Ignorance of The Law

Ignorance of The Law

John 15: ²² If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. ²³ He who hates Me hates My Father also. ²⁴ If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. ²⁵ But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’

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Before I stood in front of the judge, I wrote out my argument. As I watched others explain themselves, I listened intently to a similar case. “There was no sign posting the speed” said the person. I waited for the judges’ response. “Ignorance of the law is no excuse” said the judge. The person was fined more for pleading not guilty. I threw away my pitiful defense.

• “I didn’t know that was wrong” used to be my defense.
• ”I didn’t know I did anything bad” used to be my excuse.
• “Everyone else is doing it” used to be my rationale for doing something wrong but justifying it being right.

JESUS explains HE is the key to fulfilling all scripture. In other words, there are some extreme declarations about humanity that could only be fulfilled by one person. JESUS said “If HE had never come, then people could not be judged for their ignorance of the Law.” So why am I accused of sin?

• JESUS placed HIS Law in my heart when HE created me.
• GOD threw Satan out of heaven, who in turn made the first person sin, causing me to have sin.
• GOD declared that if anyone sins they would be eternally separated from HIM, which affected me.

Ignorance of GOD’s Law will be no excuse. JESUS placed The Word in every heart, so every human is capable of loving GOD. Unfortunately there will be some who fight the HOLY SPIRIT enough to reject HIM. GOD wants me to reach those who are rejecting HIS inherent love.

HE wants me to first admit I need HIM because all have sinned. Next, when I believe that JESUS is my Savior I can then confess HE is my only answer. Finally, HE sends me out with this belief to seek first HIS kingdom. It is all about JESUS. We hated HIM without a cause. I am grateful for HIS forgiveness.

• Are you ignorant of your sin?
• Do you think others are sinning and you are not?
• Will you confess to GOD you need HIM to clean your sin daily, so you can reach others the way HE wants you to?

Expect It

Expect It

John 15: ²⁰ Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. ²¹ But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.

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When I ran a large department of the company, I noticed my peers acting different. The people who rose up with me were fighting against me. I asked a mentor what was going on. “Of course they are fighting” they said. “There is only so much budget to hand out and you are going to have to fight for it, so get ready to grow up!”

• Sometimes hearing I have to grow up makes me upset.
• Sometimes hearing I need to take on huge challenges makes me feel unsettled.
• Sometimes hearing I should be strong makes me want to be weak.

JESUS spoke to HIS followers and said the world would persecute them. These words could be unsettling, but they were meant in comfort. How in the world could news about persecution be comforting?

• GOD wants me to be aware that an enemy will try to stop me from spreading the gospel.
• GOD wants me to be prepared so I will not get discouraged when I face issue after issue.
• GOD wants me to be ready to ask HIM for strength rather than relying on my own.

Readiness is what GOD is teaching when HE tells me that life would bring problems. HE wants me to be prepared to face the world so I can ask HIM for protection. Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance produces character; and character produces hope. This is a tough message but necessary. I am glad GOD teaches me what to expect so I can grow.

• Are you going through problems?
• Have you been going through problems for a long time?
• Will you allow GOD to grow you instead of giving up?

Hated

Hated

John 15: ¹⁸ “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

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After the sermon, I felt it was time to give up drinking as a vow to the LORD. This came with a price. I went back to visit my “friends” and they wanted me to drink with them. “I’ll pass” I said. They kept pressing the issue and asked many questions. I wasn’t really a drinker anyway, but to stop all together seemed odd to them. They stopped inviting me.

• When I stood ground because of my promise to the LORD, people looked at me strange.
• When I started doing things strictly for the LORD, people stepped away from me.
• When I stopped doing what the popular people were doing, I was no longer popular.

JESUS warns HIS followers that the world will hate them because of their love for HIM. HE then tell HIS disciples that HE chose them to be different than the world.

• JESUS wants me to show love when hatred is shown to me.
• JESUS wants me to be a servant when others want to be the boss.
• JESUS wants me to seek the poor rather than running after the rich and powerful.

It really is not popular to follow JESUS. The world labels the lifestyle as “dull” and “boring.” BUT GOD loves when I follow HIS example. HE gets excited when I mention JESUS as the creator to the “smart” people who believe the world created itself. HE rewards me when I talk about heaven as my home to those who focus all their attention on temporary mansions.

JESUS was hated because HE loved the world. HE died for the world and the world still did not believe in HIM. Every job that believes they have the answer to problems could be a distraction from JESUS. The world hates not getting credit for answers, so they do not praise GOD. I praise GOD for all HE has blessed me with.

• Do you follow humans more than you follow GOD?
• Do you believe in human wisdom without giving GOD any credit?
• Will you drop your fear of being looked at strangely by the world and spread GOD’s message by words first, then example?

More to Life

More to Life

John 15: ¹⁶ You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. ¹⁷ These things I command you, that you love one another.

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After working twelve hours that day, I took a break for dinner. I had a lot to do so I stayed overnight. I kept working until everyone arrived again the next day. I worked all that day as well. We did not land the account.

• There were times when I felt like saying “What is the purpose of life?”
• There were times when I was too busy to do anything else but work.
• There were times when I worked until I was exhausted so I rested, only to do it again.

JESUS explains to the disciples that they were chosen for a purpose. HE wants those who follow HIM to bear fruit. This fruit is not temporary, but permanent. JESUS equipped them before they went.

