Intercession Regardless

He Himself bore the sin of many and interceded for the transgressors. Isaiah 53:12c [NASB]

This verse stands in stark contrast to how we would act after experiencing what Jesus did. Consider the verses before it. Isaiah prophesied in chapter 53 truths that occurred during Jesus’ life.

Isaiah said the Messiah grew up from parched land. This land was Judah a land of God’s chosen people who chose not to obey Him nor worship Him exclusively. Though Jesus lived in Judah, He carried no great stature among people. He was not a king or leader of the people according to their ways of life.

Isaiah continued with verses three and four by saying the people despised the Messiah and turned their back on Him. They considered Him contemptible and worthless. What He said did not matter to the Israelites and so they rejected Him. The people of Israel considered the Messiah as having no value for their lives and so forsook Him. Because of this, Jesus suffered and grieved for His pain and the people’s loss, the loss of relationship and salvation from God. The Messiah bore their sorrows and carried them, yet the Israelites considered Him someone whom God struck and afflicted, not One who took their punishments. They considered Him a heretic and an outcast.

Yet, Isaiah said, this Messiah was pierced for the sin, the rebellion against God, of the Israelites and the people of the world. He was contrite and shattered for their guilt. Jesus was broken-hearted for the people and broken-bodied on the cross because of the sin and guilt of people. He received the stripes, wounds, and bruises of the punishment for us so we could receive healing, and cleansing from our guilt and sins. So that none of us could say he didn’t cause the Messiah to die for them, Isaiah expressly pointed out we all, like sheep, have gone astray; we’ve wandered away from God and gone our own ways. Still, because of God’s great love for us, the sins and guilt of all of us fell on Him; Jesus bore them all for us.

Isaiah explained what happened to Jesus. He said He was oppressed, bowed down, and humbled, but He did not cry out, “Foul play,” or demand to be released. Instead, the Messiah walked like a meek lamb to His death. He did not demand a retrial, but bore the pain of our punishment because of His love for us. The oppression and judgment that was ours Jesus took and was led away to die.

While He laid aside His glory and majesty to be born as a man and suffer the indignities, judgment, and punishments from men, Jesus also was consigned to humiliation in death. The judges made Him die as a wicked man, consigned the worse form of death penalty reserved for the evilest people. The people humiliated the Messiah in life and death.

Still, God was pleased and delighted to break His Son, making Him to bear grief. He was pleased to do this so He would see His children. The Lord would increase the days of His people and His will would occur. Jesus humbled Himself to become a man, suffer persecution and infamy, and die as an evil person. It would enable God’s plan for His people to be with Him forever. Through the anguish and trouble of the Messiah, God’s judgment of the people would be satisfied. Because of the knowledge and wisdom of Jesus, God’s serving Son, who served both people and the Father, many would receive justification, cleansing and righteousness, through His carrying their burden of sin and guilt.

Because of all this what did Jesus do?  

·         Grew and lived in a parched land

·         Lived humbly as a man with no power or glory

·         Lived despised, considered worthless, and rejected by people

·         Knew sorrows and grief

·         Bore our grief, afflictions, pain, and sorrow

·         Became considered as a sinner stricken by God

·         Received our death punishment of sword, nail, and cross

·         Accepted the oppression and afflictions by people without crying out His personal innocence

·         Took the title of outcast as He was led outside the city gates

·         Died the worst death, that of a wicked man upon a cross

·         Bore the weight and punishment the sins and guilt of people

·         Received God’s pleasure

And despite what people did to Him, He interceded for the transgressors and continues to intercede for us. Jesus taught His followers to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you in Matthew 5:44. He lived this out on earth and does it in heaven now.

