Read John 6 – It’s a miracle! And another! Walking with Jesus had to be mesmerizing. The crowd did not leave. I loved, well, all of it, but the part where he asks Phillip where they should buy bread to feed these multitudes of people…. knowing what he was about to do, yet taking the time to grow Phillip’s faith. Beloved, walk close to Jesus. The miracles are everywhere, and He longs to grow your faith too. There’s so much more to discover, so read, and be mesmerized by our supernatural Savior. 💖🍞🐟👣🐟🍞💖
Category: Daily Word
Let’s read the Bible!
John 5:15-47
Read John 5:16-47 – It’s like a grand fireworks show is going on in my head as Jesus explains himself! Read, read, read these verses and be enthralled by the truth! The Jewish leaders want a reason to kill Jesus; He called God His Father, thereby making Himself equal with God (:18). That would be blasphemy for anyone else, but Jesus goes on to explain himself, his mission and his divine dependence on God the Father. Jesus gives life :21; Jesus has absolute God-given authority to judge :22. Jesus’ power to give life is from God :26. Jesus’ claims are valid by the eyewitness account of John the Baptist :31-33; by the teachings and miracles He works by God’s will :36; and the testimony of the LORD through His Scriptures :37-39!!!!! Beloved, you can look at other faiths and you will not find this. Jesus is worthy, wonderful, and powerful. His mission is to rescue and his mission is to judge. Will you know him as Rescuer or Judge?🎇🕊👨⚖🎆
John 5:1-15
Read John 5:1-15 – No limits! – There are crowds of sick people at the pool of Bethesda, and Jesus zero’s in on one lame man and asks: Would you like to get well? (5:6) It is beyond what the lame man can conceive. He explains to Jesus why he can’t be healed. It’s a short exchange and Jesus simply tells him to pick up his mat, and walk. The Jewish leaders do not like this – mind you – they had much to lose (in their minds) over Jesus being Messiah – their career and social standing for example. They began questioning the man, but he didn’t even know it was Jesus who healed him. Later, Jesus finds him in the Temple and tells him to stop sinning or something worse will happen to him. We don’t know what his sin was, but suffice to say, this man had some baggage. Beloved, whatever limits you put on Jesus and whatever baggage you are clinging to, it’s time to let it go. Jesus is right there asking if you would like to be well – what are you waiting for???
John 4
Read John 4 – It’s on! The ministry of Jesus Christ has hit the ground running! Read carefully, there are so many treasures like in :6 it says Jesus was weary. That is so human. Lord Jesus experienced what it is to be human, and what it is to be weary and thirsty. The Samaritan woman is rather spirited in her conversation. Jesus tells her, “I AM the Messiah!” (4:26), and she responds as we should – passionately telling everyone!! We are told many believed because of her(4:39). What a glorious thing! Will it be said of you when you are standing before Him one day – my prayer for all of us is YES. The faith of the official in :50 is excellent. How is your faith? Do you trust Jesus with your prayers? Stay the course, John’s account will grow your love for Jesus, as well as your faith, hope, joy and love…. May all of these things lead MANY to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 💖🙏🏻📖☝️💖
Psalm 119:129-144
Monday! Monday! Read Psalm 119:129-144 – Wonderful is both miraculous and supernatural – When one discovers that living according to God’s law is so much better than getting lost in the world’s way there is a joy and a desire to know even more. YOUR LAWS ARE WONDERFUL. NO WONDER I OBEY THEM! (119:129) As much as we know obeying God’s Word is the best way to live, we, like the psalmist, know we are prone to mess it up… Our psalmist does not hide from God when this happens, nor does he pretend he is without shortcomings. We will be blessed to do the same and seek His mercy: COME AND SHOW ME YOUR MERCY, AS YOU DO FOR ALL WHO LOVE YOUR NAME. (119:132) Jesus kept things simple for us, he summed up the law in two essential commands. One is to love the Lord with all your heart, mind, strength and soul. The other is to love your neighbor as yourself. This is repeated in the gospel accounts of Matthew 6, Luke 10, and in the epistles of Romans 13, Galatians 5, and James 2. Our psalmist heart is breaking for those around him who live in disobedience(119:136, 139), and ours should too. These are challenging days, keep looking to the Word that saves! YOUR LAWS ARE ALWAYS RIGHT; HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND THEM SO I MAY LIVE. (119:144)
John 3
Read John 3 – Truth and Love – Jesus meets with Nicodemus. He is a Pharisee (a sect of Judaism that was intent to follow the Law of Moses to the extreme of legalism), also a member of the Sanhedrin (a lower court that ruled over disputes within the Jewish community). He speaks to Jesus after dark, indicating he did not want to be publicly associated with Jesus. Jesus explains the necessity of being born-again, and explains what he means by this.
