Tag: Jesus

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Great Is His Faithfulness

Today’s Reading: Lamentations chapter 3 (SOAP, 3:21-24)
KJV Translation

21But this I call to mind;
therefore I have hope;

22 The Lord’s loyal kindness never ceases;
his compassions never end.
23 They are fresh every morning;
your faithfulness is abundant!
24 “My portion is the Lord,” I have said to myself,
so I will put my hope in him.

Lamentations 3:22-24 (NET)
Jeremiah Lament Turns Personal

Lamentations 3 appears a more personal lament of Jeremiah’s. In the previous laments he has focused on the city, the destruction, the responsibility, God’s wrath, and a few personalized comments. However, chapter 3 there are a lot of “I” and “my” statements like:

  • “I am the man who has experienced affliction”
  • “He drove me into captivity”
  • “He made my moral skin waste away”
  • “He has shut out my prayer”
  • “To me he is like a bear lying in ambush”
  • “I have become the laughingstock of all people”
  • “He ground my teeth in grave”
  • “I have lost all hope of deliverance from the LORD”
  • “I am depressed”

Then the lament changes from despair to hope (21-24) and it wasn’t because his situation had changed – but because Jeremiah had purposefully made himself remember truths about God that countered the fears of the circumstances.

  • God is faithful
  • His kindness never stops
  • His compassions won’t fail
  • His faithfulness is great
  • He remembers that God (not the circumstances or people around him) is the source of his happiness and blessing

Please notice that Jeremiah’s and Jerusalem’s situation had not changed what changed were his thoughts and the attitude of his heart. In the middle of the lament he determines to list out the goodness of the LORD. He purposes to keep his hope in the LORD and replaces what he had declared as lost in verse 18 with an attitude that seems to mirror the Psalmist’s in Ps 73:26.

My flesh and my heart may grow weak,
but God always protects my heart and gives me stability.

Psalm 73:26 NET KJV
How Do We Apply This?

Applying this requires being purposeful and determined like Jeremiah, who after lamenting he was depressed said, “yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope.” At perhaps the lowest point of his lament, hopeless and depressed the thought of God’s goodness, the knowledge of His great love, the remembrance of His daily, unending mercies, and His great faithfulness flowed through Jeremiah’s mind like a song and restored his hope. I wonder if he ever imagined that his lament and recorded resurgence of hope written for all of time and used by God to change people’s life in the 21st century? I know they certainly changed mine more than 32 years ago and they continue to make a difference today.

  • When depression and hopelessness set in I learned to think about the truths that Jeremiah listed in verse 22-24. Consider writing them down or reading them often so that they become part of your thinking.
  • Look for and remember ways that you have seen God like this in your life
  • Say to myself/yourself, I will put my hope in the LORD because He is my “portion”, my true and lasting source of happiness and blessing.
Prayer Prompt

Father the circumstances of life and the choices we’ve made are often a bitter poison. They will easily rob us of hope and joy unless we purposefully call to mind Your kindness, compassion, mercies, faithfulness, and sufficiency. Help us, even in our laments, to be determined to know and be quick to call these truths to mind whether in times of trouble or everyday living. – and in this may others see and hear of You – for Your glory – In Jesus’ Name – Amen!

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Weeping and Destruction

Today’s Reading: Lamentations 2:1-22 (SOAP 2:11)

My eyes are worn out from weeping;
I am churning within.
My heart is poured out in grief

because of the destruction of my dear people,
because children and infants faint
in the streets of the city.

Lamentations 2:11
Destruction Takes a Toll

Jeremiah weeps at the destruction but he isn’t simply crying. He is physically and emotionally impacted because of the destruction of his people. This is personal and Jeremiah is greatly affected.

Applying the Word

Like Jeremiah, we should be greatly affected when God’s people or His work are impacted by suffering, regardless of where the suffering comes from. We should mourn and experience great emotional and even physical unease. Jesus taught in Matthew that those who mourn like this over sin will be blessed, Matthew 5:4. Whether it is over our own sin or the sin of others we should be broken by anything that breaks the heart of God. When we mourn like this we will find ourselves caught up in the lament and we will be moved, like Jeremiah, to pray or to call on others to pray.

