The Daily Dose

Don’t be surprised

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. John 15:18

I wouldn’t say that I have had enemies throughout my life, but there have been those who for some reason just didn’t like me.  Maybe it was because I was quiet and insecure or maybe it was because I kept to myself and just did my job in my places of employment?  I always tried to be nice to people, but for some reason, there just seemed to be those who didn’t care.  Whether they were jealous or just judgy, I just never understood why.  Even when I was living like the world, I never seem to quite fit in.  Turns out that God’s blessing can be seen on you and there are many people that are repelled by it. 

This should come as no surprise.  Jesus told His disciples about it and it is recorded for all of us to know that many people of the world will not understand what it means to have a relationship with God.  He said the world hated Him first and it is going to despise all who follow and worship Him.  He also said a servant is not greater than their master so we should expect that persecutions will come. Jesus also told the disciples that the Holy Spirit is coming, and He would reinforce in their lives and others what Jesus taught and what He did.  The Holy Spirit came into the world to be the spirit of truth that lives on the inside of each one of God’s people to strengthen and bear witness with the word of God that we know and speak.

In Matthew 5, Jesus said blessed are those who are persecuted because of their right relationship with God because they belong to a different Kingdom, the kingdom of heaven.  That is the whole point.  We do not belong to this world.  As God’s people, we are part of His kingdom, and we carry that with us wherever we go each day.  Some people do like that just like they don’t like others because of race or gender or some other bias.  But that doesn’t mean that God loves them any less.  Jesus still died for them, and He still desires to rescue them from the blindness that covers their spiritual eyes.

So, what is the solution and what are we to do when others hate or persecute us?  Are we to fight and defend ourselves and our God?  No, we are to love and pray for them and do good things for them.  Jesus said it this way in Matthew 5:44 – Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.  This sounds like it is hard to do, but actually it is the most fulfilling and rewarding response.  No matter how your love, goodness and blessing on someone that hates you is received, you can walk away knowing that your response is working in them long after you are gone and God your heavenly Father is well please with the way you treated them.  It is a blessing to be a blessing to others and especially to those who do not deserve it.  That blessing you gave and prayed over them will continue to work in their lives and yours and it will go on through all eternity.

Today I want to encourage you to be aware that persecutions and refilings will come in this world.  Don’t be surprised when there is someone that hates or despises you.  Remember that it happened to Jesus and He said it was going to happen to us also.  Ask the Holy Spirit ahead of time to help you remember in those times to love, pray for and do good to those who bring a charge against you.  Also ask Him to remind you that you are of a different kingdom, the kingdom of heaven and we do things differently in His kingdom.  We don’t return evil for evil because there is no evil in God’s kingdom.  We only share God’s blessings God’s love and God’s hope with people no matter who they are.  Even if it doesn’t look like it made a difference at the time, know that blessing others is an act that will continue to work in an individual’s life long after you are gone.

Today’s scripture reading: John 15:18-27

18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 

19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 

20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 

21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. 

22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 

23 He who hates Me hates My Father also. 

24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. 

25 But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’

26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. 

27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

Would you?

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.  John 15:13

I recently saw a movie that was about rescuing children from human trafficking. It was sad but inspiring.  One man stepped up and began to walk in the direction of helping these innocent kids.  He started right where he was at the time, but soon found himself in another country where people lived beyond the laws of the land.  He did manage to build a small team of people to help him and they were able to make an impact on the world because of this one man’s involvement. 

In one scene toward the end, this man went deep into the jungles of South America to rescue a little girl that was never going to be able to escape without help.  She had been sold to a group of rebels and no one dared to go where this group of militants lived and come back alive.  As the man went into this small village, he was able to identify the little girl and wait for the right time to pick her up and get her out of there.  Then the time came!  In that scene, he knocked out one of the men guarding her and pick her up and ran out of the jungle carrying her.  He saved this little girl he didn’t even know.  He risked his life because a man he only met one time asked him to find his daughter.  This hero had his own family and his own life, but he began on a mission that ended up saving many lives and changing many government laws in many countries.   Something leapt inside my spirit as I watched this guy carrying this small child out of the deep impenetrable village.  When I saw this picture, I thought in my heart; This is what a savior looks like.  Risking his own life to save another small seemingly insignificant life.