In Chapter 3, we see the famous John 3:16 in context: FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON. THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE. Beloved, there is no plan B or plan C. Many paths do not lead to God, only Jesus, and He came to rescue ALL.
Next, John the Baptist explains Christ’s deity to his followers. He gently explains he must fade as Jesus Messiah becomes greater, and that he does so with joy. He also confirms 3:16 in verse 3:36 HE WHO BELIEVES IN THE SON HAS EVERLASTING LIFE; AND HE WHO DOES NOT BELIEVE THE SON SHALL NOT SEE LIFE, BUT THE WRATH OF GOD ABIDES ON HIM.
Jesus message is so simple and open to all. Beloved, read John 3 for yourself and let the Holy Spirit speak to your heart. May your day be a reflection of His great love.
John 2
Read John 2 – Like a groom inviting his bride to join him in life, Jesus invites us to join him in miracles.
Jesus’s first recorded miracle is the turning of water into wine. It’s a miracle and he could have accomplished it any number of ways, but he invites the servants into it. He tells them to fill the jars with water, draw some out and present it to the master of ceremonies. The servants got to join Jesus in this miracle, though I doubt they had an inkling as to what was going on. Likewise, you are invited to join Jesus in wonderful things you may not understand this side of heaven.
Next, Jesus clears the temple. The temple had become a place for profit, when it should be a place of sacrifice and worship. We see righteous anger here. This was something foul in the temple and Jesus cleared it out. In Jewish custom, before passover the house is cleaned so not a speck of dust remained – the dust being symbolic of leaven, and leaven being symbolic of sin.
Invite Jesus to reveal anything in your life that is in need of cleaning so you are free to join him with a pure heart.💗
John 1
Read John 1 – Jesus’s divinity is clear from the very first word – My heart is full as I take in John’s statements. IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD, AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD, AND THE WORD WAS GOD…. I could rest in verses 1:1-5 all day long and know I am only catching a glimpse of the essence of our Trinity Father… and I can look ahead toward heaven, when I will bask in His presence with adoration and worship. We have great things in store for us! John starts with the beginning of time, and moves into the beginning of Jesus’s earthly ministry, announced by John the Baptist. Then John shares how he and Andrew, first disciples of John the Baptist, became the first to follow Jesus. Peter, Philip and Nathanael join as disciples. And our chapter closes with Jesus speaking of the greater things they will see. He calls himself the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth…. Sweet Jesus… Jesus Divine… Jesus Messiah.🥰🙌💖🙏🏻💖🙌🥰
1 Kings Reflections
Reflect on 1 Kings – Praise the Lord! You have just finished the book of 1 Kings. What did you learn? Who did you meet? Let’s look back at:
DAVID, a man after God’s own heart, his life concluded in 1 Kings, yet his legacy continues through the generations.
SOLOMON, who started strong, seeking wisdom above all else, yet finished poorly, being led astray by the company he kept.
REHOBOAM and AHAB revealed the importance of heeding wise counsel, and that evil will be dealt with.
ELIJAH the prophet showed us a life reliant on God, and he showed us that even those closest to the Lord can grow weary… the Lord will meet you in even the darkest of emotions. Look for his comfort and rescue. What else did you receive?
Tomorrow we will move to the New Testament with the book of John. It is the 4th book of the NT, between Luke and Acts. But for today, may gratitude and quiet reflection fill your study time. BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD. I WILL BE EXALTED AMONG THE NATIONS, I WILL BE EXALTED IN ALL THE EARTH. Psalm 46:10
1 Kings 22
Read 1 Kings 22 – A common purpose unites Israel and Judah. Meet Jehoshaphat, the son of Asa, king of Judah (the south). He was a king who did what was pleasing to the Lord(22:43). He was visiting King Ahab(north) during a time of peace with Aram. Ahab proposed they reclaim a city from Aram. Jehoshaphat is agreeable, providing they find out what the Lord says. The prophets are summoned and are in favor, yet none of the 400 prophets are from the Lord. Jehoshaphat has godly discernment to point this out.
Ahab doesn’t like the prophet of the Lord, Micaiah, because he gives bad news. This time is no exception, as he says Ahab will die if he goes into this battle. Ahab is arrogant to go to battle anyway, yet cowardly by disguising his royalty. But the Lord’s purpose prevails and you have to read it for yourself!
God is precise in his ways. MANY ARE THE PLANS IN A PERSON’S HEART, BUT IT IS THE LORD’S PURPOSE THAT PREVAILS. Proverbs 19:21
Judy in the Sky 