Prayer Prompt

Father, break our hearts for what breaks Yours! May we not fail to pour ourselves out before You – for only You can heal and make right ! We believe this in Jesus Name, Amen!’

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The Lord’s Anger

Today’s Reading: Lamentations chapter 1:1-22 (SOAP/FOCUS: 12)

“Does it mean nothing to you, all you who pass by?
    Look around and see if there is any suffering like mine,
which the Lord brought on me
    when he erupted in fierce anger.

Lamentations 1:12 NLT
Background

It is impossible to understand this one verse without first taking in all that came before it.

First of all Lamentations is a book of 5 laments or poems. In this first poem, Jeremiah, the assumed author, is lamenting the fall of Jerusalem and the burning of the Temple by the Babylonian Army. To grasp the true devastation of this we must remember that Jerusalem wasn’t just another city it was known as the city of God and the Temple there as His dwelling place. Each verse in chapter 1 is divided by the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, a structure known to denote completeness.

On behalf of the city Jeremiah bemoans loss after loss after loss, including her standing among the nations, being abandoned by her allies, and becoming an easy prey. He laments the loss and observance of the prescribed and cherished festivals and names the LORD as the one who afflicted Jerusalem, attributing the blame to Jerusalem because of her rebellious acts. He lamented not only the abandonment of allies but that of her own leaders . Perhaps the most devastating thing to deal with was hearing Jerusalem’s enemies gloating over her – and know that she was no longer the prided Temple of God.

Is There Anyone Who Understands?

When we come to the 12th verse, Jeremiah’s heart break and desperation are really evident as he pauses, hoping to find someone – anyone – who seems to understand what he is experiencing and how it hurts. However, it has become evident by now that there is no one.

How Do We Apply It?

To be sure, there is something poetically beautiful and teachable about Jeremiah’s emotional lament for Jerusalem. He calls out from the depths of his heart, he calls out with his eyes not only on what they had lost but aware of why and how. He calls out with hope that God will see them and remember them, and yes – he calls out for God to visit His wrath on the nations who had maliciously raged against Jerusalem and their God. I believe we should lament over our sins, the sins of our country, and over the sins of the world. Clearly in light of the verses that lead up to verse 12 we should also be consciously aware of our actions and any sins that tempt us – staying alert to God’s will and the consequences that could come should we choose to rebel. We should also be careful not to let this make us fearful of God’s wrath but look at the reason that His wrath was incited and steer clear of those repetitive and rebellious actions that by their own admission deserved God’s wrath.

As for the actual application from verse 12, what struck me was that Jeremiah was so consumed with the loss and the subsequent lament that he was crying out to people on the street for pity. Yet perhaps as some suggest not only for pity but also that they would see what God will do even to those closest to Him when His anger is so stirred by sin. Matthew Henry, in his “Concise Commentary” said this about verse 12: “Sorrow for sin must be great sorrow, and must affect the soul. Here we see the evil of sin, and may take warning to flee from the wrath to come. Whatever may be learned from the sufferings of Jerusalem, far more may be learned from the sufferings of Christ.” Should we suffer due to sin and rebellion, as Jerusalem, may we remember well the price Christ paid on the cross for us and let it be our warning of encouragement to remain faithful.

Prayer Prompt

Father, help us first of all to learn to consider the consequences of our actions, especially of our sin. Thank you for Jesus, the Redeemer of our sins – but O Father, let us not forget the hatred you have for sin so that we do not become rebellious and find ourselves in the place of Jerusalem and her people, weighed down by the consequences. Help us to love you more than self and to lament and turn from those things that break Your heart. Help us to keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, rather than the people and the “nations” around us.

More ….

Don’t miss the Love God Greatly blogs M, W, F for some wonderful insights into the text of this study. On Tuesday’s you will find testimonials from missionaries and others God is using to translate His Word and these studies into every language, so that women every where have the opportunity to read and grow from the teaching of God’s Word.

Love God Greatly

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A Heart of Repentance

Today’s Reading: Psalm 51 (SOAP: Ps. 51:17)

The sacrifice God desires is a humble spirit
O God, a humble and repentant heart you will not reject.

