ListenDaily - 29 May 2009: The True Vine
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. John 15:1-8 NKJV (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
What a powerful passage this is! I would like to spend a few days with it. When we were studying John 8:31-32, my good friend Melissa alerted me to the usage of the word 'abide' in the NKJV, and she also referred to this passage, which has been the inspiration behind this study.
Jesus says: “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser."
Interesting...the Father -- the Vinedresser -- 'planted' the Vine here on Earth.
He grew, He grew in wisdom and stature.
He began His ministry, and His Body began to grow. He added 'branches', James, Peter, Mary, Martha -- later came Paul -- later you began to grow on the Vine.
How does that make you feel?.
Abide...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. How do you imagine Jesus as the Vine? 2. How do you see yourself attached to Him? 3. How do you abide?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"The branch of the vine does not worry,and toil,
and rush here to seek for sunshine, and there to find rain.
No; it rests in union and communion with the vine;
and at the right time, and in the right way,
is the right fruit found on it. Let us so abide in the Lord Jesus."
Hudson Taylor
Friday, May 29, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
ListenDaily - 27 May 2009: One in the Three
ListenDaily - 27 May 2009: One in the Three
“If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” John 14:15-21 NKJV (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
Part of this passage very much echoes what we studied in John 8, where Jesus talked about 'abiding in His teaching'. Here He implores us to keep His commandments.
Then He makes a promise -- that He will intercede for us and that the Father will send the Spirit to abide with us. The language here is beautiful:
“...the Father...will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you...
...I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you...you will see Me.
...you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.
...And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”
The Son reaches out to the Father, who sends the Spirit to us, each of us -- to you if you ask. The Spirit abides in you. The Spirit is the Spirit of Truth; the Truth is Jesus.
We have read that we can abide in Jesus, and He in us.
Jesus said that He and the Father are one.
And there you are, right in the middle; Father, Son, Spirit, and you.
Abide...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. How do you think it feels to live right in the midst of the Father, Son, and Spirit? 2. How do you imagine this? 3. Do you find this comforting?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"How many are quite unworthy to see the light,
and yet the day dawns."
Seneca
“If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” John 14:15-21 NKJV (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
Part of this passage very much echoes what we studied in John 8, where Jesus talked about 'abiding in His teaching'. Here He implores us to keep His commandments.
Then He makes a promise -- that He will intercede for us and that the Father will send the Spirit to abide with us. The language here is beautiful:
“...the Father...will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you...
...I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you...you will see Me.
...you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.
...And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”
The Son reaches out to the Father, who sends the Spirit to us, each of us -- to you if you ask. The Spirit abides in you. The Spirit is the Spirit of Truth; the Truth is Jesus.
We have read that we can abide in Jesus, and He in us.
Jesus said that He and the Father are one.
And there you are, right in the middle; Father, Son, Spirit, and you.
Abide...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. How do you think it feels to live right in the midst of the Father, Son, and Spirit? 2. How do you imagine this? 3. Do you find this comforting?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"How many are quite unworthy to see the light,
and yet the day dawns."
Seneca
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
ListenDaily - 22 May 2009: You should not abide...
ListenDaily - 22 May 2009: You should not abide...
"Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. Then Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness." John 12:42-46 NKJV (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
Wow, I have read this passage before, but never from this perspective. In the passage from John 8 we read about people who believed in Jesus yet listened to Satan's lies. In this passage we read about those who believed in Him and yet were more concerned about what other people thought. "Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God..." How frustrating that must have been for the One who came to lay down His life; that those for whom He would die would defer to those who did not even care about them. Lord, may we not be guilty of this offense.
“Then Jesus cried out..." How important this is! It caused Jesus to 'cry out'!
“Then Jesus cried out and said 'He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.” This phrase; “I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.” is very thought provoking. Jesus provided, and provides, the Light so that we no longer have to be in darkness. The Light of the world has come, and is available to all believers.
However, as we see in this passage, Jesus was driven to cry out to those who believed and yet were not living in the light! This is a danger for us as well. Just as we have seen earlier that we could believe and not be free, we can also believe and not move out of the darkness. And Jesus warns us; "...whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.” Should not! Don't do it! Do not stay in the darkness anymore...do not abide in the darkness any longer. Jesus cries out to us still -- step out into the light and stay there...abide there.
Abide.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. How does loving "he praise of men more than the praise of God" affect believers today? How does it affect you? Your church? 2. Do you think it is possible to believe in Jesus and remain in the darkness? 3. What does it take to move into the light?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"As in the candle I know there is both light and heat,
but put out the candle, and they are both gone."
John Selden
"If the whole universe has no meaning,
we should never have found that it has no meaning:
just as, if there were no light in the universe and therefore no creatures with eyes,
we should never know it was dark."
C.S. Lewis
"The issue is now clear. It is between light and darkness
and everyone must choose his side."
G.K. Chesterton
"How many are quite unworthy to see the light,
and yet the day dawns."
Seneca
"Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. Then Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness." John 12:42-46 NKJV (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
Wow, I have read this passage before, but never from this perspective. In the passage from John 8 we read about people who believed in Jesus yet listened to Satan's lies. In this passage we read about those who believed in Him and yet were more concerned about what other people thought. "Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God..." How frustrating that must have been for the One who came to lay down His life; that those for whom He would die would defer to those who did not even care about them. Lord, may we not be guilty of this offense.
“Then Jesus cried out..." How important this is! It caused Jesus to 'cry out'!
“Then Jesus cried out and said 'He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.” This phrase; “I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.” is very thought provoking. Jesus provided, and provides, the Light so that we no longer have to be in darkness. The Light of the world has come, and is available to all believers.
