Expectations Met

Expectations Met

1 John 5: ⁶ Jesus Christ is the one who came with the water of his baptism and the blood of his death. He came not only with the water, but with both the water and the blood. And the Spirit himself testifies that this is true, because the Spirit is truth. ⁷ There are three witnesses: ⁸ the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and all three give the same testimony. ⁹ We believe human testimony; but God's testimony is much stronger, and he has given this testimony about his Son. 

 

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Sitting in driver’s school, I looked at my watch all day! It seemed like the hours moved as days as the instructor warned all of us speeders about the dangers of driving fast. I had to check in at the beginning of the class and then check out at the end.

 

• I was sentenced to serve eight hours for my speeding.
• I was required to take the driver’s class.
• I needed an official witness that I took the class in order for the speeding ticket to not count against me.

 

John addressed something that people are still looking for to this very day, namely a person who can fix the mess humans are in. Poverty, sickness, violence and other problems seemed to grow, removing all hope. John addressed the fact the JESUS is the Messiah, the Savior of the world. Humans witnessed HIS baptism, but only HE experienced death and the SPIRIT testifies that HE met the criteria, GOD was looking for.

 

My Observations:

• Satan’s pride caused him to get kicked out of heaven, and he introduced sin into the world by tricking Adam and Eve into performing an seemingly innocent sin.
• All of humanity became sinners through Adam and Eve and needed a sinless Savior.
• JESUS became a human, who never once sinned, who was baptized and murdered by HIS creation, but was raised from the dead by the HOLY SPIRIT.

 

Human witnesses are good, BUT GOD’s witness is the ultimate. I mean, humans can provide a witness to something and still be wrong or possibly have a sinful motive behind his or her witness. BUT GOD’s witness is pure and contains no sin.

 

The HOLY SPIRIT witnessed JESUS’s death and raised HIM from the dead. This act redeemed all humans who believe in the need of salvation. HIS resurrection was enough to meet GOD’s expectations. I am glad GOD supplied everything I needed to remove my sentence and to become redeemed by HIS SON.

 

Challenge

• What does the writer point out about JESUS?
• Have you ever pondered why did HE have to go through all of the pain and suffering?
• Will you see GOD’s love in JESUS’s actions by surrendering your life to HIM and by knowing that all expectations of you have been met, simply by believing in what HE has done today?

Don’t Worry, It’s Witnessed

Don’t Worry, It’s Witnessed

1 Timothy 3: ¹⁴ As I write this letter to you, I hope to come and see you soon. ¹⁵ But if I delay, this letter will let you know how we should conduct ourselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth. ¹⁶ No one can deny how great is the secret of our religion:

 

He appeared in human form,
    was shown to be right by the Spirit,
    and was seen by angels.
He was preached among the nations,
    was believed in throughout the world,
    and was taken up to heaven.

 

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Running into the group, I felt I needed to explain what I saw. “We saw it too” were the words given to me as if to say, “Don’t worry about trying to convince us.”

 

• I thought I was going to have to prove what I saw.
• I got myself ready to try to explain something that people would not believe.
• I was relieved other people saw what I saw so there could be no denial of the truth.

 

Paul gives some assurance to Timothy that he would try his best to come there but if he couldn’t, this letter is all he needed. Paul also attempted to rest Timothy’s mind by letting him know that people, angels and GOD HIMSELF gave witness to JESUS who was taken up to heaven in front of many.

 

My Observations

• JESUS appeared as a human to many people.
• JESUS was announced as “right” by the SPIRIT.
• JESUS was and is preached  throughout the world so I do not have to worry about proving it.

 

There is no need to “prove” GOD or what JESUS did for humanity. I mean, three were enough witnesses who saw HIS miracles, spoke about what happened and watched HIM be taken up to heaven. HIS words were powerful and permeates the soul to this very day.

 

No one can deny that “love one another” is the cure for all ills. Unfortunately, humans have a difficult time doing so. I am glad JESUS took care of that too. HE forgave me for all my sins and raises me up with HIM.

