The Daily Dose

Love one another

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, see that you also love one another.  John 13:34

As believers, we are a product of God’s love!  When we received salvation in Christ Jesus, we were born of God who is love, therefore we are born of love.  This is not a physical love, but a spiritual, supernatural, unconditional love.  The kind of love that God is.

The word love has lost its meaning in today’s world.  We “love” everything from pizza to our new cars and homes.  While it’s true we may really enjoy these things, to say we love them belittles the significance of what love truly is.  God is love and He has put His love in us to love other people not to love things.  Love can only be for someone you have interaction with or a relationship with.  Whether it’s your family, friends, or someone with a pressing need, these are the ones we share love with.  Love is God so in loving one another, you are showing others the God of love and who He really is.

In today’s passage, Jesus told His disciples that they are to love one another.  He had just finished demonstrating to them how to love each other when He washed their feet just a few minutes before.  Jesus was showing the disciples that their priority in life was to take care of each other and their fellow believers. He was talking to the people that were in that room then, but He was also talking to all who would be His people in the future.  Jesus told them that He wanted them to change their entire focus in life from keeping the commandments of Moses to the new commandment that He gave at the last supper.  He didn’t say that they should not keep the law of Moses any longer, He was simply telling them that if they began to love and take care of one another, they would be keeping the law of Mosses in the process. 

Think about it.  You cannot be loving someone and stealing from them at the same time or killing, coveting and lying.  Jesus knew that when people love each other and take care of other’s needs ahead of their own, there would be no selfish and sinful intent in them.  1 John 4:7 says you cannot love God and hate your brother (people).  The evidence that you have God in your life shows up in your expressions of love for others.

Today I want to encourage you to consider love.  The love that you were born again with.  The unconditional eternal love that God chosen to love us with.  Then consider how you can put that love into action with other people in your day.  Take your focus off of the things you “love” and direct your love toward people that need God’s love.  We are God’s expression of love to the world around us right now, so let’s choose today that we will show that love everywhere we go.  Our salvation was never meant to be just for us.  We have been given a commandment by the head of the church Himself to love and take care of one another.  That is our main objective and mission in this life.  Just as Jesus was God’s love given to us, let our lives be God’s love given to all people we are with.

Today’s scripture reading: John 13:31-35

31 So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. 

32 If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately. 

33 Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you. 

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 

35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

He knows

 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. John 13:26

Have you ever had something in your life that you knew just shouldn’t be there?  Maybe some habit that you think isn’t really hurting anyone or a friendship that pulls you in a wrong direction?  Maybe it’s a debt or social media addiction that you cling to in an unhealthy way.  If you are honest with yourself, you can probably identify something in your heart that you have felt conviction about but continue to justify that it isn’t that bad or hurting anyone.  It is just where you turn when trying to escape the pressures of life.

Just recently, I finally surrendered one such behavior that I have been holding onto.  I had many internal arguments fighting for and trying to convince myself that it was fine.   Not a sinful thing, just something I was hiding and wanted to keep hidden.  I finally put my hands up and said:  “ok God, You win! I want to surrender every area of my life and habits to you”  But it wasn’t a battle that God was trying to control or take something away from me.  It was a battle that I was hanging on to something that was holding me back from God’s best and what He was trying to do in my life to empower me. Mostly, it was distracting me from my mission.  He doesn’t want to control us, He wants us to live this life in His greatest blessings and continue to grow in the things He has called us to.

In today’s reading, Jesus tells the disciples that one of them would betray Him as they were eating the Passover meal.  They were shocked and surprised, mostly because they didn’t believe one of them would do such a thing, but one of them, Judas, was already planning to betray Him and was surprised that He knew.  In today’s reading, Jesus told Judas that whatever he was going to do, do it quickly.  It almost looked like Jesus gave Him permission, but then Jesus added a solum warning.  He said: Woe to him by whom the Son of Man is betrayed!  It would be better if he were never born.  Jesus knew what was going on.  He knew He had to be taken to the cross, but He also knew that He didn’t need Judas’s help to get there.

