Category Archives: Loving / Kind

Father / Yahweh, Grace / Forgiveness, Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Loving / Kind

The Incomparable Nature and Sacrifice of Jesus

Many lose sight of the fact that Christ has always existed. He did not begin to exist when He became man and entered this world for a brief 33 years as a man. He has existed since the beginning.

He is one with the Father. Christ is the image of God revealed to us. Through Him all things were created. He is head of the church, the body of believers who follow Him. He chose to die for each of us so that He could bear the punishment for our sin… the punishment we deserve. That is mercy and grace and love. There is none like Christ.

Colossians 1:12-29

The Incomparable Christ

      13For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

      15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. 19For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, 20and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

      21And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, 22yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach— 23if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.

      24Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions. 25Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, 26that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, 27to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. 29For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.

Let us rejoice in our relationship with Christ… in His sacrifice for our sins. Let us not ignore this incredible sacrifice and gift of forgiveness. Embrace Him, ask forgiveness, change and turn away from sin. Become more like Him and build your relationship with Him. Share the good news of Christ with all whom you have the opportunity. What if no one else will tell them if you don’t?

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Compassion, Compassionate, Humility, Love, Loving / Kind, Pride, Selfishness

Regard Others as More Important than Yourself, in Humility and Love

Yeshua set a powerful example of humility and love for others. Let us follow in His example. Read and reflect on the words in Phil 2.

Philippians 2:1-11

Be Like Christ

     1Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

As you read and reflect on this scripture, ask yourself the following. How do you measure up? What changes do you need to make?

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Demons, Doubt / Lacking Faith, Faith / Trusting God, Grace / Forgiveness, Learning To Pray Effectively, Loving / Kind, Merciful

Yeshua, Help My Unbelief!

Praise Yahweh that He sent us a perfect example for us to follow in order to understand how to live in the right relationship with Him. Yeshua demonstrates a marvelous example. I seek to study and learn from His example. Our faith is a key element of effective prayer. Yeshua stressed this over and over in His earthly ministry. However, He also recognizes our failures and treats us with grace and mercy. He knows our faith is not always as strong as it should be.

Pay attention to how Yeshua interacts with the man whose son is suffering in Mark 9. The man does not have absolute faith, but he simply asks Yeshua to help him in his unbelief. Yeshua answers his prayer.

Mark 9:14-29

      14When they came back to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them. 15Immediately, when the entire crowd saw Him, they were amazed and began running up to greet Him. 16And He asked them, “What are you discussing with them?” 17And one of the crowd answered Him, “Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute; 18and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out. I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it.” 19And He answered them and said, “O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!” 20They brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth. 21And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22“It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” 23And Jesus said to him, “‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” 24Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” 25When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again.” 26After crying out and throwing him into terrible convulsions, it came out; and the boy became so much like a corpse that most of them said, “He is dead!” 27But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him; and he got up. 28When He came into the house, His disciples began questioning Him privately, “Why could we not drive it out?” 29And He said to them, “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.”

It is truly good news that we do not need perfect faith. We can humbly and openly ask our Father in heaven for His help to strengthen our faith. Praise Yahweh for His grace and mercy!

In what areas do you struggle to trust our Father? Come humbly to Him in prayer, in the name of Yeshua, and ask Him to help you in your unbelief.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please strengthen my faith that You are always with me, even in difficult times. Help me to know confidently that You are able to take care of any challenge in my way. Help me to stay strong in my faith even when You choose not to answer my prayers the way I am hoping/expecting. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Father / Yahweh, Grace / Forgiveness, His Timing Not Ours, His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Justice / Judgment, Loving / Kind, Merciful

Yahweh Is a God of Restoration

Yahweh is a God of restoration. Even when He brings discipline to His people that results in challenges and suffering, His heart and His plans are toward restoration.

I am so glad that He forgives and heals and restores! I am glad that my mistakes are not so big that I cannot be reconciled to God.

