ARCC Sermons

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November 1st

The bible reading today is in Matthew 20 and 21.

Jesus is still on his way to Jerusalem. And he is teaching his disciples another very important lesson on the kingdom of heaven and what the grace of God looks like.

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭20:1-2‬ ‭

So often when we think of our salvation in Christ we only think of heaven in the sweet by and by. Heaven is true. Heaven is worth thinking on as we travel through this life for certain. But there is something just as important to connect our salvation to....the work of God that he invites us to join Him in for now.

Some are saved by grace and called to work with God in his vineyard when they are young...when the sun is just breaking forth into day. They have their whole lives to work with Jesus in the vineyard of the world.

Oh, what a choice privilege it is to be allowed to begin such holy service with God so early in the morning of life. Young Samuel comes to mind. These early laborers agreed with the Master and submitted humbly and gratefully to the work and to the wage.

Young believers in Jesus have a blessed prospect...happy...to do God’s work, in a good place, for a good master, and on good terms. Awesome...let us remind our own youthful followers of Christ of their blessed prospect too.

“And going out about the third hour the Master saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and to them, he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭20:3-4‬ ‭

These laborers agreed with the Master too...but with only three-quarters of a day to work. These are the saved persons whose childhood is past, but they are not yet old.

The Master has favored them with the better part of the day of their life to engage in holy service with and to God their savior. What a privilege to have God call young adults into his kingdom of God works.

Oh, young adults, don't be swayed by dollar bills and corporate ladders and alluring perks. The Master of heaven is calling you into His work...and there are no better perks.

“Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. And about the eleventh hour, he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too."

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭20:5-7‬ ‭

God, in the greatness of his love, calls into his salvation fellowship and servicemen and women whose useful vigor has all but departed. The Master accepts the waning hours of their day of life. He has work for the weak as well as for the strong. He allows none to work for him without the reward of grace...even though they have spent most of their lives in sin.

And then he comes to call kingdom workers at the eleventh hour...the generous Master of the house is willing to take on more workmen...though the sun was going down on their lives...and all of their days past had been spent selfishly and far from the Master.

70 years of age...why are any of us still holding out for retirement bliss? Especially when we are given the invitation to work the greatest works of our lives...with Christ the Savior...even if it’s just for our last hour.

Have a great day

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October 31st

The bible reading today is in Matthew 19 and Mark 10.

In these two chapters, Jesus crosses from Perea back into Judea. In Jericho, he teaches God’s very words on marriage, divorce, riches, and service. But he also tells his disciples what awaits him in Jerusalem, without one fear or one hesitation.

Even after three years of powerful ministry of love and sound teaching and many signs and wonders accomplished in fulfillment of messianic prophecy, Pharisees took turns to dog his steps and craft questions intended to make what he has said and done look like opposition to the law.

“And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭10:2-4‬

Jesus said...” yes, but only because of the hardness of your heart...it was not so from the beginning...man and woman became one flesh in marriage and whatever God put together no man or woman was to pull asunder...divorce...except for the cause of adultery.”

Most of us concentrate on the loophole for divorce. Jesus concentrated on the oneness that God made...marriage was intended as love for a lifetime.

After this, Jesus used a personal meeting with a rich man to put the kingdom of God in the heart perspective.

“I've kept all these commandments...what else do I have to do?”

“Follow me...be like me...trust me...open your hands and heart and give your stuff away to those who need it and you won't be tempted to trust your stuff to save you...you’ll trust me.”

“And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.”

But Jesus said to them, “whoever would be great among you must be your servant,

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭10:35-37, 43, 45‬

O Lord, help us to give our lives away for the sake of the gospel...serving You and Your church with our whole cheerful hearts.

“And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭10:32-34‬

And it all happened just like that.

And the disciples would remember these words spoken by their master. “He said this was his path and he walked it with faith and courage. Why are we so afraid?” Why did they forget his words about rising from the dead?

I don't know. Why do I forget his word for my dark nights of my soul?

