The Daily Dose

Be loosed

“And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”      John 11:44

Lazarus raised from the dead!  This is one of the last miracles Jesus did before He went to the cross. One of the reasons He did it at this timing, I believe was so that His disciples would know that death is not the end.  This was the message that Jesus was born to tell.  He came to earth and healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, and cast the demons out.  All were part of His ministry and mission in the world.  He came to be the example to the New Testament believer and to unveil the new covenant God would reveal through Him. It was only a little over a week after Lazarus was raised that Jesus went to the cross to pay the debt of all sin for all time.  He entered into that covenant with God the Father in our place because we could never (in our fallen condition) fulfill the righteous requirement of that covenant.

Most people think Jesus came to earth so that He could make lost people found, or broken people whole, or sick people well.  But that just isn’t the case. He didn’t come to find lost people, He came to give life to people who were spiritually dead.  Ephesians 2:1 says, “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins.”  Lazarus’ resurrection was the perfect picture of what Jesus was here to do.  He called Lazarus out of the grave, then He told those around Him to loose him and set him free.  That’s what He does for us when we receive His salvation.  He raises us up out of our grave of sin and corruption, then He calls the body of believers (the church) to help people get loosed from the bondage of sin.

Today I want to encourage you if you haven’t already received the resurrection life that is in Christ Jesus, answer His call today.  Run out of that grave and get yourself around others that can help get you free from the bonds that hold you.  If you have received the new life in Christ, help loose the bonds of sin of others around you.  You have been called out of your grave to help spread that resurrection life. Live your life in this world to the fullest by accepting His great love and salvation and walk out of that grave in His grace and freedom.

Today’s scripture reading:  John 11:38-44           

38 Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 

39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.”

40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” 

41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 

42 And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” 

43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” 

44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”

Know God

And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me.  John 11:41-42 

There are many things God has made known to us about Himself, things that we can depend on and believe for sure about Him because He reveals them in His Word.  In today’s verse, Jesus said that His Father in heaven heard Him when He talked to Him and He knew God always heard Him.  What a wonderful thing to know that our heavenly Father hears us when we talk to Him and we can know He always hears us.  Sometimes I wonder if I am just talking to myself or is God really able to hear me when I am talking to Him?  Well, I don’t have to wonder anymore because now I know He does.  I know it because Jesus said He does.

I John 5:13 says, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”  This is a verse that I cling to for assurance of my salvation.  It says I can know that I have eternal life.  If I ever have any doubtful feelings or thoughts concerning my salvation, I always go back to this verse and remember that I can know it and I do because Jesus is my LORD!!

There are many other “knows” in God’s Word that we can learn about God.  Ephesians 5:17 says we can know God’s will, John 8:32 says we can know the truth of God, and 1 Timothy 6:17 tells us that we know God gives us richly all things to enjoy. These and many other scriptures are available to us so that we can know the character of our loving Father and also so that we can have a closer relationship with Him and believe that His Word is true.

Today I want to encourage you to begin to search out all the things God’s Word tells us that we can know about Him Start a running list and every time you discover something new that isn’t on your list, add it and think about if you already knew that about God or not.  Then put your list up against the things you think you believe and know about God and decide if you are believing God to the fullest or just in little bits.  We have a great and awesome God and Father that we often don’t think big enough of.  Today begin to know God more and keep growing and increasing in the knowledge of Him! (Colossians 1:10) Asl you do, your faith and trust in Him will grow also.

Today’s scripture reading: John 11:38-44      

38 Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 

39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.”

40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” 

41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 

42 And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” 

43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” 

44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”

He feels our pain

Jesus wept.  John 11:35

I remember when I first learned about this verse when I was very young.  I was told it was the shortest verse in the bible and the easiest to memorize.  Of coursed I learned it right away but didn’t know its context or significance.  Now that I am a little older and have read it in context many times, the scripture takes on a whole new meaning to me.  At first it seemed strange to me that something seemingly so insignificant would be in the bible. First of all, I didn’t understand why He was weeping and secondly, I just thought it was because everyone does at some point in life.  Now, of course, I understand it so much more clearly as I am sure most of you do too.  Here is what I see now.

When Jesus finally got to where His friends Martha, Mary and Lazarus lived, Lazarus had already died.  Many people were at the house to comfort and mourn with his sisters.  When Jesus got close to the house, Martha went out to meet Him.  She talked to Jesus about her brother’s passing and Jesus comforted her right where she was in her faith and in her grief.  He told Martha that her brother would be raised up and gave her hope and encouragement for the future.