We should follow this example personally as well with relationships in our lives. There may be times of separation or difficult consequences, but our heart should  be toward restoration of relationships if the person/people involved turn from whatever wickedness or difficulty created the rift in the first place.

If we created the rift, then we should repent, ask forgiveness, and seek restoration.

Jeremiah 33

Restoration Promised

      1Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the second time, while he was still confined in the court of the guard, saying, 2“Thus says the LORD who made the earth, the LORD who formed it to establish it, the LORD is His name, 3‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ 4“For thus says the LORD God of Israel concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah which are broken down to make a defense against the siege ramps and against the sword, 5‘While they are coming to fight with the Chaldeans and to fill them with the corpses of men whom I have slain in My anger and in My wrath, and I have hidden My face from this city because of all their wickedness: 6‘Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them; and I will reveal to them an abundance of peace and truth. 7‘I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel and will rebuild them as they were at first. 8‘I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned against Me and by which they have transgressed against Me. 9‘It will be to Me a name of joy, praise and glory before all the nations of the earth which will hear of all the good that I do for them, and they will fear and tremble because of all the good and all the peace that I make for it.’

      10“Thus says the LORD, ‘Yet again there will be heard in this place, of which you say, “It is a waste, without man and without beast,” that is, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man and without inhabitant and without beast,

11the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who say,
“Give thanks to the LORD of hosts,
For the LORD is good,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting”;
and of those who bring a thank offering into the house of the LORD. For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were at first,’ says the LORD.

      12“Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘There will again be in this place which is waste, without man or beast, and in all its cities, a habitation of shepherds who rest their flocks. 13‘In the cities of the hill country, in the cities of the lowland, in the cities of the Negev, in the land of Benjamin, in the environs of Jerusalem and in the cities of Judah, the flocks will again pass under the hands of the one who numbers them,’ says the LORD.

The Davidic Kingdom

      14‘Behold, days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will fulfill the good word which I have spoken concerning the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15‘In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch of David to spring forth; and He shall execute justice and righteousness on the earth. 16‘In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will dwell in safety; and this is the name by which she will be called: the LORD is our righteousness.’ 17“For thus says the LORD, ‘David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel; 18and the Levitical priests shall never lack a man before Me to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings and to prepare sacrifices continually.’”

      19The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying, 20“Thus says the LORD, ‘If you can break My covenant for the day and My covenant for the night, so that day and night will not be at their appointed time, 21then My covenant may also be broken with David My servant so that he will not have a son to reign on his throne, and with the Levitical priests, My ministers. 22‘As the host of heaven cannot be counted and the sand of the sea cannot be measured, so I will multiply the descendants of David My servant and the Levites who minister to Me.’”

      23And the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying, 24“Have you not observed what this people have spoken, saying, ‘The two families which the LORD chose, He has rejected them’? Thus they despise My people, no longer are they as a nation in their sight. 25“Thus says the LORD, ‘If My covenant for day and night stand not, and the fixed patterns of heaven and earth I have not established, 26then I would reject the descendants of Jacob and David My servant, not taking from his descendants rulers over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But I will restore their fortunes and will have mercy on them.’”

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Compassionate, Loving / Kind, Miracles

Trust God to Answer Your Prayers His Way

I was sharing scripture like Mark 8, where Jesus heals a blind man, with my young daughter. She had an interesting reaction that made me smile. I think first about the miraculous power of Jesus healing. Her first reaction was focused on how Jesus healed. “Gross!” was the sentiment she expressed in regards to Jesus spitting on his eyes as He healed the man.

This honest expression of her feelings led to a very interesting daddy daughter talk… and made me smile.

As I reflected on it later, it struck me… this reaction is not just limited to kids. Many adults (yes, I have been there from time to time also) ask God for help and then are not willing to do what He calls them to do because they don’t trust Him in “how” He answers.

