The Challenge --- Day 164

Today's Scripture: John 17
[Click the reference above to read online... or open up your Bible...]

"Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son

that the Son may glorify you..."

John 17:1

God the Father glorifies God the Son, so God the Son may glorify God the Father.

To glorify is to cause someone to have glorious greatness (Louw-Nida Greek Lexicon).

We've read three gospels already, so we know what comes next: Jesus's unjust arrest, beating, mocking, and crucifixion... the hour has come... 

Jesus is glorified in laying down His life for others. 

Jesus is glorified in suffering.

Jesus is glorified through obedience to the Father, even unto death on a cross.

And in turn... Father God is glorified by Jesus.

Jesus says of His disciples and those who will believe...

"... The glory that you have given me I have given to them,

that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me,

that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know

that you sent me and loved them as you loved me. ..."

John 17:22-23

Just as Jesus was glorified through suffering, we are too.

Just as Jesus glorified the Father through suffering, we do too.
Sons of God, brothers of Jesus, look like Him.

And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me,

let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. ..."

Luke 9:23 ESV

It is through our loving obedience to the Father through the Son to willingly enter into suffering on behalf of another that we are glorified and we glorify Him.

As we glorify Him, we reveal who He is to the world that they may know His love.

"... Greater love has no one than this,

that someone lay down his life for his friends. ..." ---Jesus

John 15:13 ESV

Are you willing to suffer for others that they might see Him? believe that He came? because He loved them?

Suffering seems an odd way to be glorified or to bring glory to God, but in a broken world that is the way it works.

For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist,

in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder

of their salvation perfect through suffering.

Hebrews 2:10 ESV

Ask Him to prepare your heart to suffer for others.

Ask Him to prepare your heart to embrace the privilege of suffering for others.

Ask Him for the faith and trust to obey in the opportunities He sets before you to suffer for others.

Let's make Jesus's prayer our prayer:

O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you... 

I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known,

that the love with which you have loved me may be in them...

Amen.

The Challenge -- Day 163

Today's Scripture: John 16:16-33
[We're coming close to the end of our journey through the gospels. You know what to do. Open up the Word through your Bible or by clicking the reference above.]

Jesus has been preparing His disciples for this moment...

"A little while, and you will see me no longer;

and again a little while, and you will see me."

John 16:16

But they could not understand... What is He saying to us?

Through Jesus we discover God's grace in preparing us for what's to come, what lies ahead. We just don't always get it.

There was a time in my life He prepared me for something He knew was coming. For a season of several weeks, months, I felt His call to fast several hours a day, several days a week.

I had no idea why. Previous to this time, the call to fast also came with a call to pray. But not this time. Through these days I felt a little crazy. Was this me? Is it Him? The pressing to fast continued, and by faith I chose to obey.

During this time He revealed some issues in my heart with food. It was one place I went for comfort and solace, instead of Him. In the exercise of fasting, He revealed how I worshiped the clock for the hour of fasting to conclude for the day rather than seeking my strength from Him. Through the spiritual discipline of fasting He revealed and corrected skewed places in my heart.

The day came when I walked into Target and did not feel the need to buy and eat their popcorn (one thing I've really loved!). I was content just to enjoy the aroma. The moment surprised me... something had changed in me.

A few days after this moment came the call from the doctor's office. Glucose intolerant... decrease the carbohydrates you eat... check your blood sugar... schedule an appointment in three months...

My life was radically changed when it came to my eating habits. The diagnosis completely unexpected. After the shock wore off, my thoughts went to the last few months of struggling with fasting. My heart cried out... You knew this was coming...!

Yes, He knew and He prepared me for the change I would have to make.

He still prepares His people for what's coming. We just don't always understand.

The best we can do is listen, trust, and obey. Even when it doesn't make sense, and we feel a little crazy in the process.

Father God, thank You for preparing me for what is to come.

Bless me with the faith to trust and obey, even when I don't understand.

I want to be prepared.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.

Proverbs 3:5 ESV

The Challenge -- Day 162

Today's Scripture: John 15:18 - 16:15
[Open up the Word, either in your Bible or click the reference to read online.]

