September 13 – Knowing The Whole

“He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?”  Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” – John 13:6-7 (ESV)

On a very important night Jesus is with His disciples observing the Passover meal as was the practice of following their Jewish Law. This was indeed the last supper and not only for Jesus but for the disciples. What was about to happen, Jesus’ death and resurrection would fulfill  the requirements of the Law for the sake of righteousness. Jesus was willing to be the perfect and final blood sacrifice for sin. Foot washing was a normal act of hospitality, and the disciples thought Jesus was doing that. But Jesus was symbolizing what was about to happen for all who believe in Him. Peter, failed to see beyond the humble act itself to the symbol of necessary spiritual cleansing. Jesus responded with this promise: unless the Lamb of God washes away a person’s sin they will have no share with Him. It was for this reason that Jesus, who saw the whole, said to Peter, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” Two verbs are translated as ‘understand.’ The first one is knowledge by intuition or by reflection, the second is knowledge by observation and experience. Do we understand how we should?

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April 19 – Penetrating Question

“Yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, And He has made my feet like hinds’ feet, And makes me walk on my high places.” -  Habakkuk 3:18-19 (NASB)

Our verse comes from the book of Habakkuk. We find promises that are apropos to our times. On today’s social media, we may encounter a good deal of complaining about how “things aren’t how they used to be or should be.” And the appeal of many is “How do we get back to the way it was?” This was the prophet Habakkuk’s complaint. Sin was abounding (just as today) and God seemed both indifferent and idle to Habakkuk. He questions if it was God who was to blame? “Why do You make me look at injustice?” (Habakkuk 1:3 NASB) He doubles down with an even greater question for God: “Why do You tolerate wrong?” (Habakkuk 1:13 NASB) Does this sound like the cry of many modern Christians?. “Why is God allowing the destruction of our country?” Mostly we blame the other side of the political divide. Habakkuk describes dire circumstances (v.16-17) for himself and Israel.  But he doesn’t state that he would merely endure this distress. He sets our example and said he would rejoice in the Lord and be joyful. God is the inexhaustible source and infinite supply of joy. God my Savior is literally, “the God of my salvation.”

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October 14 – Not To the Right or the Left

“Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.  Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established. Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil.”  -Proverbs 4:25-27   (NASB)

Don't we who follow Jesus Christ because He is our Lord and Savior want our ways established in His Word and Truth?  Do we not want to avoid falling for the attractions of evil things?  Today's promises tell us just how we should go about accomplishing that objective.  Actually it is accomplished by he grace of God who does it for us if we keep our eyes fixed on Him and His Word.  We keep His Word in our heart/mind and we fix our gaze straight ahead in front of us.  If we do this and keep our eyes on the path where our feet are walking, God establishes us and our habits and behaviors.  We refuse to turn to the right or to the left for that is where the distractions and attractions for an ungodly life are.  When we intentionally resist temptation and turn away from evil, God's ways become our ways and we bless God as He more abundantly blesses us.  

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August 27 – Lighting Our Way

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”  Psalm 119:105 – (NIV)

This verse reminds us that as we live our lives as believers in the Lord we are on our way toward eternity. It speaks of our lives as if we are walking every day and we need help from God to make our way toward the destination which our God has set before us.  Yes, our activities should bring us closer and closer to God's plans for our eternal destination.  God helps us in more than one way but one very important help is providing a light for our path through His Word.  It is from the Bible that we receive the wisdom and guidance we need to progress in our walk with God.  God leads us through His teaching in the Bible and when we find ourselves in a dark place we do not need to think we are lost because God's Word is a lamp for our feed.  

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