Today’s Reading: John 4:1-42

“My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” – Matthew 11:27

JESUS SPEAKS OF RELATIONSHIP AND A CONTINUED CONNECTION TO HIM.

Everything Jesus did and everything he said was rooted in his relationship with the Father and the unity that exists between them. Jesus is offering us that same relationship — that same connection to God through His Son. When we are blessed with this connection, He calls us to bring others to Him so that they too can experience a relationship with God.

The Samaritan woman Jesus met at the well was thirsty for something different in her life. She longed for this “living water” that Jesus spoke of and knew there were many others who would want to encounter Jesus just as she had. The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village to tell everyone, “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” – John 4:29

In the meantime, the disciples returned with food for Jesus and He turned His focus on them, speaking again in symbolic language. Jesus turned down their offer for food and they wondered who had fed Jesus while they were in town. They did not understand the fulfillment Jesus had received by doing the will of His Heavenly Father.

Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! You know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’ And it’s true. I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest.” – John 4:34-38

Jesus knew there was no greater fulfillment in life than to be in the center of God’s will – doing what God wants us to do where He wants us to do it, impacting the lives of those He places in our path. Jesus did not want to miss one opportunity to offer the gift of life to God’s children.

“For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will. And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day. For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.” — John 6:38-40

When the Samaritan woman went back to the village to tell them about Jesus, the people came streaming out to see him. Many believed and asked Jesus to stay in their village, so he stayed for two days. He could have said he was too busy or was on his way to do something more important, but he stayed. In those two days, many more people heard his message and believed. They turned to the woman and said, “Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. Now we know that he is indeed the Savior of the World” (4:42).

The fields were ripe for harvest – the people were hungry for an encounter with Jesus! Do we desire to do the will of God today, even if it requires getting out of our comfort zone and leading someone to Jesus? My prayer today is that God will show us the fields that are ripe for harvest – that the harvest we reap today will be people who are brought to eternal life. What joy we will experience if we allow God to use us in this way today!

“We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work.” — John 9:4

Our time is limited. May we seek to do God’s will today, listening to our Heavenly Father and responding to His Spirit’s voice. May we see through His eyes the harvest around us and may we sense the urgency to carry out the tasks assigned to us by the One who sent us. May we remain rooted in our relationship with Christ so that He is working through us in every area of our life.

Today’s Reading: Luke 7:36-50

Out of faith came healing.
Out of compassion came healing and then perhaps faith.
Out of faith came forgiveness, which brought healing…

One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat. When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them. – Luke 7:36-38

I think this is one of the most beautiful moments recorded in the four Gospels. The actions of this woman showed her heart — a heart that was abundantly grateful, yet heavily unworthy, to be in the presence of God. As she anointed Jesus with perfume, perhaps she was recounting every sin that needed forgiveness. Her life was full of regrets, but she took her shame and grief to the feet of Jesus.

When the Pharisees who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!”

Then Jesus answered his thoughts. “Simon,” he said to the Pharisee, “I have something to say to you.”

“Go ahead, Teacher,” Simon replied.

Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people – 500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces of silver to the other. But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?”

Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.”

“That’s right,” Jesus said. Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume.

“I tell you, her sins — and they are many — have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”

The men at the table said among themselves, “Who is this man that he goes around forgiving sins?”

And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” – Luke 7:39-50

This woman had faith in Jesus and her sins were forgiven. But beyond forgiveness, this woman needed healing from her past. The sum of her decisions, and the pain of those who had sinned against her, had left her broken and used up. But Jesus saw the beauty of her repentant heart instead of being repulsed by the sins of her past. He did not require that she get it all figured out before she came to worship him. No, this woman came to him humbly broken and spilled out, and Jesus gave her peace.

JESUS TOOK THE REGRET OF A SINFUL WOMAN AND DISPLAYED THE FORGIVENESS OF A SAVING GOD.

What do you need from Jesus today? Do you need healing? Do you need to recognize what God is doing in your life and allow it to grow your faith? Do you need forgiveness or the healing God gives after forgiveness in order to speak peace where condemnation continues to be your enemy? I pray God gives you both what you need and what you ask for today.

I also pray that you display your faith by asking God for what you desire today. Remember, He is OMNIPOTENT. Remember, He is a LOVING God. Remember, He is a SAVING God. Whatever you are feeling, I encourage you to take this time to humbly fall at his feet, even if it involves allowing your emotions to flow freely. Let the God who knows everything about you receive your worship this morning, and then hear Him say — Your sins are forgiven.