"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. ..."

John 16:12

God has many things to say to us, but He waits for just the right time. There are some things we are just not ready to hear, we are unable to bear them.

The Greek translated as bear is bastazo. According to the Louw-Nida Greek Lexicon it means: to accept, but with the implication of the truth being difficult to comprehend or to respond to properly --- 'to accept, to receive.'

God knows our hearts. He knows the amount of faith He has blessed us with. He knows when we are ready to accept and receive His truth and when we are not.

There's an amazing amount of grace in His holding back teaching until we are ready. He longs for us to succeed in this walk of faith. He does not want to give us more than we can handle. He is our loving Father who watches our growth and offers us new teaching when we are ready to bear it... walk in it.

No father would teach his infant how to buckle themselves in their carseat.
No father would hand the car keys to a 4 year old and begin teaching them to drive.
Or suggest a 6 year old learn to change a flat tire.
They're just not ready.

Our heavenly Father knows when our hearts are ready to bear the next step in our spiritual growth. He reveals truth as we're ready to actually walk in it.

We too need to offer grace to others, because we are all at different places in our faith journeys. You may look at someone and not understand what they are doing, even if they tried to share what God has called them to. Or you may see someone who looks like they're not doing anything, but maybe they just haven't grown to the same place as you.

God knows our hearts and He loves each of us as a Father.
He gives each of us teaching as we are prepared to walk in it.
Trust Him with what He's teaching you, and don't judge where others are in their teaching.

It is by grace we are saved.
Let's pour out grace on each other, just as we have received.
In just a little while, you may receive the teaching that helps you understand where someone else is in their walk, and be able to be gracious with those who are more spiritually immature.

Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another?

It is before his own master that he stands or falls. 

And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

Romans 14:4 ESV

Father God, thank You for Your teaching which comes at the right time.

Thank You for the guidance of the Spirit of truth. Bless me with the grace

to not question or judge where others are in their walk with You.

You alone are able to uphold each one of us as we grow in faith.

Thank You for Your grace.

The Challenge -- Day 161

Today's Scripture: John 15:1-17
[Be sure to read the passage before the words below. If you only have time to read one or the other, choose His words not ours. Click the reference above to read online.]

"... You did not choose me, but I chose you..."

John 15:16

God chooses His followers; we do not choose Him first.

If you are a follower of God: Father, Son, Spirit you are chosen.

For He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world,
to be holy and blameless in His sight.

Ephesians 1:4 HCSB

If you are chosen, you are appointed to bear much fruit.

...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,

kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control...

Galatians 5:22-24 ESV

Of course, the only way to be fruitful is to abide in Christ, live your life in Him.

"... I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me

and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me

you can do nothing. ..."

John 15:5

As a chosen one, if you choose to live your life apart from Him, you will not bear fruit for His Kingdom. Those who are not fruitful are cut off.

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.

Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away..."

John 15:1

You have been chosen.

Live the life you were chosen to live.

Abide in Him every moment of every day.

Lord, thank You for choosing me.

Help me to choose to live in You every day.

Every moment of every day.

I want to be fruitful for Your Kingdom.

The Challenge -- Day 160

Today's Scripture: John 14
[Click the reference to read above or open up your Bible.]

There is one God and He has made only one Way to Himself.

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through me. ..."

John 14:6

There are many rooms being prepared for those who believe. But only one Way to get to those rooms.

Some teachers in the church today say there is more than one way. Some even say everyone will have a place there. But that's not what Jesus says.

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter

the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my

Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me,

'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out

demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?'

And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you;

depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.' ..."

Matthew 7:21-23 ESV

Jesus is the only Way to the only God.

Those who know Him love Him, obey Him, and know the Way.

Do you know the Way?

Father God, do not let me be deceived by the lies of the world.

Do not let me be led astray into believing there is another way.

I want to love You as Your Word says. Teach me Your commands,

I want to follow Your Way.

"Lord, to whom shall we go?

You have the words of eternal life..."

John 6:68 ESV