for the cross of Jesus saying, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” (John 19:19)

The Jewish leaders did not like what it said and came demanding that Pilate remove it or rewrite it. It was then that Pilate found his courage.

“Pilate answered, ‘What I have written, I have written.’” (John 19:22)

When it didn’t really matter, Pilate found courage to do what he wanted to do. When it mattered, he caved in to the crowd.

The pressure of the crowd can be strong. Sometimes people give in to the crowd and do what the crowd wants, even though it violates their conscience and they know it is not right.

Do you stand up for what is right or give to the influence of the crowd?

His, by Grace,

Steve

Wednesday Thought -- November 19, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“Pilate went back inside the palace. ‘Where do you come from?’ he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. ‘Do you refuse to speak to me?’ Pilate said. ‘Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?’ Jesus answered, ‘You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.’” (John 19:9-11)

People believe they have earned the positions they have. They believe they have taken what is rightfully theirs by virtue of their intelligence, hard work, charisma, cunning or some other trait.

They exercise authority as though it is rightfully theirs. But authority is not theirs because they have earned it. Authority is theirs because God has given it to them for His purposes.

Pilate was in power because God had placed him there. It was a stewardship that God had entrusted to him and Pilate didn’t even realize it. He thought he answered only to himself and to Rome. He left out the only One to whom he ultimately would answer.

That is not just true of Pilate and not just true of authority. It is true of every position we have, every talent and skill, all the training we’ve received, and every resource we’ve gained. We have them all because they have been given to us from above. They are not ours because we’ve earned them. They are not ours because of some virtue in us. They are ours because they have been entrusted to us by God. They are a stewardship from above.

The question God will ask Pilate in eternity is, “How did you use the authority and position with which I entrusted you?” It’s the same question He’ll ask us, too! We may not have the same authority or position, but whatever we have, God expects us to use it for Him and for His purposes.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Tuesday Thought -- November 18, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ Jesus said, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.’ ‘You are a king, then!’ said Pilate. Jesus answered, ‘You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.’” (John 18:33, 36-37)

He’s the strangest king I’ve ever heard of. He had no land that He can call His kingdom. He had no palace and no throne from which to reign. He didn’t dress like a king and wasn’t treated like a king by most people. He didn’t have the wealth that kings usually have. A strange king, but that is what He calls Himself.

A king whose kingdom was founded on truth. Now, that’s unusual, because earthly kingdoms are founded on a lie, the lie that some ancestral lines are superior to others. But here is a king whose ancestral lines are different from all others and definitely superior to them. He alone deserves to be called king.

A king whose kingdom isn’t of this world. Then what world is His kingdom of? His is a kingdom of the true world, the permanent world, the eternal world, not this temporary one in which we now live. It’s a kingdom we can’t see from here, but that doesn’t make it less real. The fact that we can’t see the kingdom from here says more about our world than the one to come!

A kingdom without land. We think land is the most enduring and most important aspect of this world. We’re wrong! The most enduring and most important aspect of this world is the hearts of men.  That is where Jesus’ kingdom is in this world.

A king. A strange king. A king unlike any other. The one King worth following. My King! Is He yours, too?

His. by Grace,

Steve

Monday Thought -- November 17, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

Jesus was on trial for His life. Jesus had been arrested on the orders of the high priest and the Jewish council. Now He was at the high priest’s home and the trial before the council was going on. And while Jesus was on trial, two of His disciples were lingering in the yard outside the house, Peter and another disciple.

“‘You are not one of his disciples, are you?’ the girl at the door asked Peter. He replied, ‘I am not.’” (John 18:17)

Why would Peter deny being a follower of Jesus? Just a few hours earlier, he had drawn his sword, ready to fight the soldiers and die to protect Jesus. Now, it seems as though he is a coward. Or, could it be that he thought he could be more help to Jesus if no one knew he was a follower. If they knew, perhaps they would not let him stay there.

“As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked, ‘You are not one of his disciples, are you?’ He denied it, saying, ‘I am not.’ One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, ‘Didn’t I see you with him in the olive grove?’ Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.” (John 18:25-27)

Twice more Peter denied Jesus, perhaps not even realizing what he was doing. The rooster crowed, the sign that Jesus had predicted would happen following Peter’s denials, and Peter knew then what he had done.

Perhaps, like Peter, we don’t always mean to deny Jesus. We speak before we think. Perhaps even with good intentions, not ready to share our faith, looking for a better opportunity. Before we realize it, we’ve denied Him.

And, like with Peter, when we do, the disappointed eyes of Jesus turn our way. He would never deny us!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Friday Thought -- November 14, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:20-23)

Unity was on the heart of Jesus. He prayed for it on the last night of His life. It mattered to Him. Why? Because He knew that the world would react positively when His people were united. The impact of the Gospel on the world would be greater when it came from a united people of God.