However, as we see in this passage, Jesus was driven to cry out to those who believed and yet were not living in the light! This is a danger for us as well. Just as we have seen earlier that we could believe and not be free, we can also believe and not move out of the darkness. And Jesus warns us; "...whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.” Should not! Don't do it! Do not stay in the darkness anymore...do not abide in the darkness any longer. Jesus cries out to us still -- step out into the light and stay there...abide there.
Abide.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. How does loving "he praise of men more than the praise of God" affect believers today? How does it affect you? Your church? 2. Do you think it is possible to believe in Jesus and remain in the darkness? 3. What does it take to move into the light?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"As in the candle I know there is both light and heat,
but put out the candle, and they are both gone."
John Selden
"If the whole universe has no meaning,
we should never have found that it has no meaning:
just as, if there were no light in the universe and therefore no creatures with eyes,
we should never know it was dark."
C.S. Lewis
"The issue is now clear. It is between light and darkness
and everyone must choose his side."
G.K. Chesterton
"How many are quite unworthy to see the light,
and yet the day dawns."
Seneca
Friday, May 22, 2009
ListenDaily - 22 May 2009: Abiding forever
ListenDaily - 22 May 2009: Abiding forever
"Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?” Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. ” John 8:31-3653-58 NKJV (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
We have talked at length about a portion of these verses, but since the 'abiding' thought is used repeatedly I would like to take another look at this passage as a whole, from the 'abiding' perspective.
"Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him..."
This message was for those who had already come to Christ. This, then, is not an evangelism message, but one of discipleship, knowledge, and freedom.
“If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
We have talked about these particular verses at length, but again, abiding in His Word is the key to discipleship, knowledge, and freedom.
They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”
We see that these people, already believers, still failed to recognize the bondage in which they were held captive. They believed in Jesus, yet still believed Satan's lies. Should we not examine ourselves to see if weare in the same predicament? For Jesus went on to say:
Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.
So all of them, and all of us, have been enslaved. The question we must ask ourselves is this; have we begun the freedom process by abiding in His Word?
And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.
This is Good News! We are not freed then turned out on our own; No! We are taken in as children of the King, to live with Him forever!
Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. ”
This freedom does not come about by our doing. The only thing we can do is abide...abide...abide in His Word and let Him in to free us -- and praise God He will!
"Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."
This is Good News! Taking part in Him leads us to eternity with Him.
"For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. Abiding brings us to oneness with Christ, and therefore oneness with all who abide.
Oh, Spirit still my soul that I may abide;
Jesus let me abide in you, and, please Lord, come abide in me.
Father, thank you for welcoming me as through Your Son and Spirit I come to abide with you...forever.
Amen.
Abide.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What does 'abiding' mean to you? 2. How does 'abiding by' compare to 'abiding in'? 3. Do you have any questions?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"But the soul renounced shall abide in
the boundlessness of God's life.
This is liberty, this is prosperity.
The more we lose, the more we gain."
Watchman Nee
"Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?” Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. ” John 8:31-3653-58 NKJV (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
We have talked at length about a portion of these verses, but since the 'abiding' thought is used repeatedly I would like to take another look at this passage as a whole, from the 'abiding' perspective.
"Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him..."
This message was for those who had already come to Christ. This, then, is not an evangelism message, but one of discipleship, knowledge, and freedom.
“If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
We have talked about these particular verses at length, but again, abiding in His Word is the key to discipleship, knowledge, and freedom.
They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”
We see that these people, already believers, still failed to recognize the bondage in which they were held captive. They believed in Jesus, yet still believed Satan's lies. Should we not examine ourselves to see if weare in the same predicament? For Jesus went on to say:
Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.
So all of them, and all of us, have been enslaved. The question we must ask ourselves is this; have we begun the freedom process by abiding in His Word?
And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.
This is Good News! We are not freed then turned out on our own; No! We are taken in as children of the King, to live with Him forever!
Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. ”
This freedom does not come about by our doing. The only thing we can do is abide...abide...abide in His Word and let Him in to free us -- and praise God He will!
"Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."
This is Good News! Taking part in Him leads us to eternity with Him.
"For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. Abiding brings us to oneness with Christ, and therefore oneness with all who abide.
Oh, Spirit still my soul that I may abide;
Jesus let me abide in you, and, please Lord, come abide in me.
Father, thank you for welcoming me as through Your Son and Spirit I come to abide with you...forever.
Amen.
Abide.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What does 'abiding' mean to you? 2. How does 'abiding by' compare to 'abiding in'? 3. Do you have any questions?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"But the soul renounced shall abide in
the boundlessness of God's life.
This is liberty, this is prosperity.
The more we lose, the more we gain."
Watchman Nee
Thursday, May 21, 2009
ListenDaily - 21 May 2009: Abiding in Christ
ListenDaily - 21 May 2009: Abiding in Christ
Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.” John 6:53-58 NKJV (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
Wow, there is power in these words -- convicting, creative, life-giving, eternal, true power.
“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you." No one can say that Jesus could not be direct! He says here, quite clearly, that without taking part in Him, you are dead. Period. But the Good News is...
"Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." This is Good News! Taking part in Him leads us to eternity with Him.
"For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed." There is, obviously, much more to be said about the Flesh and Blood of Christ. But for our purpose today, it is sufficient to say that Christ provides the spiritual food and drink that we need to live. Without Him, our soul suffers the same fate that our bodies would without food -- first hunger, then starvation, and, eventually, death.
He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. And so, here we are. Abiding. Abiding in Him -- and Christ abiding in us! A process of transformation and conformation, whereby we become more and more who He is; not just copying Him -- but becoming part of His Body. And this 'becoming part of the Body' is not a metaphor! It is...
...abiding.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What does 'abiding' mean to you? 2. How does 'abiding by' compare to 'abiding in'? 3. Do you have any questions?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"The branch of the vine does not worry, and toil,
and rush here to seek for sunshine, and there to find rain.
No; it rests in union and communion with the vine;
and at the right time, and in the right way,
is the right fruit found on it. Let us so abide in the Lord Jesus.
