All Knowing, All Powerful / King of All, Faith / Trusting God, His Timing Not Ours, His Ways Are Not Our Ways

Why Does God Answer Some Prayers and Do Some Miracles And Not Others?

Many people are confused about when and why God does miracles or answers prayers. It is difficult to understand why He answers one prayer and seems to not answer another.  He heals one person and not another. Why does he allow some to be martyred for their faith, but save others?

There are many reasons why God may choose not to answer our prayers the way we want Him to. Sometimes He answers “yes”, sometimes “no”, sometimes “not yet” or “not the way you think is best but rather the way I know is best”. To study more about prayer, please consider our teachings about prayer, Learning To Pray Effectively, and Is God Ignoring My Prayers? Additionally, we encourage you to review other devotions listed in the “Prayer” category. (Once you click the link “Prayer“, just scroll down through the devotions to review them.)

It is good to seek to understand why God may not be answering our prayers and to test ourselves and our motives as to whether we are submitted to His will in righteous prayer and trusting Him or demanding our own outcome.

It is very important to trust God and submit to His will. His ways are so far above ours that we cannot hope to fully understand our all-powerful, eternal, all knowing God.

[Isaiah 55:8-9]    8“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. 9“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.

It is really that simple. Even a dog learns to trust a good master with no hope of ever understanding all of the master’s plans. So too a small child who has good parents learns to trust them. We are to do the same with God.

Few have had as much motivation as Job to feel that God has abandoned him and seek to understand why He allows certain things in this world. Job was a righteous man, yet God allowed Satan to torment Him through personal loss of family and wealth and through personal illness. Job’s “friends” and wife, which he is allowed to keep, seem to be more a curse than a blessing. For the full series of events refer to the book of Job.

[Job 1:1]   1There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil.

Job was blameless, upright, fearing God, and turning away from evil. I strive to achieve such a righteous description for it is the description of one who submits to God and serves Him wholeheartedly. Yet God allowed Job to suffer incredibly. After enduring much suffering, Job struggled to understand why these things were happening to him.

God’s response takes up four chapters (Job 38-42) which basically can be summarized to say “Who are you to question God?”

Along the way, Job is humbled again.

 [Job 40:3-4]   3Then Job answered the LORD and said, 4“Behold, I am insignificant; what can I reply to You? I lay my hand on my mouth.

[Job 42:1-3]  1Then Job answered the LORD and said, 2“I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. 3‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ “Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.”

We can see with Job that it is not because of sin that God allowed bad things to happen to him. Yahweh had His own reasons. While sin is a reason for Yahweh not to hear our prayers, sometimes He just has other plans and sin has nothing to do with it. If Job does not convince you of that, then consider Yeshua asking the Father to be spared the pain and suffering of the cross.

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.”

We know the Father had good reason for Yeshua to experience that suffering, so that we could be forgiven. Yeshua was perfect and righteous… and the answer to His prayer was “no”. He set a perfect example in remaining fully submitted to the Father.

To be sure, it is fine to ask God to show you why He does or does not do some particular miracle or answer a prayer a certain way or why He allows certain events. We should ask as a child asks a father… humbly, respectfully and without challenging authority or complaining. He may answer or He may not. We are to trust and love Him either way, submitting to His will rather than insisting on our own.

I would invite you to pray with me:

Father, help me to fully trust in You, even when I do not understand. Help me to understand if there is sin in my life from which I need to repent to draw nearer to You. Help me to endure hardship with hope and even joy based on my relationship with You. Father, thank You that You have chosen me to know You. Help me know You more and more closely. Amen. —-

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.

Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, False Prophets / Teachers, Interceding for Others, Repenting from Sin, Seeking God, Teachable

Pray for People Who Are Blinded by False Religion

So many across the world allow themselves to be blinded by false religion or a belief that God does not exist. They reject God entirely or accept Him as one of several gods… which really means they reject Him. People cling to false teachings and rationalize with amazing strength the distorted world view they are suffering inside. Please pray that God would set free people across the globe from the false teachings of many religions and even the false teaching within those who claim to be Christian, but preach a gospel mixed and mingled with teachings of the world instead of pure strain of God’s word.

Ask our Father to raise up leaders and teachers who will help to bring the truth of God’s word to the people, who will lead us in the restoration of God’s ways. Ask our Father to prepare the field for harvest by preparing people to hear and receive the truth and come together in fellowship to pursue righteousness.

