1 John 4, Reading Through the NT 2015

1 John 4 is the Scripture reading today.

How do we know if someone is really a believer and telling us the truth? John gives us some help here, as he describes the difference between false prophets and genuine Christians. We can recognize the Spirit of God by the acknowledgement of the incarnate Jesus, (coming to earth as a human), Son of God, and coming from God. If someone is teaching otherwise, they are from the spirit of the antichrist. We need to beware and by this criteria, test those spirits who are trying to turn us away from God.

We have the Holy Spirit within us to help overcome any spirit trying to pull us away from our faith, and He will strengthen us and help us to stand firm in our beliefs. When we share the gospel with others, those who want to know God and are seeking the truth from God will listen to us. Whoever is not from God and only promotes the world’s viewpoint on things is from the spirit of falsehood, not truth.

John now switches his focus to the topic of love. He calls us dear friends, and encourages us to love one another. Love originates from God, and when we love others, we are showing that we know God and have learned how to love from Him. If we don’t love, we show our lack of knowledge of God. When we understand the good news, that Jesus was sent by God into the world so that we might be saved, we understand love. Because God loves us so much that He sacrificed His Son for our benefit, we now should love one another as proof we know Him and understand what He did for us. This is how others will get to know God too. Our love towards people shows them how God loves. It sparks a curiosity as to why we would act this way, and begins a dialogue on spiritual things.

The Holy Spirit testifies to us that the gospel message is true. We can read all about it in Scripture. As an eyewitness, John is a credible source of information on the life and teachings of Jesus. But we become more acutely aware of God’s work and guidance by the power of the Spirit living in us, and we have our own testimony of God’s love and grace by the things He reveals to us. We can know and rely on the love God has for us, because we have evidence of it as He answers prayers, inspires us with HIs Word and shows up for us in hard times.

John is instilling a confident spirit into God’s people in this letter, and assures us that if we live in love we live in God and He in us. This is how we put one foot in front of the other every day, because we have hope and know that our future is secure. We need not fear, because there is no fear in love. Fear has to do with punishment, but when we know God and experience His love, we have forgiveness, and look forward to our eternal destiny as His children.

We love because He first loved us. It is that simple. Our behavior tells others what we believe, and if we are not loving our brothers and sisters, we are hypocrites if we claim to have faith in God. We must show God’s love to those around us to help them see God’s character and values. When we live as His example, loving and caring for His people, more and more will come to put their faith and trust in Him as their Savior. This is why we must put aside our judgmental attitudes and always wear the mantle of love. Jesus was the supreme example of love in action, and as we follow Him and spend time with Him, we can learn to love others more deeply everyday.

 

1 Peter 1, Reading Through the NT 2015

We begin the book of 1 Peter today, reading chapter 1.

Peter, an apostle of Jesus and one of His closest companions, writes this letter to “God’s elect,” the believers scattered throughout the area. He wanted them to know that his authority as an apostle came from Christ and those he was writing to were chosen by God to hear the good news and come to faith. God knew us before we were born, and as His Holy Spirit convicted us of our need for a Savior, we made the choice to trust in Him for our salvation. Peter wished these believers grace and peace in abundance. This was a wonderful blessing to them before he said some hard things about suffering.

Peter praised God for His mercy as he reminded his readers of our new birth into a living hope because Jesus went to the cross, died and then rose again so that we might inherit an eternal future. This is what is waiting for us, and what we can actively hope for as we endure this life on earth. We have our final salvation waiting for us, and it will be revealed in God’s perfect timing. We can rejoice in our life right now, because we know this is not the way things will always be. As we endure hard times, we can persevere, because our hope sustains our faith. As we face suffering and hardships, we are being refined and strengthened as we trust God for the outcomes. What are we learning and how are we surrendering our situations to God’s sovereignty? He knows what we can handle, and He will be there to help us through. As we see Him work and teach us, we can testify to His goodness, and help others see His power at work in our lives. We can pray and ask Him to help, refine and guide us as we rely on Him instead of ourselves. We can be filled with joy in our suffering because we know what lies ahead, and have our final salvation to look forward to in the future.