Hudson Taylor
"But the soul renounced shall abide in the boundlessness of God's life.
This is liberty, this is prosperity. The more we lose, the more we gain."
Watchman Nee
"If we then let the words of Christ abide in us,
they will stir us up in prayer."
Reuben Archer Torrey
Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.” John 6:53-58 NKJV (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
Wow, there is power in these words -- convicting, creative, life-giving, eternal, true power.
“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you." No one can say that Jesus could not be direct! He says here, quite clearly, that without taking part in Him, you are dead. Period. But the Good News is...
"Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." This is Good News! Taking part in Him leads us to eternity with Him.
"For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed." There is, obviously, much more to be said about the Flesh and Blood of Christ. But for our purpose today, it is sufficient to say that Christ provides the spiritual food and drink that we need to live. Without Him, our soul suffers the same fate that our bodies would without food -- first hunger, then starvation, and, eventually, death.
He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. And so, here we are. Abiding. Abiding in Him -- and Christ abiding in us! A process of transformation and conformation, whereby we become more and more who He is; not just copying Him -- but becoming part of His Body. And this 'becoming part of the Body' is not a metaphor! It is...
...abiding.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What does 'abiding' mean to you? 2. How does 'abiding by' compare to 'abiding in'? 3. Do you have any questions?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"The branch of the vine does not worry, and toil,
and rush here to seek for sunshine, and there to find rain.
No; it rests in union and communion with the vine;
and at the right time, and in the right way,
is the right fruit found on it. Let us so abide in the Lord Jesus.
Hudson Taylor
"But the soul renounced shall abide in the boundlessness of God's life.
This is liberty, this is prosperity. The more we lose, the more we gain."
Watchman Nee
"If we then let the words of Christ abide in us,
they will stir us up in prayer."
Reuben Archer Torrey
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
ListenDaily - 16 May 2009: Abide f
ListenDaily - 16 May 2009: Abide
Where the New International Version of the Bible uses the words 'remain' or 'hold to', the New King James Version often uses 'abide'. The thrust of the meaning, I believe, stays the same when used in context.
But I just like the word 'abide'.
To define 'abide', the dictionary uses phrases like: "to wait for", "to endure", "to remain stable", "to continue in a place", "to conform or acquiesce to", "to live in". As we have studied John 8: 31-32; “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” I have become intrigued with the idea of abiding. Jesus taught repeatedly about this idea. He talked about abiding in Him, abiding in His Word, abiding forever, not abiding in darkness, abiding with His Holy Spirit, abiding in the vine, His Word abiding in us, and abiding in His love.
So then, what might it mean to wait for Christ, to endure with Him, to remain stable in and because of Him, and to continue in Him? What would it mean to conform to Him, acquiesce to Him, to live in Him?
Abide.
Let's take a few days and look at Jesus words about abiding.
Let us abide in those words.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What does 'abiding' mean to you? 2. How does 'abiding by' compare to 'abiding in'? 3. Do you have any questions?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
Abide With Me
Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.
Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.
Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word;
But as Thou dwell’st with Thy disciples, Lord,
Familiar, condescending, patient, free.
Come not to sojourn, but abide with me.
Come not in terrors, as the King of kings,
But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings,
Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea—
Come, Friend of sinners, and thus bide with me.
Thou on my head in early youth didst smile;
And, though rebellious and perverse meanwhile,
Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee,
On to the close, O Lord, abide with me.
I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.
I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.
Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.
Henry F. Lyte
Where the New International Version of the Bible uses the words 'remain' or 'hold to', the New King James Version often uses 'abide'. The thrust of the meaning, I believe, stays the same when used in context.
But I just like the word 'abide'.
To define 'abide', the dictionary uses phrases like: "to wait for", "to endure", "to remain stable", "to continue in a place", "to conform or acquiesce to", "to live in". As we have studied John 8: 31-32; “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” I have become intrigued with the idea of abiding. Jesus taught repeatedly about this idea. He talked about abiding in Him, abiding in His Word, abiding forever, not abiding in darkness, abiding with His Holy Spirit, abiding in the vine, His Word abiding in us, and abiding in His love.
So then, what might it mean to wait for Christ, to endure with Him, to remain stable in and because of Him, and to continue in Him? What would it mean to conform to Him, acquiesce to Him, to live in Him?
Abide.
Let's take a few days and look at Jesus words about abiding.
Let us abide in those words.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What does 'abiding' mean to you? 2. How does 'abiding by' compare to 'abiding in'? 3. Do you have any questions?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
Abide With Me
Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.
Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.
Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word;
But as Thou dwell’st with Thy disciples, Lord,
Familiar, condescending, patient, free.
Come not to sojourn, but abide with me.
Come not in terrors, as the King of kings,
But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings,
Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea—
Come, Friend of sinners, and thus bide with me.
Thou on my head in early youth didst smile;
And, though rebellious and perverse meanwhile,
Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee,
On to the close, O Lord, abide with me.
I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.
I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.
Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.
Henry F. Lyte
Friday, May 15, 2009
ListenDaily - 15 May 2009: The Means and the Endeaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will
ListenDaily - 15 May 2009: The Means and the End
Jesus said, "If you hold to [or 'abide in'] my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (NIV) John 8:31-32 (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
A dear friend wrote me yesterday with concern and a question about the "equations" I wrote about:
ABIDING = DISCIPLESHIP
DISCIPLESHIP = KNOWING TRUTH
KNOWING TRUTH = BEING SET FREE
The question was: "Jim...who among us can abide by his teachings 24/7, as we are all sinners?"
And oh how true that is!
I can easily see how, by that type of mathematical layout, that I might have confused that which I intended to make simple. But please remember, it is not 'abiding by'; it is "abiding in" -- and there is a huge difference. Certainly, there is an aspect of 'doing' here, but the focus is on 'being'. 'Abiding by' would be following a set of rules, a list, guidelines, as the means to the end. "Abiding in" is understanding that God is the end -- and the means.