He knows what is going on in your life too.  Whether good, bad or distracted, He knows if you are getting off tract and He knows if you have ever been on your planned path.  Not only does He know, He also wants to help.  He actually wants to work with you to complete the assignment you have been sent here to do.  The purpose for your existence.  God has a great plan for your life and He wants to walk you through it each day of your life.  It is amazing to me that the God of the universe loves me and wants to go with me as my best friend and confidant each day.  Yet, how many times have I ignored or didn’t even consider His desire and design for my life.  Maybe you have too.  Decide today that from this moment on, you are going to seek Him first and His righteous ways in all you do.  Then you will not be distracted with the vises and habits of this world, but you will be focused on getting your part of His plan accomplished down to the last detail.

Today I want to encourage you to surrender all to Him.  In Luke 8:17, Jesus said there is nothing hidden that will not be reveal.  He knows all things, so thinking that you can keep or hide anything from Him is beyond reality.  He loves you and has the best path planned for your life!  Get all the roadblock out of the way and surrender all to Him today.  He is not trying to keep any good thing from you.  That is a lie that started in the garden with the serpent and Eve.  He wants to pour out His goodness on your life every day, but He can only do that as you give Him access to every area.  Open up your heart and confess the secret areas to Him today.  He already knows anyway, why not let Him lead you to succeed in all your ways.

Today’s scripture reading: John 13:18-30

18 “I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’ 

19 Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am He. 

20 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”

21 When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” 

22 Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke.

23 Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. 

24 Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke.

25 Then, leaning back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?”

26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. 

27 Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” 

28 But no one at the table knew for what reason He said this to him. 

29 For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, “Buy those things we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor.

30 Having received the piece of bread, he then went out immediately. And it was night.

His Example

If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.  John 13:14

Consider the humility of Jesus.  He is God, coming into the world in a flesh and blood body like ours.  He is all present, all knowing and all powerful.  He created all things and through Him all things were made.  Yet His love for His created people was greater than all of that.  So much so that He was willing to be born into this world as a baby and grow up and walk out a life similar to what we all do.  The God, Who is above all, came low to be part of what He created.  Philippians 2:8 says: Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.  The cross of course was the ultimate in humility.  He took on all the sin, shame and guilt of the world.  All the sickness and disease before and after was placed on Him.  This ultimate sacrifice was worth it all to Him to get His family back from His enemy.

In today’s reading, Jesus was spending His last hours in the world with His disciples and closest friends.  He spent His remaining moments teaching them some of the most important lessons that He taught while on the earth.  When they had all finished His last supper, He got up from the group and then got low.  He kneeled down and began to wash the feet of all those there with Him.  As if going to the cross was not enough to show how much He loved them, He first took this special individual time with each one of His men and carefully and deliberately washed their feet.  In their culture, this was one of the lowest jobs in the home and usually done by a servant or youth.  But Jesus demonstrated the importance of humility and caring for others on an individual level in this low and simple act.  He told the disciples that they wouldn’t understand what He was doing right now. Then when He finished, He explained to them that if as their teacher and Lord was willing to humble Himself to tend to the needs of others, they should do the same thing for each other when He was gone.  He finished this teaching by saying the person that is sent is not greater than the one who sent them.  He wanted them to understand that even though they had been with Jesus during His time here, they were not superior to the world that they were going to reach.  He was telling them to stay humble even though He was going to be leaving them in charge.

I know most of us have heard this account at the last supper before and probably even heard very good sermons on it, but I want to ask today: How does this apply to each one of us?  I can see three applications that we can put into action in our lives.  They are:

1. Keep your heart in a constant position of humility.  When you find yourself becoming irritated or stressed in life, recognize that you are getting close to pride and confess it and get rid of it.  Follow Jesus example of taking care of others and let that be your first thought when the tension rises.
2. Put others’ needs above your own.  I know that we live in a society that is focused on self-care and taking care of #1 first and I am not saying that we should neglect self. I am simply saying humble yourself and be aware that there are people in your every day that God has placed there for you to be caring for.  Don’t walk by and ignore the opportunities you have to love one another.  Your life will never be complete and fulfilled if you only fill it up with selfishness.
3. Lastly, don’t ever think of yourself above others.  Even if you hold a position in authority of some kind, you are still a servant to all.  Lead in such a way that you are living an example like Jesus did of love and humility.  Showing those around you that your position was given to you to reach more of the world for the Kingdom.