Peter talks about the prophets of old, as they tried to predict the coming of the Messiah and how that would play out in history. It was revealed to them (and we are not quite sure how) that they were prophesying for the future generations (us!) and that the good news of the gospel would be shared through the Holy Spirit’s guidance at a later date. We are the recipients of that gospel, and even the angels are envious of us for what we have been given! We must not take our faith lightly and put it in the background of our lives. We are so privileged to know Christ and His salvation, and to live with the promise of everlasting life. Immortality is something mysterious, but it is the hope we have when we are in the midst of trials. Living forever in God’s kingdom, with all the benefits of being His children should be cause for great rejoicing and joy!

In light of this reminder of our living hope, we should think about how we are spending our time and living our lives. As we set our hope on our future, given to us by God’s grace, we need to turn away from the evil things that draw us away from Him. We are to live holy lives, and be obedient to God’s will. What does that practically mean to us each day? The choices we make, the relationships we have, the way we spend out time and money all play into this. What we do and say shows what we believe! We must not conform to the standards of the world. We are foreigners here, and we must live differently than everyone else. As Christians, we are being closely scrutinized, and if we live just like everyone else, how will anyone see our faith at work? We are constantly being accused of being hypocrites, and we must guard ourselves from this. If our faith and hope are in God, are we living for His purposes or for our own pleasure and motives? Living what we believe may make us outcasts in modern society, but which is more important – being accepted by mankind, or being acceptable to God? If our main goal in life is to bring God glory, we need to live for Him and be obedient to His way of life.

Another point Peter makes is that we are to have sincere love for one another, loving deeply from our hearts. Because we have been “born again” we have reason for hope, and can live out the greatest commandments that Jesus cited – to love God and love others. This is our main goal in this world. When we look to God’s Word to increase our knowledge of who God is and how He thinks about us, it bolsters our faith and moves us closer to Him. His Word is also eternal, and the more we know about Him, the more we can emulate Jesus’ life and apply what we are learning to our everyday rhythms. We are here for just a short time, and we don’t know when that will end. What we do know is what happens to us when that time is over. God’s love and Word endures forever. May we live in that hope every moment of our fleeting days!

Hebrews 9, Reading Through the NT 2015

Read chapter 9 of Hebrews today.

This chapter gives comparison of the earthly tabernacle to the heavenly one. It contrasts the old covenant with the new, and helps us understand that Jesus freed us from the rituals and ceremonies of sacrificing in the temple by His sacrifice on the cross. There is a fairly detailed outline of the tabernacle, with the two main rooms described for us. The furnishings and accessory details for each room helps us understand the importance of this place for those under the old covenant. The symbols of their faith were placed here, and the sacred inner room had the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant, containing a gold jar with manna, Aaron’s budding staff and the stone tablets with the 10 commandments on it. The mercy seat with the cherubim over it was on top of the ark.

The priests of old entered the outer room to carry out their ministry, and maintain the elements that were there. In the inner room, the high priest entered this holy place just once a year, and offered sacrifices for himself and the sins of his people. The Holy Spirit had not yet revealed to us the new covenant, and therefore a continual offering on behalf of the sins of the people needed. When Jesus came, He sacrificed His life, once for all, and we are now freely forgiven of our sin when we come to Him in repentance and faith.

Jesus resides in the holy place, seated at God’s right hand, and by His blood we have redemption for eternity. Just as the priests of old offered unblemished animals for their sacrifice, God sent His perfect Son to be our substitute and pay the price for our sins. We are now free to serve Him, to worship Him and to live our lives for His purposes without guilt. Do we still sin? Of course we do! The point is that we have been forgiven for what we have done wrong, and God’s love compels us to turn away from our sin to please Him and live a righteous life. The new covenant guarantees our place in the Kingdom as children of God, and all the benefits that are offered to His heirs.

