Jesus Prayed

Do you know that Jesus has prayed for you? Do you know why He prayed for you? Do you know that He continually intercedes for you? Does it make you feel a little better knowing that Jesus is on your side? Do you like having Him with you at all times?

Jesus prayed for us when He was praying for the apostles in John 17. He prayed that we would believe in Him because of the gospel the apostles would spread. He prayed that the apostles and us would be one. He wants everyone who believes in Him to be one.

Why does Jesus want us to be one? He wants us to be one so that the world will believe that God sent Him to be our Savior. We must be one, of the same mind, united in our belief in Jesus to show the world He is the Son of God. We must be one to carry out the mission He has given us, which is to continue to spread the gospel and bring others to Jesus.

If we are divided, the world won’t believe the gospel. If we are divided, we cannot carry out our mission. The body of Christ, the church, will be ineffective. We will continue to see churches close. We will continue to see the world gone amuck. We will continue to see evil dominate this world, tearing it apart. Rather than allow all those things happen, let’s unite in the name of Jesus.

I pray we all know Jesus prayed for us. I pray we believe the gospel message of the apostles. I pray each one of us will decide to unite with one another to show the world that God sent His Son. Jesus prayed for you. Believe the gospel. Be united in the name of Jesus.

John 17:20-21 “I ask not only on behalf of these but also on behalf of those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”

Wrongly Accused, Part 2

Yesterday, we saw that Paul and Silas had been wrongfully accused. Though Paul had cast the spirit out of a slave woman who could foretell the future, he had done nothing wrong. Yet, the authorities took the side of the accusers and had Paul and Silas beaten and thrown into prison.

Not only were Paul and Silas put in prison, but they were also put in the innermost cell and their feet were fastened in stocks. The jailer had followed his orders from the authorities to the best of his ability. He had done all he could to ensure they could not escape.

Yet, Paul and Silas did not mope around and feel sorry for themselves. Instead, they sang hymns to God, praising him for sparing their lives. They ministered to their fellow prisoners with their singing. Their faith was shining through in their singing, their positive attitude, and refusal to succumb to their situation.

God had plans to use them. He shook the prison and caused the doors to be opened and their shackles to be loosened. But that was only to identify the mission he had for Paul and Silas. The jailer was frightened to the point of preparing to kill himself rather than facing the authorities. This is where Paul steps in. He tells the jailer to stop, that all of the prisoners are still there. Ultimately, Paul and Silas tell the jailer the good news of Jesus and baptize him and his entire family.

We can learn from this experience of Paul’s. Even when we think things are going badly, God is always working. He has a plan. We may not see how God is working in the moment, but we cannot give up our faith. We are to continue to believe God is in control and will work everything for our good.

I pray we all learn from Paul and Silas’s experience. I pray we trust God is continually working. I pray each one of us will hold onto our faith and believe God will work it all for our good. Trust God in all situations. Hold onto your faith. Know that God has a plan. Trust God to work it for good.

Acts 16:25-26 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was an earthquake so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened.

Wrongly Accused, Part 1

Have you ever been wrongly accused of something? Have you done something correctly but been accused of doing it wrong? How did you feel about that? Did you feel dejected? Did you feel abandoned by God? Did it all work out in the end? Did you praise God?

Being wrongly accused of something can cause us to be defensive and angry. Being accused of doing something wrong, even though we did it correctly can cause us to be frustrated and confused. We may wonder what we did wrong and feel like we are being singled out.

The Apostle Paul and his traveling companion, Silas, like felt all those things while they were in Philippi. There was a female slave who could tell the future. She could see that Paul and Silas served God. She followed them around proclaiming this, likely in a loud voice like a town crier giving a warning of enemy soldiers approaching. After several days of this, Paul turned on her and cast out the spirit that allowed her to make her proclamations.

When her owners realized she could no longer make them money by foretelling the future, they captured Paul and Silas. They brought them before the city authorities, who also functioned as judge and jury in the Roman legal system. We are not told that Paul or Silas defended themselves, unlike other times Paul was brought before Roman authorities. Based on what is recorded, it appears Paul and Silas simply accepted the punishment assigned.

What can we learn from this example? First, Paul was guided by the Holy Spirit. We can reasonably assume Paul knew God planned to use this incident for his purposes. Second, Paul and Silas submitted to God’s plan. Third, Paul and Silas believed God was using them to spread the gospel and this was merely a speed bump.

I pray we all seek to be in sync with God’s plan. I pray we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us. I pray each one of us trust God has a plan and we choose to follow his plan for our lives. Listen for the Holy Spirit. Follow his guidance. Know God has a plan. Trust God. Follow his plan for your life.

Acts 16:19 But when her owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities.

God is King

How we see God can change according to the situation we find ourselves in. We may view him as a loving Father, a comforting Friend, our Protector and Defender, our Rescuer, a demanding Ruler, or an awe-inspiring Presence. The Psalmist uses vivid language to describe God.

Though we may not fully understand what it is like to live under a king, we can understand the concept. During the time the Psalms were written, the king of the land was all-powerful. He made all the laws. He collected taxes. He decided a criminal’s fate. He commanded the army.