"Abiding in" is about being in Jesus, no matter what you are doing. It is about "holding on" to Jesus -- and letting Him hold on to you.
"Abiding in" is not the first item on a to-do list, but a first step into being who He wants you to be.
"Abiding in" frees us to be His. We then act in response to being His, not in an effort to try and win or earn His affection.
"Abiding in" allows you to feel His love, His warmth. It is being attentive to His teaching, focusing on them as we do whatever we do, but the perspective is not our perfection but His.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Do you see a difference between 'abiding by' and 'abiding in'? 2. What is your take on this? 3. Do you have concerns about 'faith vs. works' issues??
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"The branch of the vine does not worry and toil,
and rush here to seek for sunshine, and there to find rain.
No; it rests in union and communion with the vine;
and at the right time, and in the right way,
is the right fruit found on it. Let us so abide in the Lord Jesus
Hudson Taylor
Jesus said, "If you hold to [or 'abide in'] my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (NIV) John 8:31-32 (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
A dear friend wrote me yesterday with concern and a question about the "equations" I wrote about:
ABIDING = DISCIPLESHIP
DISCIPLESHIP = KNOWING TRUTH
KNOWING TRUTH = BEING SET FREE
The question was: "Jim...who among us can abide by his teachings 24/7, as we are all sinners?"
And oh how true that is!
I can easily see how, by that type of mathematical layout, that I might have confused that which I intended to make simple. But please remember, it is not 'abiding by'; it is "abiding in" -- and there is a huge difference. Certainly, there is an aspect of 'doing' here, but the focus is on 'being'. 'Abiding by' would be following a set of rules, a list, guidelines, as the means to the end. "Abiding in" is understanding that God is the end -- and the means.
"Abiding in" is about being in Jesus, no matter what you are doing. It is about "holding on" to Jesus -- and letting Him hold on to you.
"Abiding in" is not the first item on a to-do list, but a first step into being who He wants you to be.
"Abiding in" frees us to be His. We then act in response to being His, not in an effort to try and win or earn His affection.
"Abiding in" allows you to feel His love, His warmth. It is being attentive to His teaching, focusing on them as we do whatever we do, but the perspective is not our perfection but His.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Do you see a difference between 'abiding by' and 'abiding in'? 2. What is your take on this? 3. Do you have concerns about 'faith vs. works' issues??
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"The branch of the vine does not worry and toil,
and rush here to seek for sunshine, and there to find rain.
No; it rests in union and communion with the vine;
and at the right time, and in the right way,
is the right fruit found on it. Let us so abide in the Lord Jesus
Hudson Taylor
Thursday, May 14, 2009
ListenDaily - 14 May 2009: EQUATIONS
ListenDaily - 14 May 2009: EQUATIONS
Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (NIV)
John 8:31-32 (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
This is like a series of algebraic equations:
ABIDING = DISCIPLESHIP
DISCIPLESHIP = KNOWING TRUTH
KNOWING TRUTH = BEING SET FREE
If you remember algebra (sorry if that's a bad memory!), whatever you do to one side of an equation, you must do to the other:
if x = y, and you make one side negative, you must make the other side negative to remain equal, -x = -y. So then;
IF YOU DO NOT ABIDE = YOU CANNOT BE A DISCIPLE
IF YOU ARE NOT A DISCIPLE = YOU CANNOT KNOW THE TRUTH
IF YOU DO NOT KNOW THE TRUTH = YOU ARE NOT FREE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What does this say about freedom? 2. What is your take on this? 3. Do you feel like you know about the Truth or know the Truth?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"The Jews looked upon a serpent to be freed from serpents;
and we look upon the death of Christ to be delivered from death."
Augustine
"The only things we can keep are the things we freely give to God."
C.S. Lewis
Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (NIV)
John 8:31-32 (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
This is like a series of algebraic equations:
ABIDING = DISCIPLESHIP
DISCIPLESHIP = KNOWING TRUTH
KNOWING TRUTH = BEING SET FREE
If you remember algebra (sorry if that's a bad memory!), whatever you do to one side of an equation, you must do to the other:
if x = y, and you make one side negative, you must make the other side negative to remain equal, -x = -y. So then;
IF YOU DO NOT ABIDE = YOU CANNOT BE A DISCIPLE
IF YOU ARE NOT A DISCIPLE = YOU CANNOT KNOW THE TRUTH
IF YOU DO NOT KNOW THE TRUTH = YOU ARE NOT FREE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What does this say about freedom? 2. What is your take on this? 3. Do you feel like you know about the Truth or know the Truth?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"The Jews looked upon a serpent to be freed from serpents;
and we look upon the death of Christ to be delivered from death."
Augustine
"The only things we can keep are the things we freely give to God."
C.S. Lewis
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
ListenDaily - 12 May 2009: Need to be freed?
ListenDaily - 12 May 2009: Need to be freed?
Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (NIV)
John 8:31-32 (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." Now check out the response from verse 33: "They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?" Were they kidding? The history of the Jewish people up until this time was a history of their slavery, the exiles, the captivities. Their greatest story was of their Exodus from slavery in Egypt; and here are the descendants of the Exodus people denying that they were ever enslaved. And they were having this conversation they while living under Roman occupation!
Can one be set free if denying captivity?
Of course, Jesus was talking about spiritual freedom; freedom from the bondage of sin.
We are born in bondage. We are born in sin. Sin is bondage. Can one be set free if denying captivity?
Where does that leave me? Where does that leave you?
"Jesus said, "If you abide in my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
We must accept that we have been living in bondage. No matter how nice we are, no matter how good we think we are. No matter. We are all born into the bondage of sin. To say or think otherwise is to believe a lie. Let us not respond to Christ's call tofreedom with the same foolishness as those in this passage, refusing to believe our legacy of slavery.
