November 6 – New Distinctive Trait

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:34-35 (ESV)

The word for commandment in this verse could also be translated ‘precept.’ The people of the time when Jesus was on earth understood the word and John uses it to identify three connections. It identified a legal order issued by the Sanhedrin or Jewish Supreme court¹; It also identified a charge or instruction Jesus received from the Father²; And it identified a commandment given by Jesus to his disciples³. A legal order is issued by men who may or may not have a warm, personal interest in those who are required to obey it. The charge or instruction given by the Father to His Son; from the Sender in his love to the Sent One. Therefore this precept is a rule, a new commandment from Jesus. It is illustrated by his own life and example, it becomes a directive of conduct and attitude of how His disciples, behave toward all people. To Christ, to one another, and to the world, a genuine, deep-seated and self-sacrificing love for one another is the distinctive trait of the Christian. It is by this that all others will recognize that we belong to Christ and no other deity.* 

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¹John 11:57
²John 10:18; 12:49 -50; 14:31
³John 13:34; 14:15, 21; 15:10, 12

^[*] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Gospel According to John, New Testament Commentary, (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 2:253.

February 16 – Letting a Bit of Jesus Rub Off On Us

“Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.” - Acts 4:13 (NASB)

One day, Peter and John were in the Temple courtyard in Jerusalem.  Only days since the Holy Spirit had come down on the Apostles at Pentecost. They had been continuing to witness to the Jews in Jerusalem and preaching he resurrection of Jesus Christ. This sermon by Peter, the second one recorded, came after instantly a man is healed who had been lame from his birth. A large crowd gathered and listened to what Peter had to say. Peter and John were both from Galilee – a region that was not recognized as producing many educated intellectuals.  All the “smart folks” lived and were educated in Jerusalem. So the crowd was amazed at what Peter said and how it was said.  But many had seen and heard Jesus. There was something about them that reminded this crowd of people of Jesus. They talked and taught like Jesus. They acted like Him and that was noticed. They were able to heal like Jesus did. These disciples had been with Jesus and people could tell the difference. Isn’t that what we want to happen in our lives? Live close to His Word and people will see that we have been with Him. 

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January 3 – Our Badge of Love

“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35 (ESV)

How are we going to tell whether we are a Christian or not? Not by the fact that we are a Catholic or a Protestant, or any denomination or sect; not that you subscribe to some creed that man has drawn up. We have something better than that. It is by what Christ said to His disciples⸺and therefore to us⸺ recorded in today’s promise verse. When Dwight L. Moody was first converted, he said he wished that every Christian would wear a badge, because he wanted to know them. But he got over that. “Every hypocrite could have a badge inside of thirty days, if Christianity should become popular.” No badge for outside will do; but God gives us a badge in the heart⸺love for one another. The person that hasn’t any love in his conviction may let it go to the winds; We don’t want that sort of commitment. The love we have for others is the fruit of the Spirit of God. “Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.” (Romans 8:9). Let us love therefore one another as Christ calls us to.

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Thanks in part to: A Living Daily Message From The Words of D. L. Moody selected by Emma Moody Fitt, Copyright, 1900, by Fleming H. Revell Company, now in public domain. 

July 4 – The Truth is The Way to The Life

“ So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” - John 8:31–32 (ESV)

The last part of verse 32 has become a motto for many things in our world. It is used by organization that have nothing to do with Jesus of Nazareth who declared this as His truth.  It is used as a slogan on university buildings, government buildings and others. Many Jews who followed Jesus around during his ministry on earth and paid attention to Jesus’ words believed him without necessarily committing themselves to Him personally.  It is possible to believe in the message of repentance and a coming kingdom without being born again.  Churches and religions today may use this to support their belief that “every person is one with God and has an innate divine potential.” This was the message Jesus gave to Nicodemus who believed Jesus but did not yet understand that spiritual birth was required. Our freedom from sin comes from believing, and knowing saving truth and repenting of our sin. Jesus was telling the Jews that if they truly knew the truth He was teaching, and would abide in His word, then that truth would lead them to the point of faith believing and salvation. Knowing Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life, is what gives us freedom. 

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January 16 –Fruit that Glorifies God

“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” John 15:7-8”  -  (ESV)

Did you notice that this is a promise that our prayers will be answered? And our Lord showed that there is a connection between that promise and the bearing of spiritual fruit. That is not strange because when we pray asking God for something we need results are the fruit of our prayers.  Of course, we don’t produce the results, God does that.  In the same way that He produces the results of any service we do when we are in Christ and allow God’s words to motivates us to service.  Let’s remember that by effectively praying we produce fruit to God’s glory. Let us also remember where we need to be in spirit and in truth when we pray.  This is not a promise that we can use to become prosperous materially with large homes, fancy expensive sneakers and jet airplanes. It is not a promise to answer our self centered prayers.  The prayers that are answered are to glorify God our Father.  This is a promise that helps us find God’s will for our lives and what we should pray for. 