Then He called for Mary.  When Mary came to Him, she was clearly more distressed.  The passage says that when Jesus saw her weeping He groaned and was troubled.  His approach to comforting Mary was right where she was.  He actually felt her pain and in doing so, He began to weep.  So much so that those who were there watching made note of His weeping.  He didn’t just wipe a tear or two away, He was actually crying with Mary as He comforted her.

As I think about His compassion and the love that He had for Mary and Martha, I am encouraged to know that He loves me in the same way.  He meets me right where I am when I turn to Him with my suffering and pain or grief, He feels what I am feeling. 

Hebrews 4:15-16 says it this way: For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.  He understands what we are going through on a day-to-day basis because He already went through those things.  He has already felt the hurts and pains that we will go through in our lifetime and He has already seen the extent of damage those traumas can cause.  So He comforts us when we go to Him.  In fact, the passage in Hebrews says we should go boldly to Him just like Martha and Mary did.  They didn’t crawl out to Him in shame and condemnation, they ran to Him for answers and resolution to their problem.  He was there for them even though they had to wait for a couple days for Him to show up.  He met them, He mourned with them and then He comforted them.  After that, He brought life into the situation and new hope.

Today I want to encourage you that He will do the same for us in whatever we are facing right now.  Let us go boldly to His throne in our times of trouble and even in our times of peace.  Stay close to Him and let His throne be the first place you run to when problems come.  Don’t try to fix it on your own and don’t try to go through everything alone.  Run to Jesus with your prayers with your concerns and even with your tears.  Even if it takes a day or two, He will show up and He will meet you there and pick you up. He will walk with you through your pain and heal all the broken pieces along the way.  The result will be new life in the situation and hope for a great future.

Today’s scripture reading: John 11:28-37

28 And when she had said these things, she went her way and secretly called Mary her sister, saying, “The Teacher has come and is calling for you.” 

29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly and came to Him. 

30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the town, but was in the place where Martha met Him. 

31 Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and comforting her, when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, “She is going to the tomb to weep there.”

32 Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

33 Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. 

34 And He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.”

35 Jesus wept. 

36 Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!”

37 And some of them said, “Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?”

God calls the foolish

Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?  1 Corinthians 1:20

Twenty years ago, God put writing in my heart.  I tried a little at that time, but it was the opposite of good.  Now, I write a daily message of encouragement.  I enjoy it very much, but I have no training and had no childhood dreams of writing.  I have no aspiration to be a bestselling author and I don’t expect to become a well-known novelist.  I do, however, have dreams of helping and encouraging others.  My heart is to see people avoid traps I have fallen into.  My mission is to lead as many people as possible that I can influence to discover their life of significance and purpose.  I’m starting late in life, and I hope some will answer their call much earlier through this mission.

Here’s the point:  God calls me to write at this point in my life, so I do.  There are many who are more qualified and many more available.  Some use their gift of writing to become well known and famous, never considering using their God given ability for the Kingdom of God.  Others consider it, but put it off until a later time because of much more pressing issues in their day-to-day living.  There are only a few who will take the time to answer the invitation God is calling them to right now.  Here’s the thing:  God doesn’t always call the qualified, but He does always qualify the called!  It is more about being willing to answer that call.

Today’s text says that God had makes the wisdom of the world into foolishness and that the world sees God’s wisdom as foolishness.  So here’s the question for you:  what is in your heart to do?  What have you been putting off?  What ideas do you dismiss and find to be foolish to pursue because it is beyond you?  Each one of us have something, something we can do right now that will lead to the next open door.  It doesn’t matter if you are educated in that area or not, God will get you there if He has put it inside of you.  The solution is to submit that idea and desire to the LORD and let Him lead you through the process.

Today I want to encourage you to set time aside to do the things that God has put in your heart that He is prompting you toward.  Maybe it is writing, maybe it’s speaking and teaching.  It could be some form of art or coaching.  Or maybe it is reaching out to the next generation.  Whatever it is, surrender it to your Father today.  He will guide you and equip you to complete the things He has put in your heart, and He will take you through the doors required to be effective in your calling.  “Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.”  1 Corinthians 1:26-27

Today’s scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”

20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom;

23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,

24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Resurrection Life

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. John 11:25

Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha were friends of Jesus.  It seems that they had been friends for many years.  When Lazarus became ill, his sisters sent word to Jesus.  I’m sure they had heard of the miraculous healings that He had been doing and thought for sure He would rush to them to heal Lazarus before it was too late.  Within a few short days, Lazarus died, and Jesus still hadn’t come to help them.  Not only were the girls disappointed, but they were also now without hope.   They were pretty sure that it was too late for Jesus to do anything but comfort them if and when He did come.  Finally, Jesus got there and Martha ran out to meet Him.  She seems to be a bit accusatory in saying: if you had been here our brother would still be alive, but then she softened her tone to make the request if there is anything that can be done, even now, please do it.