 

Challenge

• Who do you think the writer is speaking about?
• Have you ever seen something that was amazing and hard to explain, yet had witnesses?
• Will you rest assured that JESUS died for your sins and is now alive, forgiving you for all your sins, past present and future, today?

Shared Power

Shared Power

2 Corinthians 13: This is now the third time that I am coming to visit you. “Any accusation must be upheld by the evidence of two or more witnesses”—as the scripture says. ² I want to tell those of you who have sinned in the past, and all the others; I said it before during my second visit to you, but I will say it again now that I am away: the next time I come nobody will escape punishment. ³ You will have all the proof you want that Christ speaks through me. When he deals with you, he is not weak; instead, he shows his power among you. ⁴ For even though it was in weakness that he was put to death on the cross, it is by God's power that he lives. In union with him we also are weak; but in our relations with you we shall share God's power in his life.

 

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“Oooo, I’m telling!” were the words of dread from another kid’s mouth. My teasing had turned into vicious put downs, causing him to go and tell on me. Now I was in trouble!

 

• I dreaded having to face consequence.
• I only wanted to be forgiven without needing to endure any penalties.
• I was mad at being told on.

 

Paul clarifies that he doesn’t want twisted stories. Specific sin needed to have two or more witnesses. The sin needed to be clear and not manufactured by one and planted into others. Paul was given the power to cast out demons and do other miraculous things. He shared in the power of JESUS and wanted to be careful when dealing with blatant sin.

 

My Observations

• GOD gave HIS SON to us so we can share in the power that raised HIM from the dead.
• GOD allowed me to be saved and forgiven of all my sins.
• GOD allows other people to bring consequence on me when I blatantly sin against him or her.

 

Forgiveness is wonderful. I mean, all my sins are forgiven?! Wow! BUT GOD doesn’t like sin, not even the smallest. One bite of a piece of fruit took humanity down. That sin doesn’t compare to all the ones I ever committed.

 

GOD does forgive, and HE protects people. HE sees when I do wrong to others and allows consequence to fall on me. I do not like consequence but I understand when GOD wants me corrected. HE also give me the power to restore those who repent. I am glad HE corrects and restores me.

 

Challenge

• Do you feel the writer’s passion?
• What would you do in his situation?
• Do you feel good when someone gets punished?
• Will you seek restoration instead of punishment and allow GOD to own any vengeance today?

Hearing the Truth

Hearing the Truth

John 18: ¹⁹ The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine.

²⁰ Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. ²¹ Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.”

²² And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?”

²³ Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?”

²⁴ Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

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“Your car is dying” were the words I could not accept. “Maybe I have more life than expected” I thought to myself. I did not have money to buy a car, nor fix the one I had. I drove on my occasional trip that would take about two hours, but this time it took eight. The car kept breaking down on the side of the road. I had to accept the truth.

• Sometimes I don’t want to hear no more bad news.
• Sometimes I don’t want to face life’s challenges.
• Sometimes I don’t want to accept the obvious answer to a huge problem.

Annas, a high priest, asked JESUS about what HE taught. He was trying to get JESUS to confess to heresy. The tense situation was magnified when one of the soldiers struck JESUS. This soldier did not want to hear the truth that JESUS spoke, nor did the church leader.

Accepting JESUS means accepting HE is the truth. Being GOD, HE knew the decree of the FATHER,  that if anyone sins, they deserve eternal separation from HIM. JESUS volunteered to be the sacrifice that would redeem those who sinned and believe HE did this for them.

Unfortunately, JESUS has become a figurehead to a club of people who do nice things in the name of the brand of church they attend. Yes, JESUS is mentioned, sometimes in the right context. BUT GOD can see through humans down to the heart. HE wants me to speak HIS truth of redemption through HIS SON and that is it. I accept the truth of GOD.

• Are you wrestling with finding the “truth?”
• Do you think sinful humans have found the truth for which you would base your life on?
• Will you allow GOD to turn your heart to HIM so HE can speak the truth through you today?