Pray that He would open each of our eyes to anything we misunderstand and prepare us to be willing to turn away from the wrong understanding and embrace truth, even when it is difficult to do so.

Amen.

—

For examples of Biblical prayer, and for personal prayer requests, please visit our Prayer Requests page.

Devotions by John, Grace / Forgiveness, Love, Obeying God, Purposeful / Intentional, Repenting from Sin, Righteous, Teachable

By What Standard Was Yeshua Judged Righteous?

Most of us that identify as Christians or Messianic Jews would readily accept and recognize that Yeshua was without sin according to scripture. It is a core tenant of our faith. It was through His sacrifice as one without blemish, without sin, that we who sin are forgiven.

2 Corinthians 5:21

21He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

We should then ask ourselves, “By what standard was Yeshua judged sinless, and by what same standard then are we sinners?” It would make sense for us to know the standard by which Yeshua and we are judged so that we may try to follow it more closely, even if we will never get to “sinless” in our own actions and attitudes.

Righteousness refers to behavior that is morally justifiable and right. It is God who sets the standards for righteousness, not man. The standards are laid out in His law and through scripture. It is by this standard that Yeshua was judged righteous, by perfect adherence to the law of God.  (Got Questions – What is Righteousness?)

Ultimately, we are unable to do as Yeshua in keeping the law perfectly. We sin. We fall short. We can be forgiven and judged righteous through accepting Yeshua as our Lord and savior. We repent from our sins and try to follow His example and God’s standards as best we can. He is our example.

I find it very unusual then, how many Christians take advantage of the grace of God and declare the law of God to be no more. They declare that Yeshua observed it perfectly, so we don’t have to! But does that really mean that God has changed the standard of righteousness? or just that He extends grace as we strive for it and fall short?

It should seem fairly obvious. Any time a parent is teaching a child, or a skilled craftsman is teaching an apprentice… the answer is the same. I show you the right way to do it and then you try to do it that way. Never does it make sense that because the teacher did it correctly and took time to show us how to do it correctly, really they meant that we should ignore it and do as we please because they love us.  It makes no sense.

Should we break the law and sin on purpose and rely on grace? Paul had strong words for this question.

Romans 6:1-7

   1What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? 3Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. 5For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7for he who has died is freed from sin.

The simple answer is that we should not just go our own way because we can be forgiven through Christ. In fact, one might even question if we have this attitude, do we really love and submit to Yeshua in the way needed to receive forgiveness.

John 14:15 (Yeshua speaking)

     15“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

Matthew 5:17-19 (Yeshua speaking)

17“Do not presume that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. 18For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter shall pass from the Law, until all is accomplished! 19Therefore, whoever nullifies one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Paul makes emphatically the point that we should not sin freely to rely on grace.  Yeshua sets us free from bondage to sin, not bondage to the law of God! The law of God is not bondage, it is freedom! (Read more – Is God’s Law a Burden?)

The conclusion of the matter is that the law of God is still our standard for righteousness and we are to obey it rather than traditions and teachings of men. When we fall short, the grace of God is there to catch us and make us righteous through Yeshua. We should strive to understand and follow the full law of God and not make it a menu from which we choose what we will follow and what we will not. (Read more – Understanding the Law – What Does It Mean for Us Today?)

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help Your people to return to Your instructions and turn from the ways of men, even those taught in churches that are not correct. Please open the eyes of the spiritually blind and help all of us to see more clearly how You want us to live! None of us have it right! Thank You for grace and mercy. Please help us not to use that as an excuse to live however we want. 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.

Kindness / Gentleness, Love, Patient

Love Does Not Demand Its Own Way

Paul defined love very well in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. It is not nearly the same as how the world or many Christians define love. Far too often we talk of love as a noun… a passive thing. How much better to think of it as a verb… an action we choose to do! We talk of falling in or out of love as if something random is happening. Love is a choice, not a “warm and fuzzy” feeling!

It is applicable for spouses but also for parents with their children, amongst family, friends and even applies to those we do not know yet. Think about how we can show the love of Jesus Christ for all those we encounter in our busy lives.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud. or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance

Think about how we can show the love of Jesus Christ for all those we encounter in our busy lives. It may even be as simple as a kind word or just being friendly even when things go wrong. When they notice you are different, give the credit to Jesus!