In today’s verse, Jesus told His disciples that there is no greater love than when someone lays down their own life for a friend.  This is what Jesus did for His disciples, but Jesus also laid down His life for His enemies.  As He was hanged on the cross, He pray that God would forgive those who carried out that gruesome deed because they didn’t know what they were doing.  Jesus rescued His friend, His enemies and even those He didn’t know.  He laid down His life for all! There is no greater love.  Yet this same disciple John that wrote this account of Jesus words later on wrote: By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren in 1 John 3:16. We should be willing to lay down our lives for others.

This is a great challenge for me as I consider: Would I be willing to lay down my life for someone else?  Probably for my grandchildren, children and my husband.  But what about a friend or even a stranger.  Not likely.  I would justify that my family needs me and that is more important.  But Jesus told us to go into all the world and rescue lost people.  It may not be life threatening, but it is a mission that we all need to be on and when you consider the risk involved of just telling someone about the love of God, it is very minimal.

Today I want to encourage you that most of us will never have to lay down our life for another person. However, when we begin to love others enough to be concerned with their eternity, we will lay down our fears and complacency to share God’s salvation with them.  Leading people to the only hope in this world will become the greatest assignment on our lives and we will begin to step in the direction of rescuing people from an eternity of separation from our Father in heaven.  Share the greatest love with those around you today by laying down your self focus to become other focused. Would you?

Today’s scripture reading: John 15:9-17

9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 

10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 

12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 

13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 

14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 

15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 

16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 

17 These things I command you, that you love one another.

Abide in Him

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.  John 15:7

I live in my home.  I am very comfortable here and I enjoy spending much of my time here.  I feel safe and it is really my “happy place” that I come to each day.  Yes, it is about where my stuff is some, but it is also where my husband is and I enjoy being with him when we can be together here.  My home is also in me.  I know it well and there is a place in my heart i give it.  I know that sounds kind of weird and certainly I don’t love it, but it is special to me, so it takes up space in what is important to me.  Obviously, my house cannot fit inside of my heart physically, but I do feel like it is part of who I am because it has taken on some of my personality by the things that are in it.

As I consider this concept of me in my house and my house in me, it helps me to better understand that through God’s salvation, Jesus lives in me and I in Him.  It is not a physical thing, but a spiritual picture. I invited Him into my life because I wanted to live my life according to His ways.  In doing that, now I live in Him and in agreement with His word.  Oh, I am not perfect by any means, but it is easier not to fall into sin like I once did because I stay far away from the line of temptation and commit to keeping in agreement with Him.

In today’s verse, Jesus said if I abide or live in Him and His words live in me, I will ask what I desire (according to His Word) and it will be done for me.  Jesus makes this promise because He knows that when we live our lives by the word of God, we are living by the will of God.  God’s Word is Gods’ will!  Now we understand that when we are facing an uphill situation or crisis in life, we go to God’s word and find the promise that He will bring us through to victory.  Words like “I am more than a conqueror through Him who loves me” (Romans 8).  “I can do al things through Christ Who strengthens me” (Philippians 4).  “All of my children have great peace because they are taught by the Lord” (Isaiah 54).  Because God made these promises in His word, I know they are His will for me.  I know that I am more than a conqueror so I will win this battle I am in.  I know that His words say that I can do all things so when I ask Him for the grace to accomplish His plan, I know I have it.  I know it is His will that my children live in peace because His word told me that.  I have no trouble believing He will bring them through every problem because I can ask for them to live in peace according to His word, which is His will. No matter what the outward circumstances look like, I know that the pressure of God’s promises on that situation will turn it around for His glory.

So today I want to encourage you to abide in Him.  As the branch cannot have life without the vine, find your life and purpose in Him.  Give Him first place in your life so that He can live at the head of all you do each day and direct you in His perfect path of purpose.  Then you will know how to pray and petition for yourself and those you love because you live your life according to God’s word which is His will.  Trust His provision of peace, grace and love through His word for every one of life’s circumstances that come your way and you will have whatever you ask from Him. When you do, vs. 8 says that God will be glorified by your victory in Him.