Is that really true? Well, it’s been so long since the church even approached anything close to unity that we don’t have any experience by which to judge it. My guess is that Jesus is right, the world will take greater note of the message when it comes from a united church. Personally, I’d like to see us test that prayer and just see if it is true!

David said something similar: “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.” (Psalm 133:1,3)

God blesses unity with salvation. That’s not just salvation for those who are united, but Jesus says it includes salvation for people in the world, too.

What a promise! Unity is worth pursuing! It may well be the most effective evangelism program ever developed! No wonder it was on Jesus’ heart! Perhaps it should be on our hearts, too.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Thursday Thought -- November 13, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

It is the last night of Jesus’ life on earth. He has already celebrated the Last Supper with His disciples. Soon, He will take them and go to the Garden and there He will be arrested. Before going to the Garden He spends time in prayer. It is the longest prayer of Jesus that is recorded. Several things were on His heart that night, including the following.

“I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.” (John 17:14-19)

There are times when I wish Jesus would take us out of the world. Life can be pretty tough. If all those who become Christians could be immediately taken to heaven it would do away with a lot of difficulty. Or even if we could all move into a community of just believers. That would take care of many troubles, too.

That’s not the way God designed life with Him to work. Jesus didn’t pray that the Father would remove His followers from the world. He prayed that the Father would protect us here and sanctify us, develop holiness in us.

With those prayers, Jesus sent His followers into the world. Instead of being taken out of it, we are sent into it, so that we can be God’s tools to help change the world.

That is the prayer of Jesus. That is the heart of God. God doesn’t want us to hide from the world or seek to become invisible to it. God desires us to be a part of the world and to influence it. Too often, I let the world influence me, but God is calling us to just the opposite, to influence the world. That’s why He has left us here.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Wednesday Thought -- November 12, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.” (John 16:7-11)

Jesus did not leave the earth and return to heaven for His own benefit. In fact, there is nothing about the actions of Jesus that falls into the self-benefit category. He came for our benefit – to teach, to guide, to give an example, and to make a sacrifice, all for us. He left the world for us, too. I can’t explain everything about how God works, but Jesus knows, and this is what He said, “Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come.”

The Holy Spirit would not come unless Jesus left. So, for our good, so that the Holy Spirit might come for our benefit, Jesus returned to heaven.

We often take the Holy Spirit for granted. Yet, without His influence, none of us would be walking with the Lord. It is His influence which convinces us of our sin. It is His influence which points to God’s righteousness and His offer to make it ours. It is His influence which reminds us that there is a judgment to come.

Imagine what it would be like without the influence of the Holy Spirit, and thank God for Him!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Tuesday Thought -- November 11, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me.” (John 15:18-21)

I’d like people to think good things about me. I’d like them to speak good things about me. I’d like them to do good things to me. It’s no fun when people turn against you.

It wasn’t fun for Jesus, either! He had the same desires we have. He also would have preferred to be liked and respected by all men. But there were things more important to Him than what others thought about Him, said about Him, or did to Him. Following God was more important than being liked and respected by others. For Jesus, following God meant men would turn against Him.

When we follow Jesus we can expect the world to treat us like it treated Him. We can’t expect to be liked and respected by everyone. In fact, we can anticipate being disliked and mistreated by some in the world. That’s a cost of following Jesus.

Jesus said, “Woe to you when all men speak well of you.” (Luke 6:26)

What’s more important to you: following Jesus or being liked by men?

His, by Grace,

Steve

Monday Thought -- November 10, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:12-15)

I’m not sure you can find a much more glorious passage anywhere in the Bible than this one. For myself, I might lay claim to any number of titles that describe my relationship with Jesus Christ: follower, disciple, servant, one who is loved by Him, one who loves Him, devotee, worshiper, and you can probably add others.

I would never have thought to claim the title that Jesus gives us in this verse. I would never have thought that I would have any right to lay claim to it. It is beyond my wildest imaginations to be called “friend” by Jesus. That is what He calls us, “You are my friends.”

We are not just servants to do His bidding. We are not just worshipers from whom He receives praise. We are not just followers who imitate His example. We are His friends.

To me, that says He not only loves me, He enjoys me. He not only wants me to follow Him, He just wants me to be with Him.

I can’t think of a better Friend to have than Jesus. I can’t think of anyone whose friend I’d rather be. That is the relationship into which He has invited you and me.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Friday Thought -- November 7, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.  I am the vine; you are the branches.  If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:1-5)

Staying connected to Jesus can be painful sometimes. There is this pruning that He does in our lives. He isn’t content to leave us alone and let us stay at the place of maturity which we have already reached. He’s always pushing us to change and sometimes that is uncomfortable.

Pruning in a vineyard can’t be fun for the vines, either. A pinch here, a cut there, it must be uncomfortable for them, assuming there is such a thing as pain for a plant. But the truth is, the vine is better off for the pruning. It can send more nutrients to the healthy parts of the plant and it will produce more grapes for the harvest. And, after all, it’s the harvest, both short-term and long-term, that the vinedresser is after, that’s the purpose for which the vine exists.

