Walking With Jesus

Right Time To Be About Your Father’s Business

“All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” (Psalm 139:16)

*Please read carefully and be attentive to the Holy Spirit as you read this devotional by Sylvia Gunter. This was just too good not to share. Blessings, Ed 😊 Used with permission.

Listen to God’s Word for you in Psalm 139:16. “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” And in Luke 2:49. (Jesus speaking) He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”

Listen with your spirit. There are things which God knows are yet to unfold in your life. Be blessed with being in God’s time, aligned with His timing and His purposes, not running ahead and not lagging behind. Be blessed with knowing His will and doing His will in the right time, the right place, and the right way, with the right people alongside you. Be in the right timing of the call of God on your life.

Be blessed with waiting at seemingly closed doors, for Jesus holds the key. What He opens no man can shut, and what He shuts no man can open. Be blessed with open doors to go forward in God’s time and timing, so you may experience the fulfillment of being everything He has called you to be at the right time and in the right place.

Be blessed with some closed doors that keep you from doing things that God did not intend for you to do…good things, maybe, but not His best for you because they are out of sync with the sound, rhythm, and light of heaven for you. Be blessed with waiting and looking in the face of God to see where He wants you. It is disobedience to do what He did not purpose you to do or to be where He has not called you to be.

God makes His way known to his friends. Look into His face and find out from Him what is your piece of kingdom business for today. There you will be fulfilled. Be blessed with His fulfillment as you live in the timing of what He has already written in His book for you.

Be blessed in the name of the one who is Author and Finisher and who is always right on time (Heb. 12:2 NKJV).

Click here to learn more and order

An archive of past devotionals is available on the website.

Who’s “Broken” in Your life (Part 2)

“Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies.” (1 Corinthians 15:43-44 NLT)

In yesterday’s post we began looking at how to reach those we love who are lost. We looked at three ways we could begin to pray and respond with faith to their need of Jesus. Today we’ll look at three more ways we can submit to the Lord’s authority in our lives that can make an eternal difference to those who don’t yet know Jesus.

Fourth, we must love those for whom we’re praying in practical ways. Reach out to them often. If they live close, invite them into your life. Share meals, game nights, go to movies or sporting events. In short, stay as actively involved in their lives as they’ll allow. A word of caution: don’t “ambush” them. If you invite them to a meal, don’t let that be an opportunity to begin your “gospel presentation,” unless you let them know in advance that’s what you plan to do. Just enjoy their company and let them enjoy yours.

Fifth, share your heart with believing friends with whom you can pray. No doubt they will have those for whom they are praying, for whom you can join them in prayer. The fellowship in prayer builds our bond of love and friendship in ways that will encourage and inspire us to continue the journey to seeing our loved ones come to know, love, and serve our Savior.

Then, as often as we can and in as nonthreatening ways as we can, we must share our heart with those for whom we’re praying. However, we must ALWAYS ASK PERMISSION TO SHARE! It may take months, even years before the Lord gives us the go ahead to share, but we must be patient and not give in to the risk of sharing without the Lord’s go ahead.

One exception is if they live far away and the Lord clearly prompts you to write them or call them. But even then, don’t just “pounce” on them. Trust the Lord’s Spirit to lead you very carefully.

Foundationally, we know something they don’t know, or at least they haven’t yet connected the proverbial dots. And what is that? This life is not all there is!

One way that Ray Comfort begins a conversation with someone who is lost is by asking: “What do you think happens when you die?” Depending on a lot of variables, you may get different answers, but it will give you a starting point. I would encourage you to read Ray’s e-book: www.freewonderfulbook.com. Just click on the link and you can download it for free.

Please hear my heart – our loved ones and friends who don’t yet know Jesus are reading the pages of our lives. They don’t need a canned “gospel presentation” that we hope works. They need a loving, caring heart that is breaking because of their lostness.

