Fruit or Fire

 

“He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful.” John 15:2

This metaphor of pruning branches that Jesus used has an overarching idea most people would understand. God removes unfruitful people. He grows fruitful people so they will become more fruitful. God enables fruitful people to advance His purposes more.

To understand this verse better, we must understand why a fruit farmer would cut tree branches. Jesus plainly explained the first reason. Farmers cut off dead branches from a tree to cause healthy growth of the rest of the tree. Without cutting off the dead branch, the tree will continue to send nutrients toward the dead branch instead of extending its nutrients to parts of the tree that will grow. Cutting off dead branches leads to more growth in other parts of the tree. This illustrates the metaphor's beginning.

Pruning the healthy parts of a fruit tree has several benefits. First, it strengthens the tree. Where before the tree’s sap was to grow fruit, pruning allows the tree sap to make the branch harder and stronger. Instead of sap going to grow fruit, it goes toward growing the branch. Going through hardships can cause a person to grow stronger in his faith and relationship with God.

Second, pruning a healthy branch can improve fruit production and fruit quality. Pruning stimulates new growth—offshoots—so more branches grow. As a result, each of those branches produces fruit instead of just the unpruned branch growing fruit. God’s pruning of His child causes that person to grow in many areas, so new spiritual fruit and Christian offspring grow from that believer. Pruning grows a person’s relationship with God. The deeper relationship with God causes growth of spiritual fruit, like patience, wisdom, compassion, joy, and peace. The deeper relationship with God grows the quality of that fruit, causing a deeper faith, greater peace, etc. Growth from a closer relationship with God leads to sharing the gospel and a personal testimony about God more. These lead to other people believing in Jesus and His saving them. Pruning may cause brief pain mental, heart, and/or physical. This pain is worth it to see more people saved by Jesus and experience a deeper relationship with God.

Third, pruning a branch helps a tree become more pest and disease resistant. Pruning causes growth in strength and resilience. Like a person’s health, outside influences can cause a tree to grow stronger so the tree can withstand forces that would cause it to shrivel, produce less fruit, and/or die. God allows a person to confront challenges for growth, not destruction. By going through trials, like the burnishing of metals, God removes impurities from His children. His strength alone is how they withstand adversity. Christians can progress despite adversity. James, Peter, and Paul wrote about perseverance, endurance, testing, patience, and building Christian character in James 1, 1 Peter 1, and Romans 5:3-5. Trials, though unwanted, have benefits just like pruning healthy branches has benefits.

Fourth, pruning trees opens the tree canopy so sunlight can reach more limbs and fruit. For this reason, fruit trees are wide and not very tall. More sun causes more fruit to grow on the tree. Also, by pruning the canopy, fruit does not grow higher in the tree. This makes it easier to reach all fruit during harvest season. A person who knows the Bible can only withstand some storms or temptations. A person whom Jesus saves and who grows in his relationship with God through daily prayer, Bible study, meditation, worship, and obedience to Him has a faith that has grown deep and wide. Temptations, trials, storms, and disease might assail a believer and might cause him to stall in his growth, but these can cause growth in his relationship with and faith in God. These occurrences can strengthen a believer, cause new growth on branches, and result in the growth of new and larger fruit. The outcome of God's gospel is evident in one's life. People see the gospel’s impact on people around the strengthening and growing Christian as he shares his testimony and God’s gospel.

Without removing dead limbs on a tree, diseases and/or pests kill the tree or cause it to become stunted and produce minimal fruit. By pruning healthy branches, trees become stronger and produce more and better fruit. Pruning stops the spread of diseases and pests that could harm the fruit or the sap (testimony) in the tree. It allows more sunlight, which causes more fruit to grow and makes the branches more accessible to harvesters.

When we face trials and hardships, we can grow stronger and produce more and better fruit. Instead of growing stronger through trials, we can freeze up and then get hurt or killed. God prefers us to grow stronger and bear more and better fruit. He allows or causes things to grow our relationship with Him and our trust in Him. God allows hardships to confront us to prune the dead branches from our lives. We should aim to grow, so we ask God what He wants us to learn from our situations. God wants us to grow to trust Him more, to have a deeper relationship with Him, and to become more Christlike. He will send you through fires to remove impurities and strengthen you. When strengthened by God, you, too, can say, “No weapon formed against us will prosper” (Isaiah 54:17).

Fruit or Fire.

Faith or Fruitlessness.

Which do you choose? I pray you choose to grow in your relationship with God and to produce more and better fruit within you that leads to more fruit—Christians—for God’s kingdom.

“No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their vindication is from Me,” declares the LORD. (Isaiah 54:17)

 (Bible verse picture from You Version Bible app)

Never Alone

 

Little children, I (Jesus) am with you only a little while longer. You will look for Me, and as I said to the Jews, so now I say to you: Where I am going, you cannot come. (John 13:33, BSB)

If we read only this verse from the passage in John, how would we feel? I would experience exclusion or grief. I would have no purpose in life. My reason for living would be gone. The power in life would cease. The world would devolve into chaos. Anarchy would occur. People would search for God aimlessly, with no purpose.

Jesus said this to fishermen, a tax collector, a thief, a doubter, and his closest of friends—Peter, John, and James. How would it impact you if your friend, teacher, mentor, and brother expressed he would not see or spend time with you anymore?

These men would not see Jesus in the immediate future. Jesus had planned to put their relationship on the ultimate level. He was not ending his relationship with them, but changing it. Jesus was changing it to be an everlasting relationship.

“To all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12)

Are you seeking God? He said you will find Him if you seek for Him with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13). Jesus said if you seek me, you will find me (Matthew 7:7).

Yes, Jesus went away, but then he returned after his resurrection from death. He never leaves us. Even when Jesus ascended to heaven, he did not utterly and permanently leave. He put his Holy Spirit within each believer and gave us the promise of his return.

At that time, Jesus was going to endure torture, crucifixion, and death. It surpassed even that. Death did not end his story. He arose from death in the tomb and returned to life. Nobody could go there and do that. Jesus made promises to always be with us, never leaving or forsaking humanity.

Where do you stand? Do you sense God has forsaken you to struggle through life? Are you burdened by sins and sense a significant weight on your heart and spirit? Do you sense anything except for loneliness? The glorious victory and truth are we are never alone. Jesus is as close as our next breath, our next heartbeat, or our next thought. Breathe out saying YAH—breathe in saying WEH. His name means I AM.

God is always. He has always been present, before and during time. And there never will be a time when you are alone. You are not alone. Breathe again and call him again. He is waiting for you. Seek him. All who call on the name of the Lord shall be saved and never be alone (Romans 10:13).

Just DO It

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.”

— John 13:34

Have you ever stopped to consider how many artisan skills God gave to Bezalel in Exodus 35-38? 