The author goes on to describe the necessity of shedding blood to purify and cleanse people from their sinful selves. The result of that cleansing is a forgiven life, where we can confidently move forward in our walk with God and come before Him as His dearly cherished sons and daughters. If you have children, you know that when they do something wrong, you are sad and want them to learn and grow from their mistakes. You don’t stop loving them, and it is this very love that helps you to be compassionate and merciful to them as they come to you and admit their wrongdoing. When they are confident in the love you have for them, they trust you and will try to please you. It is a learning process, and that is what God wants for us. We can learn from our mistakes, knowing that nothing is unforgivable, and Jesus’ sacrifice paid for what we did wrong. Our desire should be to live a holy life to the best of our ability. When we mess up, we can come before God and confess our sin, and He is always ready to forgive us.

Let’s stop crucifying Jesus over and over again by beating ourselves up when we lose our self-control. We need to believe that what Jesus did and said is true, and when we do, we are freed from our shame and guilt. We eagerly anticipate the second coming of Jesus, where He will complete our salvation and bring us into His eternal Kingdom. When we come before Him, we all want to hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” As we understand the magnitude of who Jesus is and what He did, may we be more devoted to following in His footsteps today. May we live to please Him and offer Him our lives as we live out our calling and serve His people.This is the power of the gospel at work. This is the good news that is offered to all who come to Him in faith. This is the new covenant that replaces the old. Praise be to God, for His glorious Son, now and forevermore! Amen!

Romans 12 Reading Through the NT 2015

Read Romans, chapter 12 today.

Paul started this chapter with the word “therefore,” giving us instructions on how to live life as a believer. To be dedicated to God’s way of living, in light of all He has done for us, we should offer ourselves in sacrifice, totally to Him as an act of worship. Every day we can recommit ourselves (body, soul, mind and spirit) to Him as we lift up our hands in praise and worship Him. We can turn over all control to His mighty hand, and rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to guide us.

By God’s grace, Paul wants us all to be humble, not thinking of ourselves more highly than we should. We are to look at ourselves with sober judgment in faith and use the gifts God has given us to glorify Him. We are part of the body of Christ, and are called to do our part, for each one of us is vital to the health of the fellowship of believers. We need to be aware of our spiritual gifts, given to all who follow Him when we accepted Jesus as our Savior. There are many spiritual gift assessments that can help you find out what your gifts might be, and it is worth the time to take one of these for yourself.

Verses 9-21 could be used as a mandate for all of us on how to treat others. Paul reminded us that our love for one another must be sincere. We are to hate evil and cling to good. Devotion to others in love is best, and we should give honor to people above ourselves. Our zeal and spiritual fervor for the Lord is key to serving both Him and the people around us. Joy with hope, patience in affliction and faithfulness in our prayer life are character traits that would be excellent to concentrate on cultivating. Share with those in need, and practice hospitality. If we are to become more like Jesus, following this path that Paul presents is a good way to do this.

We are to bless persecutors, not curse them. Rejoice with those who are gleeful. Mourn with those who have lost loved ones. Don’t argue, but live in harmony with people. Put pride aside, and don’t be conceited or feel above anyone. Talk to people out of your comfort zone!

Be careful not to retaliate, but do what you have learned to be right at all times. Attempt to live at peace with everyone, as much as you can control that situation. Sometimes it is difficult when there are those who want to stir up trouble, continue an argument or hold a grudge. Leave it to God to avenge, and don’t look for revenge when you are wronged. We are to feed our enemies when they are hungry, give them a drink if they are thirsty, and our good treatment of them will convict them as they see us take the higher road.

The last statement in this chapter states, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Living for good, showering His love and grace on those we encounter every day is the prescription for a life well lived. We can offer ourselves to God and ask Him to work through us each morning before we start our day. When we behave as Paul describes in this chapter, we are showing salt and light to a lost and lonely world. Read this chapter over and over again as a reminder of how we are to conduct ourselves as devoted disciples of Jesus.

