The Daily Dose

Just one more step

“Now as they led Him away, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, who was coming from the country, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus.” Luke 23:26 

I have heard many messages about how Jesus sweat drops of blood in the garden the night before His crucifixion.  It certainly was one of the most difficult moments of His life here on earth.  The anxiety He experienced as He anticipated the events that were about to take place was outwardly and obviously expressed in His sweat drops of blood.  As He pleaded with His Father in His last minute alone with Him to remove this cup if there was any other possible way to accomplish God’s plan.  He finished the conversation by declaring “Not my will but Yours be done!”   Even as I write these words my heart is heavy with sorrow, but also filled with gratitude and appreciation for Jesus’ sacrifice once again.

As difficult as that moment of prayer in the garden was for Jesus, I believe the turning point or most difficult steps were at the point He fell down on the road, carrying the cross.  Someone else had to come and carry it for Him.  At that point, Jesus showed His true determination to accomplish God’s plan to carry away the curse of the sin in the world.  When He could no longer take another step, God stepped in and brought help for Him to get to the top of the hill to be that sacrifice.  It was at that point when Jesus could have said, “That’s all I got, I cannot take another step.  I cannot get up and move any further on this path.  I have been beaten until there is no strength left in this body and I will lay down here and die.” 

I’m sure He could have died right there if He hadn’t gone on.  However, He was determined to make it to His destination.  There was nothing that was going to hold Him back from getting to the place He was assigned to be.  He set His eyes on the top of that hill at Calvary and thought within Himself:  just a little further, just another step.  I imagined at that point He was probably down on hands and knees fixated on that spot where He was to be crucified for me.  He was obsessed to get there for us all, to carry away our sin, our sickness, our disease, and our pain and suffering.  Thank you, LORD Jesus, for being determined to succeed in the purpose for the breath You were given here on earth.  Your purpose was to be beaten, suffer, die, be buried, get the keys of hell and death, raise up from the dead, and ascend into Heaven to be with your Father at His right hand, to be the head of His church, to rescue us from an eternity of suffering and separation from You.

Today I want to encourage you to be thankful once again for your salvation, for the price that was paid for your freedom and abundant life.  Then become determined to succeed in the plan that He has for your life.  If you do not know what the plan is, ask and He will show you because He said, “you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart”.(Jer. 29:13)  Then say what Jesus said that night in the garden before He was arrested: “Not my will but Your will be done!”

If you have never accepted the gift of salvation through His sacrifice for you, do it today by praying this prayer:  _{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 form 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 guide me and to empower me to do the things that You have planned for my life in Jesus name, Amen.}

Now ask Him to make His plan and path plain and clear so you can follow Him from this day forward.

Today’s scripture reading:  Luke 23:26-43

26 Now as they led Him away, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, who was coming from the country, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus.

27 And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him. 

28 But Jesus, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 

29 For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!’ 

30 Then they will begin ‘to say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!” ’ 

31 For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?”

32 There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. 

33 And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. 

34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” and they divided His garments and cast lots. 

35 And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God.”

36 The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, 

37 and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.”

38 And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew:

THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

39 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”

40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 

41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” 

42 Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

What will you do?

And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified. Matthew:27:31

All of the people in Israel knew who Jesus was.  Everyone knew He did miracles and was a teacher with the message of salvation.  Of course, there were many who were jealous of Him like the religious leaders of the day.  They were afraid that Jesus would become more popular and also that He would turn the Hebrew people away from the synagogue.  They didn’t want to lose their fame or funding.  They all knew who Jesus was and some of them even spent time in His presence, but only to look for excuses to shut Him down.

In today’s reading, Jesus was handed over to the entire unit of Roman soldiers to be beaten and mocked.  Here was a group of people who again knew who Jesus was but did not know Him personally.  Some of them may have seen Him before that time and surly some of these guards were there when He was arrested.  However, none of them knew Him personally or spend time getting to know His heart of love for people especially those who were hurting.

The point is, this is still happening today.  Most people in our country have heard the name of Jesus and maybe even that He was a person in history that was crucified.  Most know that He is worshiped by Christians and even that He is the Savior of the world.  Yet, many still mock Him and don’t see any need for Him in their lives personally. 

