But thank God, for His love is meant to be personal, pervasive and persuasive. “For God so loved the world He gave His One and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish instead have eternal life,” John 3:16.
During time spent with Holy Spirit before I left for church, these three words entered my thoughts – Love, Passion and Suffering. Of course, the first Scripture that came to mind was John 3:16: For God so loved the world….My first thought for passion went toward Mel Gibson’s movie “The Passion of the Christ.” There is no doubt this movie depicted the suffering Jesus was made to endure. Holy Spirit always points to Jesus, to God’s Word, and Hebrews 5:8-9 has caused me to ponder and consider the understanding and revelation Holy Spirit desires to impart.
Although Jesus was a Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered. And, His completed experience making Him perfectly equipped, He became the Author and Source of eternal salvation to all those who give heed and obey Him – Amplified version of Hebrews 5:8-9.
This blog may seem a bit disjointed, but my intention is to share the direction of my thoughts before applying myself to seek the direction Holy Spirit intends for me to follow. So many thoughts swirling in my mind, it’s easy to become overwhelmed trying to figure out an order of importance in which to share my heart. This Scripture from first Corinthians 15:46 may help you better understand, “It is not the spiritual life which came first, but the physical and then the spiritual.”
Because our very nature has been tainted by sin, we are prideful individuals with our heart and soul inclined in the direction of self-service. We start at a place where we know of God, but just like we know some things about people of renown we will not gain entrance into either of their worlds unless a personal relationship is shared.
Our lives are based on how our personal experiences shape our system of beliefs, how we think and feel. The world has the power to not only confine us physically but also spiritually by infecting our soul, our heart and mind by and with its evil deceptions, scheming and deeds. There is most definitely a source of Good and Evil. The problem we all face is our pridefulness. Our heart fills us with self-awareness, self-importance, self-indulgence destined to be self-absorbed narcists if not for knowledge of Good.
Unfortunately, the knowledge of Good must be taught since we are not naturally designed to be thoughtful of Good instead of selfish desire. Why? Well, it was Jesus Who said, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone,” Mark 10:18. Jesus was addressing His manhood not His divinity. However, if asked people repeatedly assert, they will be invited into heaven because they are a good person. A good person who lies and steals and murders with weapons or words…how is it possible for a perfectly imperfect person to enter perfection. Just as impossible as inserting a square object into a circular mold. Impossible without reshaping, without the transformation of that square’s appearance.
The physical came first not the spiritual because we gave up the right to walk with God when the choice was made to be like Him and possess the knowledge of Good and Evil. From the very beginning God spoke Truth to protect man (Adam) from all the evil deception can breed. The world has so distorted our view of love and passion by pulling it down to the level of an insignificant feeling that is so easily swayed and ultimately altered by self-interest. Yet, we continue to take a self-righteous stance and believe we are right.
However, our beliefs are established on the shifting sands of ever changing thoughts and opinions and feelings. Sadly, we can find ourselves toppled as the rug is pulled out from under us, when what is experienced turns our world upside down. Our beliefs are filled with error absent or missing a portion of what is essential the Truth.
This week’s podcast is the sixth message assembled from the Gospel of John. Previous podcasts were developed as I sought knowledge of the meaning of names Matthew, Mark, Luke and the gospels they wrote. I thought like the others John would be one message, one podcast but Holy Spirit had different plans, like I said this podcast will be number six in reference to the name John and what he shared about God’s Word.
I’m not sure why. All I can do is share the thoughts that come to me as Holy Spirit prompts them. John 13:20 tells us what Jesus said at that Last Supper, “I tell you the truth, whoever accepts Me accepts the One Who sent Me.” After He had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray Me.” His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them He meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to the Lord. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask Him which one He means.”
John was reclined not just in a bodily position but in a heart-felt position of humility honoring Jesus as Lord. John came to know through personal experience Jesus didn’t just speak the Truth, Jesus was the Truth, He was the Way to find the entrance into God’s Kingdom, because Jesus is the Gate that opens so we can enter. Jesus is the Life found in God’s Word since as John wrote: In the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. Through Jesus all things were made. Without the power and authority of God’s Word nothing was made that has been made. In Christ is life, and that life is the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it (John 1:1).
The darkness cannot understand God’s Word of Truth because the only One powerful enough to alter the appearance of darkness is the Light of the World, Christ Jesus, the Word of Life of Truth of Peace and Grace. The Word of Love, of God and His Acceptance, of Hope and Contentment. God’s Word, Christ Jesus, gives us the privilege to know, to experience the wonder, the awe, the reverence the Fear of the Lord bestows.
To know Jesus is to know the One Who sent Him. To know, to accept, to believe God’s ways are higher than ours. His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. As the rain comes down and returns without watering the earth, so it lives and yields seed for the sower. So too does God’s Word accomplish what He desires and achieves the purpose for which His Word is sent (Isaiah 55:8).
When we place our faith and trust in God and in His Word, we will go out in joy no matter the circumstances because the joy of the Lord is now our strength (Nehemiah 8:10). When we humble ourselves to recline at the feet of Jesus, God’s Word will lead us forth with peace of mind and peace of heart because we know it doesn’t make a difference what man can do to us (Psalm 56:11), they can’t snatch us from the hand of God (John 10:29).
My prayer is for Holy Spirit to free us from everything that keeps us from fully embracing and being filled with the Truth, Christ Jesus, God’s Word of Promise, the great YES and AMEN. So, the light of His countenance can shine on us. So, the Truth can demolish every ounce of error throughout the system of our beliefs so we can receive all the blessings God bestows to a heart humbled by His goodness, by His loving-kindness.
Many years ago, I set out on a personal pilgrimage to acquire as much knowledge as I could about Jesus from as many Christian leaders that were pointed out to me. Of course, I also began studying the Bible; however, being a visual learner, I had to seek Holy Spirit’s creative assistance. I hope my attempt to paint a picture of the meaning within the message of this blog with words is successful.
There is no better way to describe the panoramic beauty of a sunrise than stunning. Well, there is no better way to describe the dawning of the Light of the Truth within a soul than absolutely awesome. An experience that gives rise to a sense of awe to think our miracle-working God would make known His concern, His interest for our personal well-being – body, soul and spirit. To make known His desire for our interest and concern to be peaked by the stunning difference of Evil working against us and Good working for us so we would recognize the radiant beauty of the Fear of the Lord. An experience like no other, for the Fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding (Proverbs 9:10).
As Psalm 111 tells us: All who follow God’s Word will gain good understanding of the Truth, for the works of the Lord’s hands are faithful and just; all His judgments and decrees are trustworthy. They stand steadfast established forever and ever, done in truth and uprightness. He provided redemption for His people and ordained His covenant forever – holy is His name, inspiring awe, reverence and godly fear. A good understanding, wisdom and meaning have all those who do the will of the Lord. Their praise of Him endures forever.
Lord, consider their threats
And enable Your servants to speak Your Word
With great boldness.
Stretch out Your hand to heal
And perform miraculous signs and wonders
Through the name of Your holy servant Jesus
Acts 4:29-30