Today’s scripture reading: John 15:5-8

5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 

6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 

7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 

8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

The Vine

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.  John 15:4

My husband is a gardener.  He likes it very much.  Even though he has only been at it for just a few years now, he so enjoys taking time to watch over the crop and taking care of the needs of each individual plant.  He spends time each day keeping the weeds away, making sure they are watered and get enough sunlight.  As the plants grow, sometimes he has to remove dead leaves and even cut off little growths called “suckers.”  That is a great name for the little leader sprigs that form up between two existing stalks and if they are not cut off, they will steal the life and nutrients that the existing branches need to produce fruit.

His garden also grows in his heart.  As he takes time each day to care for his produce, he thinks about each need and even cares that no outside wildlife gets in and causes damage.  In the case of my husband, he even looks for natural ways to get rid of parasites and other damaging insects to protect each vegetable from being damaged or becoming diseased.  The more time he spends tending to and caring for the garden the more he thinks about it when he is aways from it.  As he goes to work each day, he thinks about the time he will spend with the plants in the evening hours when he gets home.  Not in a weird longingful way, but in a caring and nurturing way. He knows that the success and protection of each seedling is dependent on his attention to their life.

Today’s reading is also about gardening.  Jesus continues His last words to His disciples, but He shifts to give them some illustrations to help them remember what He told them.  He compares our relationship with Him to a fruit plant.  In this picture, He actually says that we need each other.  He said that even though He is the Vine, He cannot bear fruit without branches.  Likewise, as branches, we cannot bear fruit without the nutrients that the vine supplies.  He also said that even the good branches need to be pruned.  That sounds like it could be painful, but pruning is actually a freeing procedure.  The old and dead parts are taken away so that life can flow freely through every area.  Also, the “suckers” (distractions in life) are removed so that they are not taking the nutrients that need to be focused on where the fruit grows.

My favorite part is that my Father in heaven is the gardener.  In a similar way that my husband cares for and even thinks about his garden, God cares for and thinks about us.  Except His care for us goes way beyond the investment of time my husband puts into his garden.  God in heaven actually loves His Vine, branches and fruit.  He watches over, tends to the needs, prunes and even thinks about each part every day.  We are so much more than a garden to Him; we are His family.  The picture Jesus gave is a great one, but God’s love for us goes way beyond fruit and vegetables.  We are His family, His people and His children.  There isn’t one thing that He wouldn’t do for us, including sending His only Son (at the time) to come and rescue us.

Today I want to encourage you to consider how the branch that is your life is connected to the vine.  Are you firmly and strongly connected in, or are you just barely holding on?  Do you spend time each day strengthening your connection by communing with Him in prayer and His Word?  Jesus said that you must spend time living in the Vine if you want to bear fruit which means you have to set aside time to live and press into your relationship with Him.  God, your heavenly Father is watching over, caring for and loving you each step of the way, and He always will.  It is your job to make sure your connection is solid and strong to receive that love through the Vine.  Abiding in Him is through:  Time with Him, standing on His Word and following His plan.  Make your attachment stronger today by letting His life flowing into yours.

Today’s scripture reading: John 15:1-4

1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 

2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 

3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 

4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

Judge angels?

Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?    1 Corinthians 6:3

God’s angelic force!  The thought of them can be quite intimidating.  The scripture actually talks a lot about them, but most people know little if anything about His angelic hosts.  Below is a short list of some of the attributes and descriptions God has told us about them in His word:

1. One angel will put 1000 to flight and two 10,000 – Deuteronomy 32:30
2. God puts them in charge of our protection – Psalms 91:11
3. Angels excel in strength and listen for His word to be spoken to do it – Psalms 103:20
4. Messengers from God – Luke 1
5. Ministering spirits to minister for God’s people – Hebrews 1:14
6. Worship the Lord – Revelation 4 & 5

There are many more references that give us insight into what God’s angels are like.  If you do a search for just the word angel, you will immediately find over 100 results.

The focus of today’s reading says that WE will judge angels about things in this life and in this world.  I didn’t understand this for the longest time until I was employed as a driver where I operated a vehicle for 4-6 hours per day.  I have been in several near misses, many almost collisions and even more close calls.  To the point that now even before I am on the road I declare: “Angels, I judge you more than able to keep me in all my ways.  God has put you in charge of my safety and protection and you have proven to me that you are well able to accomplish this.  Therefore, I judge you worthy of keeping me safe and my vehicle and all those around me.  I judge you mighty in strength because you have brought me through many narrow escapes and ministered grace and peace to me along the way.”