Have a great day

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October 30th

The bible reading today is in the book of Luke chapters 17:11 - 18:14

“On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭17:11-13‬

Jesus was often met by people who wanted something from Him. Too many times I am turned off by those strangers who ask something of me. And then I'll remember Jesus and that I follow him.

Somewhere in the bible, we read...“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels without knowing it.

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13:2‬

Jesus’ trip to Jerusalem through Galilee and crossing into Samaria was one of those many times that he was approached by strangers. All other rabbis found a way around Samaria if they could. The land of half breeds wrought too many opportunities for devout Jews to be made unclean if they were accidentally engaged by Samaritans.

But rabbi Jesus was different. He didn't look at a person’s skin, a family’s history, or anyone’s religious affiliation. Jesus was in the “spiritual heart condition” business. So he went “everywhere” and preached the gospel of the kingdom of God...because the gospel was the power of God unto salvation for those who believed.

So Jesus was met by a group of lepers as he drew close to a Samaritan village. The story says that at least one was Samaritan and the rest could have been sprinkled with Jews and men of other nationalities from just about anywhere. They wanted the rabbi to heal them. “Master, Have mercy on us.”

Jesus saw His Father working there so he joined him in the ministry to the 10 men with leprosy. And He healed them of the dreaded disease.

He gave them his attention...his time...his resources...and his instruction. Surely they must have overwhelmed Jesus with tears and kisses and hugs and thanksgivings of every kind...these 10 healed men.

Well, one did. One showed gratitude. The other nine forgot to say thank you. They got what they wanted and forgot who gave it to them.

Before we blister the nine men with judgment, let us examine our own hearts. How long has it been since you and I spent time with “just Jesus”?...Talking and listening and expressing heart filled gratitude to Him for the cross and the great salvation he bestowed upon us?...when was the last time we truly and humbly sought to pay the debt of love and life we owe to Him through our obedience to Him?

Gratitude...O Lord forgive us for being so careless....even to the parents or guardians who raised us.

Maybe we have become busy and occupied with responsibilities and opportunities. And we have failed to appreciate those who gave us time, attention, resources, and encouragement to grow as children and adults.

Yes, our parents did their job, not perfectly perhaps, but we weren’t perfect children either. But God gave them to us, on purpose...to love and obey and respect, as long as we both shall live.

We are grown now and we don't need them the way we used to. But those facts don't give us the right to forget them.

May we be the “one” who returns in humble gratitude to shower our benefactors with praise and thanksgiving.

Have a great day

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October 29th

The bible reading today is from John chapter 11. This chapter is about many things and touches my heart on many levels. Such as...” the sickness of Lazarus”. Sickness was common then as it is in our day. Sickness afflicted even the friends of Jesus and their loved ones, even as it does in our lives today.

“The appeal to Jesus for help...” A friend reached out to friend...something in common...an otherworldly fellowship of the heart.

“The death of Lazarus” Death happened to the friend of Jesus, but it wasn't the end for him and it is not the end for us...from death unto life with our eternal Lord and friend.

“The heart brokenness of the family and Jesus...” Humanity and divinity on display in tears.

“Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead...” The “Omnipotent One”, Jesus, showed unequaled power over the last enemy of humankind.

“And the Jewish religious leaders came together to revisit the plot to kill Jesus...” They thought that was their plan...but they were only playing their part in God’s plan of redemption. The glory of God that they could not see or believe...in the death of the rabbi at their longing.

All of this chapter is God speaking right to me today. Especially the shortest in the text...“Jesus wept.”

‭‭John‬ ‭11:35‬ ‭

One of the pictures that God used to prepare me to believe Him for my eternal salvation was the picture of “baby Jesus” lying in a manger in Bethlehem. I had seen it in my nanny’s bible when I was a child. I saw it on many a Christmas card my mother sent to family and friends. I believed the sweet picture was real.

And then Beverly, my High School, and College sweetheart told me that Baby Jesus was “God and human” in the flesh. He suffered like a man...to save me like God.

