John 12

Today, I am reading John 12. I invite you to open your Bible and read along with me or find it online here.

Here is the verse/thought that stood out to me...

John 12

25 Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity.

I love the way Dr. Thomas Constable explains this verse, “Anyone who selfishly lives for himself or herself loses his or her life in the sense that he or she wastes it. Nothing really good comes from it. Conversely anyone who hates his or her life in the sense of disregarding one's own desires to pursue the welfare of another will gain something for that sacrifice. He or she will gain true life for self and blessing for the other person.” Has your life demonstrated a “love” or a “hate” for your life?

John 11 (Part 2)

Today, I am finishing up John 11. I invite you to open your Bible and read along with me or find it online here.

Here are the verses/thoughts that stood out to me...

John 11

35 Then Jesus wept.

Growing up, we would always joke about having memorized this verse because it wasn’t much of a challenge being the shortest verse in the Bible. However, one evening while I was still in college, I was reading through this story for the first time in a long time and as I got to this part of the story I actually started crying too. I knew Jesus wasn’t crying because Lazarus had died ... He was going to reverse that. In that moment, I felt the true humanity of Jesus. More specifically, His great love for humanity in understanding the pain that moments like this cause. Later on, a friend also reminded me that His tears flowed from a deep anger at sin which causes moments like that. My prayer for you is that you too would memorize this verse; and that every time you recall it, you will remember how much Jesus loves you and how much He hates sin.

43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!”

44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”

Just in case you didn’t know how the story ended, Jesus demonstrated His power over death. I love the phrase ... “let him go!” I know Jesus was talking about the graveclothes he had been wrapped in; but there is also a reflection of how Jesus speaks toward sin and death regarding us ... “let them go!”

Free* Part 4

This past weekend, Jonathan continued the Free* series by talking about the blahs, breaks, blues and blessings of our freedom journey.

Here is the verse/thought that stood out to me in the message...

Joshua 21

43 So the Lord gave to Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there.

44 And the Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had solemnly promised their ancestors. None of their enemies could stand against them, for the Lord helped them conquer all their enemies.

45 Not a single one of all the good promises the Lord had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true.

I pray that this past weekend’s message provided some insight in your journey ... insight that will encourage you to keep moving forward in your journey toward true freedom (especially when you are experiencing the “blahs” or the “blues”). Along the way, I pray that you will discover that God always fulfills His promises’.

John 11

Today, I am reading John 11. I invite you to open your Bible and read along with me or find it online here.

Here are the verses/thoughts that stood out to me...

John 11

21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.

22 But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.”

I appreciate Martha’s faith in the face of such loss. You never know how you will react to a tragic situation, until it is forced upon you; but this is the way I pray I would respond.

25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.

26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”

An extremely important statement and an even more important question.

27 “Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.”

This is possibly the most important verse in this book so I am going to pause right here in the middle of the chapter (we’ll finish it on Thursday).

If you have never made this confession in your life, please email me (jeff@myeastside.cc). I would love to talk with you about it.

If you have, I encourage you to reflect on that moment when you first experienced grace and say a simple prayer. Here is the one I prayed, “Father, thank you for Jesus and the grace you offer through Him. I pray that you would help (a friend of yours that doesn’t know Jesus) come to know Jesus the way I do and accept the same gift of grace that I have.”

John 10

Today, I am reading John 10. I invite you to open your Bible and read along with me or find it online here.

Here are the verses/thoughts that stood out to me...

John 10

4 After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice.

We need to “know” God’s voice. I’m not talking about recognizing His voice on the phone. I’m talking about recognizing His “voice”, among the gut feelings we have floating around in our own heads and the advice we hear from others, by making sure our gut feelings and the advice we receive matches up with what He teaches.

10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

Remember, we face an enemy that is destructive ... so don’t take his lies lightly. Thankfully, we don’t face him alone; but this is why it is so important to be familiar with Jesus’ teachings ... so you can know you are following the right voice.

18 No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.

I appreciate the reminder that Jesus was in control the whole time. He had a plan and followed it ... sacrificially and obediently.