Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - WordAction - The Foundry Publishing House of Kansas City, Missouri, United States - The Global Church of the Nazarene for Saturday, 30 December 2017 "Accept My Words" by Albert Hung - John 12:37-50

Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - WordAction - The Foundry Publishing House of Kansas City, Missouri, United States - The Global Church of the Nazarene for Saturday, 30 December 2017 "Accept My Words" by Albert Hung - John 12:37-50
John 12:37 Even though he had performed so many miracles in their presence, they still did not put their trust in him, 38 in order that what Yesha‘yahu the prophet had said might be fulfilled,
“Adonai, who has believed our report?
To whom has the arm of Adonai been revealed?”[John 12:38 Isaiah 53:1]
39 The reason they could not believe was — as Yesha‘yahu said elsewhere —
40 “He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their hearts,
so that they do not see with their eyes,
understand with their hearts,
and do t’shuvah,
so that I could heal them.”[John 12:40 Isaiah 6:10]
41 (Yesha‘yahu said these things because he saw the Sh’khinah of Yeshua and spoke about him.) 42 Nevertheless, many of the leaders did trust in him; but because of the P’rushim they did not say so openly, out of fear of being banned from the synagogue; 43 for they loved praise from other people more than praise from God.
44 Yeshua declared publicly, “Those who put their trust in me are trusting not merely in me, but in the One who sent me. 45 Also those who see me see the One who sent me. 46 I have come as a light into the world, so that everyone who trusts in me might not remain in the dark. 47 If anyone hears what I am saying and does not observe it, I don’t judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 Those who reject me and don’t accept what I say have a judge — the word which I have spoken will judge them on the Last Day. 49 For I have not spoken on my own initiative, but the Father who sent me has given me a command, namely, what to say and how to say it. 50 And I know that his command is eternal life. So what I say is simply what the Father has told me to say.”
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There is a difference between hearing Jesus’ words and accepting them. Jesus is not looking simply for hearers of the word; He is looking for doers of the Word (see James 1:22). Throughout His ministry, Jesus made a distinction between those who hear His teachings, and those who put them into practice. The former are foolish, while the latter are wise. One group will find themselves barred from the kingdom of heaven, while the other will be given a warm welcome. There is no ambiguity in Jesus’ words. True faith is revealed through obedience, not through our ability to pass a pop quiz on correct doctrine.
It is a dangerous thing to attend church without any intention of doing anything with what we hear. It is a dangerous thing to read the Scriptures as an intellectual exercise rather than as an act of spiritual surrender. It is a dangerous thing to pray in order to bend God toward our will rather than to bend our hearts to God’s will. If we hear the words of our Lord, accept them, and obey them, we will be richly rewarded both in this life and the life to come.
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Hymn for Today: "There's A Great Day Coming" by Will L. Thompson
1. There's a great day coming,
A great day coming,
There's a great day coming by and by;
When the saints and the sinners shall be parted right and left,
Are you ready for that day to come?
Chorus: Are you ready?
Are you ready?
Are you ready for the judgment day?
Are you ready?
Are you ready?
For the judgment day?
2 There's a bright day coming,
A bright day coming,
There's a bright day coming by and by;
But its brightness shall only come to them that love the Lord,
Are you ready for that day to come?
Chorus: Are you ready?
Are you ready?
Are you ready for the judgment day?
Are you ready?
Are you ready?
For the judgment day?
3. There's a sad day coming,
A sad day coming,
There's a sad day coming by and by;
When the sinner shall hear his doom, "Depart, I know ye not,"

Are you ready for that day to come?
Chorus: Are you ready?
Are you ready?
Are you ready for the judgment day?
Are you ready?
Are you ready?
For the judgment day?

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Thought for Today: But you have no need to have anything written to you, brothers, about the times and dates when this will happen; because you yourselves well know that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.(1 Thessalonians 5:1-2)
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Please pray: For the development of Christian leaders in Ireland.
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