Today’s Reading: Luke 7:1-17

Out of faith came healing…

When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people, he returned to Capernaum. At that time the highly valued slave of a Roman officer was sick and near death. When the officer heard about Jesus, he sent some respected Jewish elders to ask him to come and heal his slave. So they earnestly begged Jesus to help the man. “If anyone deserves your help, he does,” they said, “for he loves the Jewish people and even built a synagogue for us.”

So Jesus went with them. But just before they arrived at the house, the officer sent some friends to say, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself by coming to my home, for I am not worthy of such an honor. I am not even worthy to come and meet you. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.”

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to the crowd that was following him, he said, “I tell you, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!” And when the officer’s friends returned to his house, they found the slave completely healed. – Luke 7:1-10

No one would have expected a Roman officer to have faith in Jesus, yet his faith was strong enough to believe that Jesus could simply speak the healing into being. And that is what Jesus did.

HE TOOK THE FAITH OF A POWERFUL MAN AND DISPLAYED THE POWER OF AN OMNIPOTENT GOD.

Out of compassion came healing and then perhaps faith…

Soon afterward Jesus went with his disciples to the village of Nain, and a large crowd followed him. A funeral procession was coming out as he approached the village gate. The young man who had died was a widow’s son, and a large crowd from the village was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with compassion. “Don’t cry!” he said. Then he walked over to the coffin and touched it, and the bearers stopped. “Young man,” he said, “I tell you, get up.” Then the dead boy sat up and began to talk! And Jesus gave him back to his mother. – Luke 7:11-15

There is no mention of the widow’s faith here; no mention of anyone requesting that Jesus bring this young man back from the dead. Yet Jesus, out of compassion, did something wonderful for this woman and her son, as well as for everyone else who was watching. Jesus gave this son back to his mother. If there was no faith on display before, there certainly was now.

HE TOOK THE SORROW OF A GRIEVING MOTHER AND DISPLAYED THE COMPASSION OF A LOVING GOD.

There are times when God does something wonderful for us because we ask, and there are times when God does something wonderful for us in spite of the fact that we do not ask. As a result of our faith, God moves, and in order to grow our faith, God moves. And out of this faith comes hope. And that is my prayer for all of us this year — that God would strengthen our faith and give us hope for what is ahead.

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. — Romans 15:13

Today’s Reading: Luke 6:39-49

YOU WILL GET OUT OF IT WHAT YOU PUT INTO IT.

That’s a common phrase we hear throughout our lives, isn’t it? In fact, when you look it up online, you find several variations with multiple authors given credit for their wise words of inspiration. Where did the idea originate? From Jesus himself: “The amount you give will determine the amount you get back” (Luke 6:38b).

When each of our daughters left for college, I gave them the same advice I was given when I moved into the dorm at age seventeen — your college experience will be what you make it. If you jump in, get involved, and give it your all, you will get a great education plus have a lot of fun. This continues to apply to our adult lives post-college, from professional development to spiritual growth. The more we study God’s word, the more we understand and become like our Teacher.

Then Jesus gave the following illustration: “Can one blind person lead another? Won’t they both fall into a ditch? Students are not greater than their teacher. But the student who is fully trained will become like the teacher.

“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying, ‘Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.” – Luke 6:39-42

Part of our journey of learning includes gaining the ability to keep our focus on God and what He is teaching us, instead of assessing the spiritual condition of those around us. This seems easy enough to do but it does not come naturally for us to mind our own business. It is a work of growth that we have to continually ask God to do. If we give grace to others, we will receive His grace in return — pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into our lap!

IF WE GIVE GRACE, WE WILL RECEIVE GRACE.

“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” – Luke 6:37-38

Lord Jesus, we want to be like you in every way so we ask that you help us with this area of our life. We are sitting at your feet, eager to learn and willing to be transformed. We long for you to continue your work in our lives so that grace beautifully flows and fruit naturally grows. Fill our hearts with your love so that your righteousness naturally flows from our lives.

“A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.

“So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.” – Luke 6:43-49

Father God, please forgive us for those moments when we do not respond the way we should. Forgive us for those moments when we do not follow your teaching but do what we feel like doing in the moment. Lord, fill us with your Spirit and strengthen us so that we can follow your lead in every moment of our day. We want to build our house on a foundation made of solid rock, with doors of love wide open and windows of grace to see others as you would see them. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Luke 6:32-38

“If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.” – Luke 6:32-34

WHY SHOULDN’T I GET CREDIT?