This last statement of Isaiah 53 is important. Even though people and their sins caused the need for a sin sacrifice to cleanse us from our sins, Jesus interceded for us. Before He died and with His death, He interceded for us with God. Since His death, Jesus intercedes for us while sitting at the right hand of God. Paul stated this in Romans 8:34 when he said, “Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.” [NASB] Intercede means to plead for us, to supplicate or petition. Jesus petitions God for us for our salvation, needs, and forgiveness. Who of us, if we faced the inhumanity to the extreme Jesus did, would pray to God begging Him for mercy for the people who tormented, oppressed, and persecuted us? Yet that is what Jesus did and does for us even today. Isaiah told us of what the Jews would do to Jesus and expressed why Jesus came to live as a man on earth. This shows God’s great love for us even while we were/are sinners.

Isaiah closed this chapter of prophecy about the fore-coming Messiah by reminding the Israelites how great is God’s love for them. Even though they persecuted, oppressed, and killed His body, Jesus interceded for them to the Father in heaven to help them and us, and not to give us what any of us deserves. That is love! God gives us what we don’t deserve. Jesus pleads our cause even though we struck Him with our transgressions.

What greater love is there than God’s love!

Our love cannot compare to His.

“The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5b [NASB]

Lord, thank you for reminding me of my sin against You. Thank you for forgiving me each of my sins as I repent of them. Please help me remember how great Your love is that you would die for me and continue to plead for me with the Father. I do not deserve Your love, yet You give it anyway. Help me to live as Jesus did and pray for my enemies and those who I consider unworthy of help from You. Thank you for Your love. Amen.

Ripples

Looking as walking see a pond of greenish brown surrounded by its uneven edges and a footpath lightly traveled showing dirt and grass. This pond, in its bigness, holds fish, minnows, ducks, dragonflies, water plants, and other water insects. It’s teeming with life in it, on it, and around it. It is an attraction to which many species of creation flock.

What causes this flocking? Is it the big picture, the beauty and peace of the place? Possibly. Is it the nourishment it provides? Maybe. Is it the safe haven it gives? Perhaps. It may be because of all these and so much more.

What could this more be? Well, people look at the big picture when considering the pond and its surrounds. It’s a place to go. Birds look at its big picture and see a place to rest, bathe, and feed. Bugs look at the big picture and see a place to find food, rest, and re-create. Fish have only the one picture. It is home and provides haven, food, family, recreation, and a place to re-create. For each of these species, like for humans, the pond is a place to get what is needed for life. It’s like a person’s home and family are places and people from which to gain sustenance, security, rest, and peace.

If we ponder this pond closer, what will we realize? Consider it as God’s creation interacts with it. The wind causes ripples and the sun, moon, and stars cause reflection. Each ripple of light can remind us of each light that passes through our lives. This ripple, the one that sparked bright white, is the person who cared the most for you when life was darkest. She walked with you, prayed with you, and held your hand. The next ripple, a shimmering blue, reflects the sky and the endless possibilities. It reminds you of that person who entered your life showing you the things you could do or be and where you always knew you could find home. Next, the wind blew and the light blinked so that a twinkling amethyst caught your eye. This ripple is the person who shone in your life to best reveal your strengths and greatest characteristics. She drew attention to herself and reflected onto you so others would see you and notice your worth and their need of you. Again, the wind blew and a ripple crossed the water as the moon’s beam cast upon it. This ripple, though onyx-dark, cast out it’s glimmer to remind you even dark days have brightness in them. They are not only darkness. This person comes along to show you the things you can learn and how you can grow when little light shows and much is dark. Finally, as the moon begins to ebb to its darkest point, the slight ripple of water casts out a deep purple glow. The person who reflects this ripple, this swell, is the one who shone brightest and most beautiful. This one gave you greatest hope that dawn comes after darkness, peace comes after the storm, beauty comes with the darkest colors, and dawn will break again. This ripple brings you an inhalation of expectation for the hope of the beauty of the new day, for the encounters to be made, for the provisions that will come, for safety within its brilliance and depth, and for the renewal in its savoring.