 Mark 8:22-26

      22And they came to Bethsaida. And they brought a blind man to Jesus and implored Him to touch him. 23Taking the blind man by the hand, He brought him out of the village; and after spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, “Do you see anything?” 24And he looked up and said, “I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around.” 25Then again He laid His hands on his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly. 26And He sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”

Trust God not only to answer your prayer, but also trust Him in how He addresses the situation, even if you think some other solution would be better. God is loving and kind and has the best in mind for His people.

It is also interesting to note that Jesus directed the man to go home without entering the village. Jesus was not looking for attention or credit. He was simply helping. Again, how contrary to the ways of men! We are so used to claiming credit and getting attention. God’s ways are not our ways.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Faithful, Grace / Forgiveness, Loving / Kind, Merciful, Protector / Deliverer, Strong in Our Weakness

God’s Faithfulness Offers a Transformative Journey from Brokenness to Abundant Blessings

Jeremiah 31, a pivotal chapter in the book of Jeremiah, carries a profound message of hope and restoration in the midst of turmoil. Against the backdrop of the Babylonian exile and the fall of Jerusalem, the central theme of this chapter revolves around the promise of a new covenant between God and His people.

At its core, Jeremiah 31 envisions the restoration of both the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Despite the people’s disobedience and the consequences they face, God’s unwavering love and faithfulness shine through. The chapter paints a picture of a triumphant return from exile, where the people are called to rejoice and sing as they journey back to their homeland.

The concept of the new covenant takes center stage, embodying a profound shift from external obedience to an internal transformation. Unlike the old covenant established at Mount Sinai, which was written on stone tablets, this new covenant will be etched onto the hearts of the people. This intimate inscription signifies a deeper connection with God, where forgiveness, redemption, and a renewed relationship become paramount.

Through Jeremiah’s words, God’s promise to forgive sins and remember them no more echoes, highlighting His boundless mercy. The lush imagery of the land’s fertility and the population’s growth paints a vibrant picture of flourishing prosperity. Jeremiah 31 resonates with the unchanging nature of God’s love, demonstrating His unyielding commitment to His people despite their failings.

In essence, Jeremiah 31 encapsulates a message of renewal—a promise that out of adversity, a fresh start awaits. It encapsulates a profound sense of hope, underscoring the idea that even in the face of challenges and exile, God’s covenantal relationship endures. This chapter serves as a timeless reminder that God’s faithfulness prevails, offering a transformative journey from brokenness to abundant blessings.

Jeremiah 31

Israel’s Mourning Turned to Joy

      1“At that time,” declares the LORD, “I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people.”

      2Thus says the LORD,
“The people who survived the sword
Found grace in the wilderness—
Israel, when it went to find its rest.”

      3The LORD appeared to him from afar, saying,
“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.

      4“Again I will build you and you will be rebuilt,
O virgin of Israel!
Again you will take up your tambourines,
And go forth to the dances of the merrymakers.

      5“Again you will plant vineyards
On the hills of Samaria;
The planters will plant
And will enjoy them.

      6“For there will be a day when watchmen
On the hills of Ephraim call out,
‘Arise, and let us go up to Zion,
To the LORD our God.’”

      7For thus says the LORD,
“Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob,
And shout among the chief of the nations;
Proclaim, give praise and say,
‘O LORD, save Your people,
The remnant of Israel.’

      8“Behold, I am bringing them from the north country,
And I will gather them from the remote parts of the earth,
Among them the blind and the lame,
The woman with child and she who is in labor with child, together;
A great company, they will return here.

      9“With weeping they will come,
And by supplication I will lead them;
I will make them walk by streams of waters,
On a straight path in which they will not stumble;
For I am a father to Israel,
And Ephraim is My firstborn.”

      10Hear the word of the LORD, O nations,
And declare in the coastlands afar off,
And say, “He who scattered Israel will gather him
And keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.”

      11For the LORD has ransomed Jacob
And redeemed him from the hand of him who was stronger than he.

      12“They will come and shout for joy on the height of Zion,
And they will be radiant over the bounty of the LORD—
Over the grain and the new wine and the oil,
And over the young of the flock and the herd;
And their life will be like a watered garden,
And they will never languish again.

