The Humility of a Shower

I look at the scene in John 13 with a moved and humbled heart.  I look and I see as Jesus sits with His disciples during what is to be His last week of His earthly ministry, with much conviction.  If this is what love is, my life is far from reflecting it.  If this is what humility is, I need a major reality check.

We see from this account in John, the "full extent of His love." (13:1)

During the evening meal with His disciples, which I'm sure was considered a sacred time, Jesus did the one of two unexpected things, the first: stand up (2-4)

Let's think about that again.

Spurgeon on "Reading The Bible"

If this be the Word of God, what will become of some of you who have not read it for the last month? “Month, sir! I have not read it for this year.” Ay, there are some of you who have not read it at all. Most people treat the Bible very politely. They have a small pocket volume, neatly bound, they put a white pocket-handkerchief around it, and carry it to their places of worship. When they get home, they lay it up in a drawer till next Sunday morning; then it comes out again for a little bit of a treat and goes to chapel; that is all the poor Bible gets in the way of an airing. That is your style of entertaining this Heavenly messenger. There is dust enough on some of your Bibles to write “damnation” with your fingers . There are some of you who have not turned over your Bibles for a long, long, long while, and what think you? I tell you blunt words, but true words. What will God say at last? When you shall come before him, he shall say, “Did you read my Bible?” “No.” I wrote you a letter of mercy; did you read it?” “No.” “Rebel! I have sent you a letter inviting you to me: did you ever read it?” “Lord I never broke the seal; I kept it shut up.” “Wretch!”, says God, “then you deserves Hell, if I sent you a loving epistle and you would not even break the seal: what shall I do to you?” Oh! let it not be so with you. Be Bible readers; be Bible searchers.

"If you think the worship services are too long now, wait till you get to Heaven, it'll last forever."

Pursuing The Promise Of Purity

Purity has became both a major topic in the Church as well as a major blind spot with the Body.  Most Christians don't seem to put pure purity at the of "list" for Christians.  "That's for Pastors," they say.

But this is not what Scripture says.

For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. ~1 Thess. 4:7

But don't work that purity doesn't purity doesn't come through our persistence, but purity comes when passion for it begins to purely trust in the promises of God.

"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires." ~2 Peter 1:3-4

While sinless perfection is out of reach for the Christian this side of Glory, the Word tells us plainly that our pursuit for purity is not in vain.  "not only has God given us all we need for Godliness", but Peter also tells us we have His promises to rely on.

What promises are these?  Well, let's look at a few:

He promises to keep His Children blameless untill He returns.  (Jude 24-25)

He has the power to began the work He began in our salvation. (Phil 1:6)

God ALONE has the power to "sanctify us through and through" (1 Thess. 5:23-24)

Do we not realize that our holiness it is graded on the Cross?  Hebrews 10:14 says that "by one sacrifice God has made perfect forever, those who are being made Holy."  Realize today that if you have truly been born again in Christ, you'll battle against sin has already been won.

Christ defeated sin, death, Hell and condemnation.  Those whom He calls He not only justifies, but glorifies! (Romans 8:29-30).

If you haven't repented of your sins and put your Trust in Christ, do so.  There is eternal life, victory through His blood and His resurrection, and freedom from the bondage of sin.

Remember, today, to set your mind on things above, and flee immorality, pursue God. (Phil. 4:8-9,  2 Tim. 2:22)

Pursue the Promise Of The Purity.  God is faithful to grant it too you.  (1 Thess. 5:24)

"Angels Long To Look On Such Things!"

 "...Even angels long to look into these things" ~1 Peter 1:12

"Angels longing?"  What a marvelous thought?  What could Angels, who work and minister for us in the presence of God (Hebrews 1:14), long to look into?

Well, let's look in the context of the verse.

1 Peter 1:3-12-

  ³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, ⁵ who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶ In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. ⁷ These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. ⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹ for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

¹⁰Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care,¹¹trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow.¹²It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.

 This passage makes is clear what they long to look upon, the Gospel we have received.  Think about it.  Jesus didn't die for angels, He didn't suffer for angels, God didn't adopt angels, God doesn't call, sanctify, justify to angels.  God doesn't put Himself into the hearts of angels through the Holy Spirit.

God loves humanity though we in no way deserve it.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." ~John 3:16

Today, maybe you're not a Christian and you're reading this.  Even though you are a dirty condemned sinner, God is inviting you too new life, to be adopted into His family and too be saved for the coming wrath of Hell that is deserved by all who have sinned.  (1 Thess. 1:9-10)

Repent (turn from your sin) and put your Trust in Christ and His work on the Cross (Matt 26-28) and recieve what angels long to look upon, the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

If you are a Christian, give your God praise this day that He came into your life today and did what only He could, save you from yourself.  Give God praise this Sabbath, because He is the Only One worthy of your praise, affection and devotion.  And, brother or sister in Christ, don't forget the cost of rejecting such a great Salvation (Hebrews 2:15)  Let us dedicate our lives to making His Gospel known to everyone, everywhere in every tribe, tongue, and nation. (Mark 16:15, Matt. 28:19-20, Acts 1:8)
 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— ²⁵ to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. ~Jude 24-25

Happy Easter! He IS Risen!

Matthew 28

Jesus Has Risen

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

The Guards’ Report

While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

The Great Commission

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said,“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Today's verse for April 7th, 2012:

"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
~2 Corinthians 5:21

In Christ, we live the EXCHANGED Life!

Good Friday

Surely he took up our pain

and bore our suffering, 

yet we considered him punished by God, 

stricken by him, and afflicted. 

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, 

he was crushed for our iniquities; 

the punishment that brought us peace was on him, 

and by his wounds we are healed. 

6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, 

each of us has turned to our own way; 

and the LORD has laid on him 

the iniquity of us all. ~Isaiah 53:4-6 

"For God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." ~John 3:16

It's Thursday of Holy Week. Let us not us forget what it's all about...

Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’? 20 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. 23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. ~John 16:19-24

Follow this link to read about what happened on Thursday of Holy Week.

Today's Verse for April 4th, 2012:

"Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends."
~John 15:13

Above is a short message from Tony Miano, if you get time, check it out!

Today's Post For April 3 2012

"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and
sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."
~ 1 John 4:10

A Verse A Day To Celebrate!

Starting today I will be posting a verse a day leading up to Resurrection Sunday in honor of Christ and His victory over sin death and Hell to offer us eternal life instead of the eternal judgement we deserve.

Sunday I will also be posting a link to a mini 30 minutes movie called "Road To Emmaus" that I would challenge any believers or skeptics to take time out to watch (whether on Easter of after.)

Please feel free to share these verses, or share others to join in the celebration!

God Bless you all.