So it is with the followers of Jesus. A pinch here. a cut there, it is uncomfortable to have things pruned out of our lives. The truth is, we are better off for the pruning. More energy goes to the healthy parts of our lives, and there’s more fruit produced, too. After all, the fruit is the purpose of our lives, it’s why we exist.

“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” (John 15:8)

Pruning is painful! But it is helpful, too!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Thursday Thought -- November 6, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

It seems like Jesus was trying to tell His followers something, perhaps you can pick up His meaning!

“If you love me, you will obey what I command.” (John 14:15)

“Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” (John 14:21)

“Jesus replied, ‘If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.’” (John 14:23-24)

It seems pretty clear that Jesus was trying to connect love and obedience. Obedience is one way in which we show our love for the Lord. In fact, you cannot show love for Him without obedience.

One more verse just a few after the last one, “The world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me.” (John 14:31)

Even Jesus showed His love for the Father through His obedience to His commands.

How much do you love God? Are you showing it by being obedient?

His, by Grace,

Steve

Wednesday Thought -- November 5, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to 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. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:15-18)

The world is a lonely place. Even when we are in a crowd, there is still a sense of loneliness. Not even those closest to us fully understand us. Perhaps they would if we would fully share ourselves with them, but something causes us to hold back. There are places in our minds and our hearts that we hide from everyone else. We do it for many reasons. Sometimes it is a matter of embarrassment or shame and the sense that no one will love and respect us if they know those places in our lives. Sometimes it is fear that if we reveal that tender spot it will only lead to hurt. I’m sure there are other reasons, too, some too deep even to discuss.

There is One from whom we need not and cannot hide even the deepest secret places of our hearts and minds. He lives with us, in fact, He lives in us. He is God’s gift to us, the fulfillment of the promise of Jesus that He would never leave us alone. Even as Jesus says just a few verses earlier that He was in the Father and the Father was in Him, so also the Father is in the Spirit, and so is Jesus.

Jesus has not left us alone, He never will. The One He has sent is a part of Himself. The Spirit loves us like Jesus loves us, with the same unselfish and sacrificial love. The Spirit knows us, because He is in even those deepest secret places of our lives, nothing is hidden from Him.

Scary – somewhat. Embarrassing – a little. Most of all – comforting. Someone knows me – fully. That Someone still loves me –completely!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Tuesday Thought -- November 4, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’ Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” (John 14:5-6)

Jesus’ reply to Thomas is probably the most offensive statement that Jesus ever made. It flies in the face of what people today want to believe.

Today, people want to believe that there are many ways to God and that you can have your way and I can have my way and we’re both still okay. That may sound good, but it’s not true. Jesus said that there is only one way to God and that is through Him!

A person can’t earn his way to heaven in any way, not through good works, or generous giving, or religious ritual, or any other way. Buddha won’t get you there. Neither will Mohammed. Following Confucius leads to a dead end. Pick any other way that people think leads to heaven and if it isn’t Jesus, they are following a lie. The only road to heaven is the one following Jesus Christ.

That’s why sharing the Gospel is so important. Without it, people are lost. If you had never met Jesus Christ, you’d be lost. You might think you were following the right path, but, in the end, you discover that you had been deceived.

There are only two paths to follow – Jesus and the wrong way!

Follow Jesus, and at the end of the road you’ll find just what He promised: heaven. Aren’t you glad you found Him!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Monday Thought -- November 3, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:1-3)

Jesus had just made a troubling prediction: He was going to leave the disciples. He was going to a place where they could not follow Him.

Imagine how troubling that would have been to the early disciples. They had come to love Jesus and rely upon Him. He was their leader. He provided direction for their lives. He had power they could not match: to heal the sick, to raise the dead, to calm the storm. It seemed that there was nothing He could not handle. But the disciples knew that was not true of them. They couldn’t handle the storms that they might encounter. They couldn’t fix the diseases that would strike. Death held fear for them. They couldn’t face their enemies the way Jesus did. It was frightening for them to think that Jesus was about to leave them!

Jesus knew their fear, and He responded to it with awesome promises. They are promises to us, too!

Trust Him. That was to be true whether He was with them or gone from them. He could be counted on to help even after He left. After all, He would promise elsewhere that He would always be with them, even when He wasn’t physically present.

Know that He isn’t gone forever. We’ll be with Him someday. For the early disciples that must have been a great thought. They had lived with Jesus. They knew what it was like to be with Him. And, someday, we’ll know what it is like, too. We won’t always be separated from Him.

Remember that He is coming back and He’s come back for us. The Second Coming isn’t something to be feared or dreaded. It’s what we’re waiting for! He’ll usher us into eternity and we’ll always be with Him in the place He’s prepared for us.

There is a great deal to trouble us in this world. So, remember His awesome promises!

His, by Grace,

Steve