Today I want to encourage you to walk in humility.  Put others first, look for opportunities to serve and love all people around you.  Follow Jesus example and never think that you have come to where you are in life so that others can serve you.  Keep the heart and mind set that you have been sent here to bring more of the people around you to your loving heavenly Father and when you do, you will live out the very purpose for which you were given breath in the first place.

Today’s scripture reading: John 12:1-17

1 Jesus knew that the night before Passover would be his last night on earth before leaving this world to return to the Father’s side. All throughout his time with his disciples, Jesus had demonstrated a deep and tender love for them. And now he longed to show them the full measure of his love.  

2 Before their evening meal had begun, the accuser  had already deeply embedded betrayal  into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.

3 Now Jesus was fully aware that the Father had placed all things under his control, for he had come from God and was about to go back to be with him. 

4 So he got up from the meal and took off his outer robe, and took a towel and wrapped it around his waist. 

5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ dirty feet and dry them with his towel. 

6 But when Jesus got to Simon Peter, he objected and said, “I can’t let you wash my dirty feet—you’re my Lord!”

7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand yet the meaning of what I’m doing, but soon it will be clear to you.” 

8 Peter looked at Jesus and said, “You’ll never wash my dirty feet—never!” “But Peter, if you don’t allow me to wash your feet,” Jesus responded, “then you will not be able to share life with me.”

9 So Peter said, “Lord, in that case, don’t just wash my feet, wash my hands and my head too!”

10 Jesus said to him, “You are already clean. You’ve been washed completely and you just need your feet to be cleansed—but that can’t be said of all of you.” For Jesus knew which one was about to betray him, 

11 and that’s why he told them that not all of them were clean.

12 After washing their feet, he put his robe on and returned to his place at the table.  “Do you understand what I just did?” Jesus said. 

13 “You’ve called me your teacher and lord, and you’re right, for that’s who I am. 

14-15 So if I’m your teacher and lord and have just washed your dirty feet, then you should follow the example that I’ve set for you and wash one another’s dirty feet. Now do for each other what I have just done for you. 

16 I speak to you timeless truth: a servant is not superior to his master, and an apostle is never greater than the one who sent him. 

17 So now put into practice what I have done for you, and you will experience a life of happiness enriched with untold blessings!”

Fellow workers

“For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:9

I really appreciate this verse because it reminds me once again that I am not alone in my labor for the Lord.  God has a plan and has a place for me in His kingdom work.  This passage is wonderful because it shows that we work right alongside with God.  He hasn’t left us here to figure it all out on our own.  He is working in and through us!  The phrase “fellow worker” actually means co- worker or colleague.  It means we are working on the same project together, the Kingdom of Heaven.  We are called by God to work right beside Him building and increasing His Kingdom.  What a privilege and honor it is to be a fellow worker with God our Father. 

When we were born again, we receive Jesus as Savior, yes, and we became part of God’s family, but we also became a fellow worker with Him.  He began right away training us up by working right beside us, empowering us to get in the place of growth and surrounding us with others that help keep us close to Him.  Amazingly, because we have always done things our own way, we often start out in our walk with God thinking we can continue down that same path and bring God with us.  The truth is, once Jesus is the Lord of our lives, He is the one that is leading now, and we follow His path.  We don’t have to get His blessing on our plan because His plan is already blessed.  We just need to be a doer of His word to begin walking with Him day by day.  As we do, He leads us in His perfect path of righteousness.

Today’s reading talks about the grace God has given us to build His kingdom and step into the place as a brick in the house of the Lord.  Jesus laid the foundation along with the Holy Spirit.  Now we are building on that foundation and our works are the evidence of our labor.  What we are building will be put through the fire and tests of life.  All that is pure and done according to His way of love will remain.  Any selfish ambition will be burned off and fade away forever.  Work with your Heavenly Father in such a way that your labor lasts for all eternity.