He cut and planed the wood. He engraved stone and wood. He spun the wool and created intricate curtains. He hammered the gold into designs. He applied self-fashioned gold sheets around wood. He fashioned the ark of the covenant with the mercy seat atop of it. He created the altars and the water stand where the priests cleansed themselves before entering the temple. He crafted the gold rings to hang the curtains. 

All this Bezalel and Oholiab did by God giving them the skill. They shared this knowledge to individuals to help make parts of the tent of meeting. 

Since God gives those abilities, there’s no way we can’t love our brethren. It’s doable because Jesus gives us the ability since He poured His love into us when we believed in Him. It’s there, trust it is, then step out in faith and put it into action. That brother or sister might not be easily lovable today, but God loved you when you rebelled against him in your sins. Since He could do that, it’s not impossible to be gracious and love the brother or sister who is not easy to like today. 

Like anything God tells us to do, JUST DO IT.

Obedience will change you.

No Temporary Tabernacle

And the Word (Christ) became flesh and tabernacled among us; and we (John and the disciples) saw His glory, glory as belongs to the only begotten Son of the Father, who is full of grace and truth. (John 1:14, paraphrase)

In the Old Testament, God told Moses to build a tabernacle for Him. In it, He would dwell and be with the Israelites as they journeyed to the Promised Land. God told them with what to build the tabernacle and its size, and what furniture and vessels it would contain. Since its construction was of cloth and wood, the tabernacle was easy to assemble and disassemble as the Israelites journeyed to the Promised Land. This tabernacle shone during the night. It was the light of God for the Israelites to see and remember God was among them. A cloud descended upon the tabernacle when Moses entered it to be with God. When Moses came from the tabernacle, his face shone with the glory of God and the people feared death because they recognized they could see God’s glory. They remembered that anyone who gazes upon God would die. The Israelites asked Moses to cover his face after he had been in God’s presence for fear they would die.

John told about Jesus in the first chapter of his gospel. He called Jesus the Light. God was the God light to the Israelites since they left Egypt. God’s light from His being led them as they walked at night. His light showed He was in His tabernacle. God’s light showed God’s presence. Jesus came to earth as a human, bringing God's light and glory among the people. In John 1:9-10, John wrote, Jesus was the true Light. Despite creating the world, Jesus went unrecognized and disbelieved by His own people during His time on earth.

In verse fourteen, John returned to God’s glory and Light, God’s plan revealed through Jesus. John explained the truth about Jesus. Jesus, the Word of God, was born in human flesh. He gave up His throne in heaven. God's plan is to save people from the judgment their sins deserve on judgment day. He desires no judgment or condemnation for anyone. God wants to have an eternal relationship with everybody. He made a way to rescue each person from the sin judgment of separation from Him. John said, “And the Word became flesh and lived among us.” For our sins and God’s love for us, Jesus left His throne to be born as a human, to teach each person about God’s love and plan for their salvation, and then to be the sacrifice needed to pay the penalty for the sins of each person who will believe in Him.

John continued about who Jesus is and testified for himself and the disciples. He wrote, “We actually saw His glory, glory as belongs to the only Son of the Father.” Remember, in the Old Testament, God dwelled in the tabernacle and, later, the temple. His glory shone from the tent and the faces of the men who met with Him. Jesus became God’s glory among the people. Jesus, the Son of God, dwelled with the people. “God with us,” Emmanuel, is Jesus. From Jesus shone God’s glory. Jesus did not lose His divinity when He lived on earth as a man. Divine is who Jesus is. He and God are one. God’s divinity and glory are Jesus’ divinity and glory. Jesus became “God with us” at His birth. The glory of God shone on earth for everyone, not only the Israelites who built the tabernacle and temple.

Jesus’ life on earth showed the truth of who He is. His grace—divine favor, kindness, and love—and His miracles revealed His divinity and glory. Jesus tabernacles with us. He did not merely live in Israel. Jesus showed His glory, power, majesty, and truth as He acted and spoke and, by these, showed the people He is divine. Jesus walked among people. He truly is “God with us.” Jesus revealed and became the gospel plan to rescue people from the death sentence and eternal separation from God their sins deserve. By God’s grace—His undeserved love—Jesus tabernacled among people. God showed He is more than transcendent; He cares what happens in our lives. God is imminent. He is here every moment, walking with us—tabernacling with us—guiding us through life and rescuing us in times of trouble and from our sins. That is the meaning of “God with us”—helping and rescuing us daily. God's salvation plan protects us daily from sin and harm, both now and in eternity.

God became flesh and tabernacled—dwelled—among us. He is, was, and will always be. He is for us, not against us. Are you daily meeting God in the tabernacle He created by the salvation you received? God makes tabernacling with Him available to us through His Spirit dwelling in each believer in Jesus. We Christians are privileged to be with God in every breath we breathe. Draw close to God and be with Him; He is for you.

God is as close as your next breath.

Are you tabernacling with God, spending time with Him each day? He is calling to you.

Do you want closeness to God—the Father, Son, and Spirit—but do not know how? Write to me and I will lead you to know God through the salvation Jesus  gives.

 

Anger and Perspective

 

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies.” — John 11:25

 

In this passage, Martha asked accusingly why Jesus had not come sooner when he had learned of Lazarus’ illness. She knew Jesus could heal him and blamed Jesus for his death. We can imagine she might have said, “I thought you loved Lazarus as your brother, Jesus. Why couldn’t you come heal him?” Martha blamed Jesus for Lazarus’ death. She did not deny his death but was angry Lazarus had died. “Why, Jesus, did you let him die?” she might have asked. 

 

God had another plan, one far greater. In John 10, Jewish religious leaders asked Jesus to tell them if he was the Christ. Jesus replied that his works in the Father’s name testify to who he is (John 10:25). Next, He stated to these leaders that his sheep hear his voice and follow him, and he gives them eternal life, so they will not perish (John 10:26-28). The religious leaders wanted to arrest Jesus for blasphemy. They wanted to stone him.

 

Jesus told the religious leaders about his disciples and what they do; they listen to his voice and follow him. He spoke about what he does for his disciples (believers)—give them eternal life. Mary, Martha, and Lazarus lived in Bethany. It was about two miles outside of Jerusalem. Jesus' teachings on eternal life would have been shared in Bethany prior to his arrival after Lazarus' death. This makes Martha and Jesus’ conversation poignant. She would have heard that Jesus gives life to his followers. Would Martha have pondered this and wondered why Jesus didn’t heal and give life to Lazarus, his follower and friend?

 

When Jesus received Martha’s message that Lazarus was sick, he stayed two more days in Bethany-beyond-the-Jordan, where John the Baptist first began his ministry. He said the sickness of Lazarus would not end in death, but would bring glory to God (John 11:4). The second day after Martha’s message, Jesus told the disciples it was time to return to the Jerusalem area—to Bethany, a two-day walk from where they were. The disciples worried about Jesus being stoned by the Jewish religious leaders (vs. 8). Jesus had no concern about his death. He knew he wouldn't die soon, and stoning was not how it would happen. 

