Tag: Love

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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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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.

Don’t miss today’s LGG Blog

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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

Don’t miss today’s LGG Blog

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Safe and Secure In His Hands

Suggested Reading: John 10:22-42

27 My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish—ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand.

John 10:27-28 HCSB
Cornered and questioned

Once again Jesus is questioned by the Jewish leaders, this time in Solomon’s Portico of the temple area. John tells us he was “surrounded” by them, likely making it harder for Him to escape this time, and according to verse 31 they were primed and ready to stone Him. They demanded that He tell them whether or not He was really the Christ, accusing Him of keeping them in suspense. If you’ve been reading along with us our journey through John you know that this is far from the truth. Jesus has told them exactly who He is, which is exactly how He responded. “I told you and you do not believe. The deeds I do in my Father’s name testify about me. But you refuse to believe because you are not my sheep.” Sheep always recognize the voice of their shepherd and since the Jewish leaders are refusing to believe Jesus, the Good Shepherd, it is clear they do not belong to Him.

For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1;18
Safe and Secure

Jesus makes it clear to the Jewish leaders that the ones who listen to His voice and follow Him, those are His sheep. They know who He is and they trust Him. Because they belong to Him He gives them eternal life, not only allowing them to live forever but they will live forever as His – they are safe and secure from the predators who would seek to take them away from Him.

Know that the Lord Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Psalm 100:3
Reflection We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. In ancient times, being a sheep in a pasture meant that you belonged to a family.   Unknown Source
Prayer

Father, thank you for receiving me through Christ Your Son. He knows me by name. I am a sheep in His pasture, a follower of His. His voice is in my ear and I seek to follow where He leads. Help me to not falter – help me to always hear His voice and may Your Word drown out all the other voices that vie for my attention! Thank you for the gift of eternal life through Him and for the promise that I am safe in His care – I will not perish or be snatched away! With hope in Jesus’ name – AMEN!

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I Was Blind But Now I See

Recommended Reading: John chapter 9 and SOAP 9:39

 Then Jesus told him, “I entered this world to render judgment—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.”

John 9:39 NLT
It wasn’t Sin

Sometime after Jesus had escaped the murderous plot of those who were hostile to Him in John chapter eight, “He saw a man who was blind from birth”. His disciples were curious and asked who was to blame for the man’s blindness – him or his parents. Jesus’ answer may surprise you. He said, “It wasn’t sin that caused the man’s blindness.” Jesus laid the answer at God’s feet when He replied that it happened – “so that the acts of God would be seen through him”. Even if you’re familiar with the story, I believe most would admit that the answer Jesus gave was not what anyone expected. It’s important to note this part of the chapter and all that happens after it to truly understand what Jesus meant both throughout the chapter and in today’s focus verse.

The rest of the passage tells what happens to the man, so read and watch for the “acts of God” all the way to the last verse. You will watch Jesus give the man a mud bath on his eyes and send him to wash off in the pool. You will stand in awe as he returns no longer blind! You will hear as the man testifies several times about what Jesus did. He will be doubted and questioned, his parents will be questioned, and yet there will still be disbelief – but the man does not waver in his testimony. In fact he becomes more adamant that the man who healed him was surely from God! Finally you will see the man profess his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ – which I think you would agree is a pretty good result of ‘the acts of God’.

What Jesus Came To Do

According to our focus verse today, John 9:39, Jesus came to the world “to render judgment”. What? Doesn’t the Scripture say that He didn’t come to judge or condemn as some translations say it? We just read in John 3:16 and 17 that He was sent to save the world not condemn (or judge) it. Paul’s letter to the Romans says that “there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”. So why does Jesus say what seems to contradict the words of John and Paul? Because, in order to bring salvation “sin” has to be judged – He did not come to condemn us – but the sin that had entangled us – in order that we might be saved. To be sure – there will be those who, having heard and seen the truth, will still reject God – but didn’t we just read in John 3:36, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them. Because of their rejection they will be forever separated from God.

I couldn’t read this chapter without having to search for answers to several of the verses along the way, specifically our focus verse, and the ones that followed. They proved to be a bit confusing, especially because we know from other passages, that God did not send His son to ‘judge’ the world but to save it – the fine line is this … Jesus came to bring salvation and for that to happen “judgment had to be made on and against sin”, as one commentary says. To better understand this, as well as the full chapter, visit the link below and simply click on the verse or verses that may have you wanting more clarity.

https://www.bibleref.com/John/9/John-chapter-9.html

Choose This Day Whom You Will Serve

Despite the confusion that can arise with some passages in the God’s Word, we must not allow the questions that arise cloud the TRUTH. Rest assured, those who TRUST in God will be given sight and understanding (6-7 and 35-37). It is equally certain that those who reject the TRUTH of God that they have both heard and seen will be ‘made blind’ by their ‘own decision’ to reject God and live in disbelief. In the Old Testament Joshua told the people to choose whom they would serve, the LORD or the god of the Amorites and in the New Testament we are given much the same choice – the way of the world, which leads to sin and death or salvation through Jesus Christ – who sets us free from from the law of sin and death, (Romans 6:1-2, 14-15). Jesus was referring to money (material wealth) when He taught His disciples that they couldn’t serve two masters, because they would either love the one or hate the other – but we can certainly equate the teaching with any thing that has a hold on us and draws us away from God. So, like Joshua and his people, we must choose – The way of Christ which leads to God and eternal life – or the way of the world ruled by the dark forces and leading to impending judgment and eternal death. – As for me, I choose the way of Christ.