How often do we do something for someone else and then creatively describe our generous act for our next social media post? Generosity feels good and it quickly becomes our next Tweet; self-sacrifice is rewarding and gets posted on Instagram before the day is over. But what if we did something God led us to do and then never told anyone else about it? What if God moved on our heart to be kind to someone else without it becoming part of our Snapchat story?

“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.” – Luke 6:35-36

WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?

Reciprocity is the exchange of things with others for mutual benefit. When our girls were little, we would trade childcare nights with our friends so that each couple could go out on a date without the cost of a babysitter. One mom would watch another mom’s kids while she ran errands and then the other would return the favor. It was mutually beneficial, gave our girls time to build friendships, and it saved everyone money.

But what if there’s nothing in it for me? What if God moves on my heart to be generous towards someone who is self-absorbed or thoughtless? What if the Spirit tells me to be kind to someone who has been less than kind to me? What if my good deed will never be reciprocated? Am I willing to be who God is calling me to be even if I never receive credit or even gratitude for my actions?

“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” – Luke 6:37-38

GIVE AND YOU WILL RECEIVE.

God’s promise is that we do gain from all that we give, but it is not for us to decide what that should look like. It is not for us to judge the hearts of those who receive our kindness; it is not for us to condemn the response of those who benefit from our generosity.

We are to respond to the Spirit’s lead in obedience and be quick to forgive those who are ungrateful. We are to let our light shine in the darkness, even when it seems to go unnoticed. We do not demand an apology and we do not need applause. Our acts of righteousness are not for public admiration but a natural outflow of our relationship with Christ. When His light is shining within us, there is a natural glow that sheds light so that others can see who He is — not who we are. It leads us to be kind and thoughtful, as well as generous and good.

Light shines in the darkness for the godly. They are generous, compassionate, and righteous. – Psalm 112:4

Father God, may we look to you alone for our reward. May we feel your smile of approval and may that be enough for us as we live out our relationship with you. Give us eyes to see, ears to hear and hands to respond today. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Luke 6:20-31

Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said,
“God blesses you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours.
God blesses you who are hungry now, for you will be satisfied.
God blesses you who weep now, for in due time you will laugh.” – Luke 6:20-21

I love the poetic element of this comparison of opposites, and I enjoy soaking in the beauty of the truth behind each line. It is good to be reminded this morning of how God has the power to turn our situation around. Your present circumstances may represent the many needs and deficits in your life, but you can cling to the hope of tomorrow — a day when you will be satisfied and a time when you will laugh again.

What blessings await you when people hate you and exclude you and mock you and curse you as evil because you follow the Son of Man. When that happens, be happy! Yes, leap for joy! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. – Luke 6:22-23a

In the moment of persecution, it is hard to see the blessings; in the moment you are being bullied or slandered, it is difficult to see past the pain to the promise. When we are grieving a loss or experiencing heartbreak over the death of a loved one, it seems like we will never overcome our loneliness. But in the midst of it all, Jesus is encouraging us to be happy — to leap for joy!

That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. – 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

It is not always easy to react in the opposite way of what we are feeling, but this promise that our present troubles are temporary encourages us to hang on to God’s promise. We make a choice to cling to the hope of a better day.

In His sermon on the mount, Jesus taught the people using several different opposites: Poor or rich, hungry or prosperous, laughter or sorrow. He also surprised the crowd by telling them to love their enemies, to celebrate persecution, and to forgive rather than judge. He compared a tree that bears bad fruit with a tree that bears good fruit, and he compared the house built on rock to the house built on sand.

As you read through this passage, look for the opposites or the stark contrasts Jesus describes. Then, as you go through your day, recognize the crazy opposite moments God puts before you – moments when you could have reacted to the rude woman at the store but you chose kindness, or moments when you could have been in a hurry but you chose to slow down and greet someone, or moments when you chose to laugh instead of cry.

“What sorrow awaits you who are rich,
for you have your only happiness now.
What sorrow awaits you who are fat and prosperous now,
for a time of awful hunger awaits you.
What sorrow awaits you who laugh now,
for your laughing will turn to mourning and sorrow.
What sorrow awaits you who are praised by the crowds,
for their ancestors also praised false prophets.

