Tag: Inspirational

Arise From Your Tears To Know This Wondrous Truth!

Arise From Your Tears To Know This Wondrous Truth!

In the last post we looked at Jesus appearing to Mary Magdalene outside the tomb before ascending to the Father. Instead of running home to be with the Father (which is what His heart longed for); he tarried for a moment to comfort Mary in her agony. Just think of the grand celebration as the greatest victory ever to be won was finished. Jesus had risen from the grave after an agonizing death on the cross. The victory celebration was awaiting Him. How He loved the Father and longed to see His face. Yet, with all that He tarried for a moment to give hope to Mary. Her agony touched Him with so much compassion. He would then go to the Father before He appeared again to the apostles. But I also, like Jesus, want to  tarry here for a moment and look at the rest of the words He spoke to Mary Magdalene. “Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God” (John 20:17)

God's beloved Child

 

Mary Magdalene had just called Jesus, Master. He is our master; yet, Jesus wanted her to realize that because of His death and resurrection—He is so much more!!  Now, “Mary go tell my brothers and sisters, I go to my Father and because I go victorious to my Father—He is your Father as well. God the creator of the Universe, the GREAT I AM is Your God and Your Father.” Mary, get up from your weeping and go tell them the good news. He would return in the evening after seeing the Father to anoint the apostles with a special anointing of the Holy Spirit by breathing into them life—eternal life. He would endow them with special powers even before the day of Pentecost.  But here we are given a gift that is so much more than our hearts can fully understand!!

Continue reading “Arise From Your Tears To Know This Wondrous Truth!”

When Would Being Blind Be A Miracle Of Grace?

When Would Being Blind Be A Miracle Of Grace?

Jesus and his disciples had just escaped being stoned as we ended chapter 8. Immediately, we see in chapter 9 that “as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from birth” (John 9:1). Jesus was passing by as he was avoiding being stoned to death. He had come to die; but, it was not suppose to be that day and it wasn’t going to be by stoning. His time ” had not yet come.”He had not retreated in fear. He had retreated because it was time to retreat. Besides, He had an appointment with a blind man. He had not gone very far; because throughout chapter 9 we see the discussion with the Pharisees who had wanted to stone Him once more.  Jesus stops when He comes upon the blind man. That is great news!! He comes to us in our blindness to reach out and give us sight; with disregard for His own comfort.  He is willing to find us where ever we are–He seeks us to offer sight.!!

Glory

The chapter unfolds and moves from a discussion of human blindness to spiritual blindness as we will see. Yet before we move to that let’s pause for a moment at the response of the disciples. “And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 9:2-5). The tragedies, the illness, the losses and the trials of this life do not always enter our lives as “punishment for our sins.” The punishment for our sins was carried by Jesus on the Cross. Indeed, until we accept that atonement for our sins; we are like this blind man. We are unable to see the light of the gospel.  Unless we recognize our need of a Savior, our self-exalting hearts would be content in our own accomplishments and counterfeit happiness.  We would not recognize the wondrous joy, hope, love and Glory that we are missing out on.  Would I ever seek God’s truth in a world of blissful beauty? Would I

Continue reading “When Would Being Blind Be A Miracle Of Grace?”

Can My Life Really Be A Witness For God?

Can My Life Really Be A Witness For God?

So often, when I look back over my life; I see all the times that I have failed to love God as I should. I see my failures looming like giants and God’s grace as greater still. The other day I heard from someone out of my distant past, who said; “Because of you, I found Christ. You had such a tremendous impact on my life.” Now, what is more amazing, when I remember that time in my life; I realized that it was God’s Grace that allowed them to see Christ through whatever blurred picture I was displaying. Truly, I remember a bumbling, faltering testimony. A candle that barely flickered and a stream that had so little water trickling through it. Through the scars, cracks and crevices of my life the Holy Spirit shone forth and had touched another’s soul. That for me is such a humbling thought; that God would be so gracious as to use someone like me to do His work. So, if you ever thought that you are a poor witness for Christ or ever worried that your testimony would be more of a disgrace than benefit to God? God has promised to be the rivers of life flowing through your heart and mine for others to see His Glory and come to Christ. Why do I say that? rivers of life

 

JESUS PROMISE TO OVERFLOW OUR HEARTS WITH LIVING WATER

Remember that where we left off on Monday, Jesus had quietly gone up to the feast of the tabernacles and had been teaching in the synagogue every day. “37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit” (John 7 NKJV). Up until now in the book of John we have heard that Jesus has said that He is the living water, He is the bread of life and that He brings spiritual birth. He has presented this through His words and through the example of His miracles from changing the purifying water into wine to feeding the crowd. Now He takes this one step further by saying, “Not only will I be life to all who believe in me; but, I will fill them to the overflowing so they can spill over rivers of life to others.”

Continue reading “Can My Life Really Be A Witness For God?”

Your True Desire Is The Gift Or The Giver?

Your True Desire Is The Gift Or The Giver?

Jesus had made His journey through Samaria to a countryside and a people shunned as “half-breeds” or “dogs” by the other Jewish tribes. They were shunned because of their intermarriages with gentiles as well as their departure from traditional Jewish faith. Yet, Jesus went to Samaria and indeed the scripture said He “must go”. He had a mission in Samaria to arrive exactly in the moment the Samaritan woman would be arriving at the well to draw water. He went to a group that were outcasts by society and there to meet a woman who was an outcast even in that outcast society. Think about that!!

What does your heart seek

Jesus purposefully went to Samaria to save someone whom by the world’s standards was the lowest of the low, totally “unworthy” of salvation. Then, He used her to go and tell the other people in the village of the miracle that Jesus, the Messiah was there. She went to tell people who looked down on her and had rejected her. She wanted to share the “Good News”.  That was an act of grace.  As a result, in Samaria, many came to believe in Christ as the Savior of the world. They heard the Word of Christ and believed. “many more believed because of his own word… Now we believe….for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world” (John 4). [bctt tweet=”They were saved because they believed in HIM, the Giver of life, the Savior of the World.”]

Continue reading “Your True Desire Is The Gift Or The Giver?”

Why Not Be Discouraged When You Are Planting?

 

As we left the story in John 4 last, the Samaritan women realized that Jesus was the Savior, the Messiah. With great passion, she left her water bucket behind and ran to tell everyone in the city. An unlikely missionary with a questionable voice; yet, God had sent her. She was a woman whose reputation forced her to go alone to draw water in the noonday sun. She was shunned by everyone and the one that all the town whispered about.

harvest

 

The disciples returned with food as the woman darted off. They wondered why Jesus had been talking to her; but, didn’t ask (as though they believed their thoughts were hidden from Christ). We know from the previous chapters that Jesus knew their hearts. He also knows our foolish questions, doubts, and fears. So, as they returned they encouraged Jesus to eat. Perhaps with a sense of pride and joy that they were returning with a gift for Jesus—the nourishment that He needed. Yet, His response once more puzzled them. Just like you and I so often are. They were focusing on the small picture—the here and now. Jesus was focused on the big picture—eternity. They offer Jesus the food and He replies, “I have meat to eat that ye know not of.” Well, they immediately begin to whisper among themselves, “Did someone else bring Him food?” Maybe what Jesus had was better?  Maybe what the mystery person brought was better than what they had brought? Were they jealous?  Were they disappointed?  How often do we respond that same way to God?  We bring in our tithes or we give up something and we stand waiting for God to pat us on the back and reward us.  Have you ever done that?  Then to find that God has a different plan?

Continue reading “Why Not Be Discouraged When You Are Planting?”