Then there are those who love Him deeply.  Those who spend time not only learning about Him, but also getting to know Him better each day personally by spending time talking with Him.  Those who have turned to Him for help when they were going through a crisis and then begin to walk with Him daily to point their life away from destruction.  Those who worship and honor Him because He is the One who paid the penalty for sin and bridged the gap that was between us and our Heavenly Father, and those who press into Him for strength and wisdom to help others who are going through struggles.

What about you?  What are you doing with Jesus?  Are you a mocker like those in Jesus’ day who saw His good works, but ridiculed His methods?  Are you among those who believe they have no need for Jesus to be in their life? Maybe you are with those who know He has their salvation but haven’t received it yet?

Today I want to encourage you to consider what type of relationship you have with Him.  Is He Lord and Savior over your life?  Is He your best Friend that goes with you everywhere every day? Or is He someone you have heard of but never stepped into that intimate relationship of love that He wants to walk in with you?  Decide today to accept Jesus into your life as the One who rescued you from the darkness of the world.  Walk in the light of His love and His light.  Step away from the mockers of the world and make the decision to step into His arms of love.  Start the conversation today by praying this short prayer and keep that conversation going until you finish your course in this life.

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.  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 Jesus. I thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit 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; Matthew 27:27-31

27 Some of the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into their headquarters and called out the entire regiment. 

28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him. 

29 They wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head, and they placed a reed stick in his right hand as a scepter. Then they knelt before him in mockery and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!” 

30 And they spit on him and grabbed the stick and struck him on the head with it. 

31 When they were finally tired of mocking him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him away to be crucified.

I am Barabbas

Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified. Matthew 26:26

This is one of the clearest scriptures about what Jesus came to do.  He came to the world to save sinners and He did that by trading places with them.  On the day Jesus was crucified, the people were offered a choice.  They could let Jesus go or they could free the well-known criminal, Barabbas.  Barabbas was a sinner for sure.  He deserved the punishment he was scheduled to receive, but Jesus stepped in and took his place.  It doesn’t look like Jesus had a choice, but He most certainly did.  He could have prayed to His Father and God would have given Him more than twelve legions of angels to protect and rescue Him. (See Matthew 25:53) Jesus chose to pay Barabbas penalty for his crimes the same way He chose to pay the penalty for my crimes.

He did it for you too.  I like to call it the great exchange.  2 Corinthians 5:21 says that He became sin so I could become His righteousness.  Jesus took my sin, your sin and the sin of the whole world and in exchange, He gave me a right relationship with God.  He opened the door for me to enter into the presence of my Father in heaven by bridging the gap that was between us. Now that door is open for me to walk in and spend time with Him each day and walk out my life in His wisdom and direction.  Jesus died to set me free from the bondage of sin and the prison of a sinful lifestyle.

Barabbas was free to go back to his life before prison the day Jesus took his place.  It’s the same for you.  The day Jesus died was the day He made provision for your life of freedom, you only need to invite Him into your life and enter the door He opened to have a right relationship with the God and Father that created and loves you!

Today I want to encourage you to consider the choice Jesus made to free you from the grip of sin.  Recognize that He traded places with you and paid your penalty for being a person far from God.  Thank Him for bridging that gap and opening the door for you to enter into salvation and press into you Father in heaven to walk out the blessed life He planned for you before the foundation of the world, before the world fell under the curse of sin.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 27:11-26

11 Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.” 

12 And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing.

13 Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” 

14 But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.

15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. 

16 And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 

17 Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 

18 For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.

19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.”

20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 

21 The governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!”

22 Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!”

23 Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!”

24 When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.”

25 And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.”

26 Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.

Forgive

But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him.  Matthew 26:50

Jesus died on the cross to forgive the sin of the world.  He bled and suffered to pay the price of sin . . . all sin for all time.  You and I are forgiven today because of that payment.  In fact, all people are forgiven, but not all walk in that forgiveness.  It must be personally received in order for the payment of forgiveness to be activated in someone’s life.