Today I want to encourage you to examine your heart’s motive.  Are you in your called position?  Are you walking on God’s blessed path, or trying to get Him to bless your plans?  We are fellow workers with God when we focus on continuing the building He started long ago.  We have a firm foundation built by Jesus the chief cornerstone. Now we are working with God to complete this project!  Discover your place today by asking God where you fit into His plan.

Today’s scripture reading:  1 Corinthians 3:9-17

9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.

10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.

11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,

13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.

14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.

15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

Of the flesh

And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.  1 Corinthians 3:1

In the past you may have likely heard the word “carnal” defined by words like sensual, erotic lustful and lascivious. However, looking at this word in today’s scripture it simply means of this physical world.  Paul is telling the Corinthian church that instead of seeing life from a spiritual perspective, they are still living by what they see and feel in the natural physical world.  That is why they still have things like envy, strife and divisions in their lives and in the church.  He emphasizes to them that they are living like baby believers instead of growing in their faith as he had expected and been praying for them to do.

This speaks to me because I totally get it. It is so easy to go through life focused on what is going on around me.  If I didn’t purposefully set time aside each day to talk to God and consider His ways and His plans, I would so be caught up in my own thoughts and feelings.  As it is now, I often find myself hurt or offended because of what someone else has said or done.  It can be so easy to be knocked off course when I am moved by the circumstances around me.

Yet the church in Corinth was fighting over things such as who was more spiritual based on who they were learning from.  After hearing what Paul has to say about it, your spiritual strength has nothing to do with who you are listening to, it has to do with who gives the increase.  All the pastors and teachers we read and listen to are only watering the seed of God’s word that is planted in our heart.  It is the Holy Spirit that gives the increase of strength and grows our faith.  These feelings of envy, strife and divisions are really signs in our lives that this is an area that we need to grow through these feelings into a mature child of God.  To stay stagnant holding on to hurts and offenses simply means you are not growing but are still behaving as a baby.

The solution is in cultivating your relationship with your Heavenly Father through His Spirit that lives inside you.  There are many ways you can do this.  Prayer is probably the most effective way to press into God.  Just by spending time talking to Him and asking Him to show you things.  Ask Him what scripture you will need for today.  Open up the Word of God and spend some time getting to know Him better by what He has already promised.  Praying in the Sprit and meditating His Word will also bring you much insight and grow your walk of faith.  Mostly, making a concentrated effort to connect with Him each day will impact your walk with Him in a positive way that will lead you to love more like He loves.

Today I want to encourage you to examine your spiritual walk.  Are you looking at life from an eternal perspective, or do you see things as if this world is the only factor to consider?  Set some time aside today to talk this over with the Holy Spirit’s wisdom and guidance.  Make a plan to grow your relationship with your Father in heaven and gain an eternal perspective in every area of your life.  Put away the childish hurt feelings from offenses and grow up in the love of God.

Today’s scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 3:1-4

1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.

2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able;

3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?

4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?

Don’t Wander in Darkness

I have come as a light to shine in this dark world so that all who trust in me will no longer wander in darkness.  John 12:46

Have you ever felt like you were wandering around in the dark? Like somehow there was no purpose to this life except to get through another day?  Maybe you look around in the world and see so much pain, suffering and corruption that there doesn’t seem to be any hope of things ever changing for the better.  The world just seems to be getting darker and darker.  It is hard to watch people you love wandering around in the darkness with no end in sight.

In the remaining verses of John 12, Jesus begins talking very loudly so that everyone that is close to Him can hear His words.  Many times in scripture I see this phrase when I am reading: Then Jesus cried out and said.  When I read that, I stop to imagine exactly what that could have looked like?  It doesn’t mean that He started crying.  Other translations say: Jesus shouted to the crowds, Jesus shouted out passionately or Jesus loudly declared. The point is, Jesus publicly spoke up and told the multitudes that if anyone believed in Him, they also believe in God the Father in heaven.  He also said anyone who saw Him, has seen the Father in heaven.  Then He went on to tell the people that day that He came to be the light in the darkness.  This was very good news, because it was a very dark time in history, especially for the Jewish people.  Jesus came into the world to show people the way to no long wander in darkness and to have hope for a better future.