We’re not going to convince them to respond to anything the Spirit of God hasn’t prepared them to respond to. Remember, every conversation we have with anyone is going to accomplish one of three things: planting the seed, watering the seed, or harvesting the seed. If we dig up the seed too early, it will defeat the purpose of planting it in the first place.

Ultimately, it’s our loved one’s choice to live or die without Jesus. I base my confidence that God will do what only He can do in their heart to draw them to Himself on Scriptures like 1 Timothy 2:6 where Paul writes: “He gave His life to purchase freedom for everyone.” Or 2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord isn’t really being slow about His promise, as some people think. No, He is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.”

Please don’t lose heart but continue to pray faithfully for the salvation of your lost loved ones. God will do His part, but we must do ours.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Who’s “Broken” in Your Life?

“I am ignored as if I were dead, as if I were a broken pot.” (Psalm 31:12 NLT)

Realizing there are lots of ways to think about brokenness, let me try to give a clearer understanding of what I mean, at least for purposes of this post. But before I do that, just to make sure you didn’t miss it, the title is “Who’s ‘Broken,’” not “What’s Broken.” Also, David’s words in the verse above give expression to something I often miss.

There are people who seem, at least from the standpoint of the casual observer, to have everything together. They’re happy, confident, and seem to be living the proverbial “dream” life, but they don’t know Jesus. It’s sometimes difficult to know how to approach them because too often in our minds, people who don’t know Jesus aren’t supposed to be happy and content.

My goal in this post is to help us sharpen our vision and to understand that ANYONE without Jesus, regardless of their socio-economic position, religious bias, or contentment with the things of this world, is spiritually broken. Yet, too often, we fail to see through their seeming togetherness and are too afraid or unsure how to speak with them about their need of Jesus.

As Jesus followers, it’s sometimes hard to wrap our minds around the fact that someone can be happy, content, and on many levels, satisfied with their life. It’s easier for us to think of someone without Jesus being desperate or at least more clearly “broken.” We’re almost tempted to pray they’ll have some problem so we can rush in with Jesus.

My guess is that’s what prompted King David to write the words above. Based on what he wrote in Psalm 31 he had many needs, yet it’s as if no one noticed or seemed to care. He was “invisible,” yet longed to be seen. My position in this post is that too often we let that happen with those in our spheres of influence.

In my mind there’s no greater brokenness than being lost, and too often those who aren’t walking with Jesus are on a collision course with disaster, but just don’t know it. So, how do we address that, especially in the lives of those for whom we carry a deep burden? They seem oblivious to the danger they’re in, living as if this life is going to last forever. It’s like they’re driving in a dense fog at 100 mph. They don’t know what they don’t know.

It kills me to think of being in heaven without my kids or those relatives and friends I love and for whom I carry a deep burden. We can’t make them change their mind, so what can we do? There are at least six things.

First and foremost, we must pray. Prayer taps the only resource we have – our Heavenly Father – who knows and loves those for whom we pray more than we do. He has 24/7 access to their heart and His Spirit can work in ways we never can. We must bare our heart before Him, seeking ways to be His voice, His hands, His feet, His heart to and for those we want to see come to Jesus.

Secondly, we must listen carefully to what He instructs us to do or not do.

Thirdly, we must obey quickly and with attention to detail. We may only have one shot at sharing Jesus, we need to get it right.

We’ll look at the other three in tomorrow’s post.

Blessings, Ed 😊

The Crisis of Meaninglessness

“’Everything is meaningless,’ says the Teacher, ‘completely meaningless.’” (Ecclesiastes 1:2 NLT)

In a recent article by John Stonestreet of the Colson Center, he highlighted the teen mental health crisis. One New York Times journalist noted that “major depressive episodes” and teen suicides have increased by 60% since 2007.

