October 18, 2012
Water—a necessity for human life. Living water—a necessity for eternal life. What amazing love that we are each given the free gift of Living Water to accept and have. As I was lying in bed this morning I was thinking about that gift. God provided the final sacrifice and Jesus was willing to be the Lamb. John 4:23 - "The Father too is actively seeking people to worship him." Not only is His gift of love easily available, but He actively seeks us. He wants us to know and worship Him. John 4:23–24 - "God the Father is spirit and truth... God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." You cannot live a lie and worship God in truth. Cannot. It's why God says over and over in His Word—"Change your hearts and lives... get a new way of thinking."
We are asked to believe. There is no substitute. We must believe—and if we believe—we will obey. If we do not obey we do not believe, we are not worshiping in spirit and truth and "God's anger stays on them." (John 3:36)
An officer came to Jesus. His son was almost dead. He begged Jesus to heal him. "Sir, come before my child dies." And Jesus answered, "Go. Your son will live." The officer's response is important. "The man believed... and went home" (NCV); "The man took Jesus at his word and departed." (NIV) Part way home he meets one of his servants who was coming to tell him his son was healed. The officer asked, "What time did my son begin to get well?"The servant responded, "Yesterday at one o'clock the fever left him." The father knew it "was the exact time Jesus had said, 'your son will live'. So the man and all the people who lived in his house believed in Jesus."
In April of 2008, Jane (Her Name Was Jane) spoke her last "words" to us. She was in the reclining wheelchair in the hallway, just outside her door. She had not spoken in months. It was obvious her time left on earth was short. I had been reading to her for at least an half hour. Because I recognized her time on earth was short, I read to her Jeremiah 29:11–13. After I finished the verse she said in a clear firm voice. "Jeremiah 33." I turned to the page in the Bible and began to read it to her. Jeremiah 33 is a Promise of Restoration. "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." Jeremiah 33 is an amazing chapter of God's promise of restoration while Jeremiah was still captive. A promise that cannot be broken.
Exactly one year to the day from when Jane spoke her last "words," God did exactly as He had promised—we were restored from a large financial obligation in an amazing way.
We believe!
July '07—God promised to protect us. (Psalm 140)
September '07—God promised to help us. (Isaiah 30)
April '08—God promised to restore us. (Jeremiah 33)
We believe! We have taken God at His word. He is Spirit and Truth, and we praise HIS NAME. (Psalm 150) Blessed be the Name of the LORD. No human words will ever be enough to adequately praise HIS Name. Thank you Father for giving us this Blessed Event. We will not squander it. We will tell of your greatness. We will give you ALL the honor, glory, and praise. Our faith and trust is in you alone.
We believe!
Next Entry: John 5:1–47
Water—a necessity for human life. Living water—a necessity for eternal life. What amazing love that we are each given the free gift of Living Water to accept and have. As I was lying in bed this morning I was thinking about that gift. God provided the final sacrifice and Jesus was willing to be the Lamb. John 4:23 - "The Father too is actively seeking people to worship him." Not only is His gift of love easily available, but He actively seeks us. He wants us to know and worship Him. John 4:23–24 - "God the Father is spirit and truth... God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." You cannot live a lie and worship God in truth. Cannot. It's why God says over and over in His Word—"Change your hearts and lives... get a new way of thinking."
We are asked to believe. There is no substitute. We must believe—and if we believe—we will obey. If we do not obey we do not believe, we are not worshiping in spirit and truth and "God's anger stays on them." (John 3:36)
An officer came to Jesus. His son was almost dead. He begged Jesus to heal him. "Sir, come before my child dies." And Jesus answered, "Go. Your son will live." The officer's response is important. "The man believed... and went home" (NCV); "The man took Jesus at his word and departed." (NIV) Part way home he meets one of his servants who was coming to tell him his son was healed. The officer asked, "What time did my son begin to get well?"The servant responded, "Yesterday at one o'clock the fever left him." The father knew it "was the exact time Jesus had said, 'your son will live'. So the man and all the people who lived in his house believed in Jesus."
In April of 2008, Jane (Her Name Was Jane) spoke her last "words" to us. She was in the reclining wheelchair in the hallway, just outside her door. She had not spoken in months. It was obvious her time left on earth was short. I had been reading to her for at least an half hour. Because I recognized her time on earth was short, I read to her Jeremiah 29:11–13. After I finished the verse she said in a clear firm voice. "Jeremiah 33." I turned to the page in the Bible and began to read it to her. Jeremiah 33 is a Promise of Restoration. "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." Jeremiah 33 is an amazing chapter of God's promise of restoration while Jeremiah was still captive. A promise that cannot be broken.
Exactly one year to the day from when Jane spoke her last "words," God did exactly as He had promised—we were restored from a large financial obligation in an amazing way.
We believe!
July '07—God promised to protect us. (Psalm 140)
September '07—God promised to help us. (Isaiah 30)
April '08—God promised to restore us. (Jeremiah 33)
We believe! We have taken God at His word. He is Spirit and Truth, and we praise HIS NAME. (Psalm 150) Blessed be the Name of the LORD. No human words will ever be enough to adequately praise HIS Name. Thank you Father for giving us this Blessed Event. We will not squander it. We will tell of your greatness. We will give you ALL the honor, glory, and praise. Our faith and trust is in you alone.
We believe!
Next Entry: John 5:1–47
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