Jesus forgave sin, long before He died to pay the penalty.  We see in today’s reading that when Judas came to betray Him, Jesus called Him friend to show Him that He still loved Him despite what he was doing to turn Jesus over to be crucified.  Throughout His entire ministry, Jesus spent time with sinners.  Those that wanted to be forgiven at brought to a place of redemption.  Forgiveness was always in His heart, and He gave it freely everywhere He was.  Even when He was suffering on the cross, He prayed: “Father forgive them, they don’t know what they are doing.”  He was praying for those who were executing the order to kill Him because He had a heart to forgive, not to be grudging.  It was because He is love and there no holding on to offense in Him.

You and I have the power to forgive, also.  Our heart is always prepared to either forgive or hold on to hurts and resentments.  It is up to each individual to decide ahead of time the heart they want to have.  Thankfully, we will never have to pay the penalty for sin because Jesus already did that, but we do have to make the choice to release anything we are holding on to that keeps us in unforgiveness.

Today I want to encourage you to choose forgiveness. Choose to receive the forgiveness that God gives you through the blood of Jesus and choose to forgive others that have hurt and offended you.  You have a choice, but you have to decide before an offense comes that you are going to do it.   God put the power of forgiveness in your heart when He put His love on the inside of you.  Use that power to set yourself free from the bondage and bitterness of retaliation.  Instead, release those who have sinned against you and walk in the freedom of God’s love and forgiveness from now on.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 26:47-56

47 And even as Jesus said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent by the leading priests and elders of the people. 

48 The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: “You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss.” 

49 So Judas came straight to Jesus. “Greetings, Rabbi!” he exclaimed and gave him the kiss.

50 Jesus said, “My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for.” Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him. 

51 But one of the men with Jesus pulled out his sword and struck the high priest’s slave, slashing off his ear.

52 “Put away your sword,” Jesus told him. “Those who use the sword will die by the sword. 

53 Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? 

54 But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?”

55 Then Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I some dangerous revolutionary, that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me? Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there teaching every day. 

56 But this is all happening to fulfill the words of the prophets as recorded in the Scriptures.” At that point, all the disciples deserted him and fled.

Resurrection Week

Since we are coming up on Easter Sunday, I thought it would be appropriate to spend the week reflecting and remembering the events that took place in Jesus’ ministry leading up to His crucifixion.

I know we consider and thank Him all years long, but take some time this week to ask the Holy Spirit to give you new revelation and appreciation for what the Lord has done to give us life in His blood and in a right relationship with our Father in heaven.

“Sweet Hour of Prayer”

Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:40-41

This is a hard one.  I’m not sure, but I think I probably would have done the same thing as the disciples did here.  They just came off the last supper, they listened to Jesus teach about communion and the things to come.  Now they are in a place where they have previously spent many nights.  The logical thing seems like its time to sleep.  But Jesus asked them to do something different this night.  He took Peter, James and John deeper into the garden and confided in them that He was extremely stressed, so badly that He wished He was dead, He asked them to stay at that point and keep watch while He went on to pray.  I’m sure they didn’t know what they were watching for, but Jesus knew that Judas was coming with the guards.  That is why He was so anxious.  It was the beginning of the end.

Well, Peter James and John didn’t do so good with this assignment.  They fell asleep.  They heard Jesus say that He was struggling, and it was probably obvious by the way He was behaving.  They may have even started praying when Jesus went to be by Himself, but they didn’t last long.

Unfortunately, this happens to all of us.  I sometimes I struggle now to pray more than just a few minutes at a time.  Don’t get me wrong, I like to talk to God every chance I get, but when it comes time to press in and shut the rest of the world out, it doesn’t always last so long.  There used to be an old song that was popular called “Sweet Hour of Prayer.”  I tried it before, and it is true.  In fact, I made it a discipline at one point to pray in the spirit one hour every morning.  What a blessing it was, and it was clear to me why the song was written.  About 45 minutes in, every time, there would seem to be a breakthrough and all of a sudden, things were known, peace was received, and answers and direction were apparent.  I can’t explain it, but it was there every time.  The only problem was getting there.  I knew the place to be, I just couldn’t always keep myself pressing in for that long.  It felt like my spirit finally overcame my human body and I could now know things in the spirit world with the Holy Spirit guiding me.

I believe this is why Jesus asked the disciples “Couldn’t you stay with me in prayer for one hour?”  Then He went on to tell them the reason that “sweet” hour of prayer is so important.  It is because the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.  Staying in prayer for that length of time pushes through the weakness of the flesh and brings the strength of the spirit to the front of your life.