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help me to show love to others. Help me to exhibit and reflect Your love to those near to me and those whom I may not know well. Help me not to be entirely focused on myself or just those closest to me. Help change my heart so that this is a natural reaction for me. 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.

Church / Body of Christ

Stay Connected in Fellowship to Other Disciples of Yeshua

As I have expanded my study the scriptures and efforts to share the truth of God’s word more and more in my life, I start to find at times that I am content not to attend a specific weekly service in order to study God’s word. I spend hours studying during the week, I may even listen to several sermons on the radio or internet and add to that reading and researching from others who have studied the scriptures before me and left great records to help those that follow. However, studying scripture in Acts regarding the early church demonstrates that even Paul returned after his missionary journeys to report back and fellowship with the community of believers that sent him.

Paul did not act as a “lone wolf”, following God directly but distant from any personal relationship with other believers. Quite the opposite, Paul’s ministry was built on relationships which he maintained even over great distances through letters and return visits.  After his missionary journeys he would return and share the fruit of their efforts with the believers who sent him.

Acts 14:24-28

      24They passed through Pisidia and came into Pamphylia. 25When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26From there they sailed to Antioch, from which they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had accomplished. 27When they had arrived and gathered the church together, they began to report all things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. 28And they spent a long time with the disciples.

Remaining connected to other followers of Christ is an essential part of our functioning as a “body” of Christ. The hand cannot very well leave the rest of the body and function properly all on its own… can it? Neither should any of us try to separate from our brothers and sisters in Christ. Instead, seek out fellowship and actively participate in a community of fellow believers in Christ. We can encourage one another and help one another in many ways.

1 Corinthians 12:12-21

     12For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

      14For the body is not one member, but many. 15If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. 16And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. 17If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. 19If they were all one member, where would the body be? 20But now there are many members, but one body. 21And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”

Of course, being connected and active in fellowship is very different than just attending a sermon in a crowded church. Do you have regular interaction in your life with other faithful followers of Jesus? Do you discuss God’s word together and how it impacts your life? Do you share your challenges and triumphs… giving God the glory? Are you helping one another?

Take some time in prayer, not just for five minutes right now, although that is a good start. Come back to it as you come before the LORD this week in prayer. Ask God to reveal to you if there are changes you should make to go deeper in small groups in true fellowship and not just “go to church” in a crowd and call it fellowship. Just being in a building together does not help us work together to accomplish God’s will. Be careful also not to just latch on to any church body that claims to follow Yeshua. Test what they teach and their fruit against the scriptures. Try to find fellowship with people who are pursuing the right understanding and practice of God’s instructions.

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.

Am I on the path?, False Prophets / Teachers, Heaven and Hell

Am I On the Path? Are My Children? Is My Church?

We do well to routinely take time from our busy lives to reflect on God’s word and on how we are applying it in our lives. God Himself shows us in Genesis 1:1 by taking time as He created the heavens and the earth. As he reaches milestones in the creation, He reflects on it and takes time to evaluate it … “and God saw that it was good.”

Many of us have accepted Yeshua and want to serve Him, but it is not always clear if we are walking on the right path in the way we live our lives. Are we honoring Him? obeying Him? What about our church or others we trust and listen to? How do we know if they are giving good advice and direction?

Matthew 7:13-23

The Narrow and Wide Gates

13“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14For the gate is narrow and the way is constricted that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

A Tree and Its Fruit

15“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16You will [p]know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? 17So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20So then, you will know them by their fruits.

21“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; LEAVE ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’

Always test what someone tells you about Yeshua against scripture in the Bible. There are wolves who pretend to be among God’s sheep! To effectively serve Yeshua and avoid traps from the enemy we must routinely read and study God’s word ourselves. Daily is best but start with as often as you can. Don’t try to speed read or take in big chunks all at once. Take in the Bible like you would a good meal… one bite at a time, savoring each for what flavor it brings you. You will never regret it!

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please lead Your people to be discerning and wise. Help us to have a hunger to search out and understand Your word. Please let the Holy Spirit guide us and open our minds to better understand the truth! Help us to challenge and test every teacher and source against Your scriptures. 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.

Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Faith / Trusting God, Fasting, Persecution / Glorifying God, Prayer, Share the Good News, Teachable, Unteachable / Foolish

How Can I Proclaim Christ When People Come Against Me?

The more consistently and more widely I share the good news of Yeshua as Messiah and the truth of scripture revealed in the Bible, the more I see a consistent set of responses from those who hear it.