Let us abide, be disciples, and know Truth. Let us be free!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. How would you define your own bondage? 2. Is it difficult to recognize? 3. Do you know about the Truth or know the Truth?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"The Jews looked upon a serpent to be freed from serpents;
and we look upon the death of Christ to be delivered from death."
Augustine
"The only things we can keep are the things we freely give to God."
C.S. Lewis
Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (NIV)
John 8:31-32 (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." Now check out the response from verse 33: "They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?" Were they kidding? The history of the Jewish people up until this time was a history of their slavery, the exiles, the captivities. Their greatest story was of their Exodus from slavery in Egypt; and here are the descendants of the Exodus people denying that they were ever enslaved. And they were having this conversation they while living under Roman occupation!
Can one be set free if denying captivity?
Of course, Jesus was talking about spiritual freedom; freedom from the bondage of sin.
We are born in bondage. We are born in sin. Sin is bondage. Can one be set free if denying captivity?
Where does that leave me? Where does that leave you?
"Jesus said, "If you abide in my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
We must accept that we have been living in bondage. No matter how nice we are, no matter how good we think we are. No matter. We are all born into the bondage of sin. To say or think otherwise is to believe a lie. Let us not respond to Christ's call tofreedom with the same foolishness as those in this passage, refusing to believe our legacy of slavery.
Let us abide, be disciples, and know Truth. Let us be free!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. How would you define your own bondage? 2. Is it difficult to recognize? 3. Do you know about the Truth or know the Truth?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"The Jews looked upon a serpent to be freed from serpents;
and we look upon the death of Christ to be delivered from death."
Augustine
"The only things we can keep are the things we freely give to God."
C.S. Lewis
Friday, May 8, 2009
ListenDaily - 08 May 2009: What is the truth?
ListenDaily - 08 May 2009: What is the truth?
I have, and will continue to, affirm the coherency of the Scriptures. Look at how they come together!
Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (NIV)
John 8:31-32 (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
"Then you will know the truth..."
Ah, then -- the age old question: What is the truth? Do we have to guess? Of course not. We do, however have to follow the steps:
Holding onto/abiding in Jesus' teaching.
Grow as disciples.
Then we will know the truth -- "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)
Jesus is the truth that sets us free! "And if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:36)
AMEN!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What does this say about the truth? 2. Is this coincidence or coherence? 3. Do you know about the Truth or know the Truth?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"To teach in order to lead others to faith
is the task of every preacher and of each believer."
Thomas Aquinas
I have, and will continue to, affirm the coherency of the Scriptures. Look at how they come together!
Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (NIV)
John 8:31-32 (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
"Then you will know the truth..."
Ah, then -- the age old question: What is the truth? Do we have to guess? Of course not. We do, however have to follow the steps:
Holding onto/abiding in Jesus' teaching.
Grow as disciples.
Then we will know the truth -- "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)
Jesus is the truth that sets us free! "And if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:36)
AMEN!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What does this say about the truth? 2. Is this coincidence or coherence? 3. Do you know about the Truth or know the Truth?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"To teach in order to lead others to faith
is the task of every preacher and of each believer."
Thomas Aquinas
Thursday, May 7, 2009
ListenDaily - 07 May 2009: The power of an adverb
ListenDaily - 07 May 2009: The power of an adverb
Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (NIV)
John 8:31-32 (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
"Then you will know the truth..."
"Then". This interesting little adverb is a key to the understanding of Jesus' words here. We often hear "The truth will set you free!" do we not? In sermons, speeches, and writing, this is a very common phrase.
Hold on.
We cannot simply say that "truth will set you free", for alone, that is not true! Jesus set up a series of conditions, or directions, a recipe if you will, that must be followed in order for this to be true.
Then.
"Then", means "immediately or soon afterward"; "next in order of time or place"; or "as a consequence".
"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples" immediately or soon afterward "you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples" next "you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples" as a consequence "you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What does this say about the truth? 2. IS it a matter of obedience or understanding? 3. What developments or changes might you need to make?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
""We may note in passing that He was never regarded as a mere moral teacher.
He did not produce that effect on any of the people who actually met Him.
He produced mainly three results---Hatred---Terror---Adoration.
There was no trace of people expressing mild admiration."
C.S. Lewis
I believe I never was more acceptable to my Master
than when I was standing to teach those hearers in the open fields
I now preach to ten times more people than I would if I had been confined to the churches.
George Whitefield
"God has given us two ears, but one tongue,
to show that we should be swift to hear, but slow to speak.
God has set a double fence before the tongue, the teeth and the lips,
to teach us to be wary that we offend not with our tongue."
Thomas Watson
"To teach in order to lead others to faith
is the task of every preacher and of each believer."
Thomas Aquinas
"Nature teaches us to love our friends,
but religion our enemies."
Thomas Fuller Fuller
"Everything science has taught me---
and continues to teach me---
strengthens my belief in the continuity of our spiritual existence after death.
Nothing disappears without a trace."
Wernher Von Braun
Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (NIV)
John 8:31-32 (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
"Then you will know the truth..."
"Then". This interesting little adverb is a key to the understanding of Jesus' words here. We often hear "The truth will set you free!" do we not? In sermons, speeches, and writing, this is a very common phrase.
Hold on.
We cannot simply say that "truth will set you free", for alone, that is not true! Jesus set up a series of conditions, or directions, a recipe if you will, that must be followed in order for this to be true.
Then.
"Then", means "immediately or soon afterward"; "next in order of time or place"; or "as a consequence".
"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples" immediately or soon afterward "you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples" next "you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples" as a consequence "you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What does this say about the truth? 2. IS it a matter of obedience or understanding? 3. What developments or changes might you need to make?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
""We may note in passing that He was never regarded as a mere moral teacher.
