48th Week John Chapters 9-12 (Click on Title for Video Introduction)

 

Click on Title for Video Introduction

Monday, John Chapter 9

John 9

Verse 25b

Jeanie Boldt

September 29, 2010

Verse 25b: “One thing I do know, I was blind but now I see!”

THOUGHT

One sense that is indeed valuable to me is my eyes.  I have had to wear corrective means since I was 10 years old.  I hated glasses so contacts were an answer to prayer and have so been comfortable since.  Praise God for that.  I value my vision so much.  I guess because even though I am not blind, I know how it must be to even have to try and see without glasses or contacts.

If I had been this man – blind since birth – and then one day a man came, put mud on my eyes and “Wala” – I could see, I would believe.  Can you believe how something so wonderful became such a disaster?  It is like, “I could see this playing out so differently.”  I would think everyone would be glad and have reason to celebrate.  However, the Pharisees were questioning Jesus’ actions and the man himself.  They threw him out.  Jesus, the Good Shepherd, took him in.  The man knew that He was a man called Jesus, a prophet and a Man of God, but the man needed to learn that Jesus is “the Son of God”.  He did come to believe and experience the gift of salvation that comes with the belief.

Our man who was healed spoke truth.  “One thing I know.  I was blind but now I see!”  We don’t need to know all the answers in order to share Christ with others.  It is important to tell them how he has changed your life.  Then trust that God will use your words to help others believe in Him too!  

PRAYER

God, My Creator, Thank You for the vision that I have and for all the beauty of Your earth that I can see and enjoy.  Thank You for the healing power that You have.  The miracles that Jesus performed make it easy to share with others.  Thank You!!!  Help us all to have the vision that we need to be lights in the world.  Focus our eyes on Jesus daily so that we can keep our priorities in the right place. Bring people to commune with You.  We love Your Word.  You are all powerful.  We are humbled by Your mighty acts and wonders. AMEN

Tuesday, John Chapter 10

John 10

Verse 14

Bart Strayer

October 5, 2010

Verse 14: “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me – just as the father knows me and I know the Father.”

THOUGHT

This verse makes mention of one of the distinguishable differences that Christianity has that other major world religions do not.  Jesus is referring to the personal relationship that he desires to have with us.  The personal relationship with Christ is the cornerstone of our faith, and yet it seems so few attain it.  

There seem to be various reasons.  Over the centuries, doctrines have emerged from denominations that don’t stress the personal relationship with Christ.  Speaking personally, I think sometimes we are afraid of a relationship with something so holy that we may be constrained in an undesirable way if we pursue it.  We need to realize the gain from knowing Christ more is always better than what we may or may not have to let go of.

PRAYER

Lord, we thank You for Your desire to want to have a relationship with us.  Help us to come whole heartedly to You and leave nothing to reserve.  Help us to know more of You.  We ask for protection from the evil one and grace in where we have failed You.  AMEN

Wednesday, John Chapter 11

John 11

Verse 4

Bart Strayer

October 7, 2010

Verse 4: “This sickness will not end in death.  No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”

THOUGHT

I was thinking about my last devotion I sent out.  As I read the words of Christ, my mind can’t escape what many of the other religions have to say about Christ.  Many say that he was a prophet.  I can’t possibly see how they could say He was a prophet.  What kind of prophet says these things?  Miracles aside, no prophet shows up and says He is the Son of God.  He is either a Lord, Liar, or Lunatic; but prophet, like the billions of Hindus and Muslims say He was, He was not.

C.S. Lewis said it best:

“A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher.  He would either be a lunatic – on the level with a man who says he is a poached egg – or he would be the devil of hell.  You must take your choice.  Either this was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse.  You can shut Him up for a fool or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God.  But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher.  He has not left that open to us.”

PRAYER

Dear Jesus, again we acknowledge You as Lord of our lives.  We thank You for the revolutionizing power of Your actions on earth.  Help us to know You more through the teaching of Your Word.  AMEN

Thursday, John Chapter 12

John 12

Verse 42

Bart Strayer

October 11, 2010

Verse 42: “Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him.  But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.”

THOUGHT

I am not sure how many of you have ever heard of Greg Laurie.  But if you haven’t, I would describe him as a modern-day Billy Graham.  He hosts evangelistic outreaches in large stadiums.  He is coming to Seattle in November.  Our church has been heavily involved in preparing for the whole event so we hear about it constantly.  We are being asked to take unsaved friends/family to the event with the hope that they will go forward for salvation at the end.  

I had to work a preparation event last night; and I guess this whole event, along with my chosen verses today, has caused me to stop and recognize how much of a void is in the church when it comes to making an attempt to bring people to Christ. 

Our speaker last night went into a bunch of reasons for this.  I won’t summarize all of them, but the one that spoke the loudest to me is that people try to evangelize with no developed strategy.  Or they have a limited strategy and lack the courage for fear of failure.  That’s me.  Like our verse today, the fear of rejection from people leaves us at odds with our service to Christ.  That is bad.  This is something that I am going to have to confront, or I feel the consequences would be too costly.

PRAYER

Lord, give us the courage to speak of You without fear.  Prepare our hearts and our words that we would be useful in talking about You without being an awkward freak.  Give us favor and smoothness of speech that we may be understanding and soft-hearted for the lost.  Amen.

Friday,  Review

John records eight specific signs, or miracles, that show the nature of Jesus' power and love.  

We see His power over everything created, and we see His love of all people.  In John we see Jesus revealed in power and magnificence even before His resurrection.  We should believe and allow Jesus to forgive our sins.  Only then will we experience peace in a world filled with turmoil.  Prepare your heart and mind for next week as we begin John's recording of Christ' death and resurrection.