Romans 10 Reading Through the NT 2015

Read Romans, chapter 10 today.

Paul continued to talk about the nation of Israel and his desire for their salvation. He knew that they were zealous for God, but it was an outward display rather than a heart-felt faith. They wanted to be righteous by what they did (obeying the law) rather than by believing in Jesus. Paul reminded us that Jesus was the fulfillment of the law and we are made right by faith in Him. All our “religious” activity is for nothing if we are trying to make a good impression on God or with people. If our hearts are not truly devoted to our faith, and we think we need to earn God’s favor, we are just fooling ourselves. This was the plight of the Israelites. They knew all the right words and rites to be good Jewish people, but they did not know or believe Jesus was the Messiah.

Paul used Old Testament Scripture to support his argument, and was trying to explain the way to salvation for anyone, Jew and Gentile alike. Verse 9 was key to this explanation. It reads, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” This is good news for everyone. The only prerequisite for salvation is declaring our true faith, sincerely from our hearts. Jesus wants us all to come to Him and He will bless us, redeem us and indwell us with His Holy Spirit. When we call on His name, and confess with our lips that we declare Him to be our Savior, the next step is to share this good news with others. Paul cited the text from Isaiah 52:7, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Not everyone will welcome us when we preach the Gospel of salvation to them. But if we don’t share what we have experienced, they will never know they even had a choice to be saved.

Not all the Israelites accepted the message they heard. They had plenty of opportunity to come to faith, but they did not feel the need for salvation. They already felt justified with their zeal for God and enthusiasm for the law and their traditions. Our religious practices and good works without true faith will not save us. There are many sincere, devout people in this world, but without a personal relationship of faith in Christ, like the Israelites, they are lost souls.

Our world today tells us that we should focus on ourselves and rely on our own strength and abilities. This is the exact opposite of what God prescribes for us as His followers. Our pride and self-righteousness will be our downfall. Without submitting to and relying on God, there is no hope for our eternal future. There will only be judgment. When we let go of our own agendas, and live to serve God’s purposes, He will bless us and be there for us when we cry out to Him. Our only hope is in confessing our sin, putting our trust in God through our relationship with Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Paul tried to help his readers understand how the Israelites had missed their opportunity by citing many passages of Scripture that they would recognize. Maybe they would see the error of their ways when he pointed them out to them. As he said in verse 1 of this chapter, his desire and prayer was for the salvation of the Israelites. Our desire should also be that those we love come to know Christ and His Gospel. We must continue to pray for those we know are lost. If we don’t tell them, they may never know. May our feet be beautiful as we bring good news to those we love and have influence over in our lives!

Acts 10:24-48 Reading Through the NT 2015

Finish Chapter 10 of Acts, reading verses 24-48.

We continue with the story of Peter and Cornelius, as Peter and some of his friends arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius had invited all his relatives and close friends to hear what Peter had to say, and when Peter arrived, Cornelius fell at his feet in adoration. Peter told him to stand up, for he was only a man himself, not a god. Peter set the stage for this encounter by putting everyone on equal ground. He wanted those gathered to know that he was no better than they were in the sight of God. Race, ethnicity, religious background or country of origin should have no bearing on sharing the Gospel, for we are all the same in the eyes of God. God does not have favorites, and wants all to come to Him in faith. When Peter told these Gentiles that he was a mere man, just like them, this eased the tension of this unusual meeting.