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This is a Difficult Saying

Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.

John 6:68-69 NLT

Suggested Reading: John 6:59-71

Some Context

Jesus had been teaching and talking with some Jews in the synagogue who didn’t understand His teaching that He was the “bread of life”, specifically the teaching that He was the “bread that came down from heaven.” Bread, that would allow those who ate from it to live forever (6:52-58) It turns out that the comment they make here in verse 60, about it being a difficult statement and “who can understand it”, was more than simply a ‘we don’t understand what you mean’ response. The phrase is perhaps better translated – “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” or “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” The statement indicated, according to one commentary1, that they were offended by or couldn’t tolerate the statement. It seems most of His disciples or followers were deeply offended by the teaching because they were looking for a conquering hero, not one who sacrifices His life but of great and visible victory.

The phrase "hard saying" here comes across in English with much less force than it does in Greek. The teachings of Jesus are being described here as sklēros, which means "offensive or intolerable." To these people, Jesus' words are not merely "difficult," they are "unacceptable."  BibleRef.com on John 6:60
Are You In or out?

The passage says because of the offense “many of His ‘disciples’ quit following Him.” (Please note, in this situation the word “disciples” isn’t referring to His inner circle of 12 but rather to the large crowd of followers.) This is when Jesus holds the 12 accountable – questioning them as to their intentions – and receiving a staunch declaration of allegiance from Peter on behalf of them all it would seem. “Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God!” What I love most about this statement is that Peter’s determining factor was the truth of who they believed Jesus to be.

So, Who Do You Say He Is and Why?

The only good and right application here, it seems to me, is to echo Peter’s words and allegiance to Christ – “The Holy One of God”. We mustn’t be naive though – this is no easy allegiance – but it is the best and right one! There is no one like Jesus, no one who can offer eternal life, and no other Son of God!

Prayer

Father, thank you for leading me to “Team Jesus.” Thank you for calling me and saving me from my self and the ways of the world! Thank you for Peter’s reminder that there in NO BETTER WAY, and thank you for all the ways You have shown me the TRUTH of who JESUS IS

Don’t forget to visit the LGG page for today’s blog post

1Biblereference.com @ John 6:60

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One Required Deed

 Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

John 6:35 NLT
Satisfaction

Through Jesus we are made right with God. You see, God is satisfied with Christ’ death on the cross for through His one act on the cross our sins are atoned for and our debt is paid in full. Through Jesus, all who come to Him and believe in Him are also satisfied – for by the giving of His flesh and the shedding of His blood He completely satisfies the hunger and thirst of our souls, unlike the bread and fish he had given the 5000 for their physical need.

God’s One Requirement

God sending manna from Heaven day after day in the wilderness was amazing but God sending “the true bread from heaven is miraculous. The miracle of the 5 loaves and 2 fish was amazing but the laying down of one’s life for undeserving sinners is life altering. Which is why Jesus declares to the crowd that they are working for food that disappears when what they really need is the food that remains to eternal life, food that He Himself will provide.

Still thinking that they needed to work for or earn “the food” the crowd wants to know what is required of them. Jesus doesn’t answer with a list of requirements but simply one – “believe in the one whom God sent”.


Jesus answered, ‘Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.’

John 6:26-27
Eternal Security

Note the repetitious message of Jesus in these 33 verses. He makes it abundantly clear that He was the Way to Eternal Life. He wanted the people, especially the Jews who had become hostile toward Him to understand that eternal life was available to all who believe – it was so important to Him that in this one passage He uses the phrase bread of life, or a reference of it, at least 14 times … and He equates partaking of or believing in this “bread” with eternal life at least 11 times. He made it very clear that while He had satisfied their physical needs the more important truth was that He could forever satisfy their spiritual hunger and thirst.

So, what does this one requirement mean for us today? Simply, yet profoundly, It means that God has offered us (everyone who believes) security for eternity if we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ – the whole Gospel package:

  • that He was with God in the beginning
  • that He is God the Son
  • that He is the bread of God sent from heaven
  • that He was sent by God the Father to give life to the world
  • specifically, that He came to bring eternal life to all who believe in Him
Prayer

Father, thank you for sending us the Bread of Life – flesh and blood – that we might have eternal life. Thank you that through Him we can know contentment knowing that our eternity is secure in Him and that we will be raised up on the last day. How great is Your love!