This message is still good news today because His light is still shining in the dark world that we live in.  You no longer have to wander around in the darkness, you can carry the light with you and in you.  When you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you receive the light inside.  As you begin to grow in your relationship with Him, the light inside you gets brighter and brighter.  The closer you are to Jesus, the clearer His light shines through you.  Soon you will be shiny enough to go into the darkness to help others that are wandering around.  You can point them to the truth of God love and kindness and the provision He made for all to walk out of the dark into His glorious light.

Today I want to encourage you to increase your shine by getting closer to Him.  Set aside quiet time with Him each morning so that you can get His direction and carry His peace and light with you through the day.  Spend time worshipping and filling up with His goodness so that it flows out of you onto others where ever you go.  If you have never received the light of His salvation in your life personally, do that today by praying the prayer below from your heart.  Jesus will come into your heart and into your life and walk closely with you until your light shines bright for all to see.

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 12:44-50

44 Then Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. 

45 And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. 

46 I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. 

47 And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 

48 He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. 

49 For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. 

50 And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.”

Love the praise of God

For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.  John 12:43

Whose praise are you living for?  Who are you thinking about when you do the things you do.  Who is it that you are trying to please when you make decisions each day.  Is it people that have authority over you like your boss or some influential person you know?  Or maybe it is your spouse or even your children? For many people it is self that is most important.  Looking out for #1 is the motto that many people live by.

There were many people who followed and believed in Jesus when He lived in this world.  Some were disciples, some just wanted to see what was going to happen next.  Then there were the leaders of the synagogue, and the scripture says that many of those believed, but they did not want anyone to know because they would lose their position and their job.

It takes a very serious follower to regard pleasing God over what man will say and do.  To hold God’s over any earthly power even to the point of being let go from a place of security.  To turn away from the old way of living and the motive of personal gain is rarely the first consideration for most people.  The passage in Isaiah is quoted in today’s reading that the people of Jesus time would have their eyes blinded, and their hearts hardened so they could not see or understand and repent.

This is still going on today.  Many still are spiritually blind with hard hearts, but it doesn’t have to be that way.  You can decide today that the most important thing is how you finish your race.  The course set before you can be run in such a way that you receive God’s honor and God’s praise.  You can shift your priority from being recognized and glorified by people to the point that your heavenly Father will say to you “well done.”  The key is in your focus.  If you set your sights on things above, the plan and call for your life here in this world, you will not even notice who is watching around you.  Instead, you will have a heart that is running after God’s grace and goodness to share with others. Your eyes and focus will be fixed on pleasing Him. Turning your attention to God’s will and laying down your own agenda will give you a supernatural love for those around you.  When that happens, you will no longer be concerned with the praise of people, you will only care about getting that hurting soul to Jesus and bringing all the praise, honor and glory to Him.

Today I want to encourage you to soften your heart to the things and people He is calling you to.  Decide that the most important thing in this short life is to complete you mission in this world so that you can hear Him say “Well done” when you are finish.  Make the praise of God on your daily activities the number one priority for each day and make the choice to love the people around you more than making yourself of most importance.  This life is very short.  Even if you live 100 years, it will still be over in the blink of an eye.  Make the decision today to make every minute count for eternity.  Every step you take in this life can be an investment in your forever or it can also be a vapor that will fade away in the passing of time. The choice is up to you.

Today’s scripture reading: John 12:37-43

37 But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, 

38 that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report? and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

39 Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again:

40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, lest they should see with their eyes, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.”

41 These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him.

42 Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 

43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

He was troubled

“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose, I came to this hour. John 12:27

Have you ever been on your way to an assignment that you were sure came directly from the Holy Spirit, but you felt nervous or afraid?  Maybe you made a decision to move forward in a direction that was His leading only to be met with setbacks and delays.  Sometimes the circumstances can actually feel like maybe you didn’t hear from God after all.  I have often found myself asking the question: “if it is God’s will it should just all fall into place or shouldn’t it be easy to complete the plan and mission He has for me?”