Each of these ripples is part of the whole, the lake in its entirety with actions by the Creator. None stands alone nor can be without the light and wind that beams or blows from outside of itself. This lake is like life. We can have haven, peace, food, family, recreation, and a place to re-create within it, but without that which comes from outside of itself, that is given to make it more, it is a sphere of its own. Its beauty is contained and confined within what it can make of itself. When, however, the Creator casts His hand toward the lake with light and wind, a greater magnitude of purpose and benefit comes to and from the lake. It beams forth not only contained beauty, but reflected strength, hope, acceptance, honor, peace, knowledge, beauty, and expectation.

Each of the ripples would not have been without the Master blowing upon the water. Each of the reflections could not have shown their brilliance without His light casting its gleam upon the water. The ripples, individually, represent each of us as God’s children. He uses us to shine forth His light, but He is the One who makes the ripples with His breath to bring us into the sphere of people who need to know He is in control. One time, God will use us to bring peace, another time hope, then another to share strength, etc. God’s light is the beam that glows on and from His children. His wind is what blows the water. We, His children, are the ripples who affect the lives of others like the ripples affect the lake. None of us are or can be the source of the light or of the wind. We do not cause the ripples that bring strength, hope, acceptance, honor, peace, knowledge, beauty, and expectation that is lasting. Only God can give those lasting gifts and, when He causes the ripples, we are the result and the gifts are lasting.

Without the Master’s hand, the lake and its surroundings are beautiful and peaceful. They provide nourishment, safety, home, recreation, re-creation, and family. With the Master’s hand, the lake provides more than these. It reflects the lasting gifts only God can give, and He uses His children to do this. We are the ripples God creates and uses to reflect His love, strength, hope, acceptance, honor, peace, knowledge, beauty, and expectation to the people to whom He sends us or by whom we are surrounded.

Do you accept this duty? Will you obey God and let Him use you to provide these God-gifts to other people?

Today you might be the sparkling white, the shimmering blue, twinkling amethyst, glimmering onyx, or glowing purple. I can remember the person who was the glimmering onyx from God for me. This person led me to Christ. I can remember the person who sparkled bright and walked with me praying for me as I traveled a hard place in life. This person reminded me God had not left me alone. I remember the person who twinkled like amethyst. She showed me my good qualities and the strengths I had to contribute to this world.

We can only reflect God’s lasting gifts to people when we are His children and He uses us for His purposes. Have you accepted God’s gift of eternal life through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus? Will you let Him use you to reflect His love to people who need more than life, food, home, family, beauty, and recreation? God’s wind is blowing and His light is gleaming. Will His wind blow and make you a ripple to reflect His lasting gifts to other people?

His Outstretched Hands

But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:30-31 [NASB]

Peter and the disciples were in a boat crossing the sea Jesus told them to take after feeding the 5000 men, along with women and children. After they departed, He went to the mountain alone. During the fourth watch (3am-6am), Jesus walked on the sea toward the disciples’ storm-tossed boat far out at sea. The disciples saw him and thought He was a ghost. They did not believe it could be Jesus since they had never seen a person walk on water. They did not first believe in Jesus’ power, but allowed their small understanding of Him cause them to trust first in what they feared, a ghost or death from being at sea in a storm.

The disciples allowed their culture and their fears to dictate what was real and what was powerful. The wind causing the waves to batter their boat and toss them around was fearful for them because people die at sea. Their fears of dead people’s spirit’s inhabited and possessing them for evil caused them first to fear what appeared to be Jesus. Their little understanding of Jesus’ power caused them to doubt the person they recognized was the living Jesus. The disciples fear, culture, and lack of understanding and belief created for them a crisis. They could not trust what they saw-Jesus walking on stormy waves-but had to determine its authenticity by their flawed understanding as people.