He did not produce that effect on any of the people who actually met Him.
He produced mainly three results---Hatred---Terror---Adoration.
There was no trace of people expressing mild admiration."
C.S. Lewis
I believe I never was more acceptable to my Master
than when I was standing to teach those hearers in the open fields
I now preach to ten times more people than I would if I had been confined to the churches.
George Whitefield
"God has given us two ears, but one tongue,
to show that we should be swift to hear, but slow to speak.
God has set a double fence before the tongue, the teeth and the lips,
to teach us to be wary that we offend not with our tongue."
Thomas Watson
"To teach in order to lead others to faith
is the task of every preacher and of each believer."
Thomas Aquinas
"Nature teaches us to love our friends,
but religion our enemies."
Thomas Fuller Fuller
"Everything science has taught me---
and continues to teach me---
strengthens my belief in the continuity of our spiritual existence after death.
Nothing disappears without a trace."
Wernher Von Braun
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
ListenDaily - 06 May 2009: Really? Really!
ListenDaily - 06 May 2009: Really? Really!
Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (NIV)
Jesus said... “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (NKJV)
John 8:31-32 (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples."
The common-use definition of the word 'really' has changed over time. We now use it to show degree; 'it was kind of hot yesterday, today it is really hot.' But that is a misuse of the word. 'Really' means actually, or genuinely. Something really is; or it is not at all. Someone really is; or they are not at all.
So then, one is "really a disciple" or not a disciple of all. One cannot be 'sort of' or 'kind of' a disciple.
I am sure many followed Jesus as He traveled, and for many reasons. Some people always followed a crowd. Some went along for personal gain. Others hung around the fringes, but without making a commitment. But how many were really His disciples?
Today's church deals with the same issues. Some people always follow the crowd. Some go along for personal gain. Others hang around the fringes, but without making a commitment. But how many are really His disciples?
"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples."
"Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." Luke 14:27
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What does 'really a disciple' mean to you? 2. Are you walking in that direction? 3. What developments or changes might you need to make?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
""We may note in passing that He was never regarded as a mere moral teacher.
He did not produce that effect on any of the people who actually met Him.
He produced mainly three results---Hatred---Terror---Adoration.
There was no trace of people expressing mild admiration."
C.S. Lewis
I believe I never was more acceptable to my Master
than when I was standing to teach those hearers in the open fields
I now preach to ten times more people than I would if I had been confined to the churches.
George Whitefield
"God has given us two ears, but one tongue,
to show that we should be swift to hear, but slow to speak.
God has set a double fence before the tongue, the teeth and the lips,
to teach us to be wary that we offend not with our tongue."
Thomas Watson
"To teach in order to lead others to faith
is the task of every preacher and of each believer."
Thomas Aquinas
"Nature teaches us to love our friends,
but religion our enemies."
Thomas Fuller Fuller
"Everything science has taught me---
and continues to teach me---
strengthens my belief in the continuity of our spiritual existence after death.
Nothing disappears without a trace."
Wernher Von Braun
Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (NIV)
Jesus said... “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (NKJV)
John 8:31-32 (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples."
The common-use definition of the word 'really' has changed over time. We now use it to show degree; 'it was kind of hot yesterday, today it is really hot.' But that is a misuse of the word. 'Really' means actually, or genuinely. Something really is; or it is not at all. Someone really is; or they are not at all.
So then, one is "really a disciple" or not a disciple of all. One cannot be 'sort of' or 'kind of' a disciple.
I am sure many followed Jesus as He traveled, and for many reasons. Some people always followed a crowd. Some went along for personal gain. Others hung around the fringes, but without making a commitment. But how many were really His disciples?
Today's church deals with the same issues. Some people always follow the crowd. Some go along for personal gain. Others hang around the fringes, but without making a commitment. But how many are really His disciples?
"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples."
"Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." Luke 14:27
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What does 'really a disciple' mean to you? 2. Are you walking in that direction? 3. What developments or changes might you need to make?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
""We may note in passing that He was never regarded as a mere moral teacher.
He did not produce that effect on any of the people who actually met Him.
He produced mainly three results---Hatred---Terror---Adoration.
There was no trace of people expressing mild admiration."
C.S. Lewis
I believe I never was more acceptable to my Master
than when I was standing to teach those hearers in the open fields
I now preach to ten times more people than I would if I had been confined to the churches.
George Whitefield
"God has given us two ears, but one tongue,
to show that we should be swift to hear, but slow to speak.
God has set a double fence before the tongue, the teeth and the lips,
to teach us to be wary that we offend not with our tongue."
Thomas Watson
"To teach in order to lead others to faith
is the task of every preacher and of each believer."
Thomas Aquinas
"Nature teaches us to love our friends,
but religion our enemies."
Thomas Fuller Fuller
"Everything science has taught me---
and continues to teach me---
strengthens my belief in the continuity of our spiritual existence after death.
Nothing disappears without a trace."
Wernher Von Braun
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
ListenDaily - 05 May 2009; WWJT?
ListenDaily - 05 May 2009; WWJT?
Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (NIV)
Jesus said... “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (NKJV)
John 8:31-32 (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
"If you hold to my teaching..."
I cannot possibly begin to cover everything Jesus taught in one short lesson, and will not try to. But what would happen if we took even a few of His teachings and began to 'hold on' to them -- to 'abide in' them -- today? Consider the following statements, teachings of Jesus, from Matthew (chapters 5, 6, 22, and 28):
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
You are the salt of the earth.
You are the light of the world.
If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
Anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.
Do not worry about tomorrow...
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.
Of course, He taught much more than this -- but meditate over this list, or any other of His teachings, see if there are one or two things that resonate with you. Then take those items, those teachings and write them down in your calendar, in a note on your refrigerator or bathroom mirror, make them the 'signature' in your email, something, anything, to keep them in the forefront of your mind. See what it takes to 'hold onto' and 'abide in' these one or two things -- today.