Stonestreet wrote: “The factors behind this tsunami of depression, anxiety, and self-harm are many, one of which is the internet. In 2017, Dr. Jean Twenge of San Diego State University noted that the spike in adolescent mental health problems reached a crescendo in 2012. That year, the percentage of Americans who owned smartphones surpassed 50%. Exposing developing brains to an overwhelming amount of social information, she argued, was contributing to a massive, unprecedented uptick in mental health issues.” 

We’ve all seen firsthand the aloofness, anger, lack of expression, and uncaring for parents and others in the lives of teens and young adults in our spheres of influence. It’s frightening and discouraging, yet we must not forget that God is still on His throne and still in control. Why is this so vital to remember?

Most of you who read these posts love Jesus. That, my friend, is 2/3rds of the battle! We are God’s “special agents” planted in the lives of teens and young adults to fight back for their hearts and lives. But how?

As with any Kingdom endeavor, it begins with prayer. I encourage you to make a list of the young people in your spheres of influence. My guess is, most of you already prayer regularly for your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, neighbors, and others, but let’s sharpen our focus. For example, a major part of their problems stem from the flooding of information into their minds and hearts. So, can we “distract” them from their “distractions?”

Let’s be more intentional in speaking into their lives. Focus on an area in which they have interest or take them to a sporting event or shopping or _________, and you can fill in the blank of what you believe would be most effective for the teens in your life. And I understand that some of them live far away.

So, we can use some of the same tools the devil is using so effectively. Let’s call, text, or email them. Think about it. Every second they spend talking to us or reading things we’ve sent them, is a second away from the barrage of meaninglessness they encounter on the internet or on their phone.

“But what would I say?” I suspect it will be tough at first but let them know how much they mean to you. Part of the problem is the things that demand their attention are impersonal. They invade their mind, but rarely touch their heart. Let them know how much you love them, then prove it by inviting them into your life.

Tell them stories of when you were growing up. Let them laugh at the clothes you wore and the songs you sang. Tell them about trips you’ve taken and what you’ve seen and experienced that has changed your life. Share your fears and your anxieties or take them someplace beautiful with a stipulation that phones are at least silenced.

And you may be thinking – “What about telling them about Jesus?” And, yes, of course, but balance that with all the other ways you’re investing in them. Teens typically love to eat. Take them for a meal on Saturday or invite them to church with you and take them to lunch at their favorite place afterwards. Be creative. The Lord is faithful to guide you. Remember how love is spelled: T I M E!

The whole point is to help them find meaning in their life as they experience your love and care as you invest your life in them. Love speaks so much louder than the internet. They desperately need Jesus, but they first need to see Him in you.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

To the Second!

“We blossom like a flower and then wither. Like a passing shadow, we quickly disappear.” (Job 14:2 NLT)

A wise friend made the observation that for families with small children the days are long, but the years are short. My “baby” girl will turn 50 this year, though it seems only yesterday we brought her home from the hospital. Why is it that the “good” times soar past so rapidly, while the “hard” times seem to drag by so slowly?

How many times have I heard “later” when I’ve invited someone to follow Jesus. It grieves me to think of the ones who have postponed their opportunity, and have now gone into eternity. Or how many times I’ve thought I had time to share with someone, only to hear of their passing. Time is not a respecter of anyone, it marches on regardless of the circumstances of our lives.

When I was in high school a very popular boy who was well known and well liked by many in his class, asked me to take him someplace after school one day. I felt honored and gladly gave him a ride. I didn’t know if he was a believer, but, as a new believer myself, I felt intimidated to speak with him about the Lord. As I sometimes did, I told myself I’d speak with him another time.

That “time” never came, as I heard just a few days later he’d driven his car into the river and taken his own life. I’ve since learned, when the Lord prompts me to share with someone, I make ever effort to obey.

Job made the observation in 14:5: “You have decided the length of our lives. You know how many months we will live, and we are not given a minute longer.” We wrongly assume that because someone is young they “have their whole life ahead of them.” I lost a lot of friends in the Vietnam war. When a friend or loved one goes to war, we rightly pray for their protection, but the reality is we should pray every time a loved one goes out the door.