      13“Then the virgin will rejoice in the dance,
And the young men and the old, together,
For I will turn their mourning into joy
And will comfort them and give them joy for their sorrow.

      14“I will fill the soul of the priests with abundance,
And My people will be satisfied with My goodness,” declares the LORD.

      15Thus says the LORD,
“A voice is heard in Ramah,
Lamentation and bitter weeping.
Rachel is weeping for her children;
She refuses to be comforted for her children,
Because they are no more.”

16Thus says the LORD,
“Restrain your voice from weeping
And your eyes from tears;
For your work will be rewarded,” declares the LORD,
“And they will return from the land of the enemy.

      17“There is hope for your future,” declares the LORD,
“And your children will return to their own territory.

      18“I have surely heard Ephraim grieving,
‘You have chastised me, and I was chastised,
Like an untrained calf;
Bring me back that I may be restored,
For You are the LORD my God.

      19‘For after I turned back, I repented;
And after I was instructed, I smote on my thigh;
I was ashamed and also humiliated
Because I bore the reproach of my youth.’

      20“Is Ephraim My dear son?
Is he a delightful child?
Indeed, as often as I have spoken against him,
I certainly still remember him;
Therefore My heart yearns for him;
I will surely have mercy on him,” declares the LORD.

      21“Set up for yourself roadmarks,
Place for yourself guideposts;
Direct your mind to the highway,
The way by which you went.
Return, O virgin of Israel,
Return to these your cities.

      22“How long will you go here and there,
O faithless daughter?
For the LORD has created a new thing in the earth—
A woman will encompass a man.”

      23Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “Once again they will speak this word in the land of Judah and in its cities when I restore their fortunes,
‘The LORD bless you, O abode of righteousness,
O holy hill!’

24“Judah and all its cities will dwell together in it, the farmer and they who go about with flocks. 25“For I satisfy the weary ones and refresh everyone who languishes.” 26At this I awoke and looked, and my sleep was pleasant to me.


A New Covenant

      27“Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and with the seed of beast. 28“As I have watched over them to pluck up, to break down, to overthrow, to destroy and to bring disaster, so I will watch over them to build and to plant,” declares the LORD.

      29“In those days they will not say again,
‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes,
And the children’s teeth are set on edge.’

30“But everyone will die for his own iniquity; each man who eats the sour grapes, his teeth will be set on edge.

      31“Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 32not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD. 33“But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the LORD, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34“They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the LORD, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

      35Thus says the LORD,
Who gives the sun for light by day
And the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night,
Who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar;
The LORD of hosts is His name:

      36“If this fixed order departs
From before Me,” declares the LORD,
“Then the offspring of Israel also will cease
From being a nation before Me forever.”

37Thus says the LORD,
“If the heavens above can be measured
And the foundations of the earth searched out below,
Then I will also cast off all the offspring of Israel
For all that they have done,” declares the LORD.

      38“Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when the city will be rebuilt for the LORD from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate. 39“The measuring line will go out farther straight ahead to the hill Gareb; then it will turn to Goah. 40“And the whole valley of the dead bodies and of the ashes, and all the fields as far as the brook Kidron, to the corner of the Horse Gate toward the east, shall be holy to the LORD; it will not be plucked up or overthrown anymore forever.”

Take a few minutes in prayer to thank God for His faithfulness in offering a transformative journey from brokenness to abundant blessings to each of us.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Compassionate, Demons, Faith / Trusting God, Healer, Interceding for Others, Learning To Pray Effectively, Loving / Kind, Miracles

Yeshua Is Moved With Compassion for Those Who Seek Him Faithfully, Humbly, and Persistently

As much as we would like to think that Yahweh looks upon everyone equally, scripture does not always appear to back this up. Yahweh sent Yeshua and most often the prophets to His chosen people, the Hebrew people. It was not until the Hebrew people rejected Him that He turned to the Gentiles, in which case those who accept Him are now grafted into Israel as part of His people (Romans 11). Individuals are grafted in or grafted out with rejection of Messiah, but Israel is not thrown aside as if discarded and Christianity is not a brand new start, or “do over”. The path demonstrated by Yeshua and His disciples built upon the Hebrew roots and added Messiah. We should take note and do the same.