Yet, God is always described as the good King. It is only his enemies who need fear him. His loyal subjects had nothing to fear, even if they were in awe of his presence. God, as the good King, provides for his people. He is the light that shines across the land. His people are glad to be in his presence.

It is God’s enemies who shudder. It is the evil of this world that God destroys. Though the Psalmist states the earth cannot withstand him, it is only the evil that shrinks before him. His righteousness and glory will not allow evil in his presence. Therefore, all evil will be destroyed ahead of him.

God’s people will rejoice at his coming. We will rejoice as his justice is dispensed. We will fall to our knees in awe while his enemies will fall to their knees in fear and defeat. We will praise his name and bow as loyal subjects. His holiness will be overwhelming while also being comforting. He will reign forever.

I pray we all see God’s many facets. I pray we seek to serve him as loyal subjects. I pray each one of us praise his name and look forward to being in his overwhelming presence for eternity. See God’s many facets. See his holiness. Praise God. Bow to God. Look forward to eternity with God.

Psalm 97:1-2

The Lord is king! Let the earth rejoice; 

let the many coastlands be glad! 

Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; 

righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

Understanding Scripture

Many people avoid Revelation, stating they cannot understand it. With its apocalyptic language, it can be challenging to grasp. Yet, if we break down the passages into smaller chunks, even as small as one or two or three words, we can gain at least a rudimentary understanding.

Today’s passage is near the end of the book. Let’s break it down a bit. First, Jesus states plainly it is He who sent His angel to John. Jesus is behind the entire message. He is either speaking or His messenger is speaking to John throughout the book. So, we can trust the message is true.

Second, the testimony given is for the churches. There is a specific section in which Jesus states it goes out to the seven churches of Asia, modern day Turkey. Yet, in each message to each church He states for the churches to listen, thereby widening the message for all churches, including every church today.

Third, Jesus states He is the root and descendant of David. We see in the Isaiah 11 and Romans 15 where Jesus is referred to as the root of Jesse, who was the father of David. This phrase points to the Jesus existing before Jesse and David. But Jesus also says He is the descendant of David, which the genealogies in Matthew and Luke point out. How can this be? This is another way of stating Jesus existed before time and will exist after time ends.

Finally, Jesus states He is the bright morning star. In other words, Jesus is the light of the world. His light shines unlike any other light. It not only provides light for our eyes to see but provides light or insight or understanding for our hearts and minds to see. His light is penetrating just as His Word is penetrating. His light reveals everything and dispels the darkness of this world.

I pray we all take time to read Scripture. I pray we slow down to study Scripture. I pray each one of us seek to understand God’s Word and apply it in our daily lives. Read Scripture. Study Scripture. Seek to understand Scripture. You can understand it. Apply it in your daily life. 

Revelation 22:16 “It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

Alpha and Omega

Do you long for certainty? Would you like to know everything will work out? Do you wish you knew someone you could count on all the time? Would you like to know you will be properly rewarded for your work? Do you there is someone who has been there from the beginning?

Certainty can be a challenge to acquire. Believing everything will work out can be hard. Having a friend or family member to count on can be allusive. Being rewarded for hard work may seem to never happen. Yet, there is someone who we can count on every single day.

Jesus will return one day. Yet, we do not know when that will be. Due to that uncertainty, we find it difficult to rely on the reward He will reward us with. Notice that He will reward us for the work we do. Believing in Him is one piece of the work, but it is not all of it. There is so much more work we can do, not the least of which is to pray for one another.

Jesus claims He is the Beginning and the End. He was there before time began. He was there when the world was created. He was there when each animal was created. He was there when the first people were created. Jesus will also be there when time comes to an end. He will continue to be with us for eternity. Jesus has given us many promises but none more important than we will be rewarded when this life is over, and He will be with us forever.

I pray we all trust Jesus will return. I pray we know He will reward us for the work we have done. I pray each one of us look forward to spending eternity with Jesus. Jesus will return. Jesus will reward us. He is Alpha and Omega. He is First and Last. He is Beginning and End.

Revelation 22:12-13 “See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone’s work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

Obedience is Love

What is your first thought when you hear the word obedience? Do you think of a well trained dog? Do you think of well behaved children? Do you think of strictly following rules? Are you being obedient to God? How can you tell?

We may bristle a little when it comes to obedience. Our perspective may be that we are free thinking people and not a dog to be trained. Yet, we often wish that others were obedient to us, especially our children. We may view obedience as being subservient.

The truth of the matter is, obedience is subservient. Another nugget of truth is that we are all subservient to one master or another. It is not a question of being obedient, it is a question about who we are obedient to. We are either following the evil ways of the world or following the life-giving ways of God.

What causes us to be obedient? Love. If we love the world, we will follow the world’s behavior—selfishness, hatred, anger, prejudice, and being judgmental. If we love God, we will follow Jesus’ command to love one another and do everything based on that love. Love does not mesh well with the world. It stands out as completely different.