Peter was uncertain, but he wanted to hear Jesus’ voice to confirm His reality and presence. He asked Jesus to command him to come. Peter recognized Jesus’ voice, and he understood Jesus’ command to come because Jesus commanded him, Andrew, James, and John in Matthew 4:19-22, “Come follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.” Peter wanted to be certain it was Jesus when all around him was waves and storm caused by whipping winds.

Jesus loves to hear from His disciples. He did as Peter asked; He commanded him, “Come.” Jesus knew Peter’s heart and that he wanted to follow Him. He understood Peter feared He didn’t know the Master completely. Peter didn’t trust his instincts yet that it really was Jesus. As a fisherman, he had experience with the storms on that sea. Peter realized the wind could knock him over and the waves could swallow him. He wanted to trust what he saw was Jesus. Peter’s heart knew it was Jesus, but his mind needed confirmation, and Jesus gave him that with His voiced command. He knew these things about Jesus. Peter didn’t yet realize Jesus was Master over the winds and sea.

Jesus commanded Peter, “Come.” Peter stepped out on the water and kept his eyes on his teacher in faith, truly recognizing him. Still, Peter’s mind told him to look at the waves, see the wind’s work, and remember these storms kill fishermen. He began to sink and all on which he had to hold was his small faith and hope that what he saw really was Jesus. His last hope before sinking under was to call out to Jesus, “Lord, save me.” “One whom I respect and recognize has power, save me!” Peter said.

Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of Peter. He asked Peter why his faith wavered. Without Peter’s answer recorded, Jesus got in the boat and the wind stilled. The wind recognized Jesus’ Lordship.

There is more at stake here than Jesus’ Lordship of the winds. In our understanding of creation, we know Jesus was part of creating all that is and so we recognize Jesus is Lord over the winds. What is most important in this passage is the disciples’ growth in faith, specifically Peter, but all of them because they all worshiped Jesus in verse thirty-three.

Jesus could have made the winds stop and allow the disciples smooth sailing over the sea while He prayed on the mountain. He could have calmed the wind that caused the waves when He began walking on the water towards the disciples’ boat. That would have made it easier for a human body to walk on water. Jesus could have calmed the wind and water when He arrived at the disciples’ boat. That would have made it easier for Peter to walk on the water so he mentally wouldn’t hesitate when he wanted to walk to Jesus. Jesus did none of these things. Instead, He answered Peter’s request. Jesus commanded Peter to come.

Jesus calls to each person, “Come.” We state within ourselves, “Sure, He is powerful and can make it smooth. I will trust in Him.” Yet, days will come when the winds of the world cause storms to rise around us. On those days, we hesitate and ask the Lord to command us again, “Come.” His first command when He called us to come follow Him is in our memory, but our fears and culture collide with it and we doubt. We want to believe and so we ask Him to call us again. We want to believe He’s there and we are to continue to follow Him, but the winds and storms of our days make us doubt Jesus really called us. What we see and hear, and what we carry from our culture dictates to us what is and can be. Our minds and experiences try to take over our hearts. It’s from there we cry out to Jesus, “Lord, save me!”

Jesus could have made the way to Him easy for us every day. He could have kept the winds from battering our minds and hearts. Jesus could have stopped the winds when He answered our prayers to call us to come to Him again. Yet, He doesn’t always do that. What is He doing at these times? Why isn’t Jesus stopping the winds and storms? He is doing what He did for Peter and the other disciples. Jesus is growing us so we recognize He is Savior and Lord. Peter recognized Him, called to Him, believed in His power, and then let his circumstances dictate to him how powerful Jesus might be. He defined Jesus’ power by his own circumstances instead of letting Jesus define the circumstances.

Life would be easier if there was no wind and storm, but then we would be weak Christians with little need for Jesus. Without strength training, muscles stay weak. Without spiritual training, our faith remains small. Jesus allowed the waves to continue as He walked on the water, as He called to Peter to come, as Peter walked toward Him, and as He rescued Peter and they walked to the boat. Only after Jesus climbed into the boat did the winds still. Each step Jesus and Peter took was one step more to strengthen Peter’s faith and grow him toward Jesus.