  • Some will indeed hear the message and either be encouraged or be led to a saving relationship with Yeshua. Each person who finds this path is cause for celebration!
  • Some engage in genuine discussion of facts, evidence, and application of scripture. We can have a civil discussion regarding the facts and evidence of the gospel.
  • Sadly, there are also many who react with anger and hostility. They are not interested in listening but have already made up their minds. When you demonstrate the error of their logic, they do not admit that they are wrong and choose instead attack the messengers personally.

Paul encountered this same range of responses from people when he proclaimed the good news of Jesus Christ thousands of years ago. There is no new “modern” response to the message of Yeshua. We can learn much from studying the Bible and all that God reveals in it regarding how those who went before us handled these situations.

Acts 14:19-23

     19But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. 20But while the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city. The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe. 21After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” 23When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Some Jews actually came perhaps 130 miles to hinder the work of Paul. It was not enough just that they rejected Messiah. They felt they had to stop the message of Christ so no one else would accept the message either. They did not win on facts and evidence. Miracles were happening where Paul went with the message of Christ. Those who opposed Yeshua went to the most brutal response they could get away with… in this case stoning Paul in an attempt to kill him.

What was Paul’s response to such hatred and persecution? Did he stop proclaiming Yeshua? No! He got up, moved on and gave glory to God by accepting and teaching that those who proclaim the good news will face much tribulation. He continued to do the work of Christ, appointing elders for every church and commending them to the Lord with prayer and fasting. We should take note that he did move on to another location. We are not always to remain in the face of that force of adversary. This is something for which we must each seek the LORD on when to stay and when to leave this level of resistance.

What a remarkable servant of Christ! I can only hope to follow in the example of Paul in whatever opportunity I have to overcome opposition to the sharing of the gospel. Paul demonstrating true faith in Christ. He was willing to die to share the gospel. He stopped at nothing, regardless of the level of resistance he faced.

What resistance are you facing in your life that discourages you from sharing the gospel? What can you learn from Paul’s response to persecution that you can apply in your life? Do not overlook the value of prayer and fasting with other disciples of Yeshua.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help unite those who are pursuing You. Help people who hear Your message be willing to accept the need for change in their life. Help prepare the field for harvest by making the people ready to hear the good news. Help even those who already proclaim to follow You to be open to changing their ways to be more like Your ways. Help raise up messengers who will be bold in proclaiming truth. Bless and protect the messengers so that they overcome the resistance that will come against them. 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.

Humility, Pride, Rebuke Wrong Behavior, Share the Good News

It’s Not About Us, It’s About God

There are times when we will experience God’s blessing upon our lives or see Him work through us as His faithful servants in powerful ways. We must be prepared for these times so that they do not cause us to stumble.  It is at these times when we experience God’s power that we may be most vulnerable to the sin of pride. We must not forget that it is God’s power and blessing and not our own accomplishment in order to remain humble and faithfully serve God.

Acts 14:8-18

    8At Lystra a man was sitting who had no strength in his feet, lame from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. 9This man was listening to Paul as he spoke, who, when he had fixed his gaze on him and had seen that he had faith to be made well, 10said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he leaped up and began to walk. 11When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voice, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have become like men and have come down to us.” 12And they began calling Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds. 14But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their robes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out 15and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men of the same nature as you, and preach the gospel to you that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, WHO MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM. 16“In the generations gone by He permitted all the nations to go their own ways; 17and yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” 18Even saying these things, with difficulty they restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.

Paul and Barnabas were grieved that the crowds were missing the point… they were honoring Paul and Barnabas instead of God. They immediately took direct action to put the focus off them and back on God! What a temptation that could be to men… to be lifted up and honored, but they would have to take credit for what God was doing. Paul and Barnabas demonstrated humility and kept the focus on God, even when it was hard to do so. They knew it was not about them, it was about God.

Have you experienced things that went really well because of God’s blessing and had people try to shower praise on you for “your” accomplishments? It can be easy to just accept the credit, but it is better to give glory to God instead of letting it land on ourselves. It’s not about us and what we do, it’s about God and what He does and Has already done. How can you react differently and give God the glory the next time a similar situation comes up?

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please lead and guide me. Help me to stand strong and speak boldly for You. Please work through me to bring glory and honor to You. Let me remain humble as You work through me that I would not stumble into pride, but rather keep the focus on You and Your glory. I pray this also for all Your people and especially the leaders you raise up to stand for righteousness. 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.

