Not Understanding It

Not Understanding It

John 13: ⁶ Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?”

⁷ Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.”

⁸ Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!”

Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”

⁹ Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”

¹⁰ Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” ¹¹ For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.”

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Finally I ran into a group of leaders I appreciated being around. When an opportunity for advancement came open, I scheduled a meeting to ask for the position. It had nothing to do with my skills or accomplishments, I just wanted to be with that group. “Don’t worry” they said to me. “We have something for you too.” What were they talking about? I pondered.

• There were times when I did not understand my benefactors.
• There were times when I did not understand when people had good plans for me.
• There were times when I was suspicious of allowing someone else to look out for me, so I had to look out for “myself.”

Peter, not understanding what JESUS was doing, tried to stop HIM from washing his feet. JESUS tried to tell Peter that he would understand later. Peter went further in his misunderstanding by telling JESUS to wash his entire body. Peter had great intentions.

• GOD understands that I will misunderstand HIM.
• GOD understands that I will think I know what HE is doing, but I will be grossly wrong.
• GOD understands that I will try hard to please HIM, even though HE is already extremely pleased with me.

JESUS needed to serve humans so we could see a real example. I mean, GOD lowered HIMSELF to the point of washing grime and stench off of our feet. I believe HE was telling us that we may step in sin but our feet can be cleaned. But there was one who’s heart was not clean, therefore foot washing would have no effect.

GOD wants my heart. HE can cleanse me of all unrighteousness as long as I give HIM my desires. I am grateful HE can clean me up when I sin.

• Do you want to be clean?
• Do you want to be with GOD in HIS quest to save humanity?
• Will you allow HIM to clean you up the way HE wants to so you can serve many people?

It Does Not Make Sense

It Does Not Make Sense

John 6: ²² On the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except that one which His disciples had entered, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone— ²³ however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks— ²⁴ when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. ²⁵ And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You come here?”

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Embarrassed to say my true background, I mustered up the courage to do so anyway. The room was full of people who had stronger credentials than me and I had barely got in wherever I applied. I stated I grew up with not much money and barely graduated from a university. Somehow I was selected to lead a group in a large corporation.

• Looking back on my path I say it does not make sense to where I got to.
• Looking back on my path I would have given up, because I never  would have thought I would be able to reach where I got.
• Looking back on the number of things that have miraculously happened to me, I would never have thought these things would happen to me.

The people tried to understand what happened though human lenses. They “saw” that there was no boat or disciples. They also “saw” JESUS did not leave with them but was gone. They crossed the sea and “saw: JESUS there. It did not make sense. BUT to GOD it made perfect sense.

• GOD says to me “I AM limitless in MY power.”
• GOD says to me “I AM all-knowing and all seeing.”
• GOD says to me “I AM.”

The great I AM can do anything at any time. Since this is a confusing concept, I try to make sense out of GOD by what I can “see.” When I do not like what I “see”, I question HIS power or intent. I mean I told HIM what I wanted in “my” prayer, why didn’t HE just do what “I” said?

GOD does answer my prayers, but HIS purpose for saying “no” or “wait” or “yes” has to include other people that will be blessed in the process. JESUS demonstrated HIS will cannot be stopped, even by a large body of water. HE loved me so much and never stopped HIS mission to rescue me. I am glad HE is all powerful.

• Do you doubt GOD?
• Are you looking at GOD by what you can see?
• Will you stop trying to make GOD small and allow HIS unseen works to speak louder to you to grow your faith?

Mislabeled Leadership

John 4: Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— ² although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. ³ So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee.

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“Why did you charge me so much for my system?” one person complained to me as I stood on stage. Since I was the leader of the organization that supported the system, it seemed only fitting to personalize the complaint towards me. I wanted to say “The last time I looked, I didn’t get any money for the system you bought” but that wouldn’t go so well with the people above me,

• Many times I have been labeled for things I did not do.
• Many times I had to accept the label because I was the leader.
• Many times I had to assume blame and simply try to make things right.

The church leaders were jealous of JESUS’s popularity. They went so far as to say “JESUS was baptizing people” as if to accuse HIM of not having the authority to do so. JESUS was not baptizing people, rather it was HIS disciples. But if HE did, HE definitely had the authority to do so.