If we truly love Jesus, the Father, and are willing to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us, we will obey God’s commands every moment of every day. We will trust God in all situations, not allowing fear and anxiety to rule us. So, we have a choice. We can love God or love the world. Loving both is not an option.

I pray we all choose to love God. I pray we choose to trust God in every situation. I pray each one of us will allow the Holy Spirit to guide us and willingly be different from this world. Obey God’s commands. Follow God’s guidance. Show your love for God with obedience.

John 14:23 Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”

Peace of Jesus

Are you tired of always feeling anxious? Do you worry about almost everything? Do wish the chaos of the world would stop? Do want things to calm down? Does the busyness drain you? Are you tired of being tired? Would you love to have some peace?

The upheaval in our world can cause us great anxiety, fear, frustration, worry, and wear us out. We can be drained mentally, which causes physical draining. We may even become depressed. We can find ourselves in a hole from which we do not know how to get out.

But Jesus gives us peace. It is there for the taking. However, we often do not grasp it. We continue to look at the world around us and get caught up in it like nearly everyone else. Rare is the person who has the peace of Jesus. But those that have it stand out. We see them as the calm in the storm. They do not get rattled. They simply continue walking the path God has laid out for them.

How do we gain this peace? Trust. Belief. Faith. We must learn to trust God with everything. We must trust that God is in control, despite what we see with our eyes and hear with our ears. Rather than being caught up in the chaos, believe God will work it out for our good. When we add trust and belief, we get faith. The more we experience God, the deeper our faith. As our faith grows, peace comes with it. That is how Jesus gives us peace. So, trust and believe, growing your faith, and receive peace.

I pray we all choose to trust God. I pray we believe that God is in control. I pray each one of us experience God and receive the peace of Jesus, eliminating the effects of the world on us. Trust God. Believe God is in control. Experience God. Grow your faith. Refuse to conform to the world.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.

Share Wisdom

Do you wish people would listen to you? Do you want to share your knowledge and wisdom with others? How are you seeking to share your wisdom? Are you willing to change your means of communication? Are you willing to follow God’s way rather than your own?

As we grow older, we have a desire to share the wisdom we have accumulated over many years of life experiences. Unfortunately, we often try to force our wisdom on others. We may speak in ways that are not appealing to them. Therefore, they will not listen to what we are saying.

The Apostle Paul was a man of wisdom. Yet, he knew that wisdom was not his but God’s. While he was in Philippi, he went down to the river to find a place of prayer. He sat down with the handful of others who were with him. As he was speaking to them, Lydia overheard what he was saying and became interested. As she listened, God opened her heart.

Let’s understand what was happening. Paul was not speaking to Lydia. He was likely explaining his understanding of Jesus and how God was working in his life to his small group. He wasn’t being forceful. He sat and calmly talked about what God was doing. His message was intriguing, drawing Lydia in. So much so that her and her entire household was baptized that very day.

Just like Paul, we can share the wisdom God has granted us in a calm and intriguing manner. When we rely on God to help us express his wisdom, he will provide us with the words. This requires us to empty ourselves of ourselves and rely solely on God. Rather than being full of ourselves, we must be full of God. And in all of this, we must communicate and do everything with the love of Christ in us.

I pray we all seek the wisdom of God. I pray we seek to share God’s wisdom with others. I pray each one of us rely on God to provide us with the words rather than relying on ourselves. Seek God’s wisdom. Share God’s wisdom. Rely on God. Be filled with God. Do everything with the love of Christ.

Acts 16:14 A certain woman named Lydia, a worshiper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul.

Earnestly Seek

Do you wish there were times that God would speak plainly to you? Do you wish that God would tell you specifically what he wants you to do? Do you wish you could sit down and have a face-to-face conversation with him? Have you considered that God does communicate with you?

We often find ourselves wondering what God wants us to do, where he wants us to go, and how he will provide for us. It is natural for these questions to arise. Yet, these questions are often answered. It is a matter of whether we are paying attention and hearing those answers.

The Apostle Paul was a man of God. We can all agree he had a special relationship with God. He was called to take the gospel to the Gentiles, the Non-Jews. But Paul was also a human, just like the rest of us. His special abilities and insights were not due to his human abilities. They were gifts from God and his willingness to listen and his seeking God’s answers. Paul had given up on leaning on his own wisdom. He depended on God’s wisdom.

We, too, can depend on God’s wisdom. We can listen for God to speak to us. We can seek God’s answers. Our biggest hindrance is seeking to live by the world’s standards. God gave Paul a vision to go to Macedonia. God can also give us visions, if we are earnestly seeking his guidance. God spoke to Paul and can speak to us.

I have personally heard God speak to me. Not in a big booming voice, but in a normal, confident voice in my head. How do I know it was God? The message contradicted what I was thinking and feeling yet was a message that spoke of God working. The message will only come when we are earnestly seeking to do God’s will. The message will also come with a peace that goes beyond understanding.

I pray we all seek to know God’s will. I pray we seek to hear God’s voice. I pray each one of us earnestly desire to follow God’s guidance and experience him working in our lives. Seek God’s will. Listen for God’s voice. Earnestly desire to do God’s work. Experience God in your life.

Acts 16:9 During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”