“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. Do to others as you would like them to do to you.” – Luke 6:24-31

God, prepare us for what may lie ahead of us today that requires us to react in the opposite way than we would typically respond. Fill us with your Spirit so that our natural response to the enemy’s attacks is in alignment with who you have created us to be. May today’s OPPOSITES ATTRACT others to you!

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. – Galatians 5:16-18

Today’s Reading: Mark 3:13-19; Psalm 25

Jesus touched so many lives as massive crowds formed around him in each town he visited. Yet with all the needs pressing in around him, his focus remained on his investment in the lives of twelve.

Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. – Mark 3:13-19

The twelve Jesus appointed are often referred to as the twelve disciples or the apostles. According to the NLT Study Bible I am using, disciples were students and followers while apostles were specially commissioned representatives. I would argue that today we are all both disciples and apostles.

TO BE A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST IS TO BE A STUDENT OR A FOLLOWER.

God has called us all to be students of the Word, to sit at His feet regularly and learn from Him. We spend time reading the Bible and we walk away with new understanding. His word is living and active and we cannot help but be changed by studying the Scriptures. We have so much to learn and we have a Great Teacher who loves His students.

We also learn by listening to other students of the Word or disciples. What a great investment of our time to read a book written by another follower of Christ or to listen to the teachings of a great preacher! We listen and call on the Spirit to discern the truth of the message, allowing our hearts to grow and be transformed through the words God has given those He has called. When I question something I am reading, God’s word is the foundation of truth that I go back to each time.

Even pastors and preachers benefit from spending time listening to others and reading. This helps us find the humility God calls all of us to. We have not already arrived. We do not know all there is to know. We desperately need to keep learning in order to increase our understanding of God’s ways.

TO BE AN APOSTLE IS TO BE SPECIALLY COMMISSIONED TO REPRESENT JESUS & FULFILL HIS PURPOSE.

Hopefully we agree that we are all disciples or students of the Word, but I would argue that we are also all apostles. If the definition of apostle is a person who is specially commissioned to represent something or someone, then that is absolutely what we are. God has chosen every one of us for a specific purpose today. He has a plan and we have a choice. We can walk into that plan with the willingness to represent Jesus and fulfill His purpose for our day, or we can focus on our own desires and plans. I can build the Kingdom of God or the kingdom of me.

Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” – Matthew 9:35-38

Lord, this morning I pray that you would open up my heart and show me your purpose today. Confirm in my heart what you have called me to do. Remind me WHO I have been specially commissioned to represent. God, I open up my life with a willingness today to be used by you, whether in small ways or large. Today is about you and your plan. Teach me. Show me. Use me. Guide me. Amen.

O Lord, I give my life to you.
I trust in you, my God!
Do not let me be disgraced,
or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat.
No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced,
but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.
Show me the right path, O Lord;
point out the road for me to follow.
Lead me by your truth and teach me,
for you are the God who saves me.
All day long I put my hope in you.
Remember, O Lord, your compassion and unfailing love,
which you have shown from long ages past.
Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth.
Remember me in the light of your unfailing love,
for you are merciful, O Lord.
The Lord is good and does what is right;
he shows the proper path to those who go astray.
He leads the humble in doing right,
teaching them his way.
The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness
all who keep his covenant and obey his demands. – Psalm 25:1-10

Today’s Reading: Mark 3:7-12; Luke 6:12-19

Jesus went out to the lake with his disciples and a large crowd followed him. They came from all over Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, from east of the Jordan River, and even from as far as Tyre and Sidon. The news about his miracles had spread far and wide, and vast numbers of people came to see him. – Mark 3:7-8

Word was spreading of Jesus’ healing power and people were bringing their sick from all over the region. Everywhere Jesus went, large crowds followed. Some were genuinely seeking to follow Christ, and some were only there to be entertained.

THEY CAME TO SEE JESUS DO SOMETHING GREAT, NOT TO DO SOMETHING GREAT FOR JESUS.

Jesus touched many lives as these massive crowds formed. There was so much to do and so many people who needed his healing touch, but Jesus intentionally pulled away from the crowds and found time to be alone with His Father.

One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night. At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles. Here are their names: Simon (whom he called Peter), Andrew (Peter’s brother), James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (Son of Alphaeus), Simon (who was called the zealot), Judas (son of James), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him). – Luke 6:12-16

After spending an extended amount of time in God’s presence and in prayer, Jesus called all of his followers together and distinguished between those who would be disciples and those who would be the twelve apostles. Don’t miss that he made this decision AFTER going to the Father in prayer.