Life gets hard and messy. Jesus calls to each of us. He calls us to come follow Him. As we follow Him, the winds of life do not always still. In their blowing, Jesus calls us to continue to follow Him. He knows it would be easier if the winds stopped, but He wants us to grow stronger in our faith to become closer to Him and become more like Him. Jesus allows the winds, not to harm us, but to strengthen us. He defines the circumstances. His “come follow me” doesn’t stop when life is hard. Jesus’ call is louder and more insistent during these times so we can hear Him while in the storms.

Though the sun does not shine, the storms batter the house, and the battle rages in your mind, Jesus’ call still resounds loud and strong, “Come, follow Me.” He is near you, calling you to come, and stretching out His hand to you.

Don’t let your circumstances define your faith. Let Jesus define your circumstances.

Let Him show you He is Lord over everything in and around your life. Allow Him to grow your faith and your relationship with Him. Step out on the water and recognize He is Lord. Then you will join the disciples worshiping Him, proclaiming to Him, “You are certainly God’s Son.” (vs. 33) Let Jesus to be your sunshine on stormy days. Allow Him to be your stability. Let Jesus gently erase the memories of your past and replace them with His reality. He loves you and will not let you sink if you follow Him. Jesus is Lord of your past, present, and future.

Lord, help me to see You and have faith in You even when I am weak, when the days are dark, and my heart wants to doubt. Help me to grow toward You and more like You each day. Forgive my doubt and falling back on what I know from my culture and history. Help me to remember You are Lord of my circumstances and they do not define who You are or what You can do. Thank you for your patience with me. Amen.

In Their Words: Petra's and Fabrice's Stories

Refugee is a word almost everyone has heard in today’s world. The phenomenon of displaced people is rife now. Modern history has never seen this amount of people running to save their lives from political unrest within countries.

Media centers portray refugees trudging through rivers and mud, hiding in forests, carrying their meager goods, and looking at the world with desperation and hopelessness. Are these the true story? Is there more to the story? What is the background of each of these people? Do they want to return home or make our home nation their new home? Each of these questions are important, but their answers are often surprising, especially the answer to the last question. From interviews with refugees and asylum seekers, most want to return to their home countries. Let’s consider more refugee stories and understand them better.

In an earlier segment of this series, we heard from refugees and asylum seekers from three countries-Burundi, DRC, and Sudan. With this article, a refugee from Serbia and one from the Democratic Republic of the Congo will tell of their lives in their home countries and their refuge countries. Petra and Fabrice will answer three questions and provide color to refugee stories so we can learn more about them and the refugee crisis.

Interviews

Petra from Serbia

Question 1: What was life like in your home country?

My home country was very beautiful in many ways. My town of Banja Luka is beautiful. It sits on a pretty river called Vrbas and hills surround it. It is a picturesque town and if it was not for the war, I would have never left.

I have a great life until April 1992. Things had become politically complex. I was a child and did not understand much. All I knew was that the governments were changing and things were going to be different. My parents had great jobs. We had everything I now have in the United States. When war broke out suddenly, our very existence came into question. We were a Muslim family in a city that was majority becoming Serb territory.

Question 2: What made you decide to leave your country?

Bosnia and Herzegovina was a country that suffered horrible atrocities. The Yugoslavian Army overnight became the Serbian army and started attacking civilians and all those that did not identify as Serbs.

We left due to the genocide that our people experienced in the period between 1992-1995. It was the worst war crime committed against civilians since World War 2 in the heart of Europe. Little was done to help innocent people.

Question 3: What has life been like in your host/adopted country?

Life in the new country was a struggle in the beginning. We were eager to get acclimated as soon as possible. My parents are highly educated in their native land and were factory workers in the USA when we arrived and as we grew up. They sometimes held three jobs to keep the bills paid. My parents never complained. They just pushed my sisters and me to get our education.