 

The disciples appeared to have forgotten the introduction to the lesson Jesus was teaching them—Lazarus’ life would bring glory to God (vs. 4). Jesus told them Lazarus was asleep, and he was going to Bethany to awaken him. The disciples couldn't understand or remember Jesus' words because the human mind struggles with grasping spiritual concepts. Jesus said in John 10, he gives eternal life to his disciples. The disciples’ reply to Jesus’ statement of going to Bethany to awaken Lazarus showed their literal understanding. Jesus meant Lazarus was dead, not just sleeping (vs 12-14). For the disciples’ (all disciples of all time) sake, Jesus said he was glad he wasn’t in Bethany to heal Lazarus. 

 

After a two-day wait and a two-day walk to Bethany, Jesus arrived after Lazarus had been dead for four days. Jesus understood the number three symbolized completeness. The third day after a person’s death signified the person was certifiably dead. The fourth day after, a person was dead-dead. No doubt could exist that he or she was asleep, in a coma, or sick. The dead person would not awaken and walk out of the tomb. Jesus arrived in Bethany when the people had no doubt Lazarus truly was dead. 

 

The stage was set. Jesus walked on scene when mourning was obvious. Those aware of Jesus' close bond with Lazarus' family would have wondered why he had arrived so late. They might have whispered among themselves, wondering why Jesus didn’t use his power to heal Lazarus. These people may have heard about Jesus’ conversation with the religious leaders four days earlier about giving eternal life to his disciples and wondered why Jesus wouldn’t have spared Lazarus’ life and the heartache of the sisters. “Did Jesus not love them?” they may have conjectured. 

 

The curtain rose and Martha confronted Jesus about not arriving before Lazarus died. “You could have healed him,” we suppose Martha said. Jesus replied, as any Jew would say, “He will rise again.” (Jews believe in a bodily resurrection.) Martha’s reply, we conjecture, is our own, “I know that, but why weren’t you here? You could have healed him.” Do you recognize your own voice in this situation? Jesus’ reply to Martha is a reply to humanity, and the lesson Jesus began in John 11:4. He said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live, even though he dies. And everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

 

These verses are the lesson. They bring glory to God and glorify the Son (vs. 4). In what way? Jesus did not just say he gives resurrection and eternal life to believers. He didn’t say he merely creates and resurrects people. Jesus said, “I AM the Resurrection. I AM the Life.” Jesus doesn’t just give from what he creates. He gives from himself, from his essence. Just as perfect love (agape) comes from God’s being, since it’s part of his essence, life comes from his being. God—the Trinity—is the origin of life, the Author. He is, has been, and will always be. God is not created, but is. Jesus assured Martha and the listeners that he is life, both in the present and for all eternity. The life Jesus lives is from his eternal being and that’s the life he gives—eternal life. Jesus is the resurrection, and that is an undeniable truth. Jesus offers everlasting life that surpasses death's boundaries. Jesus gives resurrection life from his life to people who believe in him when he saves them. These people become his disciples when he Jesus saves them.

 

The manifestation of God's glory, as Jesus foretold, would show through Lazarus' death. After Jesus spoke with Martha and Mary, other Jews questioned Jesus about not arriving sooner to keep Lazarus from dying (vs 37). These Jews refocused all eyes on Jesus’ purpose, as he stated in verse four. 

 

The curtain arose on the next scene. Jesus commanded the people to roll stone from the tomb. Martha stated the obvious after four days of his death. “His body will stink,” she said. Jesus reminded the watchers, if they believe, they will see the glory of God (vs 40). Jesus prayed to the Father, thanking Him for hearing and understanding the people's experiences, teaching them about God's attentiveness. Finally, Jesus commanded, “Lazarus, come out!” Lazarus walked from the tomb still bound in the death cloths and Jesus ordered him to be unbound. Notice, no one doubted Jesus’ authority or power. They did not rebel at doing what he commanded. People moved the stone. Lazarus walked out of the tomb. People removed the death cloths from Lazarus. 

 

Returning to verse four, the lessons Jesus taught are several. God is Lord over life. Jesus is life, the author/originator of it. As life, Jesus is the resurrection. He has power to bind and/or cast away death. God hears us and knows what we are facing. He cries with/for us because of his great love for us. Most of all, Jesus is to be glorified. That’s why Jesus waited two days before beginning his journey to Bethany. 

 

What does giving God glory mean? It means displaying acts of kindness and love, regardless of whether anyone witnesses them. Giving God glory means obeying God by doing what he says when he says it. often, God’s timing is a very important part of his plan. Rushing in to help too soon may prevent people from seeing God, only you. You would, then, be stealing God’s glory. How God intervenes is important. Failing to help someone according to God's plan means we don't do what's best for them and God isn't glorified. If we rush in to rescue someone without praying and seeking God’s will, we take God’s glory and could create a worse problem for the person needing help. Often, part of God’s plan is for the person in need to be a part of praying for God’s guidance and help. That enables the person who needs help to know God hears and loves. That brings God glory.

 

Jesus, filled with love for his stressed and grieving friends, waited two days before being with them. Yes, he could have healed Lazarus by being there or by just saying, “Be healed,” while he stood at Bethany-beyond-the-Jordan. Yet, Jesus knew God’s plan for Lazarus’ life, since Jesus is part of the Trinity. Lazarus' life would bring glory to God and reveal Jesus as the Messiah, the Resurrection, and the Life. 

 

Today, do you need to remember Lazarus’ story because you need new life from Jesus? Do you need a reminder to trust God's plan and avoid hastily rescuing someone from a situation? Jesus is the only real Savior. Do you need to remember that God’s plan is best and not to rely on your own plan? Finally, do you need to remember to glorify God with your life? He can use all of you, in life and death, for his glory if you will totally surrender it to him. 

 

Martha was angry. She and Mary blamed Jesus. Lazarus, we may surmise, was thankful for God’s plan. He was alive, and God had used him for God’s own glory and purpose. Are you angry at God? For what do you blame God? Will you spend time with him now in prayer to get his perspective and understand better? See God and his purposes in your circumstances. “Seek God with all your heart and you will find him” (Jeremiah 29:13). God said when you seek him, he will be found by you (Jeremiah 29:14a).

Watch and Pray

 

A second time He went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass unless I drink it, may Your will be done.” (Matt 26:42, BSB)

 

Anyone who has been to a Christian church at Easter or when the Lord’s Supper is observed likely will have heard this passage from Matthew’s Gospel. Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane after serving the Lord’s Supper to His twelve disciples. He was hours away from being led to His crucifixion. Jesus, in His human form, was sorrowful about what He would endure by the Jews and Romans. Yet, because He was wholly God as well as human, He knew what He came to earth to do must be done to save people from the sins and judgment of their sins—death, an eternal separation from God. 