Now instead of seeing this as a discipline, I see it as a privilege.  It is a privilege to be in the presents of my heavenly Father for long lengths of time.  It is an honor to hang out with the trinity and put my flesh in its proper place.  It is a great advantage to my life if I can make it to the “sweet hour of prayer.”

Today I want to encourage you to take advantage of the privilege of prayer.  Step into the great honor we have as God’s children to spend time with our Father in heaven.  Maybe it will start out as a little, but gradually build up that time to linger in His presence.  Set a goal to spend an hour with Him at least one day per week and make it a practice to bask in His glory every opportunity you have.  It is a game changer for sure.  Your life will shift into a whole new dimension.  It makes sense if you think about it.  When you spend time in the presence of God, His glory is sure to rub off on you!

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 26:31-46

31 Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

32 But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”

33 Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.”

34 Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”

35 Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” and so said all the disciples.

36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” 

37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 

38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”

39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? 

41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” 

43 And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.

44 So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 

45 Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 

46 Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”

Your priority

Therefore, we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, Hebrews 2:1 & 3

Here you go!  If you have ever wondered what you are supposed to be doing here in this world and at this time, this is your answer. First, you are to be paying close attention to the things you have learned and read in the scripture to make sure you do not drift away in your relationship with your Father in heaven.  Second, don’t neglect your relationship with your Savior.

This is a good guide for life here in this world.  We must nurture and grow our relationship with God.  It is vital, not only for our survival in today’s world, but also for our effectiveness in it.  Verse 4 of this chapter says God bears witness or testifies the validity of the message of salvation through answered prayer and with signs and wonders as He wills.  His signs and wonders will not be seen to the outside world through us if we neglect and don’t give priority to our relationship and partnership with Him.

The example is the disciples of Jesus that spend their time ministering and walking with Jesus every day. They maintained a close relationship with Him.  Their relationship was the priority of their life and they proved this by leaving all they had and giving their life to the work of His ministry.

You may not be employed in full time ministry, but you should still be a full time minister of the good news wherever you are employed.  God has assigned you to that place to be His representative there.  It is so very important that your relationship with Him is first place in your life, so that He will be able to accomplish the things in this world through your life that He planned to.

Today I want to encourage you to give attention to the things you have learned in Christ Jesus, so you don’t drift away.  Don’t neglect His great salvation by making the busyness of life your priority.  Become aware of your position as His ambassador wherever you have been placed in this world and display His love for the people He brings into your life.  Help others to see that there is hope for the future in salvation through Jesus and lead others to the understanding of the world beyond this one.

Today’s scripture reading: Hebrews 2:1-4

1 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.

2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward,

3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,

4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

Ministering Spirits

But to which of the angels has He ever said: “Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies Your footstool”? Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?  Hebrews 1:13&14

This is a good question.  Did God ever say to one of His angels, “Sit here at my right hand.”?  The answer is no.  He only gave that seat to Jesus.  The angels are God’s ministering spirits that He sends to minister.  To whom?  People.  All through the scripture there are references to the angels in all kinds of ministering positions.  Some bring glad tidings.  Some bring prophetic messages.  Some bring protection against armies, some bring battle plans and some minister physical strength and encouragement.

Angels are still around today.  Oh, we may not be aware of them, but they are close.  Even though we cannot see them, we know they are there because God’s Word tells us they are all ministering spirits and Hebrews 13 says many have entertained angel and were unaware of it.  Psalms 91:11 says that God puts His angels in charge of us to keep/protect us in all our ways.  Psalm 103:20 says they listen for those who speak God’s Word to do it.  Today’s verse says they are sent to serve those who have received (heirs of) salvation.

To sum up this first chapter of Hebrews, we could say: Jesus our Savior is holding all things in place (including our lives) by His powerful Words.  God raised up Jesus with His powerful Word to sit at His right hand and now God’s angels are ministering His powerful Word to all His people by serving, protecting and strengthening them.

Today I want to encourage you to think about the angels.  Consider that they are close and even hear the things we say and see the things we do.  Ask yourself if you have spoken God’s words recently for them to heed and do.  Then ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom concerning the angels that have been assigned to your life.  They are ready to be sent into action, all they need is the command of God’s Word!