I'm afraid that over the 50 years of my personal relationship with Jesus I have mostly related to Him as God and not human like me. But every now and then I have come across verses in scripture that dust the Christmas card off and warmly and brightly reveal to me again my Savior in all of his human glory.

Jesus was born of a woman. He grew up as a child. He was obedient to his parents. He increased in stature and wisdom. In manhood, he worked as a tekton, skilled as a mason with stone, and a carpenter, equally skilled in wood. Jesus walked...and he got tired. He hungered and he ate. He tired and he rested and slept.

I remembered today when I recognized his human disappointment in scripture. He was walking from Bethany to Jerusalem with a delightful expectation of eating a fig from a fig tree, only to see that it was not bearing fruit.

Jesus was prophesied to be human. He took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses. His humanity was our humanity to the full, yet without sin. Sin was never an essential to humanity. Remember the garden?

The fact that “Jesus wept” at the tomb of his friend, Lazarus, is one more proof of his absolute humanity. Friendship is normal to man. He wept because he had human friendships.

Men have made many an acquaintance on their life’s journey. But only a special few hold a place of esteem that warrant the descriptive word, friend.

Jesus delighted in the quiet little town of Bethany and his friends’ welcoming home. He loved Mary and Martha and their brother Lazarus.

Jesus retired there often because of their mutual respect and love in friendship that bloomed into sweet and strengthening fellowship. Jesus wept at the grave of his friend...not just for Lazarus’ absence, but for Mary and Marthas’ pain and loss as well.

Jesus was never more human in his emotional attachments than he was that day. Jesus was no unsuffering angel...he was no cherub incapable of grief. Jesus was bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh...doing life with the Father and the Spirit, as would His church one day.

No wonder He wept!

Have a great day

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October 28th

The bible reading is in Luke chapters 16 and 17.

“The poor man Lazarus died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.

And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’

But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭16:22-25‬

And God said unto him, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there where you are to us."

‭‭Luke‬ ‭16:24, 26‬ ‭

Yesterday, our podcast focused on three parables that Jesus spoke in the presence of grumbling, unbelieving Pharisees in Judea.

The first was about a lost sheep. The second was about a lost coin. And the third was about a lost boy. The shepherd went after the lost sheep and found it. The shepherd celebrated his good fortune by throwing a party. The woman swept her house and looked into every nook and corner of it and finally found the lost coin. She was so happy that she invited all of her neighbors to feast joyfully with her. And the Father was broken over his lost boy but God broke the boy and sent him home. The lost boy was found and welcomed home with a joyful party.

All three stories reflected an attitude of God toward lost sinners. He goes after them...and He rejoices with the angels over one sinner who repents, believes, and is eternally saved!

Today’s podcast reveals another attitude of God toward sinners. It’s not a happy story. It’s often passed over in our readings and our sermons. We usually speak of an abundantly gracious God who fills guilty empty sinners with faith and forgiveness of sins and hope for eternal life through the death burial and resurrection of Jesus for our justification and a place in heaven with him one day.

But today Jesus speaks of judgment for unrepentant sinners. We must listen to his story of Lazarus and the rich man.

The unbelieving rich man had died. All those days months and years that he had passed by Lazarus on the street...not giving a second thought to the poor man’s life message of the Gospel of God. Now in hell, the unbeliever wants a favor from God.

And God tells him some bad news...“I cannot help you”. You died without Me. You died without hope of eternal life. You died and your soul is forever separated from my kingdom of heaven...my kingdom of love, grace, and mercy.

You, dying without me, find yourself in outer darkness...where the flame of divine judgment is never quenched and the worm never dies. The place prepared for the devil and his demons will be your abode forever.

“And neither can Lazarus help you now.” That’s the unbridgable difference between you two.”

Why? Because God decreed that His faith followers would be forever shut up with Him, with His everlasting joy and righteousness...never to cross the divide into the world of the wicked.