This is when Jesus says this famous verse that is used most of the time without the rest of the story.  He told Martha, “I am the resurrections and the life.  If anyone believes in Me, though he may die, he will live.”

It is true that Jesus is the resurrection and the life and anyone who believes in Him will have eternal life beyond this world.  When we are born into this world, we have physical life, but we are spiritually dead.  Jesus came to give us life on the inside.  Spiritual life.  When Jesus said I am the resurrection and life, He was talking to the people of that day, but He was also talking to all people since that day.  Jesus didn’t come to find and save lost people; He came to raise up dead ones.  We were dead, but we receive resurrection life when we believed in Him.  Now we are alive!  Even though one day we will die and leave this world, our spirit will live for all eternity with Him at His Home and ours.  Glory to God!

Today I want to encourage you to receive His resurrection life!  If you have never invited Jesus into your life to receive spiritual life through Him, do that today.  You can invite Him in by simply opening your heart’s door and asking Him to come in and occupy the throne of your life.  Pray this prayer today, from your heart and Jesus will come in and save you.  You will be raised up from your dead sinful ways.  Make Jesus your Lord and Savior and you will never be separated from Him again.

Pray: 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 my sins, cleanse me from my past, and make me new today.  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.  I now have a right relationship with God my Father through this salvation in the blood of Jesus. I thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit to guide me and to empower me to accomplish the things You have planned for my life in Jesus’ name, Amen

Today’s scripture reading: John 11:17-27

17 So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. 

18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away. 

19 And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

20 Now Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. 

21 Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 

22 But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”

23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

24 Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 

26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

27 She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

Focus on the purpose

Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. John 11:9

Have you ever worried about something bad happening before it actually does?  How about being fearful for future events, but then when the time came you found out there was never anything to be afraid of?  I sure have, many times.  Times like when I was going on a trip or starting a new job.  Of course, there were times when my concerns were a little more intense when family was going through a trial and I wasn’t sure how things were going to turn out.

In today’s reading, Jesus’ disciples were concerned about going to Bethany where Jesus’ friends lived because the last time they were there, the Jews wanted to stone Jesus.  The disciples were nervous for Jesus’ life, and also for their own.  Jesus, of course had the perfect answer for them and talked about the light of day being better than the darkness (which I’m still not sure I understand).  He doesn’t really explain his analogy, but He does tell them, we need to go to do something good and not worry about what could happen when we get there.  The disciples did concede and go with Jesus despite their fears and concerns.

The answer Jesus gave to His disciples on that day is the same He would give to us today.  When the opportunity comes to go help someone in need, especially when it is friends or family, we should not be worried about what bad things could happen.  When keeping your eyes and prayer on the reason for going, you will eliminate the fear of why you shouldn’t go.  When Jesus and His disciples showed up in Bethany, there is never a mention about the fears that they had ahead of time.  Their focus was turned to the great work and miracle that Jesus went there to do.

Today I want to encourage you in whatever you do in life not to worry about what could happen in the future.  Walk step by step with the Holy Spirit and He will lead you to the right place at the right time.   Even if you have to wait for a bit before going to help someone in need, He will get you there at just the right time to do His great works.  Don’t let yourself imagine what might happen if you don’t get there in time or who might be upset with you. Instead, focus on the purpose you are going and pray for His grace and power to flow through you along the way and when you get there.

Today’s scripture reading: John 11: 8-16

8 The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?”

9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 

10 But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 

11 These things He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.”

12 Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.” 

13 However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep.

14 Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 

15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him.”

16 Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.”