In the world in which we live, Satan is actively seeking whom he may devour. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 5:15-17:“So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.”

As Jesus followers it’s the Lord’s intention that we’re constantly in tune with His voice. His Spirit indwells us and over time tunes our spiritual “ears” to our Savior’s voice. We have no need to fear what we should say when speaking to someone about the Lord, as the Spirit will fill our mouths with the right words if our spirit is in tune with His.

Dick Eastman wrote: “Behind the saving knowledge of Christ for every person is someone praying.” The salvation of lost loved ones and friends begins in our prayers. In my desperation to see people I love come to the Lord, I often ask the Lord to do anything He deems necessary to draw them to Himself. I have a dear friend whose brother is very sick, but my friend assures me that God is using his brother’s sickness to draw him to Jesus.

I learned a long time ago that God can use any circumstance to help people see Him more clearly, we just need to be faithful in prayer and trust Him to do what only He can do. But we must do what only we can do – send cards, emails, texts, calls, in short, whatever He lays on our heart to do so that if/when our loved one or friend is open to speaking with someone about the Lord, we’re their first call.

Life begins in an instant and it ends in an instant and only the Lord knows the length of our lives – To the Second!

Blessings, Ed

To Know and Be Known

“It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life.” (2 Peter 2:21 NLT)

To have knowledge of the Bible and/or the ways of God and to have a personal love relationship with God through faith in Jesus are two very different things. The verse above has reference to those who fall prey to false teachers who, in Peter’s words: “…will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them.”

What kinds of false teachings do they promote? Peter explains that “they promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption.” What kind of freedom do they teach? Essentially they teach that you can ignore the disciplines required to live a holy life. In short, they teach you can make a “profession of faith” then live any way you choose.

It’s not unlike many when they were young. They thought all their parents wanted to do was keep them from having fun. So when they finally got “free” from their parents what did they do? Whatever they wanted to do, right? Whatever that looked like – drink, smoke, cuss, steal, cheat, hurt others, have indiscriminate sex – whatever their little hearts desired.

When I was in high school I had a neighbor my age who was smart, talented, a good athlete – virtually everything you could hope to be. When we graduated we went to different colleges so we lost touch. Years passed and I was visiting my parents and I saw one of my friend’s parents and asked about him.

With sadness they told me he’d gotten addicted to drugs and had basically “fried” his brain. He was living with his parents, so I asked if I could see him, but he didn’t even recognize me. His “freedom” had cost him his ability to function on his own.

That’s the way of Satan. He convinces us to believe lies, that lead us to make decisions that don’t free us, but instead imprison us to our own selfishness and sinfulness. That’s essentially what the false teachers in the first century were doing and what they’re still doing today.

Many today believe Satan’s lies that we can serve Christ, yet continue to enjoy sex outside of marriage, lose ourselves in the pursuit of money, in short, pursue the pleasures of this world with no fear of consequence. Of these people Peter said: “These people are as useless as dried-up springs or as mist blown away by the wind. They are doomed to blackest darkness.”

Where am I going with all of this? To know Jesus and be known by Him opens the door to freedoms to be and do more than we could have ever imagined. The Bible tells us that we were made by God and for God, so, to the extent we experience the fullness of God’s presence actively working in and through us, to that extent we’ll enjoy the freedom to be everything we were created and designed to be.

Nothing compares to having the security of being under our loving Father’s care, sensing His closeness, experiencing His love, mercy, kindness, and grace 24/7. To know Him and be known by Him gives a level of intimacy, the satisfaction of which is beyond anything this world could ever offer.

Blessings, Ed

Living As Citizens of Heaven

“Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ.” (Philippians 1:27 NLT)

While it sounds really good to consider that we are citizens of heaven, the fact remains, we’re not – yet! On some levels it’s like an American thinking about what it would be like to be a citizen of Russia or China or any other “foreign” country. We can read about it or watch documentaries or speak with citizens of those countries, but unless we’ve been there and experienced it for ourselves, it’s very hard to conceive.