• GOD wants me to accept responsibility for my actions without blaming HIM for my sin.
• GOD wants me to drop any jealousy I may have for someone who is serving the kingdom.
• GOD wants me to rely on HIS word which tells me exactly what HE is doing.

Knowing GOD removes blaming GOD. I mean when I get to know HIM, I understand that HIS motives are only to love me. Belief in this love not only gives me everlasting life, but care and protection in this life. HIS love for me is unsurpassed and that is the correct label I should give Him. GOD, the ultimate love, is my label.

• What are you blaming GOD for now?
• Does blaming GOD enable you to shirk your responsibilities?
• Will you study GOD to understand HIS vast love for you today?

Missed Message

Matthew 17: ²² When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. ²³ They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.” And the disciples were filled with grief.

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“We are going to leave you here while we do some business so you can play with the other children” my parents said to me. I was highly upset and began to cry. When I got older I had to go with them to do errands. “Will this ever end? I want to play with my friends” I thought to myself.

• Sometimes I miss the initial message of good news.
• Sometimes I think everything is crumbling when it actually is bright and cheery.
• Sometimes the bad news is all I hear even when the good news is coupled with it.

JESUS was a miracle machine! HE was healing people left and right. Mobs gathered to wait for HIM to hear HIM speak. They just knew HE would someday be a king, but in an earthly sense. When they heard the news of HIS impending death they were “filled with grief.” BUT GOD had a much better plan.

• GOD’s plans for me are always better than I could ever imagine.
• GOD’s plans for me are higher than I could ever think of.
• GOD’s plans for me are to prosper me in HIS way and in HIS time.

JESUS had to be blamed and murdered in order to fulfill all prophecy spoken about HIM. HE remained sinless to be worthy enough to open the scroll of judgment on the earth. By HIS death and resurrection humanity could be saved. This is far better than a temporary king who would die off in a few years.

GOD wants me to hear HIS wonderful message even when bad news comes. HIS message to me is “I love you.”

• Have you recently received bad news?
• Do you replay bad news over and over in your head?
• Can you stop thinking about the negative thoughts for a moment to listen to GOD’s message of grace and love for you?

Truly Understanding the Misunderstood

Psalm: ¹ Praise the Lord, my soul;
    all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
² Praise the Lord, my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits—
³ who forgives all your sins
    and heals all your diseases,
⁴ who redeems your life from the pit
    and crowns you with love and compassion,
⁵ who satisfies your desires with good things
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

⁶ The Lord works righteousness
    and justice for all the oppressed.

⁷ He made known his ways to Moses,
    his deeds to the people of Israel:
⁸ The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
    slow to anger, abounding in love.
⁹ He will not always accuse,
    nor will he harbor his anger forever;
¹⁰ he does not treat us as our sins deserve
    or repay us according to our iniquities.
¹¹ For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his love for those who fear him;
¹² as far as the east is from the west,
    so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

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“Misunderstood” is probably the most common name for GOD. I mean when HE tries to help me grow, I mistake it for an attack on my person. I try to recall my sins from the last time I asked for forgiveness and when I come up with no recollection, I try to convince GOD that I have been righteous and deserve better treatment. BUT GOD understands and holds no blame.

• GOD has forgiven me of ALL my sins, even tomorrow’s.
• GOD heals me in HIS time, HIS way and sometimes leaves me in the fire when HE sees a need to heal emotional and spiritual wounds.
• GOD has redeemed me from the pit by looking at my entire life, assessing every sin I ever did and stating “I will die in my child’s place.”
• GOD crowns me with love and compassion daily and satisfies my desires when pointed at HIS.
• GOD works righteousness and justice for me, even in my foolish ways.
• GOD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger abounding in love for me.
• GOD does not always accuse me so when I feel accused over and over, it is not from HIM (He need only tell me once).
• GOD does not harbor HIS anger towards me forever, in fact, HE does not treat me as I deserve, nor does HE repay me for my iniquities.
• GOD’s love for me is endless, as high as the heavens are above the earth.
• GOD has removed my transgressions away from me as far as the east is from the west.

I really need to change GOD’s name from “misunderstood” to “Thank-YOU LORD!”

• Are you feeling pitiful?
• Do you think GOD has it out for you?
• Can you stop having selfish, negative thoughts about GOD and believe HE has your best interest in mind?
• Will you praise HIM for who HE really is?