Let's see what happens.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Which of these Jesus' teachings resonate with you? 2. What will you do with them? 3. How do you hold onto them both?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
""We may note in passing that He was never regarded as a mere moral teacher.
He did not produce that effect on any of the people who actually met Him.
He produced mainly three results---Hatred---Terror---Adoration.
There was no trace of people expressing mild admiration."
C.S. Lewis
I believe I never was more acceptable to my Master
than when I was standing to teach those hearers in the open fields
I now preach to ten times more people than I would if I had been confined to the churches.
George Whitefield
"God has given us two ears, but one tongue,
to show that we should be swift to hear, but slow to speak.
God has set a double fence before the tongue, the teeth and the lips,
to teach us to be wary that we offend not with our tongue."
Thomas Watson
"To teach in order to lead others to faith
is the task of every preacher and of each believer."
Thomas Aquinas
"Nature teaches us to love our friends,
but religion our enemies."
Thomas Fuller Fuller
"Everything science has taught me---
and continues to teach me---
strengthens my belief in the continuity of our spiritual existence after death.
Nothing disappears without a trace."
Wernher Von Braun
Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (NIV)
Jesus said... “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (NKJV)
John 8:31-32 (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
"If you hold to my teaching..."
I cannot possibly begin to cover everything Jesus taught in one short lesson, and will not try to. But what would happen if we took even a few of His teachings and began to 'hold on' to them -- to 'abide in' them -- today? Consider the following statements, teachings of Jesus, from Matthew (chapters 5, 6, 22, and 28):
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
You are the salt of the earth.
You are the light of the world.
If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
Anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.
Do not worry about tomorrow...
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.
Of course, He taught much more than this -- but meditate over this list, or any other of His teachings, see if there are one or two things that resonate with you. Then take those items, those teachings and write them down in your calendar, in a note on your refrigerator or bathroom mirror, make them the 'signature' in your email, something, anything, to keep them in the forefront of your mind. See what it takes to 'hold onto' and 'abide in' these one or two things -- today.
Let's see what happens.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Which of these Jesus' teachings resonate with you? 2. What will you do with them? 3. How do you hold onto them both?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
""We may note in passing that He was never regarded as a mere moral teacher.
He did not produce that effect on any of the people who actually met Him.
He produced mainly three results---Hatred---Terror---Adoration.
There was no trace of people expressing mild admiration."
C.S. Lewis
I believe I never was more acceptable to my Master
than when I was standing to teach those hearers in the open fields
I now preach to ten times more people than I would if I had been confined to the churches.
George Whitefield
"God has given us two ears, but one tongue,
to show that we should be swift to hear, but slow to speak.
God has set a double fence before the tongue, the teeth and the lips,
to teach us to be wary that we offend not with our tongue."
Thomas Watson
"To teach in order to lead others to faith
is the task of every preacher and of each believer."
Thomas Aquinas
"Nature teaches us to love our friends,
but religion our enemies."
Thomas Fuller Fuller
"Everything science has taught me---
and continues to teach me---
strengthens my belief in the continuity of our spiritual existence after death.
Nothing disappears without a trace."
Wernher Von Braun
Monday, May 4, 2009
ListenDaily - 04 May 2009; Hold on! Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the tru
ListenDaily - 04 May 2009; Hold on!
Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (NIV)
Jesus said... “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (NKJV)
John 8:31-32 (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
"If you hold to my teaching..."
The New International Version uses the word "hold" here. Many others use the phrase "abide in" or something similar. I want to thank my friend and sister in Christ, Melissa, for commenting on this. I was poised to jump into the 'teaching' here, but it is important that we look at what Jesus was saying about His teaching. Whether we "hold to' or 'abide in', there is an emphasis here.
And it is worthy to note that Jesus was speaking to believers.
This is not a program, and it is not a process. It cannot be achieved solely by a Sunday morning service, a mid-week Bible study, or a daily devotional. If we want to move into discipleship, truth, and freedom, then His teaching must permeate who we are -- it must be who we are, or at least who we are becoming. "WWJD" -- "what would Jesus do" -- may have become a trite, overused phrase, but it is the way of life for a believer; imitatio Dei --the imitation of God..
Consider Jesus teaching. Think about the Great Commandment, the Great Commission, the good Samaritan, the widow and her mite, the woman at the well; how does this teaching affect how you live? Are they sermons and Sunday School lessons? Or are they the model by which you live?
Take a moment to think about, read about, and pray about some of Jesus' teaching. Can you commit to living in them? Holding onto them?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Which of Jesus' teachings are your favorites? 2. Which are the hardest? 3. How do you hold onto them both?
INTERESTING THOUGHT ON FREEDOM:
"There are two freedoms:
the false where a man is free to do what he likes;
and the true where a man is free to do as he ought."
Charles Kingsley
"On this side of the grave we are exiles, on that, citizens;
on this side, orphans, on that, children;
on this side, captives, on that, freemen."
Henry Ward Beecher
"The Jews looked upon a serpent to be freed from serpents;
and we look upon the death of Christ to be delivered from death."
Augustine
"The lost enjoy forever the horrible
freedom they have demanded..."
C.S. Lewis
"God, having placed good and evil in our power,
has given us full freedom of choice;
He does not keep back the unwilling,
but embraces the willing."
John Chrysostom
"A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none.
A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject of all, subject to all."
Martin Luther
"God created things which had free will.
That means creatures which can go either wrong or right.
Some people think they can imagine a creature
which was free but had no possibility of going wrong; I cannot.
If a thing is free to be good it is also free to be bad.
And free will is what has made evil possible.
Why, then, did God give them free will?
Because free will, though it makes evil possible,
is also the only thing that makes possible any love
or goodness or joy worth having."
C.S. Lewis
Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (NIV)
Jesus said... “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (NKJV)
John 8:31-32 (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
"If you hold to my teaching..."