I judge my angels well able to watch over me and my loved ones and even those who are just around me.  How do you judge your angels?  Do you even realize that they are close by waiting to hear your direction?  Psalms 103 says they are listening to your words for the “word of God” to do it.  Do you release them with the power of grace, protection, wisdom and peace in your life or are they standing by with nothing to do because they do not understand your language?  They are God’s ministering spirit sent forth to minister for you (Hebrews 1:14) but it is up to you to send them out.

Today I want to encourage you to release the angels over your life and the lives of those you love.  Speak the word of God and send them in the direction that you need some mighty strength poured out on (Psalms 103).  Judge them worthy to be in charge of your safety and protection because God has put them in charge of it and rejoice with them that one day you will stand beside them in heaven praising and worshiping your Father, just like the apostle John did in Revelation!

Today’s scripture reading:  1 Corinthians 6:1-11

1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?

2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?

4 If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge?

5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren?

6 But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers!

7 Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated?

8 No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren!

9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,

10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

A real problem                                   

It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning.  1 Corinthians 5:12

This is a problem.  We know that we, as God’s people, are the light of the world.  We know that we are not of this world, just in it.  We know that we are to reach out to the lost and hurting people of the world.  Yet in today’s reading, Paul says not to keep company with the immoral, covetous, extortioners and idolaters of the world.  Aren’t these the very people that we are to reach for the kingdom of Heaven?  The ones who need the love of God and the salvation He provided for them?

In Paul’s defense, his focus in this passage is to not condone sinful habits of fellow believers.  This part makes sense, and certainly once you become a part of God’s family, there is a much higher standard of living and no room for immoral habits with covetous, idolatry, reviling/complaining, drunkenness and extortion to still exist.  Yes, this is definitely a problem.  It may happen in a church, but typically, when people have not stepped away from sinful habits, they are not spending a lot of time in church anyway.  The instruction in today’s text is not to associate with them by sitting with them in eating (which implies fellowshipping).  There are so many variables to this.  What if it is family members or what if it is a new believer that is trying to get on track?  I believer Paul’s point is directed toward those who are deliberately defiant and refuse to grow in their walk or relationship with God.

He concludes this chapter by saying that God judges the unbeliever, but we are to evaluate if another believer is walking toward God or away from Him.  Lost and sinful people are going to sin.  That’s what sinners do, they sin.  However, once you receive salvation and a right relationship with God, the fruit of that decision should be evident in living differently than when you didn’t know God.  You can look at it this way:  When you receive God’s gift of salvation, you are immediately adopted into the family of your loving heavenly Father.  You move into His house and receive all the benefits of being the child of the One true King. The other side of that is, you are now subject to the new house standards.  If you continue to walk out of your adopted Father’s house to go live back where you did before you were adopted, then you are not living as if you have gained a new family and home.  You are still living as an orphan, slave and a beggar.  God is not unreasonable and His greatest joy is to bless His family, the problem is if we don’t stay within His reach, we are actually limiting His access to or lives.

Today I want to encourage you to receive God’s unconditional love and enter the home He has paid to give you through Salvation.  Don’t be like you once were before He adopted you into His family, step away from the chains of sin that are holding back His blessings from flowing in your life.  If you have never received His unconditional love and salvation, do it today and He will bring you right home to live in His protection and grace.  Pray this simple prayer today and Jesus will come into your heart and into your life and give you a right relationship with the Father so you don’t have to be an orphan any longer.  Now you belong to the King.

Pray this from your heart: _{God in heaven, I know I’m a sinner and I need a Savior.  I want to turn away from my sinful life to the life You have planned for me.  Please forgive me for my sins, cleanse me from my past, and make me new.  I know your Son, Jesus died for me.  I believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead.  At this very moment, I accept, confess and proclaim Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior . . . to be Lord of my life from this day forward.  Thank you, Jesus for Your grace that has saved me from my sin and has given me eternal life.  I now have a right relationship with God my Father. I also ask for Your Holy Spirit to come into my life to guide me and to empower me to do the things that You have planned for my life in Jesus’ name, Amen}

Today’s scripture reading:  1 Corinthians 5:9-13

9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people.

10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.

11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.

12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside?