We did not speak much English, and friends were few. We tended to socialize with those that also came from Bosnia since it was easier. Americans were extremely friendly, but due to coming at the awkward age of a teenager, we did not make many friends with the nationals. It became easier in college. Our accents always made us different and to this day I am asked from where my accent comes.

My sisters and I did well. One works as an accountant at a major oil firm in Dallas. The youngest is a pharmacist. I am a psychotherapist, but also work as a consultant for the patient experience division in a major health system in Texas.

I am telling you my story because refugees have been painted so negatively and almost as a threat to America. In all honesty, we just fled violence. I cannot express my gratitude to this country for welcoming us, and allowing us to work hard and live in peace. My heart bleeds for those that are somewhere in a camp on the other side of the world that will never get that chance.

Fabrice from the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Question 1: What was life like in your home country?

First of all, my country, Congo DRC, is nice and big. We have many riches, but people are suffering too much because they are not getting profit from those riches. Even if they study and get degrees, getting a job is very difficult. Some of us with degrees stayed home for a long time without getting a job. Those who are supposed to fight for the people so they can get profit from our natural riches are using all the riches for their own gain.

Life is good only for those who are working for the government. The rest of the people are suffering. Those people were supposed to speak on behalf of all DRC people. Politicians are getting rich, they and their families, while people are suffering. There is no food, no school, and no jobs.

My country’s politics are very bad because everyone is seeking his own interests, not the peoples’ interests. The few politicians who are fighting for the peoples’ interests are killed or put in prison for reasons that are not viable. The president is not respecting the constitution and is taking more mandate of his function by changing the constitution. Corruption is his top purpose in my country.

Question 2: What made you decide to leave your country?

The main reason I decided to leave my country was the political conflict. In fact, in 2016 there was a big conflict between two political parties, the UDPS, which was led by Mr. Tshisekedi Wa Mulumba Ethiene, and the PPRD, which is led by the current President of the country, Kabila Kabange Joseph.

I was studying at Petroleum and Gas Institute, which was in the same area as the UDPS general quarter. My father was an activist of the UDPS, as well as all my family. In the same year, our general quarter was burned by the PPRD activists. Some of the UDPS activists were burned inside the general quarter. Some researchers were killed by those PPRD activist. My family and I are part of the list of UDPS that the PPRD knows about. We were unsafe in the Congo from then.

We ran from them, the PPRD, me and my father, mother, three brothers and sister. Until now I don’t know where they are. I mean my family. I was running from the PPRD with my wife. We ran from the capital of Kinshasa to a city of Katanga province called Lubumbashi, but there we were still not safe because Lubumbashi is still Congo. I spoke with a truck driver about what happened to us and he drove us from Lubumbashi to Zambia. When we got to Zambia, he spoke to his friend, another driver, asking him to drive us to South Africa. He said we would be safe in that country. That driver drove us to Cape town.

Question 3: What has life been like in your host/adopted country?

Living in South Africa wasn’t easy for us when we arrived. Indeed, we arrived here on 23 December 2016. I didn’t know English. I didn’t have asylum seeker documents, and in January my wife got pregnant. It was very difficult for us to live here because I didn’t know what to do. Without a job and documents what could I do? Really, we suffered. 

At that time, a Congolese person advised me to go to the Scalabrini center to seek a document that would allow my wife to be assisted, and to give birth. That time I wasn’t working and by the grace of God my wife was doing a small job as a hairdresser. The little money she got helped us to get food to eat and to buy baby stuff.

When the baby was born, my wife couldn’t work again. Then one person in my church fellowship connected me to a lift job. After 3 months, that job was finished because I don’t have asylum documents. The little I’m getting now is helping to pay rent, to eat, and buy some baby stuff.

We were happy when Home Affairs said that it was going to give newcomers documents here in Cape Town, but until now they do nothing. It’s like they canceled it. We are willing to go in Pretoria, Durban, or Messina to seek documents, but we don’t have money for transportation.