 

Why is this important for us? The foremost reason is that God does not want us to live in eternal hell separated from Him because He loves us. God wants to give us the best life now and forever, a life full of peace, love, and joy, all of which come from Him.

 

Why else is this verse important for us? The example Jesus, the man, gives to us of surrendering to Father for His best plan, His perfect purpose, is what we need to see, understand, and enact. Jesus first approached the Father in verse 39. Matthew wrote, “Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.’” Jesus sought the Father for strength for His human self to be brave and to endure the terrible trial He would go through very soon. He sought to be with the Father for closeness and connection, just as a child of any age seeks closeness and connection with his/her parent. One other important point we need to see is Jesus was solely surrendered to the plan the Godhead (including Himself, the Son) made to redeem each person who believes in Him. Jesus surrendered to the Godhead’s will and perfect plan. He sought closeness with the Father. Jesus sought strength to endure the terrible torment He would soon experience. 

 

Why, then, does it seem Jesus said the same thing in verse 42? In the two verses between Jesus’ two statements to the Father, Jesus walked to Peter, James, and John and found them sleeping. He asked if they weren’t able to keep watch with Him for one hour. At first thought, one hour is not a long time. Most people read, watch tv, or talk with people easily for an hour. Consider now what Jesus expected them to do. He expected them to watch and pray. How many people do you know who pray for one hour? What about for thirty minutes? Fifteen minutes? Jesus expected them to do more than stay awake and pray. He expected the three to keep watch. Being watchful is being alert to temptations, temptations to not look at God but self, that potentially lead to sin. Jesus expected the three men to keep watch against coming temptation by praying to have God’s strength to defeat that temptation and continue onward with God. Jesus wanted Peter, James, and John to prepare to face their battles against temptation. They could do this by recognizing their human weaknesses and praying for God’s strength to overcome their weaknesses so they could stay close to and surrendered to Him. When Jesus walked to them in verse 40, He found the three men surrendered to their bodies in sleep. They didn’t see that hour for what it was, one of few hours before their Messiah would fulfill the prophecies to give release to the captives. Instead, the three disciples sought no strength from God to endure through the night, pray for their Messiah, and pray for the people who would hear about Him to believe in Jesus. A lot can happen in an hour. An hour isn’t very long after all. 

 

In verse 42, Jesus said, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass unless I drink it, may Your will be done.” Compare it to what He said in verse 39, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.” In these verses, Jesus basically said the same thing. The first time, the three disciples may not have understood what Jesus said at the Lord’s Supper would actually occur. They might not have understood the necessity of praying that night. In verses 40 and 41, Jesus told them for what they should pray. He then returned to His own prayer place to be with the Father as the disciples watched and heard Him pray. Jesus modeled for them again why to pray—to be close to the Father in heart, mind, and spirit. He showed them with this prayer time about asking for God’s strength to do what is God’s will. Most importantly, Jesus showed the three how to submit and surrender to God’s perfect plan. It begins with being in a close relationship with Him. By communing with Him daily, the disciples could get God’s strength and walk His journey for their lives with Him. 

 

Did the three disciples stay awake that second time? No, Jesus returned to them and found them asleep. Jesus asked the disciples in verse 38 to stay at the place He told them and keep watch with Him. His goal was multi-purpose. Jesus wanted to be with His Father. He, as a man, would experience a terrible torment on the cross. Jesus submitted and surrendered to the will of the Godhead to love humanity in this extreme way. He wanted to show the three disciples how to stand against temptation by praying for God’s strength to defeat it. Temptations can come in simple ways like falling to the human weakness of tiredness and not taking time to draw close to God. It can come in sensational ways, too, like tormenting a person’s heart, mind, body, and spirit. 

 

Submitting and surrendering to God can be as easy as asking for more energy and focus to be with God in prayer. The three disciples fell asleep. It appears they didn’t ask for God’s strength to stay awake to watch and pray for themselves, the other disciples, unbelievers, and Jesus. Each of us know what most likely keeps us from praying. Without prayer, it’s hard to submit to God and surrender to His will. Without prayer, we won’t know His will or have His power to surrender our will for His.

 

Instead of Jesus saying to us like He did to the three men, “Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak,” may He put His mind into us that willingly says, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass unless I drink it, may Your will be done” (Matt 26:41-42). What do you need to surrender to God today to be able to be with Him in prayer?  Will you take the time to watch and pray?

 

My prayer for you and me is what Jesus prayed in verse 42. “My Father, if this cup cannot pass unless I drink it, may Your will be done.”

Reflection and Reaction

 

“You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.”

— John 15:3

 

Why would Jesus change metaphors here? First, He speaks about pruning then cleaning then returns to the vine image. 

 

In this passage, pruning the vine means removing the portions that aren’t producing fruit either because it’s dying because it’s not connected to its original source or because that portion of the vine (the branch) is producing bitter fruit not sweet. 

 

Jesus, when He said, “You are already clean,” means two things and they are both the same. The first obvious sense of the metaphor is that He meant, “Because of your faith in Me, you are cleansed from your sins.” That is the easy, obvious understanding. Each Gospel writer uses this analogy. And here, Jesus still means that, but why mix the metaphors?

 

So why did Jesus seem to mix His metaphors in this passage. The vine is pruned to remove that which isn’t producing or growing like the vine. When Jesus used the “clean” analogy, He referred to the same process of salvation. Just as removing the dead, non-producing, or bitter producing branches removes any negative admixture to the produce, cleansing a person through salvation removes any admixture in a person of his/her old way of life. That old way of living would taint the spiritual fruit of his/her life from his/her past bitter, sinful way of living. It would cause the fruit of the person’s new saved life not to reflect the sweetness of Jesus. 

 

The pruning and cleansing metaphors both were very understandable to the people of Jesus’ time. The people could relate, reflect, and then react to Jesus’ message because it made sense to their first century Middle eastern lives. Pruning and cleansing are about removing from the believer any admixture from their old life that would taint, make bitter, or dirty his/her new life, which should show only the fruits that come from living a Christlike life indwelled by the Holy Spirit.

 

Does your life reflect only Jesus? Are there shoots or fruit in your life that are bitter, tainted, or dead that don’t produce sweet and pure fruit that reflect the new life Jesus gave you? Of what do you need to confess to God and repent? Each of us have shoots and fruit that need pruning because we each sin. You are not alone.

Proclaim Fellowship

 

“We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.”

— 1 John 1:3

 

John said he and the other disciples proclaimed, they declared openly to everyone. He testified. 

 

Unless a person has experienced something with at least one of his/her senses, it is not a testimony. It would be hearsay, which is when no personal senses are involved. John declared he had a personal testimony proving Jesus is who He said He was. 