Today’s scripture reading: Hebrews 1:10-14

10 And: “You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.

11 They will perish, but You remain; and they will all grow old like a garment;

12 Like a cloak You will fold them up, and they will be changed.

But You are the same, and Your years will not fail.”

13 But to which of the angels has He ever said: “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”?

14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?

 

Who is sending you?

But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. John 5:36

I have had many places of employment over my lifetime. Mostly out of necessity.  I took jobs because I needed to make ends meet and sometimes, I worked 2 different jobs at the same time. I thought I was being independent, and I didn’t want to have to depend on anyone to take care of me.  I wasn’t very happy, and I spent a lot of time alone.

I didn’t have a plan and I lived day to day with no vision for the future.  Occasionally, I would consider what will be next, but mostly I lived life one day at a time never considering my future.  The furthest I could look ahead was the weekend or my next day off work.  Which didn’t happen very often when I was running from one place of employment to the other every day of the week.

My life was basically going nowhere except when things got uncomfortable.  Then I would look for the first opportunity to run to the next place or even a new state.  I was working to support myself and my child.  She was the only reason I kept going a lot of the time and I am so thankful for her life because of that.

Finally, I surrendered and put my life in God’s hands.  Things didn’t change too much at first, but I started doing some things differently and changed my priorities to focus on God’s plan and agenda.  Eventually, I began to live for a reason other than getting through a day.  I started learning God’s reason for my life.  I began to seek out His plan each day and live on His purpose.  I started spending time with Him each morning to dedicate the day to Him and ask Him to lead me through.  I began to realize that the only way my life could ever count for something was to offer whatever I could to honor and serve my Lord.

Now I have found the reason that I exist, and I know the purpose that I am in this world.  My life counts for something, and it will be carried into eternity with me when I leave here.  I am so thankful that now I understand what it means to be sent by my Father in heaven.

In today’s reading, Jesus told the Jewish leaders that His Father had sent Him to the world to save the people from sin.  The leaders didn’t want to believe Him, but Jesus knew in His heart that God the Father had Him here for that purpose and He determined to complete His mission regardless of any opposition.

You can know the reason you are here and that you have been sent by your Father.  God made a plan for your life before you were ever born.  He planned the best life for you that you could possibly have.  It is not a perfect life and you will still have ups and downs, but you will know the purpose, you will have a mission and you will live with passion in your heart to live each day to the fullest because you have a future and a hope.  You can complete down to the last detail everything that the Father has written for you to complete.  But you have to get the plan from Him and you have to walk through the doors by faith that He opens along the way.

Today I want to encourage you to seek out the plan of God for your life.  Recognize that you exist for a reason and that you can accomplish the great things that your heavenly Father has planned for you to do.  You can enjoy this life to the fullest, simply by following His lead step by step and day by day.  Understand and know that you have been sent here to the world for a purpose for such this time.  It is no accident that you are here now and there is an assignment for you to fulfill.  Start living your best life now by turning it all over to Your loving Father and press in close so you don’t miss a step.

Today’s scripture reading: John 5:31-47

31 “If I were to testify on my own behalf, my testimony would not be valid. 

32 But someone else is also testifying about me, and I assure you that everything he says about me is true. 

33 In fact, you sent investigators to listen to John the Baptist, and his testimony about me was true. 

34 Of course, I have no need of human witnesses, but I say these things so you might be saved. 

35 John was like a burning and shining lamp, and you were excited for a while about his message. 

36 But I have a greater witness than John—my teachings and my miracles. The Father gave me these works to accomplish, and they prove that he sent me. 

37 And the Father who sent me has testified about me himself. You have never heard his voice or seen him face to face, 

38 and you do not have his message in your hearts, because you do not believe me—the one he sent to you.

39 “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! 

40 Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life.

41 “Your approval means nothing to me, 

42 because I know you don’t have God’s love within you. 

43 For I have come to you in my Father’s name, and you have rejected me. Yet if others come in their own name, you gladly welcome them. 

44 No wonder you can’t believe! For you gladly honor each other, but you don’t care about the honor that comes from the one who alone is God.

45 “Yet it isn’t I who will accuse you before the Father. Moses will accuse you! Yes, Moses, in whom you put your hopes. 