In Mark 7, we even see Yeshua initially refusing to cast out a demon for someone else who was not Jewish. Ultimately, because of her faith and persistence, He had compassion on her and cast the demon out of her daughter. We can learn from this to be sure.

Yeshua was often moved by compassion in the face of faith demonstrated by people who wholeheartedly sought after Him. Even for those whom He had not intended to help, such as those not among the Jewish people, He was still moved when the came seeking Him humbly, faithfully, and persistently. As a side note, this also shows a tangible example where God invites us to come to Him in prayer persistently. We are not rebuked for asking more than once, though we do need to seek the Spirit on how and what we ask for persistently (reference Luke 18:1-8).

The answer could still be “no” in some cases and we may not always understand why (reference Job and Yeshua’s prayer in Gethsemane in Matthew 26:36-46). None the less we are encouraged to persistently bring righteous prayers before our Father and not lose heart.

Mark 7:24-37

The Syrophoenician Woman

      24Jesus got up and went away from there to the region of Tyre. And when He had entered a house, He wanted no one to know of it; yet He could not escape notice. 25But after hearing of Him, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately came and fell at His feet. 26Now the woman was a Gentile, of the Syrophoenician race. And she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27And He was saying to her, “Let the children be satisfied first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 28But she answered and said to Him, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table feed on the children’s crumbs.” 29And He said to her, “Because of this answer go; the demon has gone out of your daughter.” 30And going back to her home, she found the child lying on the bed, the demon having left.

      31Again He went out from the region of Tyre, and came through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, within the region of Decapolis. 32They brought to Him one who was deaf and spoke with difficulty, and they implored Him to lay His hand on him. 33Jesus took him aside from the crowd, by himself, and put His fingers into his ears, and after spitting, He touched his tongue with the saliva; 34and looking up to heaven with a deep sigh, He said to him, “Ephphatha!” that is, “Be opened!” 35And his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was removed, and he began speaking plainly. 36And He gave them orders not to tell anyone; but the more He ordered them, the more widely they continued to proclaim it. 37They were utterly astonished, saying, “He has done all things well; He makes even the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”

Do not overlook or cease to be amazed at the miraculous healing power of God. Seek Him persistently and humbly. Trust Him in His answer. Do not lose heart.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, thank You for demonstrating Your love and compassion on Your people, and even those who are not Your people, when we desperately and faithfully seek You. Help us to have the courage to persist and not lose heart and help us also to trust in Your answer to our prayer without losing faith if the answer is “no”. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Compassionate, Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Loving / Kind, Miracles, Seeking God

Jesus Has Compassion on Those Who Seek Him

Most of us who have followed after Jesus for any amount of time, have likely heard of the time He fed five thousand people with just a few loaves and fish. It is an amazing miracle and we should never take it for granted. However, it strikes me also that there is another lesson we should take note of in this event.

Jesus and the apostles were seeking a secluded place to be by themselves. John the Baptist had been killed, the apostles were returning to share about their journeys to preach the gospel, and there was clear intent to find quiet time. The people saw them and were so hungry for a shepherd in Jesus that they hurried there ahead of Jesus and the apostles.

How should Jesus react? Go somewhere else to find privacy and “me time”? Nope. Jesus felt compassion on them. He took time to teach them many things and ultimately this gathering became a great witness to the deity of Jesus through a fantastic miracle. Jesus is flexible and responsive to the needs of others! He truly loves those who seek Him! He will not turn them away.

Mark 6:30-44

    30The apostles gathered together with Jesus; and they reported to Him all that they had done and taught. 31And He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.” (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.) 32They went away in the boat to a secluded place by themselves.