 

Which of John’s senses witnessed Christ? John wrote of what he personally had seen with his own eyes and heard with his own ears. He probably could have testified based on touch, too. As the “beloved” disciple of Jesus, John probably hugged Jesus before His death and after His resurrection. 

 

John said he and the other disciples openly declared their testimony to whomever would listen about what they saw and heard from Jesus, the Son of God. Did the disciples proclaim to gather a following of disciples for themselves? Did they proclaim so they would receive offerings that would provide them with an income? Did these disciples of Jesus declare their testimony to become famous? No. John said they spent their lives proclaiming their testimony about what they’d seen Jesus do and how He lived and what they heard Jesus teach and preach. They proclaimed so that other people could have fellowship with them. 

 

What did John mean by having fellowship with them? “Fellowship” comes from the Greek word “koinonia”. Koinonia is the absolute bond of love and care among believers in Jesus that unites them with and for each other no matter the cost. This bond unites believers in fellowship with God and Jesus. Koinonia is absolute love for the benefit of the community corporately and individually, whether in joy or crisis or in excess or need.  Koinonia was very visibly seen in Acts 2:44-45 after Pentecost when many people believed in Jesus. Luke wrote it as follows:

 

“And all the believers were together and had all things in common; and they would sell their property and possessions and share them with all, to the extent that anyone had need.”

 

That is koinonia. Giving whatever you had to help others in need, doing whatever it takes to help. John and the other 11 disciples knew this sacrifice personally because of their fellowship with God and Christ and their witnessing of Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and ascension. These men did not only give up the right to income or a place to call home. In their decision to follow, believe in, and fellowship with Jesus, they absolutely gave up their right to their own selves. The disciples were persecuted. Many of them died in horrendous ways. John lived to an old age, but exiled from his people. Yet, he still had fellowship with God and Jesus.

 

Where do we stand in this? Do we openly declare our faith in Jesus? Do we give God the glory for the blessings we have received? Do our lives show a fellowship with God and Jesus by doing and giving whatever they request, even their blessings, for other people’s aid? Do we have an absolute bond of Christian love and care for our brothers and sisters in Christ so that what we have would be sold to help them in their need? This shows our absolute fellowship with God and Jesus. It is our living testimony of our faith in Christ and His work in us. This shows our fellowship with Him.

 

Do you have a testimony about your relationship with Jesus?

Do you openly tell it?

Do you have a koinonia fellowship with God and Jesus that causes a koinonia fellowship with and for other Christians?

 

Even to his old age in exile, John’s koinonia with Jesus led him to koinonia (fellowship) with other believers by testifying and teaching through something as simple as a letter. Do you have a heart like John, who had a heart for and like Jesus? That’s koinonia.

Healed

 

Jesus’ ministry began when John the Baptist baptized Him in the Jordan River. Following His baptism, He spent forty days in the wilderness, during which He did not sin when tempted by Satan there. Jesus began formal ministry from this point. He walked to Galilee and walked around the Sea of Galilee. Jesus met and called Simon and Andrew, brothers and fishermen, and John and James, who were brothers and fishermen, too. After they walked to Capernaum, they immediately entered the synagogue, where Jesus taught from the Scriptures with power and authority. He was confronted in the synagogue by a man overcome by demons. To these demons, who recognized Jesus was from Nazareth and the “Holy One of God,” Jesus commanded, “Be quiet and come out of him!” (Mark 1:25)

Each of these instances showed Jesus’ power and authority. He had power over temptation, too. Jesus displayed His authority when He called disciples. He revealed power and authority when He taught from Scripture in the synagogue. Jesus exhibited His power over demons. Mark’s purpose was to show Jesus is the Son of God who came for everyone. He spent no time reminding his readers and listeners about Jesus’ genealogy. Mark was determined to share the good news about Jesus. So, he declared who Jesus is at the beginning of his gospel. Mark told of Jesus’ actions and words during His three-year ministry. This Bible study continues teaching from Mark 1 as he disclosed more of Jesus’ life and ministry.

Touched

²⁹And immediately after they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. ³⁰Now Simeon’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever; and they immediately spoke to Jesus about her. ³¹And He came to her and raised her up, taking her by the hand, and the fever left her, and she served them. (Mark 1:29-31 [NASB])

Mark continued to use his favorite adverb, “immediately,” to begin this passage. Jesus wasted no time. He spent every moment intentionally ministering. Jesus showed the disciples and others who watched or heard about Him what Christian service should include. Serving as a Christian means being ready for opportunities to serve other people. It means readily telling them about Jesus, the Messiah.

At the right time, Jesus was born on earth. At the right time, He was baptized. Now, Mark shows in his gospel, the right time for ministering was still immediate. Jesus realized His time on earth was brief. He must tell and show people who He is. Jesus wants people to know why He came to earth. So, at once, Jesus and the disciples left the synagogue and went to Simon and Andrew’s house in Capernaum. They walked to their house to complete the Sabbath day, which was from sunset on Friday until sunset on Saturday. When they arrived at the house, Simon and Andrew spoke to Jesus about Simon’s mother-in-law being sick. Jesus arrived at Simon’s house at the right time.

Jesus continued to reveal Himself. To people at the synagogue, He began revealing his power and authority at the synagogue. Jesus taught Scripture with power and authority and had power and authority over the Satanic powers, as He showed when He cast out demons from the man. With this recent occurrence at Simeon and Andrew’s house, Mark continued telling how Jesus continued to show His power. After Simon and Andrew spoke to Jesus (vs. 30), Jesus walked to Simeon’s mother-in-law and touched her hand. The fever left her immediately. The touching and raising her up held no magical power. His divinity and loving intention that she gets well caused the fever to leave her body and she be well.

Consider what occurred in Simon’s and Jesus’ actions. By telling Jesus about his mother-in-law, Simon showed he cared about her and that she was equally important as anyone else in his eyes. Consider this: no antibiotics or aspirin existed in those days. Fevers could come from bacteria or virus in the region, such as dysentery, pneumonia, and malaria. Jesus did not say he was afraid to touch her. He did not ask for hand sanitizer, latex gloves, or mask. Jesus recognized the woman was ill since she did not force herself to get up and serve them like women of that time did. He wanted her to be well. Jesus did not want her to worry about hosting.

Knowing these things, Jesus went to the mother-in-law’s bed with Simon and Andrew. He entered her room to heal her. Jesus wanted her to seek and come to recognize Him as the Messiah. He cared about her body, mind, soul, and heart. Jesus touched the feverish woman and helped her get up. His power as the Son of God because He willed it healed her. Jesus cared about her as He cares about all women and men. Jesus freed this woman from sickness and from anguish that she was not being an excellent hostess.

With this action, Jesus showed to the world He has power and authority over sickness and demons. He taught and spoke with power and authority when He taught the Scriptures. Jesus did these during the Sabbath. Jews believed people must not work on the Sabbath. Jesus later taught, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27 [NASB]).