Peter wanted to know why he had been summoned, because it was against Jewish law for him to visit a Gentile household. It would defile him and he would be considered unclean for being with them. This law did not come from Scripture, but from the religious leaders own pious way of thinking. Peter obeyed the call to come, because of the vision he had on his rooftop. Now he wanted to know the reason for the visit. Cornelius told Peter of his own vision and the request by the angel to send for Peter. The request was very specific, telling of the town where Peter was, and the name of his host, Simon the tanner. Cornelius thanked Peter for coming and said everyone was ready to listen to what God had commanded him to say to this Gentile crowd. We don’t often get a captive audience for sharing our faith, but we can look for opportunities to interject what we know as we answer questions or see an open heart from someone we know is seeking more information about God. Our hope is that what we say will resonate with those ready to listen, and who the Holy Spirit has made receptive to the message we bring.

Both Peter and Cornelius had been prepared by God for this meeting, and it was to be the start of the Gentile mission as the Gospel was presented to them. Peter began his speech by assuring them that God does not show favoritism and accepts everyone, from every nation, who fears Him and does what is right. He told them about Jesus, and the miracles He did in the power of the Holy Spirit during His lifetime. Peter had been an eye witness to all that Jesus had done, for he was one of Jesus’ closest disciples. He reminded them that Jesus had been killed on the cross, but was resurrected by God after three days, and was seen alive again by many people. Jesus had shared food and drink with a chosen few, and he had commissioned them to preach the good news of salvation to everyone. Peter wanted them to know that Jesus would be the final judge, and that all who believed in Him would be forgiven of their sins, and have eternal life. This was an easy story to share with Cornelius’ household, and as Peter was speaking, the Holy Spirit came upon them and they spoke in tongues and praised God, even before Peter was finished telling them all He wanted them to know. The Gospel is very straightforward, and we need to know it in order to share it. Our own encounter with Jesus is a great place to start, and we can also use this story that Peter used, to tell others who Jesus was and what He did for us. Be ready to testify about Jesus to anyone who might ask or who you think wants to know about Him. The Holy Spirit prepares the hearts of those who will come to Him. Our job is to spread the word, and help people understand the choice for faith.

Peter and his friends were surprised that the Holy Spirit was given to these Gentiles. He joyfully urged them to be baptized and then stayed with them for a few more days. Even though Peter had said that they were on equal ground before God, he was still surprised when God blessed them with the same power of the Holy Spirit that he had been given. We are all the same in God’s eyes. He does not favor one person over another. When we see others being blessed by God, we should rejoice with them, and not resent it if we have not been blessed in the same way. God is all-knowing, and He provides for His children exactly what they need. As these new believers understood Peter’s message, their eyes were opened to salvation through Jesus Christ, and they put their faith and trust in Him. All who come to Him in faith will be saved. This is the good news of this chapter!

Acts 8:1-25 Reading Through the NT 2015

Read Acts, chapter 8, verses 1-25 today.

Saul stood by and approved of the killing of Stephen. Great persecution broke out against the new church in Jerusalem, and the recent converts scattered throughout the region of Judea and Samaria. The Apostles stayed in the city to support the baby church. Some Godly men gave Stephen a proper burial, and publicly mourned him. (This was frowned upon because he had been accused of blasphemy.) Saul was determined to destroy this new religious group and went from house to house arresting those who confessed their belief in Jesus. Such turmoil for the Christian faith, and yet we face much of the same scrutiny today as we share our beliefs with those opposed to things of God. There will always be people who try to discourage us and challenge our commitment to Christ. As we grow in our knowledge and mature in our faith, we can be an encouragement to those who are new to Christianity. Even if there is persecution, we must stand firm and not waver when we are asked to denounce our beliefs. We can follow Jesus’ example, and share His love, even in the face of persecution. That is how people will see Him. Not when we judge or condemn. Not when we defend and hate. It is when we love others that God’s nature shines a bright light on this world of darkness.

Philip, one of the seven chosen to help with food distribution, went to Samaria to preach the Word of God. He performed wondrous signs, and the people listened to him with great interest. He healed the sick and cast out demons, and there was great joy in the city. The Samaritans were a half-breed nation and not friendly with the people of Jerusalem. Philip was bold in going there, as he showed the power of God to them. This is a good example for us to follow as we take the good news to places that may not be friendly to our way of thinking. We were given a directive from Jesus to go into all the world and preach the gospel. That doesn’t mean just those places we are accepted and where we feel comfortable. It means places where we might be rejected or persecuted. The people scattered throughout the land to spread the gospel, not to escape opposition. They wanted all to come to know Jesus and His saving grace. We have the same mission as believers today!

