Jody's Devotionals

(12) It will happen on that day –
YHWH will beat out the people like grain,
from the Euphrates to the brook of Egypt.
And you will be gleaned one by one, Israelites!
(13) It will happen on that day –
The great shofar will be blown,
and those who are lost in the land of Asshur,
and those who are scattered in the land of Egypt
will come and worship YHWH,
on the Holy Mountain in Jerusalem. — Isaiah 27:12-13

God is a God of gathering. This text from Isaiah 27 comes from a short apocalypse, or revelation, in the book of Isaiah, in which chapters 24-27 deal especially with end times. It’s a difficult section of the book to interpret, and it often gets treated as scattered bits and pieces rather than an organized, coherent picture.

But God’s activity at the end will not be something that can easily described. One of the reasons Biblical passages on this topic are often hard to interpret is that we have a hard time thinking like God does. In fact, we can’t think like God does.

The key element of the end of time will be one thing: Gathering. Now gathering may sound pretty uncomplicated. It’s harvesting, bringing things together, getting things or people together in a group. But that one word “gathering” contains two kingdom principles. The first is separation, making a distinction. Much of our Christian experience consists of testing and learning how to choose one thing or another. Each time we come out of an experience, we gain new knowledge and are better trained to make the right kind of choices.

But God’s task is to separate people into two groups, and only two. Those who are going to be separated out, and those who are going to be separated in. Jesus says it this way:

Whose winnowing shovel is in his hand, to clean up the wheat. He will gather the wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. — Matthew 3:12

You see, in order to gather one group of people together, God has to reject another group. It is not that he wants to do it, but there will be those who will not choose the way of life. What makes the end time so complex is that God has made us very complex. We always want to compromise, to make everything work together. I certainly like to do so, and in the right place reconciliation is good. But ultimately, there is a decision on which no compromise is possible, and no deceit is allowed. You won’t even be allowed to deceive yourself!

The choice is outlined in Deuteronomy 30:15 & 19b: Look! I’m setting before you today life and prosperity or death and disaster. . . so choose life so that you and your descendants may life.”

God gave Isaiah a message for some later Israelites who thought they could dodge this decision. They thought they could make a compromise with death and still get to live. But it doesn’t work that way.

(14) So hear YHWH’s word, you arrogant men, rulers of these people who are in Jerusalem: (15) “You have indeed said, ‘We have made a covenant with death, and with the grave we have an understanding, the flood of trouble will come, but when it passes, it won’t come to us, because we’ve made deception our refuge, and we’re hidden in a lie.'” (16) So this is the word of the Lord YHWH: “Look! I’ve placed in Zion a rock, a trustworthy cornerstone, a precious foundation stone. The one who trusts it will not panic. (17) But I’ve placed justice as a measuring line and righteousness as a scale, and hail will sweep away your refuge made of deceit, and water will flood your hiding place. (18) Your covenant with death will be annulled, and your understanding with the grave will not hold up. Trouble will flood over you, and you’ll be it’s stomping ground.” — Isaiah 28:14-18

God measures things by what is just and right. His cornerstone did not sin. But the precious foundation stone, the one that can be trusted is also a stumbling block to those who don’t want to stand up to that justice.

God is gathering the ones who want to live forever. Don’t compromise with death. Don’t deceive yourself. Choose life!

Finally, let the mighty strength of the Lord make you strong. ¹¹Put on all the armor that God gives, so you can defend yourself against the devil’s tricks. ¹²We are not fighting against humans. We are fighting against forces and authorities and against rulers of darkness and powers in the spiritual world. ¹³So put on all the armor that God gives. Then when that evil day comes, you will be able to defend yourself. And when the battle is over, you will still be standing firm.
¹⁴Be ready! Let the truth be like a belt around your waist, and let God’s justice protect you like armor. ¹⁵Your desire to tell the good news about peace should be like shoes on your feet. ¹⁶Let your faith be like a shield, and you will be able to stop all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷Let God’s saving power be like a helmet, and for a sword use God’s message that comes from the Spirit.
¹⁸Never stop praying, especially for others. Always pray by the power of the Spirit. Stay alert and keep praying for God’s people. ¹⁹Pray that I will be given the message to speak and that I may fearlessly explain the mystery about the good news. ²⁰I was sent to do this work, and that’s the reason I am in jail. So pray that I will be brave and will speak as I should. – Ephesians 6:10-20 (CEV)

Do you put on the armor of God before going out to represent Jesus in the world?