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November 16 – Freedom Through Truth

“If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”  -  John 8:31b-32 (NASB)

It would be rare for anyone to never have heard the quote “You will know the truth and the truth will make you free.”  It can be found inscribed on university and government buildings, on sidewalks and used as a motto on printed material. But, knowledge from academia or government training or a mission statement will not successfully make us free in the way Jesus promised.  What did Jesus mean when he spoke these words to Jews who came to believe in Him.  John Piper with Desiring God, writes that there are four things needed to be experience being truly free. 1) desire;  2) desire and  ability;  3) desire, ability and opportunity; 4) survive by avoiding being destroyed in the end.  To be fully free, we must have the desire, ability, and the opportunity to do what will make us happy forever, with no regrets, and no second thought doubts.  This is being truly free.  Our promise from Jesus is Himself. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Only Jesus, the Son of God who died and rose again for us can make this freedom possible for us. 

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July 4 – Independence or Freedom

“So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”” John 8:31-32 (NASB)

Today, in the USA, people will be celebrating Independence Day as a day that reminds us of the desire for freedom and liberty which that brought about the Declaration of Independence. The signers of this document were looking for independence from those who governed them from across the ocean.  It is common to think of independence as close to the same thing as freedom.  Jesus said something about being made free in today's verse.  It is important to recognize that as Jesus explained this freedom that He was talking about freedom from the slavery to sin.  The consequences of sin holds us in bondage but Jesus promises freedom from that bondage for those who believe in Him.  This was His purpose, which he obediently fulfilled for our sake because of His love for each and every person. When we believe in Jesus as our Savior we are set free from sin.  As we pay attention to His teaching and follow Him, we learn to appreciate that freedom.  We are no longer salves to sin because He is our teacher and His truth enables us to enjoy His liberty and turn away from sin.  So this can be an Independence Day for all who choose to believe and depend on our Lord to lead us along in truth – the truth that sets us free.  

January 8 – Taught by God

“He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.” John 16:14 (NIV)

During the last hours that Jesus was with His disciples before His death on the cross, He told them what the Holy Spirit would do for them. The disciples had walked and lived with Jesus for about three years. Yet, there was much they needed to understand about Him. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would come and live within them and teach them more to help them understand their Lord Jesus more fully. That promise is also our promise and that is what the Holy Spirit is doing in our lives too. He helps us understand how wonderful our Lord is. Actually how else would we really know Him since we've never seen Him with our eyes or heard him with our ears. When the Holy Spirit teaches us about Jesus, He become glorious to us. Is Jesus a person of glory to you? If He is becoming more and more glorious it's because the Holy Spirit is teaching you. 

What is the glory of God?

October 10 – Family through Faithfulness

“He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Matthew 12:48-50 (NIV)

It is good to be a part of a family and especially to be a part of God's family. Some people find themselves alone in this world but today's promise is for everyone, if they choose, to be a part of God's family. This was a time in Jesus' ministry that his immediate family came to see him. When Jesus was told his mother and brothers were asking after him, he asked the question in this verse. Pointing to those who were with him listening to his teaching he identified them as his family. Jesus considered his family to be all those who followed and did the will of His Father in heaven. Jesus included us as well when he said “whoever does the will of my Father in heaven” is my family. All who believe are brothers and sisters of Christ  – that's the promise we have.

May 9

“But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.”  John 6:20 (NIV)

When the disciples were in a boat on a very stormy lake, Jesus came walking on the water. Even though the disciples were terrified when they saw Jesus, they had reason to be because they didn’t know who He was. So what they really needed to know was that it was their Lord and that He was near to them. He knew they needed Him and He came to help them and to bring them through safely. So just hearing His words and knowing it was Jesus took care of all their fears. This is what we need to know too. We need to know that He is near us, and that He is aware of our needs today. When we are going through a dark hour, we need to hear him speak to us as He did to His disciples.

February 16

“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13 (NIV)

What does it mean to be a Christian? It means that we are identified with Jesus Christ, the Son of God. People took note that Peter and John had been with Jesus. There was something about them that reminded people of Jesus. They saw that they talked and taught like Jesus. They acted like Him and that was noticed. These disciples had been with Jesus and people could tell the difference. Isn’t that what we want to happen in our lives? Live close to Him and people will see that we have been with Him.