There was a sorcerer named Simon in Samaria, and he was performing amazing acts of magic before this same group of people. He was thought of as “great” and many followed him and his tricks. When Philip arrived, proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God, many people were baptized and put their faith in Christ. Simon was impressed with the signs he saw, and said he also believed. As word of this got back to the Apostles in Jerusalem, Peter and John decided to go to Samaria and check out all that was happening there. What they found was many new believers, and they prayed for the Holy Spirit to come upon them. They had been baptized in the name of Jesus, but there was no power for them yet. Why the delay of the Holy Spirit for this crowd? One commentary said it was because of the disunity of the people, and they needed to be united as one before the Holy Spirit could come to them. It could also be that Philip, being a new convert, did not have the power to confer the gift of the Holy Spirit on the Samaritans. Whatever the reason for this delay, Peter and John solved the dilemma and laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. God gives spiritual gifts to each of us who put our faith and trust in Him. We have the power of the Holy Spirit at work in us, and are now equipped to do the unique work God has for each of us as we serve Him and His purposes.

Simon, seeing all that was going on, wanted this power for himself, and offered to pay money for it. His heart was concerned for his own image and welfare, and not for the things of God. Peter rebuked him, and told him his heart was not right before God. He needed to repent of his wickedness and pray for forgiveness. He was captive to sin and full of bitterness. Simon then asked Peter to pray for him. He was only worried about how he looked to the public, and not sincerely seeking to change his life to be obedient to God. When our hearts are tuned into God’s direction, we come before Him broken and recognize our sinfulness. We can pray for forgiveness, and He will grant it, because of His great love for us, His children. The condition of our hearts is known to God, and He cannot be fooled by our flowery words of devotion. Sincere and obedient hearts will find joy, peace and power from the Holy Spirit. When we come needy and lost, God takes us in His arms and provides all we need for life.

The Word of God continued to spread, even as this new church was persecuted and many were martyred for their faith. Even after all these years, the church is still a vital force in spreading the Gospel. We can pass on what we have learned about God as we see Him at work in our lives. He is still alive and active on this earth, even if there are terrible things happening. He is still sovereign and in control. We don’t have the big picture, but He knows what is going to happen. His promises are true, and He will someday return to take us home to eternity with Him.

Acts 2:1-13 Reading Through the NT 2015

Read Acts 2:1-13 today.

The followers of Jesus were gathered together in one place on the day of Pentecost. This was the annual festival celebrating the first produce of the Promised Land, which was Israel’s inheritance. These disciples had stayed together after Jesus ascended into heaven, and they were united in prayer. Suddenly, a violent wind came from heaven and filled the place they were gathered. They saw tongues of fire which came to rest on each one of them. They were infused with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages in the Spirit’s power. This was the promised Holy Spirit that Jesus had told them would come after Him. This was the Counselor, the Advocate and the Paraclete. The power of God now resided within these Apostles, as He enabled them to fulfill their mandated mission to share the gospel with the whole world. We may not have heard a mighty wind or be able to miraculously speak in a foreign tongue, but when we put our faith and trust in Jesus, the Holy Spirit came to live in us and He empowered us to go and share the good news. We don’t need to worry about what we will say, because the Spirit prompts us and gives us the right words. Our job is to tell what we know. The Spirit’s job is to convict hearts and draw people to God.