The New International Version uses the word "hold" here. Many others use the phrase "abide in" or something similar. I want to thank my friend and sister in Christ, Melissa, for commenting on this. I was poised to jump into the 'teaching' here, but it is important that we look at what Jesus was saying about His teaching. Whether we "hold to' or 'abide in', there is an emphasis here.
And it is worthy to note that Jesus was speaking to believers.
This is not a program, and it is not a process. It cannot be achieved solely by a Sunday morning service, a mid-week Bible study, or a daily devotional. If we want to move into discipleship, truth, and freedom, then His teaching must permeate who we are -- it must be who we are, or at least who we are becoming. "WWJD" -- "what would Jesus do" -- may have become a trite, overused phrase, but it is the way of life for a believer; imitatio Dei --the imitation of God..
Consider Jesus teaching. Think about the Great Commandment, the Great Commission, the good Samaritan, the widow and her mite, the woman at the well; how does this teaching affect how you live? Are they sermons and Sunday School lessons? Or are they the model by which you live?
Take a moment to think about, read about, and pray about some of Jesus' teaching. Can you commit to living in them? Holding onto them?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Which of Jesus' teachings are your favorites? 2. Which are the hardest? 3. How do you hold onto them both?
INTERESTING THOUGHT ON FREEDOM:
"There are two freedoms:
the false where a man is free to do what he likes;
and the true where a man is free to do as he ought."
Charles Kingsley
"On this side of the grave we are exiles, on that, citizens;
on this side, orphans, on that, children;
on this side, captives, on that, freemen."
Henry Ward Beecher
"The Jews looked upon a serpent to be freed from serpents;
and we look upon the death of Christ to be delivered from death."
Augustine
"The lost enjoy forever the horrible
freedom they have demanded..."
C.S. Lewis
"God, having placed good and evil in our power,
has given us full freedom of choice;
He does not keep back the unwilling,
but embraces the willing."
John Chrysostom
"A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none.
A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject of all, subject to all."
Martin Luther
"God created things which had free will.
That means creatures which can go either wrong or right.
Some people think they can imagine a creature
which was free but had no possibility of going wrong; I cannot.
If a thing is free to be good it is also free to be bad.
And free will is what has made evil possible.
Why, then, did God give them free will?
Because free will, though it makes evil possible,
is also the only thing that makes possible any love
or goodness or joy worth having."
C.S. Lewis
Friday, May 1, 2009
ListenDaily - 01 May2009; The big "IF"
ListenDaily - 01 May2009; The big "IF"
Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
John 8;31-32 (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
The recipe for freedom begins with a little bitty word...but a powerful one: "IF". These two letters hold within them the key to much of our theology and doctrine of 'free will'. "If" can open the door to salvation, peace, removal of anxiety, and freedom in Christ.
If.
Do you want to be free?
You can be! If...
If...
"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
Follow...know...freedom.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What other 'ifs' are keys to Christianity? 2. Are there 'ifs' to salvation? Discipleship? Obedience? Anything else? 3. How do you choose?
INTERESTING THOUGHT ON FREEDOM:
"There are two freedoms:
the false where a man is free to do what he likes;
and the true where a man is free to do as he ought."
Charles Kingsley
"On this side of the grave we are exiles, on that, citizens;
on this side, orphans, on that, children;
on this side, captives, on that, freemen."
Henry Ward Beecher
"The Jews looked upon a serpent to be freed from serpents;
and we look upon the death of Christ to be delivered from death."
Augustine
"The lost enjoy forever the horrible
freedom they have demanded..."
C.S. Lewis
"God, having placed good and evil in our power,
has given us full freedom of choice;
He does not keep back the unwilling,
but embraces the willing."
John Chrysostom
"A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none.
A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject of all, subject to all."
Martin Luther
"God created things which had free will.
That means creatures which can go either wrong or right.
Some people think they can imagine a creature
which was free but had no possibility of going wrong; I cannot.
If a thing is free to be good it is also free to be bad.
And free will is what has made evil possible.
Why, then, did God give them free will?
Because free will, though it makes evil possible,
is also the only thing that makes possible any love
or goodness or joy worth having."
C.S. Lewis
Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
John 8;31-32 (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
The recipe for freedom begins with a little bitty word...but a powerful one: "IF". These two letters hold within them the key to much of our theology and doctrine of 'free will'. "If" can open the door to salvation, peace, removal of anxiety, and freedom in Christ.
If.
Do you want to be free?
You can be! If...
If...
"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
Follow...know...freedom.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What other 'ifs' are keys to Christianity? 2. Are there 'ifs' to salvation? Discipleship? Obedience? Anything else? 3. How do you choose?
INTERESTING THOUGHT ON FREEDOM:
"There are two freedoms:
the false where a man is free to do what he likes;
and the true where a man is free to do as he ought."
Charles Kingsley
"On this side of the grave we are exiles, on that, citizens;
on this side, orphans, on that, children;
on this side, captives, on that, freemen."
Henry Ward Beecher
"The Jews looked upon a serpent to be freed from serpents;
and we look upon the death of Christ to be delivered from death."
Augustine
"The lost enjoy forever the horrible
freedom they have demanded..."
C.S. Lewis
"God, having placed good and evil in our power,
has given us full freedom of choice;
He does not keep back the unwilling,
but embraces the willing."
John Chrysostom
"A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none.
A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject of all, subject to all."
Martin Luther
"God created things which had free will.
That means creatures which can go either wrong or right.
Some people think they can imagine a creature
which was free but had no possibility of going wrong; I cannot.
If a thing is free to be good it is also free to be bad.
And free will is what has made evil possible.
Why, then, did God give them free will?
Because free will, though it makes evil possible,
is also the only thing that makes possible any love
or goodness or joy worth having."
C.S. Lewis
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