13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”

Walk in His peace

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.  John 14:27

Terror!  We’ve been at war with it for over 20 years now.  It is undefined and hard to track down, but it’s out there.  Terror is the use of fear as a literal weapon.  Most of us remember 9-11-2001 when terror hit our own homeland.  It put the world into an instant state of panic.  I remember specifically clinging to Psalms 91 during that time.  It was my source of peace and comfort in the days following.  Even today, terror is always out there, but it is only effective if we choose to let it steal our peace.

Jesus said, when He was about to leave this world that He was leaving us with peace and not just any peace, His peace.  The very peace of God.  The peace that calmed storms, healed sick, and raised the dead!  He said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27) This is a word that is relevant still today and if you read the passage closely, you can see that Jesus is saying you can choose peace.  He says, don’t be tempted to let your heart be troubled or afraid, choose to receive His very own peace.

Let peace be your faith gauge.  It looks like this:  know God, know peace!  No God, No peace!  Colossians 3:15 says, “And let the peace of God rule/judge in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.”  According to this verse, the way to find peace is to be thankful!  Even when things are going rough and it doesn’t look like there is anything to be thankful for, look deep until you find something.  Nothing sends the enemy running faster than a thankful heart!

Today I want to encourage you to live your life in peace.  Decide ahead of time that you are going to recognize when peace is leaving, and anxiety and fear are trying to come on you.  Stop peace before it leaves you and begin to thank God for all His goodness and the many awesome things you know about Him.  Thank Him for His salvation through our Savior Jesus. Thank Him that He has an awesome plan for your life that He is still working on and will continue to work on it until it is complete.  Send terror far from you by being thankful and walking each of your life in the peace that Jesus left you!

Today’s scripture reading: John 14:27-31

 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 

28 You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.

29 “And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe. 

30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. 

31 But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.

The Helper

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. John 14:26

Have you ever needed help with a problem or situation you were facing?  What about a teacher to teach you things that are coming up in life or someone who helps you remember important things when you need them?  That’s what the Holy Spirit does.  He is our helper, and He helps in whatever way we need right now.  Later on, He will help us out in whatever we are facing down the road.

It is true and we know it is because in today’s passage, Jesus told the disciples that He was leaving, and God was going to be sending the Holy Spirit to be with them all the time.  He told them what they can expect the Holy Spirit of God to do once He was sent to live in people.  At this time, Jesus said the Holy Spirit is the helper and He was being sent by the Father in the power of Jesus’ name.  Jesus also told them that day that the Holy Spirit is a teacher and would teach them all things.  That’s pretty impressive.  Lastly, Jesus told the disciples at that time that the Holy Spirit would bring to their remembrances all things that Jesus had told them.  That was what they needed, and it actually happened.  We know it happened because later on they were able to write the gospel accounts of Jesus life.

The Holy Spirit is still helping us today.  When we get saved and we receive the Holy Spirit, He comes to live inside of us to help us be successful in the mission that God has assigned for us to fulfill.  He still teaches us all things as we sit and position ourselves to learn, and He brings to our remembrance the things that Jesus and His Father have said.

This is great news and as wonderful as it is, there is so much more that the Holy Spirit does once He is living inside.  The scriptures say He is:

1. The Counselor
2. Wisdom
3. Sprit of Truth
4. The Comforter
5. He will live with you forever (Vs. 16)
6. Guide
7. Teacher

And there are many more names that He goes by.  To put is simply, the Holy Spirit has exactly what you need at just the time that you need it.  He is available to you and every aspect of His character He will share with you.  It is up to you to receive Him into your life and acknowledge Him in all your ways.

Today I want to encourage you to get help.  Walk out your days with the help of the Holy Spirit.  Let Him guide you into all truth.  Seek His wisdom in all things.  Let the Holy Spirit be your Counselor and when you have pain or grief, ask Him to comfort you.  He is available to all people, but only a few follow His leading.  Make the decision today to trust the Holy Spirit’s promptings.  Then you will know what is coming up and which decisions to make.

Today’s scripture reading: John 14:19-26   

19 “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. 

20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 

21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”

22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?”

23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 

24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.

25 “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 

26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 

 

Get to or Have to

“If you love Me, keep My commandments.”  John 14:15

I spent too many years on the wrong side of this verse.  My focus was always on “keep my commandments”.  It sounded like a contradiction to me since Jesus came to set us free from the weight of the law, but here He was saying the way to show that I love Him was to keep the commandments?  Then one day I realized the emphasis was on the first part of the verse.  “If you love me” I realized that keeping His commandments was the result of loving Him.  It’s all about my relationship with Him not a set of rules.  Jesus wants to have a love relationship with us, He wants to be our best friend.  He is saying, “if you love me like you love your best friends, it will result in you keeping my Words!”  It isn’t about works because it isn’t work when you’re in love.  