However, on the other hand, as Christ-followers, we’re getting to know Someone who is from heaven, actually lives there now, but has also taken up residence in our hearts and lives in the Person of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said of the Spirit in John 14:26: “But when the Father sends the Advocate as My representative – that is, the Holy Spirit – He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.”

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

So, the main thing we need to learn is how to listen to the Spirit. Paul instructs us in the verse at the top of the page, to conduct ourselves “in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ.” What does that look like? Perhaps a more basic question is – what is the Good News of Christ? If we’re going to live in a manner worthy of something or someone, it makes sense to think about what that might mean.

The Good News in a nutshell centers and focuses on Jesus, God’s only Son, who came to earth from heaven, was born of a virgin, lived a perfect, sinless life, then died a horrible death on the Cross in order to pay the penalty for our sin, the debt for which we could never in all eternity ever have paid for ourselves.

But death could not hold our Savior. He burst forth from the tomb under His own limitless power, visited with His disciples and others for several days, then decided He’d head back to heaven. There’s no way any human being CAN be worthy of any part of what Jesus accomplished on our behalf, unless and until we submit ourselves in unashamed devotion to who He is – Almighty God, Creator, Sustainer, and Ruler of all that has been, is, or ever will be!

We can never begin to walk in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ until we see ourselves as the helpless, hopeless, sin-drenched, worthless excuses of human beings we were and are apart from Him. We are nothing and can do nothing apart from Jesus, period, end of story! Almost!

If all that you’ve read so far was void of love, then yes, it would be the end of the story. But love made a way where there was no way. So, now, because of who Jesus is and what He has done, He invites us to join Him in God’s activity in this fallen world. Because of the empty tomb and our Risen Savior, we can be forgiven and given a new life – we can become a brand-new species of being, one that’s never existed before (see 2 Corinthians 5:17) by yielding our life and allegiance to Him by faith.

We can be infused with His Holy Spirit’s power to live like we were never able to before Jesus. We can learn to live in a manner worthy of His holy Name and of His unequaled sacrifice, but it begins at the Cross. We must understand that what we see there is what we deserved. Jesus was there in our place!

And if that doesn’t fill you with a deep, gut-wrenching sense of appreciation and gratitude, I can’t imagine what would. But if your spiritual eyes are opened and your heart breaks with insight into the tremendous debt we owe our loving Savior, no power on earth or that Satan can muster will ever stop us from being all we can possibly be for Jesus. Your life will become a monument of honor to the One whose name you bear. Bear it with gratitude and devotion, sharing that Good News with others until your dying breath.

That’s what it means to conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ!

Blessings, Ed 😊

Are You Honest?

“And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.” (Luke 8:15 NLT)

Honesty in the Bible means far more than telling the truth or not cheating someone. Honesty in Scripture is more about what you are than what you do. It’s not simply how you behave, it’s what prompts or motivates that behavior. Using the above verse as a guide, let’s look at what it means to be honest.

The context is Jesus’ explanation of the parable of the farmer scattering seed. The seed is God’s word, and the different soils represent the responses of people who hear the word. The good soil is what we want to look at in this post because therein we see the characteristics of someone who is going to be responsive and fruitful.

First, they’re honest. The word used in this verse that’s translated “honest” means “beautiful, handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, admirable, genuine, approved, morally good, noble.” There are more, but that’s enough to see more clearly the kind of person Jesus was pointing to. And don’t misunderstand, “beautiful” and “handsome” aren’t physical characteristics, but more personality traits.

It means you’re attractive from the standpoint of your character; how you respond to and treat people. You make others feel important, desired, welcome, wanted. You have a quality about you that draws people and helps them to listen more attentively when you speak, especially as it relates to God’s Word.