Psalm 51:17
After Bathsheba

Following David’s affair with Bathsheba he was confronted by Nathan, the prophet about his sin. This Psalm is David’s prayer of repentance sometime after the confrontation. David calls on the Lord’s loyal love and compassion. He acknowledges his awareness and sorrow for the sin and pleads for God’s forgiveness and cleansing, and the joy of God’s deliverance. He seeks God’s sustaining power of obedience and rescue from the guilt of murder. David lived in the time of burnt offerings and blood sacrifices but would have been well aware that there were none acceptable for murder or adultery. He was also aware of what we know today this side of the cross and of what Isaiah proclaimed long before the cross. God is not interested in the tangible sacrifices of bulls and goats, or of incense and rituals, but that of the heart, humbled and repentant and yielded to Him and His will.

A great example

This truly is a beautiful prayer, one we would do well to learn from and to use as a model for our own whenever we sin. Note David’s contrition and awe of God. David knows that he is not deserving of the mercy and forgiveness he requests from God but bases the request on God’s loyal love and great compassion. He knows that his actions have been rebellious and sinful and he knows that God is right to confront and condemn him. I love that he demonstrates not just sorrow for the sin but a longing to be right with God, to tell others of God’s mercy, and to lead them to God.

Application
  • No amount of our good works or acts of services like serving in the nursery, singing in the choir, visiting the shut-ins, or attending every church event will ever be able to atone for our sins. What truly matters to God is our love and obedience.
  • We shouldn’t just go through the ‘religious acts ‘ with God but rather seek and invest in a relationship with Him.
  • We must keep in mind that what God desires and will not reject is a heart humbled and repentant (yielded) before Him.
prayer prompt

Father, You are a gracious and merciful God, willing to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. May we never forget that Your forgiveness comes at the great cost of Jesus’ blood. In remembering this – may we, as David, humble ourselves before You – offering not sacrifices of human hands but rather of our own repentant hearts – hearts that turn away from sin and toward You. – We ask not because we are worthy but because of Your faithful love and promises. Amen – in Jesus’ name.

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The Source of Our Strength

Today’s Reading: Psalm 22 (SOAP: Psalm 22:19)

But You, Lord, don’t be far away.
My strength, come quickly to help me.

Psalm 22:19
The Bigger Picture

Oh how I hope you read the entire Psalm. It’s so easy to skip ahead to the soap verse, I know – because I almost did it (and have done it before). However, I have learned that reading “the verse” in it’s full context is always helpful and often the meat around “the verse” is juicier than “the main portion”. While I love the SOAP passage, I definitely think verses 1-21 enhance verse 19 and bring the fuller flavor or meaning of the verse to the surface. Don’t stop with the main course though or you’ll miss the wonderful dessert found when reading through to verse 31. It’s like icing on a cake.

DETERMINATION

David felt like he had been abandoned by God and so he began groaning and dwelling, it would seem, on thoughts of his circumstances which fed or encouraged raw emotions and disappointment. If we read carefully though we will see that while disappointment was a part of the picture David also displayed determination, particularly in verse 2 where even though God doesn’t answer him during the day David cries out to him without letting up in the night. When we read on to verses 3 and 4, we hear him cry out “You, (God) are holy” and “in You, (God),our ancestors trusted”. Why did David’s earlier cry of abandonment in verse 1 suddenly sound like hope? I believe it’s because he was determined to move beyond the way things felt to recalling and acknowledging that God is holy and was trusted by the ancestors of the Israelites. You see, as with, Asaph’s determination evokes hope and hope builds from recalling what God had done in the past.

BUT GOD

David knew he was dependent on God and began naming his trouble, both from others and from himself as well as his weakening physical state and emotions, verses 11-18. Peter taught that we are to cast all of our anxieties on God because He cares for us so clearly there’s nothing wrong with taking our cares to the LORD. However, when we do, we must be guarded that they don’t push us away from God but toward Him. Which appears to be exactly what happened in verse 19. David, in naming his troubles, realizes his desperation for God and cries out – “LORD, do not remain far away. You are my source of strength. Hurry and help me! Then he becomes more specific with his requests, “Deliver me from the sword”, “Save my life …” Rescue me…” and then there it is … “You have answered me.” It’s like icing on the cake – taking “verse 19” from savory to sweet.

The Move from petition to THANKSGIVING.

