Listening to the Word

Jeremiah 16-17; Psalms 96; John 16   “’I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 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.’” John 16:20, 21 There are different kinds of pain in our lives as disciples of Christ. Often pain is caused by sin in this world and in our lives. We reap what we sow and it hurts However, there is another pain: the pain of birthing a work of God in and through our lives. This pain, like a woman in labour, leads to a new beginning. We might not understand why God is releasing us from a ministry, an assignment, or a location, but the pain of letting go, surrendering, and dying leads to new life. When the new life that God is birthing is being formed, we must cover it in prayer and wait on the Lord’s timing. We cannot rush a birth no matter how painful. ...

Jeremiah 13-15; John 15 “’You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.’” John 15:16 Many respond to a presentation of the gospel which focuses on how they can get to heaven. With this perspective, salvation becomes a solution to their sin-problem. However, Jesus’ last words to his disciples reminded them it was he who called them, not to solve their sin-problem, but to bring glory to his Father. We were called by Jesus into a loving relationship of listening to and obeying him so that we, too, would bear much spiritual fruit. It’s not about our eternal security; it’s about knowing Jesus and evidencing the reality of his presence in our lives through much fruit - fruit like the Spirit produces in the lives of those who are filled with love, joy, peace, patience, etc. - fruit like that attracts spiritually hungry people who also desire life. If this doesn’t describe our exp...

Jeremiah 10-12; John 14 “’All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.’” John 14:25-27alone, we are known and loved by our Father God. “Father God, The peace that Jesus promised his disciples is not the peace the world gives. The world’s peace is at best the absence or minimizing of conflict. The peace of Christ is the presence of the Holy Spirit who reminds us of the promises and principles of Jesus. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace… (Galatians 5:22). Fear and a troubled heart can steal our peace by attempting to separate us from our awareness of the Holy Spirit’s presence. If we call on the Lord, rebuke fear, and invite Jesus to fill us with his peace, we will find the wonderful pr...

Jeremiah 7-9; John 13   “He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’ Jesus replied, ‘You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’ ‘No,’ said Peter, ‘You shall never wash my feet.’” John 13:6-8 What didn’t Peter understand about why Jesus was washing his and the other disciples’ feet? Luke’s gospel records that at the Passover supper the disciples were arguing among themselves “as to which of them was considered to be greatest (Luke 22:24).” The disciples understood and debated positional authority, but they did not yet understand spiritual authority. After receiving a seminary degree or many years of faithful church attendance, would we understand spiritual authority in the way of Jesus? Jesus had all authority yet he washed his disciples’ feet. Soon after this, he died for them and all who would choose his offer of salvation. Spiritual authority is given to those who humble themselves, deny themselves, take up their cr...

Jeremiah 5-6; John 12 “’To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are closed so they cannot hear. The word of the Lord is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it.’” Jeremiah 6:10 “’There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.’” John 12:48 There are few more important disciplines for disciples of Christ than listening to and obeying Jesus, the living Word. ‘Are our ears open to the voice of our Shepherd? Do we know his voice? Are we quick to repent when convicted by the Holy Spirit? Is the Word of the Lord offensive to us when we are rebuked, or do we still find pleasure in knowing the Lord loves us enough to discipline us? When listening, obeying, communing, and worshiping become our most life-giving practices, we live out of that sacred inner space in a world that is externally conditioned and focused on the approval of others; we live for the approval of the...

Jeremiah 3-4; John 11 “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ she told him. ‘I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.’” John 11:25-27 When a pandemic sweeps the globe, people look for a vaccine that will protect them through developing immunity.   But, what will protect us from the consequence of our sin? The consequence of sin is death. Jesus came into the world to save us from our sin and to bring us into the life-relationship we were created to enjoy with our Creator. Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Do you believe this? Martha said yes! At the command of Jesus, her brother Lazarus walked out of the tomb despite being dead for four days. There is no other salvation from sin and death except the name of Jesus Christ.   If we know this life-saving answer, will we share it...