Second, they’re good-hearted. The word “heart” can often be used in Scripture interchangeably with “soul,” and refers to the “seat of the sensibilities, affections, emotions, desires, appetites, passions.” Think of the cockpit of an airplane. It’s essentially the control center of a person’s life. If you have a good heart your life will move in a good direction.

There are people who have a good heart who aren’t Jesus followers. We tend to think of “good” people as godly people, but they’re not one and the same. Notice that Jesus is speaking of the type of soil on which the seed falls. All four types of people are pre-Christian. The ones with a good heart are often more receptive and, thus, more fruitful once they yield their life and allegiance to Jesus.

Third, when they hear God’s Word and embrace it, they cling to it. The word means “to hold fast, keep secure, keep firm possession of.” The picture painted is the pilot of a huge ship keeping it going on the right path, in the right direction. It’s the person who takes hold of Jesus and won’t let go. Trials, struggles, heartbreak, pain, and anguish only cause them to hold on to Him more tightly.

Fourth, they become very fruitful as a believer. Notice the verse says: “and patiently produce a huge harvest.“ Fruitfulness takes time and effort. You don’t plow a field, plant, and harvest in a day. As it relates to pointing loved ones and friends to Jesus, it can take years, but the attitude expressed here is “take your time, I’m not going anywhere.”

Implicit in honesty is dependability, firmness, not easily shaken or derailed. In a recent Turning Point devotion David Jeremiah wrote: “Above all, be a person whose word can be trusted. Don’t rely on oaths (“I promise”) to convince others you are speaking the truth.”

Richard Sibbes wrote: “The life of an honest man is an oath.” The person of whom Jesus speaks in this verse is a person whose life is all the proof someone needs to convince them they’re honest.

Blessings, Ed 😊

What’s the Cost?

“But at a birthday party for Herod, Herodias’s daughter performed a dance that greatly pleased him, so he promised with a vow to give her anything she wanted.” (Matthew 14:6-7 NLT)

Have you ever expressed your intent to commit to something before you knew the cost? I have, and it cost me more than I could have ever imagined.

That’s what happened to Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee. He had arrested John the Baptist as a favor to his wife, Herodias, who had been married to his brother Philip. John the Baptist had been telling Herod that it was against God’s law for him to marry her, and it stirred in him thoughts that he’d like to murder John. But over time, perhaps what speck of conscience Herod had was pricked, or maybe he was just afraid of what John’s followers would do if he did kill John.

Whatever his hesitation, it didn’t matter after he had a few too many drinks and was influenced by the impact of the dance performed by his wife’s daughter. Motivated by his lustful mind and proud heart, Herod “promised with a vow to give her anything she wanted.” Obviously, he spoke without forethought, because what she asked of him cost him far more than the head of John the Baptist on a tray. That’s just how Satan works. Could Adam and Eve have known the cost of their sin? Can you or I?

Yes, of course, it cost our Savior His perfect, sinless life on the Cross. There’s nothing that can compare with that great sacrifice. But in practical terms, Satan blinds us to the implications of the decisions we make without thought.

My mentor said: “What is all you sold your soul to obtain worth, on the day you stand before Jesus?” People we know and love are selling their soul for things that will perish yet are blinded to the consequences until it’s eternally too late. Why is it so difficult to see the truth?

On the other hand, those of us who have committed our lives to Jesus must be willing to count the cost of what that means. Marshall Segal said: “Welcome what it will cost you today to pursue love in light of eternity.”Admittedly, we may never know the impact of our loving kindnesses on those we serve, but we can nonetheless embrace the sacrifice of our love in order that Jesus might be exalted and pleased.

When I was in seminary one of the classes I took was called “Ministry to the Mentally Ill.” We would go to a facility each week and be locked in with people with all sorts of mental illnesses. Our assignment was to zero in on one patient and each week write a report of our conversation with them.