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The Prophet

Read John 6:1-15 and SOAP John 6:14

When the people saw him do this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, “Surely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting!”

John 6:14
Miraculous Sign #4

Following His conversation with the Jewish leaders about who He was and His relationship with God the Father (chapter 5), Jesus got away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. Because such a large crowd, somewhere around 5000, was following Him He decided to feed them. This was only possible by a miraculous sign involving 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread that, after Jesus gave thanks, became enough to feed the crowd with 12 baskets left over.

The People Saw

The miracle couldn’t be missed. 5 loaves and 2 fishes and approximately 5000 who ate all they wanted and had left overs for 12 more. That my friends is what we call a miracle and the people were talking about it – connecting it with something they remembered from the teachings of Moses, referring to Him as the “prophet” they were expecting. Keep in mind that Jesus was doing the miracles knowing they would reveal His glory, John 2:11, so He wasn’t surprised that they were talking about who He was. However, He also knew “the time had not yet come”, so once again He quietly slipped away, alone.

Moses continued, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.

Deuteronomy 18:15
They didn’t miss it – are we?

There is much to be seen in this passage – such as Jesus’ attentiveness and how He looks for ways to reach the people and is willing to meet their needs. I love seeing how He uses these opportunities to give them a glimpse of who He is. Surely we should learn from this and live and love like Him in this way. However, I also noticed how the people weren’t too busy to notice what Jesus was doing either. Sure they were following Him with the intent of seeing miracles but how easy is it to get in a crowd and especially in times of hunger or other needs become distracted and miss what is going on around us. They didn’t miss it. They were attentive to Him. Then, they talked about it – and were reminded of what was said through Moses and passed down through the Scriptures and generations. A reminder for us – that we should know the Scriptures – so that we too don’t miss the signs of what God has made known about what is to come.

Prayer

Father, You are good and You are attentive to Your children. You care about us You use need and opportunities to reveal Your glory – to show us who You are. You have given us Your Word that we might know Your Son – the image of You – and that we might know Your love and Your purpose and plan. Help us be attentive to You Father and to the signs and the wonders of the day. Guard us from distractions that would take our attention away from You and help us to not miss Him and the work You are doing around us or the signs of Your coming. – All of this for Your glory – Amen and amen!

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Thoughts and Manna for the Sabbath

The Love God Greatly Challenge

This week, our reading (from the LGG Study, Our Security for Eternity) focuses on a section in John explaining how Jesus is the Bread of Life. Read Exodus 3, 14, and 16 and notice or record the similarities you find in these chapters to our reading in John regarding how God displays control over nature, specifically water, and how He provides bread for His people.

Our Memory/Focus verse for the week is John 6:35, where Jesus refers to Himself as the bread of life. Come along with me on the journey this week and let’s explore the truth to this name of our Savior. Let’s dig deeper to see what it means and to understand how it applies to us.

Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

John 6:35 NLT
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When it Becomes Personal

Suggested Reading: John 4:43-54 and SOAP: John 4:53-54

 Then the father realized that that was the very time Jesus had told him, “Your son will live.” And he and his entire household believed in Jesus. 54 This was the second miraculous sign Jesus did in Galilee after coming from Judea.

John 4:53-54 NLT
Miracle Worker or Jesus?

What drew you to Jesus? The official in our story today had heard about Jesus, the miracle worker. So, naturally, when he heard Jesus was back in town he went looking for him – not just to gawk at the “miracle worker” but to ask him to help his sick son. The official pleaded with Jesus to “come down and heal the boy but instead, Jesus simply told the father that the boy would live and sent him home. The father did not continue to beg and plead but chose to believe what Jesus had said and headed toward home – no doubt to see the boy for himself and confirm the miracle – which is exactly what happened. Actually, before he even saw the boy he was greeted with the news that his son was going to live and that the improvement had happened at the time Jesus had told him, “your son will live.” Because of the miracle, not only did the boy’s father believe but his servants believed. The official had heard about a miracle worker and sought him out to heal his son – but he found so much more – for he found Jesus, the Son of God.

Life-Changing

It is a life-changing moment when we see Jesus not just as a miracle worker but as the life-giving Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. He is the real and present, intimately involved with His people, Son of God. The One who sees us and hears us and the One who gives and restores life. We must come to Him believing, but like the official in today’s account of the second miracle, we must often move forward believing without seeing … believing expecting Him to do great and wonderous things … believing and knowing He will do what is good and right and perfect according to His plan … believing and trusting and rejoicing that what is done will be for our good and His glory … believing and sharing our hope all along the way.

Prayer

Father, surely we are attracted by the wonder of who You are and what You can do- but there is nothing so special as when we know You to be a personal God full of grace and mercy, and power and love. May we not hide but share Your miraculous works