If we look at the life of Jesus, it is clear that God’s plan is not going to be simple, and it will require much sacrifice.  Jesus didn’t question God’s plan and He didn’t wonder that maybe He had gotten it wrong when the opposition came.  He recognized that it was all part of the plan and that the struggle made it necessary for Him to press in and depend more on His Father’s love and grace to get to His destination.  He had the hardest assignment that any person will ever have, and it was anything but easy all through His ministry.

This is good news for us today.  The good news is that we don’t have to wonder and question when the Holy Spirit points us in the direction of ministry.  We can know that we are heading the right way, and we can depend on needing help along the way.  If the plan of God on your life were easy, you would have not need to trust Him every step of every day.

In today’s reading Jesus is struggling with what He knows is coming up.  Even though He is still a couple of days away from the torment that He had to face, He is already starting to ask questions.  He admits that He is troubled, and He asks Himself the question of: “Should I ask my Father to save me from this mission?  Of course, not because this is the reason I have come into the world.”

This needs to be our response too.  When we are struggling to complete the assignment given, it is ok to be concerned and ask questions.  Ultimately though we need to recognize that the mission is the reason we have been given life and that we make the decision to get His grace and strength to complete it.  We will never have to suffer like Jesus did, but we will have to press through the tough times every day of our journey.

Today I want to encourage you to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteous plan for your life.  When you know God’s Spirit is pointing in a certain direction, first of all write it down along with a scripture that you asked Him for to remember when you have doubts.  When you do that, you will have an anchor to go back to when the questions and tough times come.  Next, instead of letting your feelings lead you, determine to ask Him for help when you are feeling like quitting.  Lastly, Thank Him for His presence with you every day of your life.  Walk out each step you take in this life in the power and grace that He has for you.  Then when you are faced with struggles and set backs you can say: “Should I ask for a different mission? No, this mission is the reason that I am here in this place right now.”  Go ahead and complete, down to the last detail, all that you have been called to.  Then when you are done in this world, you will be ready to face Him in the next.

Today’s scripture reading: John 12:27-36

27 “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 

28 Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.”

29 Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.”

30 Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake. 

31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 

32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” 

33 This He said, signifying by what death He would die.

34 The people answered Him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”

35 Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. 

36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.

Maintain Focus

_{But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. John 12:23}

Focus is important in any mission in life.  It can be easy to get distracted with the cares that this world offers on a daily basis.  Something as simple as an unplanned circumstance or even a discouraging report can knock you off course.  It can take days to get back on track after a crisis hits and opposition is always a possibility when navigating this life.

In today’s reading, Jesus disciples brought Him the message that there were certain Greeks asking to see and talk with Him.  I don’t know if Jesus saw this news as a sign or prediction that the end was near, or even if He heard them. His response indicated that He was focused on what was about to happen and His purpose for coming into the world. He didn’t even acknowledge the news about the visitor. In fact, His response most certainly took them by surprise.

He answered the disciples by saying “unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone. But when it dies, it produces much grain.”  I am positive that the disciples were stunned at this response.  Not because it was so profound and deep, only because they had no idea what He was talking about, again.  I can just imagine them standing there processing Jesus’ words as He continued with: “He who loves his life will lose it and he who hates his life in this world will keep it.  Anyone who serves Me must follow Me and where I am, there my servant will be also.”

The disciples were undoubtedly confused and a little frustrated.  Now what were they supposed to tell the Greeks that were waiting to talk with Him?  They couldn’t go back and say: “Jesus said unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone.”  That doesn’t even make sense.  What they didn’t realize was that Jesus was already preparing His heart for His mission on the cross.  He was not being distracted by the visiting Greeks or even the feast that they had come there to celebrate.  He knew what His assignment was and as the day was approaching, He pressed in to get ready and get His team set up for what was about to go down.