I picture myself sitting in the presence of King David, listening to him speak this Psalm. The inflections of anguished cries of – “Why have You abandoned me?” – covered over with the peaceful sigh of the realization that God had not abandoned Him but had answered him. Then watching and listening as He declares God’s name to “his countrymen”. He not only declares praise to the LORD but in doing so he incites the people to praise the LORD. Then, without warning I am giving God praise as well and find myself grateful for those who have faithfully told generation after generation about the LORD, of His saving deeds, and what He has accomplished. Because of their faithfulness I worship the God of David and know Him as the source of my strength, the One I cry out to in times of struggle – the One I know will help me – because time and again He has answered me.

The application
  • Take everything to God in prayer – even feelings/questions of abandonment
  • When you can’t see God’s hand, trust His heart
  • Be determined to pray even when it seems God isn’t answering
  • Remember ‘who’ God is and what He’s done
  • Never lose sight of how very dependent I am on the LORD
  • Watch and wait for His answers
  • When the answers come – turn my petitions into thanksgiving
  • Keep the message going to the next generation
Prayer

Father, what a beautiful Psalm! Thank You that you do not abandon your people and thatYou do not remain far off. Thank You that You do hear and answer our prayers and while you allow suffering to touch our lives – You faithfully work all things together for the good of those who love You and have been called according to Your purpose. Help me to faithfully cast all my anxieties on You so that they do not overcome me but draw me closer to You. And may my tongue declare Your name, making known Your saving deeds and what You have accomplished. praising You among the people and may the praise incite others to praise You as well – so that generation after generation will know You. – In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Materials Now Available for Trusting God in the Midst of Suffering!
We are one week away from our next study, Trusting God in the Midst of Suffering! This is a 4-week study by Love God Greatly that I will be sharing/hosting here at Mefomthensideout.

Whether you’re joining me for the live study on Monday, May 2, 2022 or some date beyond that I’m so glad you are here reading this and hope that you will join me for the journey. The beauty of an online study is it can be done any time from any where, alone or be brave and ask a friend, a neighbor, or family member to join you and see what God does. Who knows, you might be an answer to someone’s prayers! Scriptures are provided but I would suggest grabbing your Bible and the LGG study journal and come explore God’s Word with me as we embark on this journey where we will discover what it means to trust God, even in the middle of deep pain and suffering.

Here’s how it works … I will provide daily (M-F) readings, my thoughts, and links to the daily post from Love God Greatly. You can simply go solo, reading and journaling one on one with God, or you can gather with a group or participate here by leaving comments – which I will happily engage in. The choice is yours and I pray abundant blessings will be as well. Once you’ve finished this study be sure and check out the past studies or see what’s coming next.

Take your Bible study to a deeper level through the Trusting God in the Midst of Suffering study journal!
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That You May Believe

Today’s Reading: John 20:19-31

31 But these are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

John 20:31 NET

From the second chapter of John the Scriptures make it clear that all of the miraculous ‘signs and wonders’ and all of the “I Am” statements were meant to help others believe that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God, and have life in His name.

Jesus did this as the first of his miraculous signs, in Cana of Galilee. In this way he revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.

John 2:11 NET

As we near the end of John’s Gospel he makes it clear that not only were the miraculous signs done so that others could believe but they were recorded for the same reason.

The B.I.B.L.E. Yes that’s the book for me

Some would argue that the Bible is antiquated, others will say it’s awful that people have allowed the new systems of technology to replace the “Good Book”. However, the things written about Christ and what He did during His ministry are important and are to be valued in any means available. As Paul said in Romans 1:16, they have the power to save. So, having believed these Words and having received the gift of salvation we must now share them so others may also believe and be saved. Regardless of how we share them – whether from the pages of a well-worn Bible or from the latest ipad or phone – they must be shared. Consider this, while the new technology may be a distraction to some it enables people with poor eyesight, like me, who can’t see the words on the page of a Bible in a dimly lit room to see the words crystal clear on a screen.

Prayer

Father, thank You for these WORDS, all the words of Your book, but especially these that are written about Jesus. Thank You for Your Son and His signs and wonders done so that we might believe that He is the Christ, Your SON. Thank You that by believing we can have life in His name. Help me/us be faithful to share these WORDS – the Gospel of Jesus – so that others may believe and be saved. For this end Christ came to earth and lived and died and rose victorious.