Life in South Africa is difficult if you are foreigner because we are facing many problems: difficulty in getting documents, xenophobia, difficulty in getting jobs.

Conclusion

Often people consider refugees as people who will enter our home counties and take our jobs, introduce foreign religions and cultures, and take over our nations. Displaced people only seek asylum from the ravages of despair, hopelessness, and fear in their countries. They seek safety, rest, and reprieve. Refugees have no long-term goal of overthrowing and taking over another nation. Still, people fear them, their differences, their languages, and their influence on the people of the host countries. What will it take for us to realize these are people made in God’s image, too? They, too, are for whom He sent Jesus to die and give eternal life because of His sacrificial and dear love? These stories become the voice of refugees and asylum seekers. By them, we can learn the truth and accept these people, these voiceless and persecuted humanity, and love them as God asks us to love them, as our neighbor. What will it take for you to love them as your brothers and sisters? 

Agape and Abiding: John 15

I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:5 [NASB]

What was Jesus talking about in the first eleven verses of John 15? He talked about love and abiding. God loves each of us so much He sent His Son to earth to die for us. That is sacrificial love. God knew in advance His Son’s death was necessary. His task was to die for us so we would not die forever and lose out on being in a relationship with God.

That is sacrificial love, agape, and comes from God. So often we hear of it as brotherly and sisterly love among Christians, but it first came from God and gets its definition from Him. God gave this sacrificial love whether a person accepted or rejected it. He loves us that much. God loves us dearly. Do we love someone that much? Would we be willing to lay down our lives for someone?

Jesus explained this kind of love would be made full in believers when we love Him in return and others (vs. 11). How are we supposed to love Jesus? He said how in verse ten. Jesus said, “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” Not doing what Jesus taught does not keep Jesus and the Father from loving you, but it shows you do not love Them. Remember, God showed His loved to us in that while we were still sinners, Jesus died for us (Romans 5:8). That means there is nothing you can do to earn His saving love. He already loves you sacrificially, dearly.

Jesus said to His disciples in these verses to abide in Him. Abiding shows our love for Him because by doing this we keep His commandments, remain clean, get what we ask for in prayer, bear fruit, glorify the Father, and have complete and full joy (vs. 3, 7-8, & 11). What is abiding? Abiding is remaining in Christ, following His teachings and examples for living so as not to depart from it but to continue walking in them, holding onto them and waiting for Christ’s return. It’s not just doing what Jesus said today, but it’s for tomorrow, and tomorrow’s tomorrow, and on and on until Jesus returns while we wait expectantly. Abiding is not just doing, it is being and thinking. It’s not giving up hope, but holding on to what Jesus taught, holding onto His word (vs. 3).

Do you abide in Christ? Your reward is God’s love and complete joy. With this joy, God’s joy (charis) in you is never ending because it comes from Him and He is eternal. Why wouldn’t we want to abide in Christ when He loves us dearly. That’s what His sacrificial love for us states. God loves us dearly, and it cost Him dearly. It cost Him the horrific death of His Son who carried the weight and guilt of our sins so we could be reunited with Him. That is dear love. That is sacrificial love. That is AGAPE love.

Agape is more than what one Christian gives to another. It is the love God gave them and they accepted upon belief in Jesus Christ as their Savior. Agape love is sharing the love God put into a believer’s heart with another believer. Agape love is sacrificial. What are you sacrificing to love another person?

·         You are sacrificing your hold on your life, your freewill, so that Jesus becomes Lord of your life.

·         You are sacrificing walls that once guarded your heart.

·         You are sacrificing safety to show love to the world.

What were Jesus’ points in these eleven verses?

·         He is the true Way, and true Vine.

·         The Father, of which Jesus is the Son, is the true God who takes and gives life.