Five Thousand Fed

      33The people saw them going, and many recognized them and ran there together on foot from all the cities, and got there ahead of them. 34When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things. 35When it was already quite late, His disciples came to Him and said, “This place is desolate and it is already quite late; 36send them away so that they may go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37But He answered them, “You give them something to eat!” And they said to Him, “Shall we go and spend two hundred denarii on bread and give them something to eat?” 38And He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go look!” And when they found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” 39And He commanded them all to sit down by groups on the green grass. 40They sat down in groups of hundreds and of fifties. 41And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food and broke the loaves and He kept giving them to the disciples to set before them; and He divided up the two fish among them all. 42They all ate and were satisfied, 43and they picked up twelve full baskets of the broken pieces, and also of the fish. 44There were five thousand men who ate the loaves.

Do you truly seek Jesus as these people did? or do you take Him for granted? It is an honest question we should all ask ourselves from time to time. We should be hungry for a Good Shepherd and seek after Jesus, well beyond the point of inconvenience to our daily lives. When we do, He will not turn us away, but instead stop and engage with us. Our Lord loves those who truly seek after Him and feels compassion for them.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, thank You for Your compassion and love for those who seek You. Help me to feel a passion to seek You, that drives me past the distractions and busyness of this world. Let me not be content without a personal relationship with You. Help me trust You and pursue You and help me be teachable, willing to learn and change my ways to live more like You and Your instruction. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Powerful / King of All, Faith / Trusting God, Healer, Loving / Kind, Miracles

Trust God Can Overcome Any Obstacle

We all go through difficult situations. Sometimes they may feel hopeless. However, we are reminded that nothing is too challenging for God. Mark 5 records two examples of miraculous healing Yeshua brought about during His earthly ministry. Cast your anxiety on the LORD and bring your problems before Him. Whether He heals you or not, know that He can and trust Him in any outcome.

Mark 5:21-43

Miracles and Healing

      21When Jesus had crossed over again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him; and so He stayed by the seashore. 22One of the synagogue officials named Jairus came up, and on seeing Him, fell at His feet 23and implored Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death; please come and lay Your hands on her, so that she will get well and live.” 24And He went off with him; and a large crowd was following Him and pressing in on Him.

      25A woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years, 26and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse— 27after hearing about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak. 28For she thought, “If I just touch His garments, I will get well.” 29Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. 30Immediately Jesus, perceiving in Himself that the power proceeding from Him had gone forth, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My garments?” 31And His disciples said to Him, “You see the crowd pressing in on You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’” 32And He looked around to see the woman who had done this. 33But the woman fearing and trembling, aware of what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. 34And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your affliction.”

      35While He was still speaking, they came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the Teacher anymore?” 36But Jesus, overhearing what was being spoken, said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid any longer, only believe.” 37And He allowed no one to accompany Him, except Peter and James and John the brother of James. 38They came to the house of the synagogue official; and He saw a commotion, and people loudly weeping and wailing. 39And entering in, He said to them, “Why make a commotion and weep? The child has not died, but is asleep.” 40They began laughing at Him. But putting them all out, He took along the child’s father and mother and His own companions, and entered the room where the child was. 41Taking the child by the hand, He said to her, “Talitha kum!” (which translated means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42Immediately the girl got up and began to walk, for she was twelve years old. And immediately they were completely astounded. 43And He gave them strict orders that no one should know about this, and He said that something should be given her to eat.

Both examples of healing showed great faith. That is a common characteristic of Yeshua’s miracles. I would not recommend trying to control God’s miraculous power as the woman with the hemorrhage did.  And even if you wanted to, I am not sure how that would work when Yeshua is not in human form in His earthly ministry.

It is always interesting to note when Yeshua downplays His miracles. He told people the girl was sleeping and gave strict orders no one should hear about the healing. Yeshua was not on a “healing mission”. He was on a “teaching mission”. He healed people out of compassion and as part of demonstrating that He was Messiah and fulfilling prophecy.

Do not judge God by whether or not you receive the outcome you desire. Remember Yeshua when He came before Yahweh in the garden of Gethsemane. He was fully submitted, even as He asked for the cup of suffering to be removed.