It is easy for us to fall into the trap of working hard for the Lord without taking time to be alone with the Lord. We think of all who are depending on us to get something done or to accomplish something great, and we make everything else a priority over intentionally creating periods of sabbath rest. We hit a point of pure exhaustion and start making critical decisions when we are mentally worn out. Jesus is saying — “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

IF WE WANT TO DO SOMETHING GREAT FOR JESUS, WE NEED TO ALLOW JESUS TO DO SOMETHING GREAT WITHIN US. THEN JESUS WILL DO SOMETHING GREAT THROUGH US.

When we are rooted in Christ and filled with His presence, we are ready to be used by Him. We can be more effective for the work God is calling us to do if we go to Him with all of our decisions. He fills us with His power and equips us for the call. Even Jesus knew that he needed time on the mountain with the Father before stepping into the crowds. If Jesus needed that, we definitely need it today.

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.” – John 15:5-8

God, we are grateful for this time on the mountain. We come to you with hearts willing to be used by you today. Thank you for all that you have done for us, for all you are doing in us, and for all you plan to do through us. May our hearts align with yours this week as we stay connected to you, allowing you to fill us and use us according to your purposes and for your glory. Amen.

When they came down from the mountain, the disciples stood with Jesus on a large, level area, surrounded by many of his followers and by the crowds. There were people from all over Judea and from Jerusalem and from as far north as the sea coasts of Tyre and Sidon. They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those troubled by evil spirits were healed. Everyone tried to touch him, because healing power went out from him, and he healed everyone. – Luke 6:17-19

Today’s Reading: John 5

It was not about the PHYSICAL, but about the SPIRITUAL.
It was not about the WHEN, but about the WHO.
It was not about the TIMING, but about the SOURCE.

Afterward Jesus returned to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish holy days. Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate, was the pool of Bethesda, with five covered porches. Crowds of sick people – blind, lame, or paralyzed – lay on the porches. One of the men lying there had been sick for 38 years. When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?”

“I can’t sir,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.”

Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat and walk!”

Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking! But this miracle happened on the Sabbath, so the Jewish leaders objected. — John 5:1-10a

There were crowds of sick people all around, yet Jesus approached one man. He knew this man; he knew his situation and his need — not only for PHYSICAL healing but for SPIRITUAL healing. Jesus’ desire was for this man’s life to change. For 38 years he had been sick but Jesus had more than just physical healing in mind to change this man’s situation. Jesus wanted to give this man eternal life!

This was a miracle of life that Jesus was offering. The physical touch was for the purpose of this man believing in Jesus and choosing obedience. Jesus told this man to do two things: “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!” and “Stop sinning”. The first required a MOMENT of faith and obedience. He had to believe in Jesus enough to stand up. The second required a LIFE of faith and obedience, a healing of the heart that would change the way this man lived — holy and set apart for the One who had healed him.

The Jewish leaders tried to make this next miracle about timing, but Jesus corrected them. He let them know that this was not about WHEN but about WHO – not about the physical healing but about spiritual healing. While the Jewish leaders focused on the TIMING of the miracle, Jesus tried to point out to them the SOURCE of the miracle. Jesus had come to bring life and they were missing out on this miracle that was also available for them because they were too caught up in the legalism of when the miracle had taken place. What is it that has us so distracted that we are missing out on the miracle of life that God is offering?

It was not about HEALING, but about CHANGE.
It was not about the BODY, but about the HEART.
It was not just about a MOMENT, but about a LIFE.

For just as the Father gives life to those he raises from the dead, so the Son gives life to anyone he wants…I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death to life. And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it’s here now, when the dead will hear my voice – the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live. The Father has life in himself, and he has granted that same life-giving power to his Son. – John 5:21, 24-26

The miracle of life is what Jesus was offering at the pool of Bethesda and it is what He is still offering us today. This miracle comes from the love of a God who would send His one and only Son to die for our sins so that we might believe and experience eternal life. This miracle of life is available to all of us but it requires more than just a MOMENT of faith and obedience; it requires a LIFE of surrender and submission. The purpose of all of these miracles performed by Jesus was to prove that He was sent by God so that we might truly believe and experience eternal life.