·         Those who abide in Jesus, who continue in His way and keep living expecting His return, are the healthy vine and will be pruned, made clean and pure, so they bear more fruit.

·         Those who do not abide in Jesus will be cut off and cast down together into a fire to be burned. They have no fruit and are not true vines.

·         The people who produce fruit, who abide in Christ, can ask for what they wish and it will be answered through Jesus.

·         Abiding in Christ glorifies the Father.

·         Abiding proves you are a disciple of Christ.

·         Jesus loves dearly and sacrificially those who abide in Him, just as His Father loves Him.

·         Jesus told His disciples this so His joy would be in them and their joy would be made full and complete, abounding.

Are you abiding in Christ? Are you showing your sacrificial love for Him by obeying His commandments?

Why settle for human-inspired and -originated love? Instead, seek the love that is dear and was bought with a great price. Seek God’s sacrificial love that gives you an eternal relationship with Him. That is True Love!

True Love. True Joy. True Life.

These come through Jesus. Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” in John 14:6.

Come, He says, accept His gifts of love, joy, and life.

God dearly loves you.

Come to Him and receive this great sacrificial love for yourself through Jesus Christ.

Lord, I come to you acknowledging I do not know how to live this life of abiding without You. I fail all the time because of my self-seeking. Forgive me of this. Please give Your love and joy to me. Teach me how to abide in You. Teach me how to love sacrificially.

On Bended Knees

When life seems to toss you and make you spin ’round,

When time seems as if it will never slow down,

When battles are many and resources few,

That’s when I’m thankful God’s promises are new.

Every morning when waking and ope’ning my eyes,

When first breath is taken and before I arise,

I close my eyes again, and thank God above

Today I get to live and experience His love.

Before feet shuffle out to the floor,

Before clothes quickly taken from behind closed door,

Before I shuffle for caffeine intake,

I stand amazed wond’ring at His grace.

To allow me such privilege to see life again,

To let me enjoy what He has planned,

To lead me with sureness knowing He’s in control,

My God is wondrous and I’ve stories untold.

Stories of fear, joy, laughter, and pain,

Stories of glee, sadness, and happiness again,

Tales of my God leading me through rough seas,

Preluded by Him and I on bended knee.

Not that God need bend His knee,

But that He wanted to be with me.

This finite person whom He created

Is one He loves and desires to spend day with.

The great almighty God chooses to spend time with one

Who wrestled, ran, hid, and finally came undone,

Who sat upon floor with wonder new

To realize His love paid my sin price; I’m renewed.

You see, I’m nothing special, as the world knows,

But to God, I’m cherished, I’m special as the rose.

I once ran away because sin had me scared,

But Jesus’ love won out and my heart is repaired.

Yes, there’re days when I know I’ve done wrong

Still God puts music in my heart and I hear His song.

He reminds me, “Jesus loves me, this I know”

And then I’m undone again, bow down, the Bible tells me so. 

It’s for nothing I’ve done or could ever do

That Jesus chose and died for me, death and sin subdued.

This great love, hard to fathom, for a sinner such as I,

Yet He continues to tell me, for you I died.

As I ponder this great love, this grace and mercy so free,

Reality is Jesus did it, He died on that tree.

What great love, what great pain, to ensure my soul!

Would I do the same to rescue one dead, so cold?

My love’s not as great, broad, and vast as His

Yet He’s working with me, patient He is.

Remolding and shaping, cutting out hard spots, too,

As I trust in His faithful hands, to make me brand new.

A bit more water here to soften this lump;

A razor’s edge there removing that bump.

Gently kneading to soften and smooth the clay;

My heart’s fragile, but more open each new day.

Tender steps with new heart in place

I follow my Savior, in His path I stay.

Venturing afar is not how to remain

As His close child, protected by the Master’s hand.

So, each day must start upon waking afresh

One breath then two, then deep breath,

Ope’ning my eyes, shuffling feet to the floor

Kneeling with my Savior, Master, and Lord.