Friday, April 15, 2011

More to Say

John 16:12

I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.
13 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.

Jesus, wonderful Jesus that knows our hearts.
In the above passage He is preparing the hearts of the disciples for His departure from them. He did not want them to feel alone and fearful when He was not with them physically. He knew what their future would be. They would give their own lives for the sake of the gospel. They would be hated by many because the world hated Jesus. (John 15:18)

So He sent the Helper to guide them and keep them in truth. The Holy Spirit can only speak truth because He only says what the Father tells Him to say. He is not interested in speaking on His own.

Jesus knew they needed someone to be with them and to help them and comfort them, even as He had done. His presence alone must have comforted them and the love in His eyes when He looked at them, when He spoke to them, must have brought a great feeling of acceptance and love in their hearts. People are drawn to people that accept them; they want to be around them. And really, one will know whether they are accepted by the one they are with or if they are not accepted. That is why it is easy to come to Jesus, He takes us as we are. And the Holy Spirit tells us of this acceptance constantly.

The fact that Jesus tells His disciples that He had many more things to say to them but they could not bear them now, shows He knew where each one was spiritually, emotionally, and in every way.

Are there things that He is not ready to share with us yet? Being conscious of Him, being with Him and seeking Him makes Him our center from which we view the world and people around us. He is alive within each believer through His Holy Spirit and “He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Phil 1:6

In that work of perfecting us, He knows whether we are ready to receive truths about ourselves, our lives, our attitudes or anything else that He desires to do in us. His timing is perfect.

So although we don’t understand, we can trust in a God that is ever faithful! We can have the confidence that He is always with us and cares about us and willing to lead us into all truth through His Holy Spirit.

Thank you magnificent and glorious Lord for sending the Helper to enable us to walk in Your ways.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Confidence

Jude 1:1-2
Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ: 2 May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you.


Reading this passage is a beautiful reminder to believers in Christ of who we are in Him.
Thank you for encouraging us so beautifully, affirming that our confidence in You is secure forever.
"To those who are the called, the beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ."

We are “the called”, speaks to me of the immense privilege of being Your child, elected by You even before the foundation of the world. (Eph 1:4).

We are loved by you so greatly that you call us Your “beloved in God the Father”, an
endearing way of saying that we are truly and deeply loved by You. You treasure your children and delight in them. Each one of us, that you know so well, is so special to you.

We are kept for Jesus; the word kept means taken care of, guarded by Him. This is another word that reminds me once again that my safety is not the absence of danger but the presence of Jesus Himself that is with me always.
Your mercy, peace and love are available to us in the fullest measure at any time of need.
We have only to ask.

Thank You Father for being our God; holy, faithful, and the only one true living God.
We can confidently trust you in all things!