I’ve seen many ways that Christians have of putting on the armor of God. Some read this passage of scripture and meditate on it. Others will pray a prayer related to each item of armor. Some go through the motions of putting on the various items. Some renew their armor when going into a particularly tough situation. Others think that by asking Jesus to be with them and the Holy Spirit to guide them during their day, they have put on the armor.

I don’t want to criticize any of these approaches. What I do want to do is remind us of the meaning of this armor. I also want to remind us that we never want to take our armor off. Even though the translation I read uses some slightly different terminology, I’m going to use the terms most people are used to for the item of armor.

Belt of truth – When you put on the belt of truth, you are surrounding yourself with truth. Do you suit your actions to your words? Do you surround yourself with truth, and present only the truth to others around you throughout the day? God’s truth will protect you. Walk in truth!

Breastplate of righteousness – God’s righteousness and justice is offered to you. Put it on, but also take it in. Let God’s righteousness become more natural to you each day.

Shoes of the gospel of peace – This means that you spread the good news where you walk, through the truth and righteousness you are wrapped in, and by the peacefulness of your actions. Let your shoes spread God’s peace wherever you are.

Shield of faith – The Christian life doesn’t always go the way we’d like it to. If we live by the moment, any dart the enemy sends our way can push us under. But faith, which includes faithfulness carries us through whatever comes.

Helmet of Salvation – there is nothing like the assurance that God loves you to keep you steady. God loves you. He provided for your salvation. He accepts you as you are. Let that brighten your every thought through the day.

Sword of the spirit – don’t just take the sword in your hand as a book, but let God’s word pierce to your heart and judge your thoughts and attitudes. The Christian’s sword is different from other swords in that we really need to use it on ourselves first. God’s word is alive and active and reveals what’s really in you. (Hebrews 4:12 & 13)

So today Lord, let me be truthful in all things. Let me discern and hear the truth, but especially let me speak the truth. Make it like a belt, all the way around me. I want to show your righteousness and your justice. Let it defend me from the enemy, but let me also spread that justice to those around me. Let me be faithful, Lord, no matter what is thrown at me. Let me put out the fires of attack and not fuel them. Wherever I walk, let me bring peace because of the good news that you have bridged the gap and reconciled us to you, Lord. Let me reconcile myself to others. Let me spread reconciliation. Give me peace and joy because I already know my salvation in you. Thank you Lord! I pray that your word will guide my thoughts and my life. I pray that I will never use that sword to hurt anyone, but only to rid the world of evil and of hurtful things. In the name of Jesus, Amen!

Paul tells us in Galatians 3:27 that if we have been baptized into Christ, we have put on Christ. Each of these elements of the armor of God characterizes part of our relationship with our Savior Jesus Christ.

For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 2 Timothy 4:3-4

My pastor preached a ‘brussels sprout’ message this week. It wasn’t ‘sweet’ and I doubt that many of us would have ordered it from the Sunday menu! It was a message for me. It was a message for everyone who considers him/herself an ‘adult’ or ‘mature’ Christian. My pastor may raise an eyebrow about what I heard him say to me. Messages are like that. This message spoke truth to me and gave me something to think about: “Authentic Christianity”

If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success. Ecclesiastes 10:10

I don’t want to be a ‘cheap imitation’ of Jesus. I want to a true representative of Him. And so I need to GROW UP. God gives me so many ways to grow in my relationship with Him.

David said that God’s word is a ‘lamp’ that lights our paths in life. Do I spend time every day soaking up the light? When I am uncertain do I try to find my way on my own or do I turn to God first?

Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.”

Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:61-62

It was interesting that during the message on Sunday morning there was more shuffling of feet, squirming around, whispered conversations, and doors opening and closing than I’ve ever noticed. Do you think the distractions were a coincidence? No, me neither. Distractions are something that helps the enemy in his game plan. The enemy is a real scum-bag. He will use my husband, my children, my career, — anything he can to get me to look away from the path that God has for me and the service that He may want to use me in. Here again, it is spending time with God every day in study and worship and prayer (conversation) that I keep my focus and choose to keep God as the #1 priority in my life.