For God’s glory

When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” John 11:4

Recently, the entire world came out of a pandemic.  It was a terrible disease and sadly, many people died from it.  As individuals, everyone did what they could to not contract the disease.  We washed our hands frequently, wore face masks and maintained a recommended distance from other people.  Still, many got it just the same.  After the first two years, our guard was let down and even though the plague was still out there, a lot less people died.   Then last year, I went away on a trip to a convention where I was around a lot of people and flew in an airplane.  When I got back home, you guessed it . . . I came down with the symptoms and because of my work, I had to test to determine that I was indeed infected.  My head hurt and I was tired, but my symptoms were mild.  Most of all I was annoyed that I could not live life as I normally did.  By the 3^rd day, I was feeling pretty bad.  I had a big weekend coming and had a lot to do to get ready for it.  I had asked the Lord to heal my body, but had felt no relief up to that point.  So when I got up that morning, my body hurt like it had never hurt before.  Every joint and muscle was so sore like I had been beaten up the day before.  I was only up a short while when I told my husband. I have to go lay back down.  When I did, I called out to God again.  This time, I did not ask for healing though, I asked for strength.  I said, “Holy Spirit, please give me the strength I need today to get the things done that I need to do.”  I felt myself slipping back into sleep and in that very instant, I felt pain leaving my body.  I literally felt it leave.  It was like strength came back to every connection point inside of me.  I sat up and felt completely normal with not pain or symptom left.  I am convinced it was a miracle!

In today’s reading, Jesus’ good friend, Lazarus was sick.  When Jesus heard about it, He emphatically said “that sickness was not unto death, but for the glory of God.”  He followed that statement by clarifying that it was not the sickness that was for God’s glory, but that through the work that Jesus was going to do, God would receive all the glory.  That is exactly what happened.  It didn’t look good for Lazarus, and even when it looked like all hope was lost, God still showed up and did a miracle.  Lazarus was not only healed, but he was also raised from the dead.  Glory to God!

What if we began to approach every set back, sickness and struggle with the mentality that this circumstance is not here to kill me, but it is here so that God can be glorified through my life and through my victory?  What if we made a conscience effort to recognize that God is on our side and is going to bring me through to victory what ever we are facing so that He is seen by the world and glorified through our life?  It would, at minimum empower us to view problems in a new light and give hope each time we face something that He is going to bring us through it for His glory.

Today, I want to encourage you that if you are going through a fight in your life right now that you call out to your Father in heaven.  Just as Lazarus’ sisters called for Jesus to come and heal him up, call out to Him for hope and help.  It may not come immediately.  Even Jesus waited for two days before He started traveling to the family at Bethany, but He did go to them, and He will come to rescue you, too.  Call on Him today and let God be given the glory for every victory you experience in your day to day living.

Today’s scripture reading: John 11:1-7

1 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 

2 It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 

3 Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.”

4 When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 

6 So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. 

7 Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”

Enriched in everything

“I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were ENRICHED in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,”  1 Corinthians 1:4-7

Have you ever felt like you were being ineffective in your witness for Christ Jesus?  Have you ever been in a position that no matter what you thought to say just didn’t seem like it would be enough to bring someone to the truth of God’s love?  What about the feeling of not being gifted enough to touch and influence the lives around you?  

According to the key verse today, God’s grace on you will enrich your life in the areas of speaking, knowing and being gifted to share His message of salvation and reveal Jesus to those around you.  My favorite part of this passage is the word “enriched”.  For some reason every time I hear the word enriched, I think of enriching uranium.  I know it’s an extremely random and strange thought, but my understanding of enriching uranium in the context of nuclear power is to bring it to its fullest strength or potential.  The process is taking something from a useless or inactive state and bringing it to a useful form to its greatest potency.  So, to be enriched in all utterance (speech) and knowledge in Him would be to increase to full strength or our greatest effectiveness.

It is not only God’s grace that produces this enrichment in your life.  If you continue reading the following verses, you will find that coming into agreement in speech and getting rid of contention with those you fellowship and worship with brings this enrichment of a greater speaking ability and knowledge of God’s goodness.  It also brings your gifts together with others to grow them to their greatest fruitfulness in God’s kingdom progress. 

Well, in the process of enriching uranium, components are added to develop uranium to become an armor-penetrating weapon.  The passage we are reading today is talking about how God’s people are one body and that we cannot function properly or powerfully without each other.  Therefore, adding God’s gifts to His body of believers and agreeing with each other, we become an armor-penetrating weapon to defeat the enemy and rescue the wounded.

Today I want to encourage you to begin enriching your speech and knowledge of God by adding God’s grace and His goodness to your everyday activity.  Start by receiving His grace so that you are not lacking in any gift needed to be a blessing to others.  Ask God to make plain the opportunities in front of you to use the gifts He has given you.  Then, position yourself in the body of Christ to do your part so that God’s work can be brought to its fullest potential.  In doing this you will accomplish your life’s mission.