Steve was the person’s name that I chose. He seemed normal to me, until he would begin to hallucinate and things that he “saw” or “experienced” became his reality. Honestly, he was convincing, so much so I couldn’t always tell fact from fiction. He told me there were those in the ward who “were out to get” him, which I took with a “grain of salt.”

Then one day we came for our visit, and I found Steve in bed. He had been badly beaten and couldn’t speak, but he indicated he was thirsty. There were several other patients around as I lifted his head and slowly let a few drops of water enter his mouth. I can’t explain it, but that was a moving experience for me. In all the conversations we’d had over the weeks, I hadn’t felt the closeness or love for Steve that I felt in that moment.

It was hard for me to be there, and I was always glad to leave, but it reminded me that sometimes the simplest act of kindness can be life-changing, not only for the one we help, but for us.

Burk Parsons wrote: “May our passion for Christ always be greater than our passion for an easy life.” May we always be willing to do the things for Jesus that stretch us and that, while we may not choose them for ourselves, will bless someone else and honor our Savior.

Sometimes that’s the cost we must be willing to pay to exalt Jesus and grow closer to Him.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Are You Being Deceived?

“For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen Ones. See, I have warned you about this ahead of time.” (Matthew 24:24-25 NLT)

Deception isn’t just for the last days. Satan has been deceiving people since the Garden of Eden.

In John 14:12, the verse we looked at in yesterday’s post, notice Jesus said: “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in ME, will do the same works I have done.” It’s not enough to believe in His Name. What are the implications?

Think about the works Jesus did while here on earth. He healed the sick, raised the dead, cast out demons, walked on water, commanded the winds and waves to be still, turned water into wine, and many others. But remember what He said in John 5:19: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by Himself. He does only what He sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.”

What’s my point? We only have access to the Father through the Son. Jesus said in John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me.” Yesterday we noted that there were those who performed miracles through the power of Jesus’ Name, but they had no relationship with Jesus, and, thus, no relationship with the Father.

Jesus gives us insight into how we can know we have eternal life in John 10:27: “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.” May I ask you, wherein lies your faith in your eternal life? In a verse, or in the verse’s Author? How will you know the difference? Are you listening to His voice?

“But don’t we listen to His voice as He speaks to us through His written Word?” Absolutely, as long as you’re reading His Word and not simply listening to it through the lips of someone else. What God’s Spirit says through His Word as you’re reading or listening to it being read can be quite different than listening to someone else’s understanding and interpretation of His Word.

The people were badgering Jesus to tell them plainly that He was indeed the Messiah, and He said to them: “I have already told you, and you don’t believe Me. The proof is the work I do in My Father’s name. But you don’t believe Me because you are not My sheep.” (John 10:25-26) What’s He saying to them? “You aren’t hearing Me because you’re not of My flock!”

If we are Jesus’ sheep, we’ll hear His voice, not only as He speaks through His written Word, but as His Holy Spirit speaks in His still small voice, directing us day by day in the way we should walk. But please note, the Holy Spirit will NEVER tell us something that is contrary to God’s written Word.

The “proof” that we’re God’s child is found in Roman’s 8:16 when Paul writes: “For His Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.” What does that look like? It’s more than an emotion, it’s a deep spiritual conviction that apart from Jesus we are nothing and apart from Him we can do nothing.

It’s a oneness of spirit that confirms that we don’t want anything other than what God desires for us. Our contentment isn’t from anything material – anything that is of this world – but is solely derived from knowing our sins are forgiven and our eternal home is in heaven with the Owner and Keeper of our heart and life. It isn’t in our theology, as important as that is, but in our confidence that Jesus is exactly who He claimed to be. Our eternal destiny doesn’t hinge on right thinking alone, but on right believing.

Jesus will never play games with us. He’ll never say one thing and do another. He’ll never deceive us into believing a lie. He IS the embodiment of all Truth! He IS the Life of the Father! He IS the only Way to heaven!

Please don’t be deceived by Satan’s lies!

Blessings, Ed 😊