O friends, knowing this somber message of Jesus, may the Lord relight the spiritual fires of evangelism and witnessing and soul-winning in our souls. May we with fearless love share the gospel of Christ with our elderly parents and grandparents before it's eternally too late. What we do in life is all we can do for their salvation. When we die we take our sheaves with us. We cant come back...to preach one more gospel sermon or share our testimony with an invitation of tears.

Think about it...and if you listen to this podcast and you are in doubt of what will happen to you when you die...talk to Jesus about it right now. Ask him to help you believe in him and follow him as his disciple. Then write me a note and tell me. Praying for you.

Have a great day

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October 27th

The bible reading today is in Luke chapters 14 and 15.

The podcast today will come from one of my top two or three messages of Jesus to his disciples and the scribes and Pharisees.

It’s about “mercy” for “sinners and the “joy of God” in saving them. It reaches my heart in two simple ways. First: I’m a great sinner in need of the forgiveness of God...just as seen in the parables today.

And Secondly: Upon being saved through the gracious and merciful life and work of Christ, I’ve been commissioned by Christ to seek the lost for their salvation...and get in on the joy of heaven when sinners turn to Christ.

“Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭15:1-2‬ ‭

This man, Jesus, receives sinners and eats with them. The scribes and Pharisees took exception to Christ keeping company with tax collectors and sinners. They especially were offended with this rabbi’s practice of sitting down with them around his table fellowship...signifying the good news of grace.

Jesus tells these religious Jewish leaders three parables to defend his table fellowship with sinners.

First the parable of the lost sheep. A story from a man’s world...“What “man” of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭15:4‬

The shepherd is responsible for the care of the sheep. Each one is valuable to him. Each one is important to him. So the shepherd goes after the lost one. And upon finding the lost sheep, he calls his friends and neighbors together to rejoice with him.

I like what Thomas Schreiner wrote...”The earthly joy over finding the lost sheep reflects the joy in heaven over a sinner who repents. Since the Pharisees and scribes were not rejoicing but grumbling over Jesus’ table fellowship with sinners, they were not mirroring God’s attitude toward those who repent.” ....a story with a punch to the loveless religious elite.

The next parable addresses the world of women...“Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭15:8‬

The woman searched high and low for the lost coin. When the coin was discovered, she called her friends and neighbors to join her in celebration.

What is this parable a reflection of?. ”The joy of God” over sinners turning from their sins and believing Him. God pursues sinners. He pursued me when I was lost and He found me and saved me from my sins.

Romans 10:21...”But of Israel, he says...” All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”...entreating them to return. Instead of longing for the repentance of sinners, the Pharisees grumbled about the conversion of these sinners and tax collectors who came to the table fellowship of Jesus.

O friends, when was the last time we invited lost sinners to eat with us and fellowship with Jesus? Too long for me...keep reminding us of that Carl...individually and as Missional Communities.

The final parable in this chapter is the story of the prodigal son and his father and his older brother.

“And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And the father divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭15:11-13‬ ‭

The prodigal son had no love and respect for his father. It would be fine with him if his dad died so that he could get his part of the inheritance. The father gave him his share. And he left home and wasted his inheritance on wicked living.

The young rebellious son came to his senses. And went back home to his father in humble repentance. He knew he would have to admit his sins and beg for forgiveness. His father said, “this my son was dead and is now alive...he was lost but now he is found”.... put a robe on him...put my ring on his finger...kill a fattened calf for a feast...and invite all the neighbors to celebrate with us....my younger son has returned safely...there had to be a party...his prodigal son has been spiritually saved.

O what a picture of how our God responds to sinners who come home to Him.

Bask in it, friends. That’s our salvation party. Our God presses his gracious lips upon our necks. Our Savior wraps his merciful arms around our shoulders and pulls us close...close to Him at the party table of his fellowship...this is my son, my daughter who once was dead but now is alive with me.

What a party for sinners who turn to Christ. Awesome. No grumbling here!