There were people from all over the world in Jerusalem for the celebration of Pentecost, and people heard the wonders of God being declared in their own languages. There was a mixture of amazement and confusion among the crowd. How could these Galileans know their native tongue? Where did they learn to communicate like this? People were speculating on the source of this strange phenomenon. Some rightly attributed it to God, while others dismissed it as gibberish from too much wine. When Jesus gave the command to take the gospel to all nations, He also provided the means for those nations to understand the message. Having a translation of the Bible in our native language today is key to helping people know God. We can study His work from the story of creation in Genesis, through the life of Jesus revealed in the Gospels, and in the letters written by the Apostles after His resurrection. The Holy Spirit is still working in each of us as He reveals God’s character and ways to us through His Word. As we read a familiar verse, often there is a new insight to it’s meaning and a fresh application to our lives as the Spirit works in our hearts to teach and guide us. It is important to read, meditate and discover what God has to say to us in Scripture. This is our instruction manual for life. This is where we learn how to love and extend grace as we follow the example given us by Jesus. This is where the Holy Spirit works in our hearts to convict us of sin, to spur us to speak and to guide us in holy living. The Holy Spirit was and is the gift of God’s presence, continually with us, as He empowers us to do His will. Some people may recognize His work and others may consider what we share as gibberish. Don’t stop telling the good news, because you never know who is listening to a nudge from the Holy Spirit to put their faith in God through the saving grace of Jesus.

John 8:1-20 Reading Through the NT 2015

Today read John 8:1-20.

On the last day of the Festival in Jerusalem, Jesus once again went to the temple courts to teach. (This story of the woman caught in adultery is not part of the original writings of John. It was included later, and it’s authorship is not certain.) In order to test Jesus, the religious leaders brought in a woman caught in adultery and challenged Him to follow the law of Moses and have her stoned. They were trying to trap Him in order to arrest Him.

Jesus responded by bending down and writing in the dust. As they continued to question Him, He told them that anyone of them without sin should throw the first stone. He then continued to write on the ground. People started to leave, realizing they were not without sin, and finally, the woman was left alone with Jesus. He asked her where they had all gone and if anyone had condemned her. She said no one had, and He added that He did not condemn her either. He then instructed her to go and leave her life of sin. We can come before Jesus as sinners and receive the same response. We are not condemned, but forgiven. When we confess our sin and turn away from it, Jesus promises forgiveness and mercy, not punishment and rejection. No matter what we have done, we can confidently bow before a loving Savior and know that the debt for our sinful behaviors has been paid by the blood of Jesus. He died so we might be free of that debt, and we now have “Paid in full” stamped on our foreheads! We will still be drawn to doing things wrong, because that is our sinful nature as humans. The good news is that God loves us so much, He is willing to take us back every time we fail. This amazing love is open to all and we can take heart, because Jesus overcame death in order to save us!

Jesus continued to teach about who He was, and He told them that He was the Light of the world. If they followed Him, they would never walk in darkness but have the light of life! Jesus’ testimony for Himself about His identity was not seen as valid by the religious leaders. Jesus refuted their argument by saying He was sure of where He came from and they were not. Their standards were of human origin, and His were from His Father, who sent Him. This was the corroboration to validate His testimony – both He and His Father were witnesses to His true self! When they asked where His Father was, they showed their lack of knowledge of His true origin. They did not know His Father because they did not know Him. Do we question the identity of Jesus and His claims to be from God? There are many in this world who do this, because they don’t see Jesus for who He really was and is. They say He was a great teacher or maybe even a prophet, but do not see Him as God’s Son. We have eye-witness accounts of the life and teaching of Jesus, and the Gospel writings have His words and lessons recorded for us. The Bible is our greatest resource for knowing Jesus, and when we spend time reading about Him, it would be hard to discount all that He was and said and did. As we continue to read about Him this year, we need to pray that God would open our eyes to know Him more and to help us follow Jesus more closely each day. He is our example and guide in how to live, for He was perfect, never sinning. Our spiritual growth depends on deepening our relationship with the One sent by God to teach us. His Holy Spirit lives within us, and helps us in this discernment process. Thanks be to God, for sending us His Son and leaving us the Holy Spirit. May His Words dwell in our hearts as we remember Him and worship Him today.