Since then I heard this concept explained as a marriage relationship. A husband and wife are faithful to each other because of the love they share for one another.  It’s not because they are keeping an agreement they made when they got married.  Although they made that agreement, they want to keep it because they treasure, value, and cherish each other and have a close relationship with one another.  When my husband asks me to do something for him, I may not always enjoy the task so much, but I enjoy doing it for him because he is so precious to me.  I’m not all about “what am I getting out of it”.  Because of the love we share, I look forward to the things I get to do for him because it is helpful or it just makes him happy and he does the same for me.

Here is a list of practical things you can do to grow and protect your personal relationship with your Lord Jesus.

1. Nurture and protect your relationship with the Lord like a most valuable treasure.  Just like you do with all your other close relationships, you watch over them, not trying to control them but making sure nothing comes against them.  Don’t let anything stand in the way of the time you spend with Him and the direction He is sending you.
2. Worship!  Spending time in worship and adoration is such a strengthener of your love.  Let Him know how thankful you are for your salvation, the things He has brought you out of, and the things He’s yet to do in your life.  Taking time to sit quietly so you can hear Him say how precious you are to Him.
3. Take Him with you all day long.  You can have a running conversation with Him throughout your day.  Whatever you are doing or facing, He is right there beside you and wants to help guide and comfort you.

Nothing is more important to God than His relationship with you!  He proved it by sending His only Son to die and pay your sin debt.  He desired you above the most precious thing He had. We know this because God wouldn’t have given His most valuable treasure for someone unimportant.

  Today I encourage you to spend some time focusing on your relationship with God.  Make it a priority.  Talk to Him like He is your best friend and confidant.  Take time to listen to the things He is saying to your heart and the words of encouragement He has for you.  Fall in love with Him and watch as your desire for Him changes into such a deep love that you want to spend even more time with Him . . . Not to check it off your daily “to do” list, but because you get to and not because you have to.  He has made Himself available to you 24/7, do the same for Him!

Today’s scripture reading John 14:15-24

15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 

16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 

17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 

18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

19 “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. 

20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 

21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”

22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?”

23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 

24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.

Greater Works

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.  John 14:12

Can you imagine yourself doing things that Jesus did in this world?  Things like hanging out with undesirable people  like the tax collectors?  Helping hurting people wherever you went.  What about taking time for people that seem less than important?  Or praying with people and teaching those around you the way to salvation?  These were just some of the great things that Jesus did when He was in this world.  He took time with people and showed them how important they were.  Not only to Him but also to the people around them.  Sure, He did some great signs and miracles, but His greatest works were spending time with people and loving on them.

In today’s reading, Jesus is still talking to His disciples right after His last supper.  He told them to remember the good things that He had done and that they would do these great things too and even more of them because HE was going on to be with His Father in heaven now.  He also reminded them that they could ask the Father anything in His name and His Father would do it for them so that they could give Him glory by blessing others.  He told them that when they asked the Father to help the struggling person in Jesus’ name, God would answer that request and in that way the people in the would see the glory of God through the way they reached out to others.

This promise is the same for us today.  The verse says whoever believes in Him will do what He did.  If we will do the things that Jesus did and love people around us, they way Jesus loved the people of His day, we will be doing a great work for the kingdom of heaven.  Our lives will show the world the glory of God because we will be demonstrating His love to those around us.  When we begin to teach others around us about the salvation that Jesus provided, then we will be giving God the greatest glory.  You will not have to wonder how you can do greater works than Jesus, you will simply be walking out the love of God by doing what Jesus did.  By doing that, you will have a greater impact than Jesus because the world is much bigger now to impact.

Today I want to encourage you to love the people you are around and bless all the people that you come into contact with.  Take time with people and let them know how important and special they really are to you and to God in heaven.  Share the message of salvation with those that are hurting and alone in the world and give of your time and resources to those who have needs.  You are doing great works every time you share the love of God with others.  Make loving the people of your world your priority today.

Today’s scripture reading: John 14:12-14

12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 

13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 

14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.