Gathered

³²Now when evening came, after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all who were ill and those who were demon-possessed. ³³And the whole city had gathered at the door. ³⁴And He healed many who were ill with various diseases and cast our many demons; and He would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew who He was. (Mark 1:32-34 [NASB])

Until the people gathered at Simeon and Andrew’s home after the Sabbath, Jesus revealed Himself just to Jews. With the casting out of the demons at the synagogue, word spread. The people of Capernaum sought to understand more about Jesus. John wrote this in John 12:32. He stated Jesus said, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Myself.” Jesus came so that each person would hear about, seek, and believe in Him so they would be saved.

Jesus’ ministry was to proclaim the kingdom of God has come. He set about proving He is the Son of God. He did this so when He told them He was the prophesied Messiah, they would believe in Him for salvation. By powerfully and authoritatively showing His divinity, He brought more people near to Himself and released people captive to sin, illness, blindness, demons, and a host of other things (Luke 4:18 & Isaiah 61).

When the Sabbath ended, people of Capernaum brought sick people and demon-possessed people to Jesus for Him to heal and release them from their captivity. They flocked to see Jesus’ works to prove what other people said was true. Remember, the people of Capernaum came from several places — Rome, Greece, Syria, Israel, etc. They had known other people could do the same works. These people wanted to see Jesus prove He has power and authority. People wondered if Jesus is truly the Son of God.

Mark said the whole city gathered at the door of Simon and Andrew’s house. Mark claimed that 1500 people from Capernaum were at the same house. He might have exaggerated. From each gospel writer’s account, people sought to see the man called Jesus. They wanted to understand who Jesus is. They wanted to see what He could do. It was worth the time to take that person to Jesus if He truly could heal their sick family member or friend. Mark did not say anyone believed in Jesus as the Messiah that day. From this passage, we realize an entire city could testify Jesus has power over sickness and demons and power and authority to teach Scriptures.

Besides these things, Mark noted Jesus would not let the demons say who He is. The time was not right for Jesus to be known as the awaited Messiah. Politics were not right; the people would expect Him to be their victorious warrior-king. For Mark, primary importance was to show Jesus is who He says He is, the Servant-Son of God who came to set captives free. That captivity could be because of illness, slavery, sin, society, etcetera. In the right time, Jesus would show Himself to the world as the long-awaited Messiah. Peter was the first to declare Jesus as the Messiah. In Mark 8:29, after Jesus asked the disciples, “Who do people say I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Christ (Messiah).” Notice after this confession by Peter, Jesus warned the disciples to tell no one about Him. That revelation was not due.

Application and Conclusion

Jesus quieted the demons. He told others not to declare He is the Messiah. Now, almost two thousand years after Jesus’ ministry, many people still have not been told about the Messiah. Some Christians live as if Jesus is still telling His followers not to say who He is. Does He act less in our world today? Do marvelous rescues of the oppressed, enslaved, and sick people not occur? Or is there nobody who needs saving anymore?

Lest we think we are in a world where Jesus is irrelevant, consider the violence, wars, prejudice, thievery, rage, illnesses locally and globally, depression, and suicide. Is there less reason for Jesus to care today about people? No, just as in the past, the world needs a Savior, who heals, frees, shows mercy and love, and forgives sins. No one has ever died, then returned to life, ascended to heaven, or interceded with the Father as Jesus did/does. His intercession to the Father and breaking into our reality with His powerful works still occurs and will until time ends.

Where do you stand with Jesus? Have you heard about Him? Did you turn your back on what He offers? Have you listened to people tell of Him, believed in Him, and accepted His love and salvation, but live as the world lives? Have you never heard of Jesus? Are you curious?

Jesus is the Son of God, who was born to a virgin by the Holy Spirit. He was raised and faced testing and temptation, but never sinned. He died a sinner’s death by crucifixion (suffocation) on a cross, like the worst of sinners experienced. Three days after His death, He came back to life and walked among people for forty days. After those forty days, Jesus ascended to sit at the right hand of the Father, interceding for His followers to the Father. He lives throughout eternity and existed before time began.

Now, where do you stand with Jesus? Will you seek Him and believe? Will He be Messiah and Savior for you? Jesus told the demons not to say He is the Messiah. Why? He said it not to lie, but because it was not the right time.

Now is the right time.

If we Christians stay silent, even the rocks will cry out (Luke 19:40). Jesus is not telling you today to stay silent. After His resurrection, He commissioned His disciples. Jesus said, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18020 [NASB]).

The Messiah already is. His existence on earth and in heaven cannot be dismissed.

Will you dismiss your salvation? Will you dismiss Jesus’ commission of you?

Poverty and Excess

Consider harvest season. Some years, an overabundance of produce grows and is more than the farmer and his workers need. They spent days, maybe weeks, picking and still the vines, stalks, and plants need more harvesting. What happens with that excess food? Does it stay on the main plant then spoil? What does the story of Jesus feed the 5000+ people teach us for this scenario?

Today, as I read John 6:1-12 of Jesus’ miracle of feeding 5000 men plus women and children, verse twelve struck me. I never fully noticed it until today. Here is what it says.

“When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, ‘Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.’" [NIV]

Many people had followed Jesus around the Sea of Galilee. Other people heard about Jesus from the people who followed Him around the sea also followed. These people had seen or heard of the miracles Jesus had done. They wanted to know about this man who does miracles and see what He would do next.

Jesus recognized these people had been with Him all day and had probably not eaten. He cared enough for them to make sure they ate. Jesus asked Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this to test Philip because He knew what He would do. Philip figured they could not buy enough to feed all these people. It would cost more money than they could earn in eight months. Philip used human reasoning and did not think outside his understanding. Why did Jesus ask this question of Philip?

Andrew brought a boy to Jesus who had five loaves of bread and two fish. He must have gone among the people asking if anyone had food. This young boy readily offered what he had. Andrew took the boy to Jesus and offered all he had found, basically asking Jesus, “Is this enough?”

Jesus did three things. He asked the people to sit. He prayed over the five loaves of bread. Next, He prayed over the two fish. Jesus gave thanks to God for supplying food. He also must have prayed thanking the Father for giving Him another teaching moment to the people. Jesus would show the people God’s care for them. He would show them another miracle. Finally, Jesus would command His disciples to gather the leftovers. Why was food left over after over 5000 people ate five loaves and two fish? Why would Jesus ask His disciples to pick up the leftovers? What did He expect the disciples to do with them?

Four questions arose in this passage in John 6:1-12. Why did Jesus ask Philip where they could buy enough bread to feed these 5000+ people? Possibly, He asked him to test his faith and grow him. Possibly, Jesus wanted Philip to remember the miracles He had done before and conclude Jesus is the Messiah and can do anything. We realize Jesus wanted Philip to grow beyond his understanding and reasoning. He wanted him to think outside his own box. Jesus wanted Philip to apply what he had seen and learned from and about Him to everyday moments. How often do we encounter a problem and our first thought is, “I cannot figure out how to take care of this?” We need to grow like Jesus was leading Philip to grow. Instead of looking at what we know and what we can do, we need to recognize who Jesus is and what He can do. Instead of looking to our own resources and the problem, we need to look at the Savior, the solution, and the giver of grace.