46 If you really believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me. 

47 But since you don’t believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?”

What do you seek?

I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me. John 5:30

I have come to the point in my life where the fear of the Lord in my eyes is fear of not being close to Him and trusting Him with every detail.  I do believe in the fear of His awesomeness, but I am not afraid of His wrath or judgement because I know He desires the best for my life.  Because I spent many years seeking after my own will and working on getting my own way accomplished, I now know that path is nothing but heartache and destruction.  Today, my heart is to seek the will, plan and direction of my Father, who sends me to be His witness and His body in this world.

In today’s reading, Jesus talked about not seeking His own will but following the plan of God for His life.  However, He didn’t have the same problem that I had, because He made the decision from the beginning that He would do only what He heard from His Father in heaven.  Even though He struggled a little before He went to the cross, which is understandable, He still submitted His will to His Father’s because He knew the plan was for the good of all other people and that God would never let Him down.

Today, it is easy to look back on Jesus’ life and say that it was easy for Him to only do His Father’s will and even though He was perfect here in the world, it doesn’t mean that it was any easier for Him than it can be for us.  He had to make time to listen and press into God for strength, direction and the plan.  He knew that in order to accomplish what was in the heart of His Father, He would have to know His Father so intimately so He could complete every assignment that He was sent here to do.

This is our example still today.  If Jesus needed to seek God and spend time praying and listening for the plans of the day, how much more do we need that intimate close time to press in and listen for the plan for our day and our life.  It can be easy to start off in one direction and think “I got this, Lord”.  But if you do not check in on a daily basis, just the slightest distraction can knock you way off course where you can be devoured by the enemy of your soul.

So, today I want to encourage you to check in with your heavenly Father.  Ask Him to make your assignment for the day plain and clear.  It may be to reach out to someone who needs a word of encouragement or it may be to visit a friend who is going through a rough time.  Whatever He puts on your heart, be open and believe that He will make time for you to fit it into your schedule along with the other responsibilities you have.  Jesus was on His way to some place every time someone came to Him for help.  He didn’t turn them away. He made time for them right where He was.  He understood that people are the most important priority to God and they need to be ours too.

Today’s scripture reading: John 5:24-30

24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. 

25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. 

26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, 

27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. 

28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 

29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. 

30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.

It’s not just a title

Therefore, the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. John 5:18

Have you ever thought about this?  We pray to God and address Him as our Father or Heavenly Father.  It is true.  There are many passages that confirm we are children of God when we enter into His salvation through the blood of Jesus.  Even Jesus Himself said that when we pray, we should start by saying: Our Father in heaven. It makes sense, because when God created people, He made them in His image and the human race was born from Him.

In today’s reading, the Jews were upset with Jesus for healing on the Sabbath, but became even more angry when He referred to God as His Father.  They said that made Jesus equal with God.  While we know that is true, Jesus is the Son of God and the perfect Lamb, what does that mean for us if we call Him Father.  Certainly, we don’t think we are putting ourselves on His level.  And for sure, we have been given access to His power through faith, but very few of us know how use to or even think we have the God kind of power.

No, we are not equal to God, and it would be absurd to even pretend to think that. However, we are of His kind, and we are His created family.  God created people with the intention of having a family and it is the reason He created us in His image.  When He sent Jesus to rescue us, the payment He made was so powerful that He gave us the power to become the children of God according to John 1:12.  Now that’s a lot of power. 

This is not something we should take lightly and if we could begin to understand the power God gave us to reach this lost and dying world, we would turn this world up side down like the first Christians did.  God wants us to know who we are now that we are in Christ Jesus and He wants us to follow the example of the first one born of many brethren, the Lord Jesus!

Today I want to encourage you to consider the position you have been given when you received your salvation in the blood of Jesus.  Thank your Father in heaven for His great love with which He loved you and for the price He paid to get you back as His very own.  Then consider the part and power He has given you to let others know about His great love.  Ask Him how to release that power and how to make a bigger impact on your part of the world.  Don’t be a child of God in title only, begin imitating your Father with His great power as a dear child of the King (Ephesians 5:1)

Today’s scripture reading: John 5:16-23

16 For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath. 

17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.”

18 Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. 

19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. 

20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. 

21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. 

22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 

23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.