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Now This Is Eternal Life

Today’s reading: John 17

 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 

John 17:3
Eternal Life

When we talk about glorifying something or someone we typically are referring to making them known – drawing attention to them or to what they’ve done – and giving them the place of honor. In this first section of John 17, Jesus lifts up His request to the Father to make Him known – not that He may boast but that He may glorify the Father. However, there is a second reason that I see and that is found in our focus verse today (3). God’s purpose in sending Jesus was so whoever believed in Him would have Eternal Life. Jesus has been making Himself and the Father known during His time on earth both to the disciples and all who would listen to the message or saw the miracles. Having come to the end of His time on earth He points out to the Father, that He has been successful in what He was sent to do. His reasoning for deeming it successful was that the disciples had accepted the message God had sent Him to give and they knew with certainty that He came from God. And this, by Jesus’ definition, is eternal life – that they know both the Father and the Son whom He sent.

For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.

John 17: 8
Our Mission

Our mission as believers is to keep the message going. It’s a mission made possible, according to Jesus, by the spoken testimony of the believers that God sent Jesus to save. The mission is accomplished with more than words though, it is to be the action of loving others as Christ has loved them, (John 13:34-35; 15:8, and 17:20). We accomplish the mission by living in a way that the world will know Him through us – just as He lived in a way that the world would know God through Him. Don’t miss the passion Christ had for the mission to save the world and to make the Father known. We’ve seen it throughout the book of John and we see it here as He prays and emphasizes His hope that the world will believe that God has sent Him. I believe it is clear from His words in this prayer that Jesus’ hope was that we would share in His passion.

my Prayer

Father I don’t have to feel like you are using me. I don’t have to know anyone is listening – I only have to live and love like Jesus, who kept the message going so the world would know You – the only true God and Him, who You sent to save us.

The Emotions of Jesus

One final thing I can’t help but point out – and that is how Jesus prayed and longed for those who had believed in Him. We can feel His excitement in verse 7 over them truly understanding His relationship with the Father and the Father’s real and present role in all that had been happening. I could also feel His true longing for those who belong to Him to be with Him. This is how He longs for all of us who are His. May we equally long for Him and for the Father; and may we pray for the lost to believe.

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My Father, the Gardener

Today’s Reading: John 15:1-16:33

“I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener.

John 15:1
God’s Role

This is the last of the “I AM” statements in the book of John, and a bit unique to the rest of the statements. Jesus not only identifies Himself in the statement but He also identifies the Father, saying “I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener”. While Jesus has mentioned the Father in some of his other “I AM” statements or their explanations He was mentioned in connection to Jesus and who He was. However, by introducing the Father as the gardener who prunes the branches – we now see not only what role He plays in the life and ministry of Christ – but also in the life and ministry of His followers.

 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 

John 15:2

Needless to say, God plays many roles in the lives of His people but oh the beauty of the gardener. Tending to our tender roots, watching over us and eager for us to grow healthy and strong. He prunes us so we will grow more fruit and He protects us from those branches that are bearing no fruit by taking them away. Because of the “Gardener”, I am able to stay attached to The True Vine, who keeps me from dying. I cannot survive apart from Him. He says when I remain in Him – a word He used often in this teaching – and He remains in me then I will bear much fruit. The fruit is dependent on a living thriving relationship where both parties are involved. He goes on to say that the Father or the gardener, as He is pictured here, is honored when we bear much fruit and show that we are His disciples.

As I read through this passage I’ve been reminded of my love of ferns and it hit me – I am their gardener. Not only are they a beautiful display of my favorite color but they are a soft and inviting foliage for any setting. I put ferns out from early spring to late fall every year. On the back porch they fill a variety of containers and can be seen from inside the home, enjoyed on the porch, or by the pool. On the front porch they hang from hooks, grace tables, line the steps and add beauty to old crocks. As their gardener they depend on me to water them, feed them, and on the front porch they especially need me to keep the birds from nesting in them, the beetles from eating them, and the sun from scorching them. Throughout the season I may have to cut away the occasional fronds that have turned brown or played host to a rogue beetle or two. It hurts me just a bit to do this but I know they will be better because of it. I love watching them grow and I delight in their personalities greatly affected by the amount of light and temperatures. I rotate them often giving them equal time to share in the sun and shade. I realize, as I type this, that they sound like a lot of care or work but they bring me joy and add beauty to our home. To borrow a line from Jesus about the Father, I am honored when they bear more and more beauty reflecting the love and care they have been given.