The next three questions that arose in this story comes from verse twelve. Let me remind you of them. Why was food left over after over 5000 people ate five loaves and two fish? Why would Jesus ask His disciples to pick up the leftovers? What did He expect the disciples to do with them?

Why was food left? The simple answer is because God supplies overabundantly more than we can ever think or imagine. (Ephesians 3:20) This excess food made it possible for every person there to have their hunger satisfied. These people did not take a nibble so each person could be sure to have some. They each took enough and had no hunger left. One other thing comes from this, too. Later in John 6, Jesus told people He is the bread of life. The bread Jesus thanked God for in verse eleven was real, but it also foretold of Jesus being the Bread of Life. (v 35) Jesus is the Bread of Life that is superabundant and sufficient to save every person that seeks Him, confesses Him as the Son of God, and confesses his/her sins. To answer the question, bread was leftover because God superabundantly supplied enough for each person have satisfaction in their mortal bodies and for eternity if they would accept it.

The next question is why would Jesus ask His disciples to pick up the leftovers? If every person no longer had hunger, why carry food that would spoil within a day? We must consider again what Jesus had been doing. He had shown His power by doing miracles. People swarmed to see the man who did miracles and to see if He would do more. Jesus used these miracles to glorify God by telling them who He is and why He came to earth. He came so all people can receive forgiveness of their sins and He can make them righteous. Jesus came to redeem people from sin and death so they could be God’s child and live in His kingdom forever. Back to the original question. Jesus asked His disciples to pick up the leftovers because God always supplies superabundantly. He uses everything He supplies to bring Him glory so more people receive salvation. What did this mean for the 12 disciples? I think Jesus realized these disciples would meet more people who were physically hungry. When they told these people where the food came from, some would trust in Jesus as the Son of God and receive salvation. Just as Jesus used miracles to give God glory and tell people the Gospel, He expected His disciples to do the same. He provided God-given food, fish and bread, and He told them why He came to earth. So, I think Jesus gave them the twelve baskets of food to begin to teach them how to be fishers of men. This answers the question of what Jesus expected the disciples to do with the leftover food.

Now how does this passage apply to us today 2000 years later? We each live in a world where problems occur. Most of us will try to solve those problems within the scope of how we understand them and of our ability and reasoning. I suggest we do as Jesus tried to teach Philip; first take the problem to God. Let Him tell you how He wants the solution to occur. God may want you to let Him solve it in amazing ways that people will recognize they could not do so no doubt arises about from whom the solution came. He may also use any of us to solve a problem with His knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. God will tell us exactly what to do. How do we know what to do when we encounter a problem? Pray to God and keep praying until either He solves it, or He tells you what to do. Sometimes He will tell you to do something at that moment, to wait, or not to do anything. Other times, God may seem not to hear you and you wonder if He even cares. Those are the times to make sure you stay closely connected with God in prayer. Do not give up. God said He would never leave us or forsake us. (Deuteronomy 31:6 and Hebrews 13:5)

We can apply this passage to our lives in another way. If you are a Christian, you are a disciple of Jesus. The lessons He taught the disciples who walked with Him on earth were not just for them. They are for all His followers over the millennia. God gives superabundantly. He gives what each person needs to help us tell people about Him. God gives us what we need to minister to people physically and emotionally, too. Those twelve baskets of leftover food the disciples picked up are still available for us to help people and tell them about God. God’s grace is superabundant. He will supply all their needs and the needs of His disciples. He did this with the broken body of Jesus, the bread broken for us and the blood shed for us to receive forgiveness of sins, redemption from slavery to sin and death, and eternal life. What superabundance has God given you and told you to go out and tell others about Him? Have you kept it for yourself in case you have an emergency or are you using it to bring God glory and lead people to know Jesus as their Savior?

Jesus’ disciples carried twelve baskets of leftover food that day, and, I think, metaphorically for all the days of the rest of their lives. Literally, they carried baskets of leftover food superabundantly given by God when Jesus prayed over it. I think they carried it until they completely gave it all. The disciples probably used the food to tell people about Jesus. When the literal twelve baskets of food became empty, I believe the disciples naturally told people about Jesus because it had become a habit. It once was a practiced discipline but became a habit they did without always knowing. At first, they may have questioned Jesus about picking up the twelve baskets of leftover food. The farmer and his workers with the superabundance of food in the fields represents the disciples. They had more food than they knew how to use. They prayed and God told them He had a reason for this overabundant harvest. People in their part of the nation went to bed hungry every night. The farmer and his workers may not have been able to fathom that since they had so much. Upon seeking God and understanding His purposes, the farmer and workers began putting the excess food into baskets to take to hungry people. As they gave each basket of food to a person or family, they took the time to tell them from where the food came, told them God cares for them, and told them of Jesus’ love for them so much He died to save them from their sins and death. This farmer and his workers received a superabundance because God knew people were hungry for physical and spiritual food. They prayed and thanked God asking what He wanted them to do with the excess of God’s grace. God gives superabundantly to each person at some time because of His grace. We should seek Him and His will. Thank Him for the excess He gave. Then, we should ask God how He wants to use our excess to tell other people about Him.

Bring God glory as you bear the weight of His superabundant excess of grace and provisions.

Lord, You are generous with us and sometimes we do not see it. We are not grateful for everything You have given us. Help us see everything we have as a gift from You. Help us be thankful. Lord, teach us how you want this abundance to be used. Help us see we cannot just assume we should keep everything You give us. Lord, teach us You are giving us tools to help meet physical needs while telling them of You, who will meet their spiritual needs. Help us be unselfish and to be bold in telling Your Gospel to people. Make us more like You for Your service and glory. Amen.

Who do You say I am?

“When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?’” (John 21:15-19 [ESV])

We’ve all heard teachers and preachers teach that the second time Jesus confronted Peter and asked him three times, "Do you love Me," He was reinstating Peter as his disciple. A new thought came to mind as I read this passage. This questioning by Jesus caused Peter to decide and state for himself and for those listening the depth of his love and devotion to Jesus.

Before Peter denied being one of Jesus' disciples after His arrest, he had followed Jesus when his brother Andrew introduced him to Him. Peter, Andrew, James, and John followed Jesus when He commanded them to follow Him at the start of His ministry (Mark 1). These men and other people watched Jesus heal people, cleanse them from demons, and teach with authority. More and more people followed Jesus, but these four men and the other eight disciples did not stop following Jesus, except for Judas when he betrayed Him. When Jesus commanded Andrew, Simon Peter, James, and John to follow Him on the first day of ministry, they did it from instinct. This man, Jesus of Nazareth, was compelling.