What about you and me?  What are we doing today to prepare for our mission ahead.  Are we pressing in for direction and details or are we distracted by activities and holiday celebrations.  Events and festivals have their place, but the most important thing is that we are getting our assignment each day and walking out the purpose each one of us has been called to.  Don’t let the distractions of this world and life steal your attention away from what is really important.  Instead, determine to keep your focus on His planned path and walk in His grace to complete your journey.

Today I want to encourage you to set quiet time aside to press into the call of God on your life.  Take time to listen with your spirit to the things His Spirit is leading you to. Write out the plan or at least some details that He puts on your heart today.  Whether it is for this time or sometime in the future, you will find it easier to keep the course if you put your notes in a place that you can review them often.  Then when the not so good days come along, and they will, read over those plans and reinforce them in your heart to maintain your focus.  He will always be leading you to your next step, but it is up to you to take the time to get it.

Today’s scripture reading: John 12:20-26

20 Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. 

21 Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”

22 Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus.

23 But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. 

24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 

25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 

26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

Fulfill His Plan

Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: “Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt.” John 12:14-15

I was there.  I walked down the “Palm Sunday” Road.  Oh, it was nothing like it was in Jesus’ day.  But still, a very narrow alley with buildings on each side of the road.  It is paved now, but so tight it is actually very scary when oncoming vehicles come around the corners.  It’s rough terrain and down the side of Mt. Olivet.  I was excited in the morning as we stood on top of mount Zion over looking the temple mount, the place where Jesus will return. But as we began our descent, I quickly realized this walk was not going to be a stroll in the park.  We stopped at a couple of historic points on the way down and by the time we were heading up the far side into the city, it was HOT!  Even though it was still before 12 noon, the heat of the day was already on us. 

Jesus rode into the city on the colt of a donkey, which in my opinion would have made it an even more grueling journey.  In Luke’s account of this event, Jesus told His disciples to go into the village next to them and find the colt tied to a tree.  He said to bring it to Him and if anyone asked what they were doing taking their animal, to respond with “The Lord has need of it.”  The passage doesn’t actually say that the colt was returned, but there is no doubt in my mind that it was since it was only borrowed for that specific purpose.  Jesus only needed it to fulfill prophecy and His mission.  God had laid out a plan for His life and that is what He determined to be the most important thing of every day He lived in this world. Even to the detail of riding on a donkey.

God has a plan for you and me too.  Jesus could have made His trip into the city on foot like everyone else did, but He was fulfilling a scripture that had been written long ago about that very day.  Today He is at work fulfilling all that needs to be done before He returns, and it is written that many of these things would be done through the hands of His people. One of the last things He said before ascending into heaven to be with His Father was: “Go into all the world and tell the good news” Since Jesus no longer lives in this world, He has delegated this part of the plan to His people that still live here.  He has given each one of us gifts, talents and abilities with which to uniquely fulfill this calling.  He didn’t use His gifts and talents for His own profit and agenda, and He doesn’t expect us to either.

The Lord has needs us, not because He cannot do it Himself, but because that is the way He set it up so that He could partner with us through His Spirit.  In that way we can cover much more territory than one person could, and we get to walk closely with Him each day as we live out our mission.  It is a win/win scenario and one that I am honored to be a part of.  My salvation does not only include escaping eternal torment and separation from God, but it also gives me the benefit of walking out this life as part of His family working in the family business.  Like the Palm Sunday Road ride, it may be rough sometimes and there may be detours and things in the way at other points, but He is planning on us completing the journey and keeping Him along with you until all His work is done.

Today I want to encourage you to examine how you carry Him with you each day.  Do you say a quick prayer each morning and then never check in again the rest of the day or are you intentionally taking Him on your life journey every step of the way and getting your assignment for the day?  Recognize today that the Lord has a perfect plan for your life and then walk into that purpose of carrying His message to the world around you all the while using the gifts and abilities, He has empowered you with.  Ensure that your life journey will be comprised of all the plans and details He created you for and when you come to the end of your time here, you will step into eternity knowing that you have done well!

Today’s scripture reading: John 12:12-19

12 The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 

13 took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ The King of Israel!”

14 Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written:

15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt.”

16 His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.

17 Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness. 

18 For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign. 

19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, “You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!”