Symbolism and Application

The symbolism for me is this – Just like my ferns are a beautiful display of my favorite color, we are to be a beautiful display of Jesus, God’s only begotten Son. We are to be an attractive reminder of Him- the One of whom God said, “I am well pleased”. We are to surrender to the “gardener’s” pruning and remain in the vine, so that we can bear much fruit and show that we are His. In this way we honor the Father. Much like a home adorned with beautiful ferns, our lips should flow with the message of Christ and our lives are to be adorned with the fruit of His Spirit. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control should define the landscape of our lives – the chief of which is LOVE. For “they will know we are Christians by our love”.

And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

I do not own the rights to this chorus but borrowed it from https://wordtoworship.com/song/14526

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No Other Access

Today’s Reading: John 13:31-14:31

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

John 14:6 HCSB
Loving Others

I’ve had John 13:34 in my memory bank for many years, so while it isn’t our focus/soap verse I can’t just skip by it. Love is a key ingredient of Christ’s teaching. Actually, loving others was included in the answer He gave to a teacher of the law who asked Him what the most important commandment was. After explaining that the greatest commandment is loving God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength He went on to say that loving our neighbor was equally important. Suffice it to say Love was a vital part of His teaching and He intends for it to be a vital part of the believer’s life as well. To understand why it’s so important we only have to read the next verse which says, “By this (loving like Jesus) all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

You see it isn’t just nice to love one another like Jesus has loved us, it is our testimony for Him.

 Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. 30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ 31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

Mark 12:29-31
“How Can We Know the Way?”

Jesus was re-emphasizing the importance of love because it would be the very thing that identified them as His witnesses when He was gone. This naturally led to great concern over where He was going and answers they didn’t quite understand. This discussion led to our focus verse today which was Jesus’ answer to Thomas who asked: “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?” The answer comes back to one we have looked at before, Jesus is the way to the Father for everyone who believes. So He makes the statement again that when we know Jesus we know “The Way”. He is not only the way to the Father, but He is the truth of the Father, in the flesh,(Psalm 119:142 and John 1:1). Finally, Jesus declares Himself to be the life from the Father, (John 3:16).

The answer to Thomas’ question is the same for us today. When we know Jesus we know The Way! While we rejoice in this we must take seriously the alternative – for those who do not know Jesus do not know the way and will have no access to the Father’s promise of eternal life. For this reason, like Jesus, we must be committed to our Father’s business – the saving of souls.

Personal Application

There are several noteworthy applications we can make from our focus/soap verse as well as others from today’s reading.

  1. Let’s look at our focus verse in John 14:6.
  • Examine how Jesus has loved you and love others like that. (13:34)
  • Be His witnesses (13:35)
  • Go “the way” of Jesus – the way of the cross. (Luke 9:23)
  • Walk in “the truth” – His Word is truth (Psalm 119:142)
  • Live “the life” of freedom that He came to give (Gal 5:1, John 10:10)
  • Enjoy the access we have to the Father. (Hebrews 4:14-16; Eph 2:18

What is the chief end of man? To glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

https://westminstershortercatechism.net/manschiefend/

2. I also want to make an application note on verse 11 of chapter 14, where Jesus tells Philip to believe – if not because of what He has told them – then because of all they had seen Him do. You see, it won’t always be what we say that leads others to believe – sometimes it will be because of what we do in His name – such as loving others as He has loved us.

3. The final application came at the end of the passage, 14:31 where Jesus says to His disciples – 

but I am doing just what the Father commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Get up, let us go from here.

Actually, it’s those last five words that hit me. It is so easy and comfortable to sit in the presence of Jesus, to talk with Him – listening to Him, asking Him questions, gazing into His eyes through His Word. But, at some point we must “get up” and go out from that place of safety and comfort to do what the Father has commanded us – and this so that others may believe. For “how will they believe if they do not hear?”

As we discovered earlier this week, we are His messengers and today we have seen that we are His representatives – so that others will know that we are His disciples. In this He is glorified (made known) – and in this the Father will be pleased.