John 4:1-30 Reading Through the NT 2015

Begin chapter 4 of the Gospel of John, and read verses 1-30 today.

Jesus left Judea to avoid a confrontation with the Pharisees, and was traveling to Galilee. On the way, He went through Samaria, and came to Jacob’s well where He met a Samaritan woman drawing water. Jesus’ disciples had gone into town for food, and He was alone at the well in the heat of the day. Jews and Samaritan’s did not associate with one another, and a Jewish man would never talk with a Samaritan woman. But Jesus was no ordinary man. He asked her for a drink of water. She knew the rules, and challenged His request. Jesus then went on to identify Himself to her in a cryptic way, as the gift of God who offered living water. Jesus was trying to tell her that He was the One who would reveal salvation to the world (living water), and if she understood that fact, she would find it for herself.

Being practical, she responded that He did not have a bucket or ladle with which to draw water, and asked where He expected to get this living water. Was He greater than their ancestor Jacob who was the patriarch of Israel and the father of the twelve tribal leaders? She responded with what she knew of Jewish history, and was not expecting any revelations from this Jewish man. But Jesus answered her with more information about Himself as He offered living water that would overflow into eternal life. A man-made well was contrasted with a God-given spring. Sometimes we are so focused on our present situation or condition, that we don’t see what God is doing in our lives to teach us and help us. We feel an emptiness inside, and try to fill it up with activity, distractions and selfish pleasures, but what we really need is a healthy dose of love, compassion and grace from God. He freely offers these things to us, when we stop relying on our own strength, and turn to Him for help.

The woman wanted to know where she could get this living water so she did not have to keep coming back to this well. Jesus did not answer her, but told her to go and get her husband. “I have no husband,” she replied. Then Jesus proceeded to tell her what He already knew about her. She had been married and divorced five times and was not married now but was living with yet another man. This woman realized Jesus must be a prophet, because of what He knew about her, and she was beginning to think that He might be more than just a Jewish traveler passing through her country. She talked about how the Samaritan people worshiped God, and did not follow the Jewish rules to go to the temple in Jerusalem to worship. The religious division of people was evident here, and she was trying to reconcile her method of worship to Jesus. We now know that it is not the place of worship that is important, but the condition of our hearts. Worship takes place when we come humbly before God in spirit and truth. Jesus told her this, and it must have been hard for her to understand. Our understanding is bolstered by Scripture and the knowledge of who Jesus was and what He said and taught about Himself while He was here with us. In a round about way, Jesus was telling her that true worship comes from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and the truth of what He did on the cross. We can be “true worshipers” when we come before God in praise, in thanksgiving, in prayer and in bringing glory to His name, as we acknowledge His sovereignty over our lives.

The Samaritan woman knew that the Messiah was predicted and would come and explain the mysteries of the faith to us. She was expectant, and possibly eager to know this Messiah. Jesus declared that He was the One she was talking about – He was the Messiah! To hear this from His lips must have been overwhelming and maybe  a bit unbelievable, but He knew her past, and spoke with authority. She was slowly coming to realize He might be speaking the truth, and she was anxious to tell her friends what had happened.

The disciples returned and were surprised to find Jesus talking to this woman. They would experience many unusual associations in their time with Him, and soon find that He loved to be among those who needed His love and mercy the most. As the woman made her way into town and shared her story with everyone, they went looking for Jesus themselves.  Do we tend to stay with those we are most comfortable around and who are like us, or are we on the lookout for those who need God’s love and mercy, and go to them with the good news that we have experienced? Once this women realized who Jesus was, and even heard it confirmed from His own lips, she had to tell others about Him. When we tell people who Jesus is to us, and what He has done in our lives, we hope they will go and look for Him themselves too! Our desire should be to help people know the living water we have experienced, and offer them the same hope for eternal life that we are guaranteed, because we have put our faith and trust in Jesus.