Courage / Fear, Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Obeying God, Persecution / Glorifying God, Share the Good News

Count It Blessing to Be Persecuted for Yeshua?

Observe the world around us. Take note of how people respond to the message of Yeshua when true believers share it boldly and without apology. Many believe and are saved, coming to true relationship with our Messiah. Many others, however, become embittered and stir up trouble to persecute those who follow Yeshua.

Acts 14:1-8

Acceptance and Opposition

      1In Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together, and spoke in such a manner that a large number of people believed, both of Jews and of Greeks. 2But the Jews who disbelieved stirred up the minds of the Gentiles and embittered them against the brethren. 3Therefore they spent a long time there speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord, who was testifying to the word of His grace, granting that signs and wonders be done by their hands. 4But the people of the city were divided; and some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles. 5And when an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and the Jews with their rulers, to mistreat and to stone them, 6they became aware of it and fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, and the surrounding region; 7and there they continued to preach the gospel.

Why is it that so many that reject Yeshua become bitter toward those who submit to Him? They do not want to change their lives to submit to Christ. They desire to remain doing things their own way. They feel the need to stop those who disagree with them. Truthfully, it is also often a spiritual battle raging between Satan and the people of God. (Read more on spiritual warfare.)

John 3:19-21

19“This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20“For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21“But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”

There is no good reason to hate followers of Yeshua. Those that truly follow Christ actually are respectful and considerate to all… showing love to all. But the part that many cannot take is that we, as followers of Christ, are also to rebuke and correct wrong behavior as wrong. We are not to accept it and condone it or make excuses for it. Following Christ and loving others drives us to point out the destructive behaviors to try to help not only ourselves but others as well. Knowing that non-believers are going to Hell for eternity drives us to want to save them from that fate… and only faith in Jesus Christ can do that. There is no other way. So we proclaim Jesus boldly.

John 14:6

 6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

People often do not want to accept correction. Only the wise accept rebuke and grow wiser. Fools reject it and remain in their folly… and get angry with the one who tries to help them. As Christians we can become more effective sharing the gospel by paying attention to those we want to reach. Those willing and open to receive the message may be ready to accept Jesus. Sometimes they must first be spiritually broken and realize they are missing something… then we can tell them it is Jesus they are missing. Those who are scoffers and mockers, still unwilling to admit they are not sufficient by themselves, are not ready to receive Christ and will just hate you for it.

Proverbs 9:8-9

  8Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you,
Reprove a wise man and he will love you.

  9Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser,
Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning.

However, we are commanded by Yeshua and driven by genuine love for others to boldly proclaim the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ to those that do not know it. We must not allow ourselves to be discouraged that some will come against us when we share the gospel, but rather remember that others will be saved!  Be encouraged by the words of our Lord Jesus and count it blessing when you are persecuted for standing with Christ.

Matthew 5:10-12

 10“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Continue to share the truth of the good news of Jesus boldly. Look for those who are willing to hear and listen, but do not be discouraged that others will come against you. Always live in the example of Christ so that we can be a light to others, even when they do not want to see.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, help Your people to stand boldly and proclaim the truth about You and the truth about the one way we are to come into proper relationship with You, through Messiah and forgiveness of our sins based on His death and resurrection. Please help Your people stand up to those who would come against them personally or collectively. Please raise up righteous leaders to unite us in following You the right way. Bring about a global restoration and return to Your ways among Your people. Help us fellowship in unity with those who truly follow You and Your ways. 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.

Help / Serve Others, Kindness / Gentleness, Submitted / Servant

The Greatest Among You Should Be Like a Servant

As the disciples sat at dinner with Jesus celebrating Passover in what has now become known as the Last Supper they began to argue about who would become greatest among them.

[Luke 22:25-27 NLT]

Jesus told them, “In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called ‘friends of the people’. But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant.

Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves.”

Jesus “walked the talk” throughout His time of ministry on earth. He spent His time among us teaching, healing, serving and then dying for us … not creating comfort and luxury for Himself. We should remember this aspect of leadership when we choose our local or national leaders and even when we act as leaders in our communities or families.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, thank You that You came in the person of Yeshua to serve and lead us by example. Thank You for the sacrifice of Yeshua suffering for my sins and the sins of others. Help me to lead in similar fashion, putting others before myself and serving them.

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.

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