Have a great day

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October 26th

The bible reading today is in Luke chapters 12 and 13.

Jesus was in the first days of his 3-6 month Perean ministry, east of the Jordan River in what would be Lebanon today. He was traveling from village to village, city to city and the countryside in between preaching and teaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God.

During that time he was teaching his 12 disciples and the thousands of seekers (some say 10,000) who were in the large crowds following him. Jesus taught them, “to pray”.

Let us listen to Jesus...“If “you” then, who are “evil”, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭11:13‬ ‭

Pray...You who believe me!

What is keeping you from praying? The Father invites you to ask Him for what you need. He will be willing to give you the Holy Spirit...God the Spirit who supplies all that you need to live on purpose with Christ. From comfort, courage, and truth to power, direction, and spiritual gifts for ministry and discernment...just to mention a few.

O friends, let “us” enroll in Christ’s school of prayer. Let us not hesitate to bring our prayer requests to Him all of the time...with grateful and exciting expectation where it belongs...in our Savior God.

And Jesus continues to teach...“And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than for clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭12:22-24‬

Wow, what an exhortation for every Jesus believer then and now. We all worry about our lives. We are not worried about the exact same things, but we do all worry about our lives.

Some are worried about not having enough money to live comfortably on. Remember Paul’s message to Timothy...?

“But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into this world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.”

‭‭1 Timothy‬ 6:6-8

Some are worried about their health or the health of a loved one. Let us remember the Lord’s message to a frightened Joshua...“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭1:9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Yes, Lord, You are with us wherever we go and whatever we are going through. Praise You.

Most are worried about the future. Will I be happy? Will I be living my dreams? Will I live a long and prosperous life? Will I have a chance at a happy marriage with my sweetheart? Will I have healthy children and grandchildren? The answer....“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary when we do. His understanding is unsearchable, especially when we can't figure things out that bother us. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength...especially to us when our faith and hope and physical strength is low. Even young people shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted, but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:28-31‬ ‭

Oh friends, let us pray about everything and trust Jesus to help us and to handle our worries according to God’s promises.

Have a great day.

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October 25th

The bible reading today is in Luke 10&11 and John 10:22-42.

“...and Jesus was walking in the temple...perhaps to warm himself on this cold rainy day. Not teaching, but walking in the Temple during the wintertime feast of Dedication...like he was just another visitor. He was walking in the colonnade of Solomon. (The porch just off the eastern side of the court of the Gentiles...covered over and looking over a deep valley...very white...supported by walls of four square stone precisely quarried and stacked two football fields high.)

So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense?

Or in the Latin Vulgate translation...”How long dost thou take away our soul...depriving us of the knowledge of thee?...or Nonnus translation, “How long will you hide yourself from us...stealing away our hearts?”

Almost sounds like genuine seekers at first. But we know the end of this story. These were not just out to ensnare Jesus by twisting his words. They were out to kill him.

It was an ambush. Angry religious leaders who were out to destroy him encircled him. They were out to separate him from friends. They were out to find him alone without backup. They were out to intimidate the carpenter/rabbi and hoped that he would confess that he was not the Messiah for fear for his life, but Jesus was far from intimidation...he was bold and courageous.

Then the confrontational crowd asked this question...”If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

‭‭John‬ ‭10:23-24‬ ‭

Jesus answered them, “I told you. I told you that God was my Father...and that I was the light of the world...and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me,”

Healing the sick, casting out devils, cleansing lepers, giving sight to the blind, causing the deaf to hear and the lame to walk, and even raising the dead to life.

“I have plainly shown you who I am...you should not be in any doubt or suspense as to my identity.

John‬ ‭10:24-25‬

Over and over again in those first two years of his ministry, Jesus proved, by his divine works and by the prophecies that were fulfilled in him, that he was the Messiah...the Christ. They just did not believe him. They didn't have the heart to believe him.

Jesus said to this hateful, confronting, self-righteous crowd of religious elite. “...you do not believe because you are not among my sheep.