• JESUS equips me with the purpose of seeking those HE wants to save.
• JESUS equips me with the ability to ask the FATHER to clear any barrier that impedes bearing HIS fruit.
• JESUS equips me with love for one another as the primary weapon for bearing fruit.

There is more to life than getting stuff or fighting over getting more money to get stuff. JESUS says “Bear fruit” and that is it. Bearing fruit doesn’t have to be hard, it simply has to be done. Some places have complicated the message, guilting people into false fruit. BUT JESUS wants true fruit that lasts.

JESUS wants me to love those HE sends to me or sends me to. This will make tangible fruit that is unseen to the world but is permanent to GOD. It is not out of obligation that I bear fruit, it is because HE chose me and loved me first.

• Are you exhausted?
• Do you think bearing fruit requires hard work in some program or giving every last dime that you are worried about?
• Will you take GOD’s easy yoke and allow HIM to guide you to true and permanent fruit that only you can bear?

Friendly

Friendly

John 15: ¹³ Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. ¹⁴ You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. ¹⁵ No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 

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Sitting in the back seat of their car, the driver and passenger asked me questions “Do you know JESUS?” they asked. I said “Yes” and thanked them for the ride. My car had broken down and I had no idea how far the next exit was.

• Many strangers have been very friendly to me.
• Many strangers have shown friendliness towards me without being prompted.
• Many strangers have done friendly things to me, even when I did not ask.

JESUS calls HIS disciples “fiends.” HE goes a step further and says “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for friends.” This is what JESUS did. But what am I supposed to do?

• JESUS wants me to seek opportunities to be a friend to somebody.
• JESUS wants me to stop thinking about myself for a moment and be friendly to someone.
• JESUS wants me to change my mind about people and be friendly instead of combative.

There is nothing I can give GOD when HE gave it all to me. I mean HE died for me. I cannot die for HIM, or can I. HE wants me to think of others with love rather than being irritated with them. Instead of being “too busy” for them, HE wants me to sacrifice my “precious” time to be there for them.

Laying down my life for a moment takes sacrifice. I may have to lay aside my comfort, pet peeves and made up human beliefs to show GOD’s love. JESUS showed me how to be a friend. HE gave me HIS word and wants me to pass it on. I can do the same, little by little.

• Do you complain about people?
• Are you mad at “that’ person?
• Will you lay down your life for a moment and show the world how to be a friend to someone today?

Joy Connection

Joy Connection

John 15: ¹¹ “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. ¹² This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

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During the aquarium school trip, I encountered a machine that made wax figurines. I was given an allowance but did not have enough. I had a talent for finding abandoned coins so I looked around.

I did find enough money to purchase my trophy. I was happy. I guarded it all the way home. After playing with it outside, I came in, leaving it on the grass. My neighbor’s dog ate it. I was not happy about that!

• Over the years I have lost a lot of trophies.
• Over the years I have had things that have broken.
• Over the years I have had  stuff stolen from me, lost stuff or missed out on getting stuff.

JESUS wanted HIS disciples to be whole. HE knew the things of this world would result in disappointment and sorrow. Not having enough would inspire a pursuit of getting more. BUT HE had another plan.

• GOD wants me to have joy even when I am not happy.
• GOD wants me to be filled with HIS joy even when things seem to go wrong.
• GOD wants me to have joy so I can overcome any issue that I face.

Joy is very different than happiness. Joy is permanent, whereas happiness is temporary and sometimes fleeting. The joy of CHRIST is to bring back those who have lost their way to HIM. HE wants me to show HIS love. But why were people lost in the first place?

One being decided he would be GOD. This being was thrown out of heaven to this world. After tempting the first human to sin, in an effort to destroy GOD’s prize, he thought he had won. All humans were lost. BUT JESUS lived a sinless life and took the punishment for humans. My fight is no longer against GOD. I have joy for HIS salvation!

• Are you sad, lonely and depressed?
• Does your outlook on life look bad?
• Will you seek the joy of JESUS to get through the unhappy times?

Moods

Moods

John 15: ⁹ “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. ¹⁰ If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

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Walking into the stall, I saw the worse use of a toilet that I had to clean up. “I hate this job” I said to myself. When I was stuck in traffic, I sat behind the “slow” driver who left gaps. “I hate drivers like that” I groused. When I confirmed my suspicions of my sneaky boss looking at “my” ideas and stealing them, I set the person up for failure. “I hate bosses like that” I said to myself. I was in a bad mood in every instance.

• Looking back, I used the words “I hate” a lot.
• Looking back, I thought negatively a lot.
• Looking back, I had a lot to complain about.

JESUS implores HIS disciples to keep HIS commandments. A new commandment HE gave was for humans to “love one another”, not just tolerate them. HE said “If you keep MY commandments, you will abide in MY love.” All commandments were made off of one commandment, namely “Love one another.”

• JESUS wants me to decrease my negativity and increase my trust in HIM.
• JESUS wants me to look for opportunities to love those HE sends to me.
• JESUS wants me to see HIS examples of love and follow them.

Showing love actually guides my mood. I mean when I do what GOD says and show love to “those” people, the HOLY SPIRIT gets excited. No “thank you” is needed or expected because GOD has a special reward for me each time I serve someone silently.

GOD wants me to “go” and “serve” and “teach” and “baptize” and “pray” and “praise” and “show kindness” and “have patience” and “make peace” amongst a long list of things I could do right now. I am glad HE showed me examples of HIS love.

• Are you complaining a lot?
• What are you thankful for?
• Will you lift your spiritual eyes up and give thanks today?
• Will you show love to all those HE brings to your mind?