Tag Archives: God

Fresh Again

Surely I knew this. Surely I have seen it before. But today it is fresh again.

16 You did not choose me, I chose you; and I have commissioned you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last; so that whatever you ask from the Father in my name he may give you.
17 This is what I command you: keep loving each other!
via John 15 KJV;CJB – I am the true vine, and my Father is – Bible Gateway.

It’s a popular doctrine in Christendom: when two of us agree and ask (pray)  in JESUS’ name then we get what we prayed for.  Right? I mean we like that doctrine and we readily accept it but are we right to believe it as I just stated?  Based on today’s fresh again, I think not necessarily. I think there is a condition to the ask what you will in HIS name and we will receive. And I think if we do not meet that condition we can agree all we want, but we do not have a guarantee that we will receive.

So what is the condition?
I’m glad you asked. Read again the Text.
What has He commissioned us to do?
Bear Fruit. Fruit that lasts.
What kind of fruit lasts?
The kind that receives an eternal reward. (I Corinthians 3:14-16)

Am I bearing such fruit? Perhaps reading verse 17 will clarify.
What does it say?
Do I love people? (John 13:34-36).
If I am not loving people, especially my brothers and sisters with me in the Christian Faith, then I can be sure that I am not bearing fruit that lasts. I can be sure if I am not loving others I am not demonstrating Galatians 5:21-23.

Yikes! All this could be depressing; a real downer! Because I can tell you right now I DO NOT LOVE PEOPLE PERFECTLY ALL THE TIME! I do not always bear good fruit that will last! There are some days, I am a REAL STINKER by anyone’s standards, especially mine!

But today I have hope! Today I am encouraged! Why? Because He has again shown me this Scripture. He has again reminded me what He requires of me. This means He is NOT done with me and today I have the opportunity to do well in His name!! That is good news! Today I am assured there is hope for me that I can bear good fruit that will last and I can be trained by the HOLY SPIRIT to love as He has commissioned and the day will come when I can be assured that when I ask in His name I will receive!

Please, please take this little nugget with you today: If the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD is still speaking to you, if a little light has come on in your heart today as you have read His Word, that is a SURE PROMISE that HE is NOT finished with you. Today you can lift your will to HIM and start again!!

Blessing Friends on this 6th day of 2014.

Kathie

Right

Is there anything harder in this Christian Life than giving up your right to want to hurt someone who has hurt you especially when they did it knowing it was hurting you but did it anyway?

I am in the process and it is wildly hard.

The mind plays and plays the evil they did; moreover, you told them to stop, even explained the pain and they kept on and finally, you are stuck paying the consequences for their sins.

As I said is there anything harder?

And so you pray and you work remembering Scripture and you pray more and at some point, you surrender your right to want to hurt them because you know that is what is best for you and that is what JESUS desires for you.

Does it make what they did right? Does it cancel their sin? Absolutely not!

Does it make what they did any less malicious? Absolutely not!

Does it mean they will not reap what they have sown? Absolutely not!

Does it mean I will not rejoice when what goes around comes around? Actually yes it does! That is how I know forgiveness has come.

Does it mean when I think of what they have done to me, I will hurt less? Yeah, actually it does.  ONLY JESUS can work a miracle like this!  And I’m looking for a miracle. James 5:16 Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)

16 Therefore, openly acknowledge your sins to one another, and pray for each other, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

via James 5:16 KJV;CJB – Confess your faults one to another, and – Bible Gateway.

Ephesians 4:32 Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)

32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted; and forgive each other, just as in the Messiah God has also forgiven you.

via Eph 4:32 KJV;CJB – And be ye kind one to another, – Bible Gateway.


Kathie

Let and Let Not

I picked up John 14 to read this morning, preliminary preparation for Sunday, and I am stopped at the first five words.

“Don’t let yourselves be disturbed.

via John 14 KJV;CJB – Let not your heart be troubled: ye – Bible Gateway.

As you may know this is Yeshua speaking to His Disciples and obviously He is speaking to me and I hope to you this morning. I suppose I could see this as a choice; I can choose to let not that or this disturb me and I am certain that is true. There must be a choice because I have done both – Let and Let Not. And having a choice theology feels good; we like that free will thing. Free to Choose.

But for the Disciples and for me this morning I am sensing more. I think I hear a Loving Command here. As in you are My Disciple so don’t let yourself be disturbed by this and that because I AM here with you.

I like choice. But I think I like this command more. It’s personal. It’s the Voice of the Savior speaking to one of His Own.

Perhaps you’d like to listen and see if you hear a loving command beyond a choice.

Joyous Celebrating of the Savior’s Birth!
Kathie