Today’s scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 1:4-17

4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus,

5 that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge,

6 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you,

7 so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,

8 who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you.

12 Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.”

13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,

15 lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name.

16 Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other.

17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

Grace and Peace

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  1 Corinthians 1:3

This scripture is the greeting that the Apostle Paul used in his letter to the people of the church at Corinth.  It’s an interesting greeting because he starts by giving grace to them.  He said: “I’m sending grace and peace to you from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ”.  How can he write this message?  Did He get permission from God and Jesus to offer grace and peace to those in Corinth?  Paul uses this greeting in many of his letters.  So why does he think it is ok to speak on behalf of God and the Lord Jesus?  The reason is because grace and peace are for all God’s people, and they are necessary to live life and complete each assignment.  How does the Apostle Paul know that it is ok to greet members of the body of Christ with grace and peace?  Because he knows that God freely gave them to him at his conversion and also gives them to all believers that receive salvation through the Lord Jesus as Savior.

This may sound like a simple concept, but why did he choose these two aspects of salvation as his greeting?  Grace and peace?  We read in 1 John that the Apostle John offered prosperity and health in his letter. So there are many different ways that the letters were addressed.  The reason, I believe, is because grace and peace are what they needed at the time he was writing to them.  Paul starts his letter by letting the Corinthian people know that grace and peace are available, and this is what he wants to draw their attention to.  God’s unlimited grace and surpassing peace.  As we read through 1^st and 2^nd Corinthians, make note of the trouble the people at Corinth are having, then you will be able to ascertain for sure that the solution is indeed grace and peace to their trouble.

Secondly, although this offer of grace and peace was sent to the Corinthians hundreds of years ago, it is still available today for you and me.  Glory to God.  God’s unlimited grace and excessive peace are still here for us to walk in each day.  Not only that, but we can give them to others just as the Apostle Paul did.  We can greet each other with words of encouragement and remember that grace is available to get you through the day and peace is there to calm the storm you are facing.  Instead of getting down in the dumps with those who are already down, give a word of truth that will remind them that they are a child of God and more than a conqueror. (See Romans 8:17 & 37)

Today I want to encourage you to remember that grace and peace belong to you.  As a born-again child of God, you don’t have to be knocked off course and have your world rocked every time a new problem comes along.  The storms will not stop, but you always have a way through riding on the grace and goodness of God’s love and peace!  Take that with you and then share it as you have the opportunity.  Help others to navigate their storms by remembering that grace and peace belong to them, too.

Today’s scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 1:1-3

1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,

2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Be a witness

Then many came to Him and said, “John performed no sign, but all the things that John spoke about this Man were true.”  John 10:41

Have you ever felt intimidated about being a witness?  Has there ever been a time in your life when you didn’t tell people about the love of God for them?  Maybe it was because you didn’t think they would believe you or maybe you decided they wouldn’t be interested?  Maybe you just didn’t have time to stop that day to share the good news?  I think it is pretty safe to say that we all have passed on opportunities for one reason or another.  I remember at times thinking that if God would do some great miracle through my hands or life, then others would come running to Him because of the mighty work or sign.

In today’s reading, people came to Jesus and because they had heard about Him from John the Baptist, they remembered that John didn’t do any miraculous signs, he just told them that Jesus was coming, and He would do the signs and wonders.  When they had a personal encounter with Jesus and saw that everything that John had said about Him was true, then they believed.

I believe it still works that way today.  When we tell others about Jesus and that He wants to be their Savior and do a might work in their life, they may not be convinced at first.  After they leave and go on with their life, that word about salvation goes with them and continues to work in them.  Then one day, they have a personal experience with Him and they realize that everything you told them about His love and goodness was true and then they believe.  It may take an hour or a day, it could even be a month or a year.  It just doesn’t matter how long it takes for that meeting to take place because when someone is rescued from this dark world because of your witness, it will all be worth it.

Today I want to encourage you to be a witness.  Help others come to God and know Him on a personal level through Jesus our Savior.  Tell the good news of His love and salvation every chance you get.  It doesn’t matter if they understand or believe that very hour or not.  They will take your words and testimony with them and it will grow up until the day that they see, understand and realize that everything you told them is true and many will believe in Him through your conversation.

Today’s scripture reading: John 10: 40-42

40And He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was baptizing at first, and there He stayed. 

41Then many came to Him and said, “John performed no sign, but all the things that John spoke about this Man were true.” 

42And many believed in Him there.