Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - WordAction - The Foundry Publishing House of Kansas City, Missouri, United States - The Global Church of the Nazarene for Wednesday, 18 October 2017 "Life Sentence" by Jonathan Trees - John 3:22-36
John 3:22 After this, Yeshua and his talmidim went out into the countryside of Y’hudah, where he stayed awhile with them and immersed people. 23 Yochanan too was immersing at Einayim, near Shalem, because there was plenty of water there; and people kept coming to be immersed. 24 (This was before Yochanan’s imprisonment.)
25 A discussion arose between some of Yochanan’s talmidim and a Judean about ceremonial washing; 26 and they came to Yochanan and said to him, “Rabbi, you know the man who was with you on the other side of the Yarden, the one you spoke about? Well, here he is, immersing; and everyone is going to him!” 27 Yochanan answered, “No one can receive anything unless it has been given to him from Heaven. 28 You yourselves can confirm that I did not say I was the Messiah, but that I have been sent ahead of him. 29 The bridegroom is the one who has the bride; but the bridegroom’s friend, who stands and listens to him, is overjoyed at the sound of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must become more important, while I become less important.
31 “He who comes from above is above all. He who is from the earth is from the earth and talks from an earthly point of view; he who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies about what he has actually seen and heard, yet no one accepts what he says! 33 Whoever does accept what he says puts his seal on the fact that God is true, 34 because the one whom God sent speaks God’s words. For God does not give him the Spirit in limited degree — 35 the Father loves the Son and has put everything in his hands. 36 Whoever trusts in the Son has eternal life. But whoever disobeys the Son will not see that life but remains subject to God’s wrath.”
-------John 3:22 After this, Yeshua and his talmidim went out into the countryside of Y’hudah, where he stayed awhile with them and immersed people. 23 Yochanan too was immersing at Einayim, near Shalem, because there was plenty of water there; and people kept coming to be immersed. 24 (This was before Yochanan’s imprisonment.)
25 A discussion arose between some of Yochanan’s talmidim and a Judean about ceremonial washing; 26 and they came to Yochanan and said to him, “Rabbi, you know the man who was with you on the other side of the Yarden, the one you spoke about? Well, here he is, immersing; and everyone is going to him!” 27 Yochanan answered, “No one can receive anything unless it has been given to him from Heaven. 28 You yourselves can confirm that I did not say I was the Messiah, but that I have been sent ahead of him. 29 The bridegroom is the one who has the bride; but the bridegroom’s friend, who stands and listens to him, is overjoyed at the sound of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must become more important, while I become less important.
31 “He who comes from above is above all. He who is from the earth is from the earth and talks from an earthly point of view; he who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies about what he has actually seen and heard, yet no one accepts what he says! 33 Whoever does accept what he says puts his seal on the fact that God is true, 34 because the one whom God sent speaks God’s words. For God does not give him the Spirit in limited degree — 35 the Father loves the Son and has put everything in his hands. 36 Whoever trusts in the Son has eternal life. But whoever disobeys the Son will not see that life but remains subject to God’s wrath.”
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I sat looking right at my friend, Dot Kelley. She was seated in a recliner in the last stages of cancer. With only days to live, she was weak and exhausted, but surprisingly alert and able to speak with me. She was seeking one last reassurance that eternal life was real. Nothing thrilled my heart more than to speak words of hope to her and to see her smile at the promise of eternal life. Dot now anticipated that life would continue after death in the presence of her Lord.
We are so enamored with the present and its comforts that we fail to realize all these present things are a shadow of what is to come. In Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus in John 3, He spells out the goal of His mission. Those who believe in Him will have eternal life. This wonderful news should bring things into perspective and help us breathe a sigh of relief.
Eternal life is a reality that Jesus Himself promised to us. When our "jars of clay" crack and break, there is another world ready for those who trust Him. This lifted an enormous weight off my friend's mind. Dot experienced this hope firsthand in the days that followed.
Eternal life is a reality that Jesus Himself promised to us. When our "jars of clay" crack and break, there is another world ready for those who trust Him. This lifted an enormous weight off my friend's mind. Dot experienced this hope firsthand in the days that followed.
Hymn for Today:
"Amazing Grace" by John Newton
1. Amazing grace! how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch; like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
2. ’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fers relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!
3. The Lord hath promised good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.
4. When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we first begun.
Please pray:
For the development of Christian leaders in Panama.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
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1. Amazing grace! how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch; like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
2. ’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fers relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!
3. The Lord hath promised good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.
4. When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we first begun.
Thought for Today:
And eternal life is this: to know you, the one true God, and him whom you sent, Yeshua the Messiah.(John 17:3}Please pray:
For the development of Christian leaders in Panama.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
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