October 19, 2012
God gave Jesus the authority to save and to judge. "In fact, the Father judges no one, but he has given the Son power to do all the judging so that all people will honor the Son as much as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him." God sent his Son so we may believe and have life, (John 3:16) and He has given him the position to judge who has believed and who has not. "Those who did good will rise and have life forever, but those who did evil will rise to be judged guilty." There is no need for fear, we can trust Him to judge fairly. "I can do nothing alone. I judge only the way I am told, so my judgment is fair. I don't try to please myself, but I try to please the One who sent me." Jesus is our Savior and our Judge and we trust Him.
It isn't enough to know the Word, you must know the One who is the Word. "You carefully study the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. They do in fact tell about me, but you refuse to come to me to have that life." You can dutifully read the Bible every day; you can attend church every Sunday; you can participate in every Bible Study that is offered; you can read all the latest books by Christian authors; you can listen to the preachers on TV and radio; you can do it all being very diligent—and still miss the boat. Jesus says, "Come to me." KNOW me! I AM the WORD. Open your eyes so you can see. Open your ears so you can hear. Come to me. I will teach you. I will guide you. I will heal you. I will protect you. I will help you. I will restore you. I will give you rest. Salvation is found in no one else or nothing else. Salvation is only found in Me. Come to ME! You don't need others to explain ME. Come to ME! Be like a child and I will teach you.
The crippled man lay beside the pool that could heal him, but by his own effort he couldn't get there. For 38 years he was crippled, but it took only one encounter with Jesus to change his life. Jesus asked him, "Do you want to get well?" In his own power he couldn't do it, but he was still there in the position and place where it could happen. Jesus said to him, "Stand up. Pick up your mat and walk." And immediately he was healed and he picked up his mat and walked. Someone else had to help the man get to the place where he could be healed, but it was Jesus alone that had the power, authority, and ability to heal. Books, preachers, bible studies, even dutifully reading the Word can point you towards God, but it is Jesus alone whom we should seek.
The best way I have found to KNOW what Jesus wants is to literally ask Him. God (Jesus)—What do you want me to do about ___________? What do you want to teach me today from your Word? What would Jesus do? And Jesus, what do you want me to do? It's all about you, Jesus—it's all about YOU.
Next Entry: The New Beginning: No Matter What... Follow Me
God gave Jesus the authority to save and to judge. "In fact, the Father judges no one, but he has given the Son power to do all the judging so that all people will honor the Son as much as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him." God sent his Son so we may believe and have life, (John 3:16) and He has given him the position to judge who has believed and who has not. "Those who did good will rise and have life forever, but those who did evil will rise to be judged guilty." There is no need for fear, we can trust Him to judge fairly. "I can do nothing alone. I judge only the way I am told, so my judgment is fair. I don't try to please myself, but I try to please the One who sent me." Jesus is our Savior and our Judge and we trust Him.
It isn't enough to know the Word, you must know the One who is the Word. "You carefully study the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. They do in fact tell about me, but you refuse to come to me to have that life." You can dutifully read the Bible every day; you can attend church every Sunday; you can participate in every Bible Study that is offered; you can read all the latest books by Christian authors; you can listen to the preachers on TV and radio; you can do it all being very diligent—and still miss the boat. Jesus says, "Come to me." KNOW me! I AM the WORD. Open your eyes so you can see. Open your ears so you can hear. Come to me. I will teach you. I will guide you. I will heal you. I will protect you. I will help you. I will restore you. I will give you rest. Salvation is found in no one else or nothing else. Salvation is only found in Me. Come to ME! You don't need others to explain ME. Come to ME! Be like a child and I will teach you.
The crippled man lay beside the pool that could heal him, but by his own effort he couldn't get there. For 38 years he was crippled, but it took only one encounter with Jesus to change his life. Jesus asked him, "Do you want to get well?" In his own power he couldn't do it, but he was still there in the position and place where it could happen. Jesus said to him, "Stand up. Pick up your mat and walk." And immediately he was healed and he picked up his mat and walked. Someone else had to help the man get to the place where he could be healed, but it was Jesus alone that had the power, authority, and ability to heal. Books, preachers, bible studies, even dutifully reading the Word can point you towards God, but it is Jesus alone whom we should seek.
The best way I have found to KNOW what Jesus wants is to literally ask Him. God (Jesus)—What do you want me to do about ___________? What do you want to teach me today from your Word? What would Jesus do? And Jesus, what do you want me to do? It's all about you, Jesus—it's all about YOU.
Next Entry: The New Beginning: No Matter What... Follow Me
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