Matthew 26:39

     39And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, thank You for getting involved in our personal lives. Who are we that You should care about us? But You do! Help me remember that no matter what my problem may be, I can bring it before You and nothing is beyond Your ability to fix or use for Your purposes. Help me to trust You no matter what the outcome, even when You do not choose to do what I am asking. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Father / Yahweh, Justice / Judgment, Loving / Kind, Submitted / Servant, Worthy of Fear / Reverence

The Potters House: A Call to Submit to God’s Will

God is the potter and we are the clay. He fashions us for His purpose. Who are we to question Him any more than the pot is to question the potter who makes it. Instead of fighting or resisting God’s shaping us, let us embrace it and trust Him, even when it is hard.

Jeremiah 18

The Potter and the Clay

      1The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD saying, 2“Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will announce My words to you.” 3Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something on the wheel. 4But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make.

      5Then the word of the LORD came to me saying, 6“Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?” declares the LORD. “Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel. 7“At one moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to uproot, to pull down, or to destroy it; 8if that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent concerning the calamity I planned to bring on it. 9“Or at another moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to build up or to plant it; 10if it does evil in My sight by not obeying My voice, then I will think better of the good with which I had promised to bless it. 11“So now then, speak to the men of Judah and against the inhabitants of Jerusalem saying, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Behold, I am fashioning calamity against you and devising a plan against you. Oh turn back, each of you from his evil way, and reform your ways and your deeds.”’ 12“But they will say, ‘It’s hopeless! For we are going to follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.’

      13“Therefore thus says the LORD,
‘Ask now among the nations,
Who ever heard the like of this?
The virgin of Israel
Has done a most appalling thing.

      14‘Does the snow of Lebanon forsake the rock of the open country?
Or is the cold flowing water from a foreign land ever snatched away?

      15‘For My people have forgotten Me,
They burn incense to worthless gods
And they have stumbled from their ways,
From the ancient paths,
To walk in bypaths,
Not on a highway,

      16To make their land a desolation,
An object of perpetual hissing;
Everyone who passes by it will be astonished
And shake his head.

      17‘Like an east wind I will scatter them
Before the enemy;
I will show them My back and not My face
In the day of their calamity.’”

      18Then they said, “Come and let us devise plans against Jeremiah. Surely the law is not going to be lost to the priest, nor counsel to the sage, nor the divine word to the prophet! Come on and let us strike at him with our tongue, and let us give no heed to any of his words.”

      19Do give heed to me, O LORD,
And listen to what my opponents are saying!

      20Should good be repaid with evil?
For they have dug a pit for me.
Remember how I stood before You
To speak good on their behalf,
So as to turn away Your wrath from them.

      21Therefore, give their children over to famine
And deliver them up to the power of the sword;
And let their wives become childless and widowed.
Let their men also be smitten to death,
Their young men struck down by the sword in battle.

      22May an outcry be heard from their houses,
When You suddenly bring raiders upon them;
For they have dug a pit to capture me
And hidden snares for my feet.

      23Yet You, O LORD, know
All their deadly designs against me;
Do not forgive their iniquity
Or blot out their sin from Your sight.
But may they be overthrown before You;
Deal with them in the time of Your anger!

The key verses that I want to emphasize are 3-9:

 3Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something on the wheel. 4But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make.

Truly reflect on these. God can shape us however He desires. He may reshape us to fix flaws so we can better serve our intended purpose. When He reshapes us,

      5Then the word of the LORD came to me saying, 6“Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?” declares the LORD. “Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel. 7“At one moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to uproot, to pull down, or to destroy it; 8if that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent concerning the calamity I planned to bring on it. 9“Or at another moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to build up or to plant it; 10if it does evil in My sight by not obeying My voice, then I will think better of the good with which I had promised to bless it.

God will respond to His people when we turn to Him and away from evil. He will relent concerning calamity. He will also respond when His people turn away from Him toward evil. He will rethink the good He had intended for them.

Take this to heart personally and not just as a nation.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.