John was like a burning and shining lamp, and you were excited for a while about his message. 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. And the Father who sent me has testified about me himself. You have never heard his voice or seen him face to face, and you do not have his message in your hearts, because you do not believe me—the one he sent to you. – John 5:35-38

When we come to believe in who Jesus was when he was on earth and in whom he continues to be today, our hearts begin to change. God’s message is not only heard but it settles into our hearts, and we are never the same. Studying the scriptures for the sake of knowledge has value, but salvation requires an acceptance of what Jesus offers. When we respond in faith to Jesus’ teachings and his miracles, when we accept his call to holiness and lean into his gift of righteousness, God’s love moves within us and we are forever changed.

“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life.

“Your approval means nothing to me, because I know you don’t have God’s love within you. 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. 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. – John 5:39-44

Lord, give us eyes to see what today is about; give us an understanding that looks beyond the temporary issues of today to see the eternal value of your purpose for our lives. Give us the patience to focus on the source of the love within us, instead of on the timing of answered prayers. May our minds focus today on the spiritual instead of the physical. Thank you for being a Father who is always working on our behalf. Amen.

But Jesus replied, “My Father is always working, and so am I.” – John 5:17

Today’s Reading: Mark 2:23-3:6; Luke 6:1-11

THE PHARISEES HAD A QUESTION FOR JESUS.

QUESTION: “Why are you breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath?” – Luke 6:2

The Pharisees watched Jesus closely, especially on the Sabbath. They wanted to catch him breaking the Jewish traditions and laws so as to have grounds to accuse him and shut down his ministry. They had his disciples under close surveillance.

The question they asked Jesus also exaggerated the truth; it made it sound like the disciples were harvesting the fields on the Sabbath. The truth was that they simply broke off some heads of grain, rubbed off the husks with their hands, and then ate the grain. In other words, they fixed themselves a quick snack as they walked through the grainfields.

ANSWER: “The Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath.” – Luke 6:5

JESUS HAD A QUESTION FOR THE PHARISEES.

Jesus knew their thoughts. He said to the man with the deformed hand, “Come and stand in front of everyone.” So the man came forward. Then Jesus said to his critics, “I have a question for you. Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?” He looked around at them one by one and then said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored! – Luke 6:8-10

Wouldn’t you have loved to have been there in that moment as Jesus took the time to make eye contact with each and every one of his accusers? Jesus knew their thoughts and he knew their motives. He knew what he was about to do was going to make them very angry — angry enough to make them start plotting against him.

Jesus looks at the heart of each and every one of us — individually. He knows when we use the Sabbath as an excuse to make the day about ourselves when His intention has always been that the Sabbath would be about Him. The Sabbath is not a day for us to focus on our own needs for rest, but to slow down the busyness of our lives and focus our attention fully on Him.

“I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.” – Matthew 12:7b & Hosea 6:6

When we are fully focused on Him and we feel His eye on us, God may move on our hearts to show mercy to someone or to do something for Him. Our response should be one of obedience. The Sabbath is a great day to worship God and a great day to hear from Him. Isn’t it also a great day to respond in obedience, no matter what He is asking us to do?

And he answered, “If you had a sheep that fell into a well on the Sabbath, wouldn’t you work to pull it out? Of course you would. And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath.” – Matthew 12:11-12

Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath.” – Mark 2:27

JESUS BECAME ANGRY WITH THE ATTITUDES OF THE PHARISEES.

Mark describes Jesus as experiencing both anger at the Pharisees’ manipulation and sadness at the hardness of their hearts. Knowing how they were about to respond, he told the man to hold out his deformed hand and he healed it. He restored that which was broken and healed that which was wounded.

THE PHARISEES BECAME ANGRY AT THE WORDS OF JESUS.

At this, the enemies of Jesus were wild with rage and began to discuss what to do with him. – Luke 6:11

Knowing his actions would incite the anger of those who plotted against him, Jesus made the decision to heal the man with the deformed hand. In four simple words, the power of Jesus was displayed and the anger of his enemies was unleashed — HOLD OUT YOUR HAND. Jesus’ ministry was not for the sake of popularity but for the sake of redemption. He said what he needed to say and did what he needed to do, even when it resulted in criticism and hatred.

Let’s reach out and allow God to use our hands however and whenever He asks. Let’s care more about ministering to the needs of others than we care about ourselves. Let’s respond to Jesus by holding out our hands, empty of our own agenda and available to be used by Him today.