Wow., Jesus claimed to be God the Eternal Good Shepherd, and He told these scribes and Pharisees that they were not among His flock. They didn't belong in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus said...“My sheep hear my voice, Jesus was saying..." you don't hear my voice...you hear your own voice instead...so you’re not one of mine".

“And I know them, and they follow me....you don't follow me so I don't know you as one of my own. You're on “your own”

“I give them who follow me eternal life, and they will never perish. My own are given spiritual life...a life of grace...which issues in eternal life. I give my followers knowledge of me. I give my own my righteousness, which is their justification of life which entitles them to eternal life. And I give my own a foretaste of my life in faith and hope and enjoyment of me and my love."

"But you, who do not believe me, you will perish because I will not give you eternal life.. And one more thing...no one will snatch my own out of my hand.”

Christ’s sheep are in his hands, put there by God the Father from the beginning...and his hands have laid the foundations of the heavens and earth...his hands grasp the whole universe and hold all things together...so who then can pluck any of Christ’s sheep out of those loving strong hands? No one! Nothing!

"So they are all safe and saved with me...and the Father and the Spirit...you are not!"

‭‭John‬ ‭10:26-28‬ ‭

“My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

‭‭John‬ ‭10:29-30‬ ‭

Wow, my 2nd favorite assurance verses. Father chose me...Father gave me to Jesus as his bride the church...and since Father is greater than all and He and Jesus are one, none is able to pluck them from our hands.

O, friends, Jesus just preached the gospel...and our reading helped us to preach it to ourselves again. Just what we needed!

Have a great day

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October 24th

The Bible reading today is in John chapters 9 and 10.

It sounds strangely human to say that Jesus was in danger after He preached from the Temple stairs that final day of the feast of booths. And I quote...“So they picked up stones to throw at Jesus...(and Jesus walked by them and away from them....)

‭‭John‬ ‭8:59‬

Jesus walked by those who wanted to kill him on the last day of the festival. To me, that would have been a noteworthy kind of day. To tell my loved ones that I saw and heard a group of people today that were plotting to kill me that would disturb our evening. It would disturb our sleep, and most likely it would be very distracting to the fulfilling of our responsibilities for weeks and months to come.

But not so with Jesus. The next day, Jesus went about his “daily work”... That reminds me of a verse that speaks of my “daily life” which is “my daily work.”

Eph. 2:10...Paul to the church at Ephesus....”For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which He has before ordained that we should walk in them.”

I used to describe the gospel accounts as the scriptural records of the “life and work of Christ”...as though “his life” was somehow separate from “his work”. But reading through the gospels with that in mind has shown me that Jesus’ life and work are one and the same.

His living was his work. And his work was and is his life. May it be so with us, my friends in Christ.

For me to live (and work) is Christ...Paul...Philippians 1:21

Now to our text today...Jesus still in Jerusalem just after the Feast of Booths...“As Jesus passed by (in the city) he saw a man blind from birth...and he healed him...

‭‭John‬ ‭9:1‬

“Jesus saw”...that was his life and work...that was his life and ministry. Jesus saw.... “people”!

Jesus left heaven and came to earth for people. He came for this blind man. And He came for me...one not physically blind, but one who was spiritually blind and in desperate need to see from whom my salvation comes.

Oh friends, Jesus, in his relationship with the Father and the Spirit Jesus’ whole life was about the people of his earthly journey...the people he encountered...the people he passed by. May it be so of our whole lives...” to see people” and love them to Jesus.

“And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.”

‭‭John‬ ‭9:2-3‬

Did you hear it? This man’s blindness had a purpose. He was blind so that the works of God might be displayed! WOW.

The man’s blindness was real. He had never seen anything, he had never seen anyone. But God had been at work even in his blindness all those years. And God would choose a day that He would use the blindness of the man to display His works again.

How awesome...God has a purpose for our afflictions. And it’s all about Him...all about You, Jesus...praise Your Name.

Have a great day.