On the day Jesus restored him, Peter concluded for himself he would follow Jesus. He did this because of his own conviction of who Jesus is (the Son of God) and because of his love for Jesus. Peter, with his affirmations to Jesus' three questions in John 21:15-19, internally devoted himself and externally testified to those listening of his decision to follow Jesus.

Today, we each must decide for ourselves. Are we following Jesus because we are part of a crowd of people who want to see what He will do? Or are we following Jesus because we affirm He is the Son of God Who takes away the sin of the world and we dedicate ourselves to Him out of love and devotion to Him?

Today is the day for you to decide for yourself who Jesus is to you - the Son of God or a charismatic man. What is your decision?

Lord, You are God above all things and You died to save me from my sins. Forgive me for denying You when You tell me to do or say something. Forgive me this rebellion. Help me to stand firmly stating You are my Lord and Savior. Let the words I speak, the actions I do, and the thoughts that go through my mind, attest to Your Lordship in my life and lead people to seek You as their Lord and Savior. Use my life for Your purposes and glory. Amen.

Life and Breath

Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe?” (John 16:31 [ESV])

Imagine you work for a diving company and your job is to teach people how to dive and to lead them on underwater adventures. One day, you forget to check the air in your air tank. You take people for a dive and within ten minutes, while you are deep in the ocean, you realize your air tank is empty. When you realize this, you panic then make excited motions for everyone to surface, but you don’t have enough oxygen to surface without getting decompression sickness; you get the “bends.” Sometimes people die when this happens.

Christians can get the “bends,” too. We forget to check with our source of Life and salvation each day and moment, then live in our own strength. We run into problems and wonder why that happens since we are Christians. The problems come because we walk in our own strength instead of seeking God who is our Source of life and strength.

As Christians, we know salvation from God came at a moment in time. Many of us remember the date on which we asked Jesus to be our Savior and Lord. Salvation is not only in the past but is also in our present and future. Only God can save us, and He gives us the power to continue to be saved from sin today and have the hope of eternity with Him. Still, many of us say to ourselves, “Okay, I’m saved, now I can go about my life. God’s got me.” God saved us from hell, but we must work out our salvation. We must put shoes on it and live it out. Jesus told His disciples in John 14:23-24,

If anyone loves Me, he will keep my word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. Whoever does not love Me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me. [ESV]

Jesus equated obedience to Him and the Father as love. He said if you love Me, you will obey Me. In John 8:31-32, Jesus told the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” [ESV]

These statements by Jesus are often starkly different to how we live our lives. We think we’ve been saved, so let’s get on with the business of living. When decisions need to be made, we consider ourselves able to make those choices either from our own intellect or the counsel of friends, professionals, or the internet. “Why bother God with everyday needs. I’ve got it,” we may say within ourselves. Or, another possibility is that we’ve heard from God, had a vision, and proceeded to work as He led us, then we just got into the task to which God told us to work and broke off communication with Him. We don’t talk to Him daily about the work, praying over it for guidance, safety, and provision. We get into the rote task of just doing the work. This, too, is not working out our salvation, as Paul spoke of it in Philippians 2:12-13. In this passage, Paul said,

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence, but much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. [ESV]

Keeping God’s word, that is obeying Him, shows our love for Him. When we get lost in the myriad tasks of living, we forget to seek Him and His will, and instead do the next best thing we know. When we do that, we show our limited love of God. If instead we keep God’s word, we put shoes on our faith in God and work out our salvation. The purpose of working out our salvation is to grow more in our relationship with God, become more Christlike, and show/tell others about Jesus. Paul said to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. We realize our salvation only comes from God through Jesus. It doesn’t come from ourselves. We recognize God’s might, sovereignty, and mercy. We come before Him in awe and reverence of who He is. On top of this, we realize what we can’t ever do. We cannot save ourselves, but we can grow in our relationship with God and show our love to Him by obeying Him and living out His love and salvation so the people of the world can know about Him. This is working out our salvation.

Today, the questions for us Christians are: Do you love God? Do you obey Him? Do you seek Him daily to grow your relationship with Him and to live each moment of your day in His strength and power and with His wisdom and understanding doing His will? Alternatively, did you believe in God for salvation, but then only speak to Him in dire emergencies? Did you listen to Him tell you what to do, what ministry He wanted you to join Him in, then not turn to Him for daily guidance? That creates burn-out and frustration with the people to whom you are ministering. Possibly you are thinking, “Those people are ungrateful; they don’t try to help themselves by learning what I am teaching them. They just want me to keep giving and helping but do nothing for themselves.” Stop. Consider what you are thinking or saying. That is not God’s attitude. You’ve forgotten to go to the Source of your vision, resources, guidance, and love. Instead of having the mind of Christ, you follow the thoughts of your own mind. Consider what Paul said of the mind of Christ in Philippians 2:5-11. He said Jesus was humble. He emptied Himself by becoming a servant in the likeness of man. Jesus was obedient to God even to the point of dying on a cross. Is that the mind you have? Do you love the Father so much you would obey Him in anything? Do you hear His voice in prayer, Bible study, and preaching? Have you humbled yourself to do God’s will?

Loving God, obeying Him, and having the mind of Christ come from working out your salvation. Without seeking to love God daily, living will lead you to get the “bends” like scuba divers can get. You can’t have breath without Life, and you can’t have Life without breath. God gave and gives us life and breath. One without the other is not living; it’s gasping for breath. Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known my Father also.” (John 14:6-7a [ESV])

All Christians should be working out their salvation. If you aren’t, you need to ask yourself if you truly know Jesus and the Father.

Loving God leads to working out your salvation.

Working out your salvation means loving God.

 You can’t have one without the other.

If you are not a Christian, today you can make that decision. Recognize Jesus is the Son of God who came to die the death penalty for your sins. Confess your sins and repent of them. Ask Jesus to forgive you. Give Him your life to be your Savior and Lord. If you made this decision today, contact me through messaging or through the contact form on my website. I want to pray for you and connect you with a Bible-based church, if possible.

Lord, I made a decision to follow You, but sometimes I end up thinking of answers for myself and looking to guidance from within myself. I consider I am smart enough to do what You ask, and I forget to seek You for guidance even on the miniscule decisions that need to be made. I’ve not been working out my salvation. I’ve not been loving You through obedience to You. Forgive me for forgetting You or for putting You on the sidelines of my life. I need You every moment of each day otherwise I am not living; I’m just gasping for air. Lord, help me work out my salvation with fear and trembling. Help me remember You and to seek Your will in all things. Use me to tell someone about You and to help them in Your name. Forgive me of my sins of independence and making myself more important that You. You are sovereign God, the One who knows all things, has all power, and does good in all things. I am sinful and do not. I am not You. Lord, here’s my life again; I give it back to You. Amen.