Paul reminds me (1 Corinthians 3:13-15) that whatever I do in my life will come through God’s refiner’s fire on Judgment Day and be shown for whatever it is. My heart, whatever I have done or have not done will be sifted by the One who loves me and sees only truth. I have an opportunity every day to choose God and His way. I have an opportunity every day to choose to listen – to God.

I am thankful that God has given me pastors and teachers who are fear God more than they crave man’s approval. They will remind of the ‘sweetness’ of God’s love – that’s a ‘Twinkie’ message. They will also remind me of the discipline of my loving Father. That can be nutritional like a ‘brussels sprout’ or something that I need to chew for a time, like steak. Let us choose carefully to Whom we will listen.

(1) The same year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting on a throne that was being lifted high, and his royal garments filled the temple. (2) Seraphs were standing above him, each with six wings. With two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. (3) One called to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, YHWH of hosts. The whole world is filled with his glory. (4) The doorposts on the threshold trembled from the sound when they called out, and the house was filled with smoke. (5) I said, “Woe to me! I’m going to be destroyed, because I am a person with impure lips, and I am living amongst people with impure lips, yet I have seen the king, YHWH of hosts. (6) And one of the seraphs flew to me with a red hot coal in his hand that he had taken with tongs from the altar. (7) He touched my mouth with it, and said, “Look! This has touched your lips and removed your guilt and brought forgiveness of your sin.”

(8) Then I heard the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” And I said, “Me! Send me!” — Isaiah 6:1-8

It’s the beginning of another week. I hope you were reminded over the weekend of what God has done for you. Perhaps you experienced God’s presence in a new way over the weekend. Perhaps you felt the convicting power of the Holy Spirit and determined to make some changes in the coming week.

The question is this: What are you going to do about it?

There are many examples of God’s empowerment, forgiveness, and calling in the Bible. We have Jeremiah who was reluctant, Moses who argued, Gideon who required repeated reassurance, and Balaam who went where he wasn’t called.

But Isaiah is the best example. Consider this:

1. He received salvation/forgiveness

2. He was cleansed.

3. He was touched by God’s fire

4. He said, “Send me.”

Now compare his reaction to the way in which many of us react. We attend a wonderful worship service. We go to the altar. Someone prays for us. We feel the presence and the power of God. Then we go home and wish all week that we could have that feeling again.

As long as you’re sitting around waiting for the feeling, it’s going to go past you. When God empowers you, he has something in mind for you to do. Now of the people I listed, only Balaam was one of the bad guys. Moses become one of the greatest prophets. Jeremiah had a powerful ministry, but he was miserable most of the time. Gideon eventually got it all straightened out. But Isaiah really understood the plan. Once he was touched by God’s fire he knew the only thing to say was, “Me! Send me!”

So are you wondering where the fire has gone? Are you spending miserable weeks hoping for some moments of relief in God’s presence at church (and frequently being disappointed at that)? Then hear God saying, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?”

If you want to keep his presence and power in your life, say “Me! Send Me!”

Now here’s what will happen when all the things I promised you happen to you, both the blessings and the curses which I put before you, and you shall call them to mind among all the nations where YHWH your God has scattered you. (2) You will turn back to YHWH your God, and you and your children will obey his voice by following all the things that I have commanded you today with all your mind and with all your soul. (3) Then YHWH your God will turn back your captivity, and will have compassion on you, and he will turn and gather you from all the peoples wherever YHWH your God scattered you. (4) If you were sent away to the end of the heavens, YWHW your God will gather you from there, and he will take you from there, (5) and YHWH your God will bring you into the land which your ancestors possessed, and you will take possession of it, and he will make you do well, and make you more numerous than your ancestors. (6) And YHWH your God will circumcise your minds, and your descendants’ minds, so that you will love YHWH your God with your whole mind, and with your whole soul, so you will live. — Deuteronomy 30:1-6

(Translating “heart” as “mind.” You need to read Deuteronomy 28 and 29 to get the full impact of this passage.)

It’s several days into the new year. How many of you have fallen short of some of your new year’s resolutions? Of your hopes? Of your dreams? No, don’t tell me! I don’t really want to know.

We’re human, and we tend to fail, so many of us have probably accomplished less than we would like to in the early days of this new year. If you are still 100% on track with your resolutions, congratulations! Just think back to a time when things might not have gone so well.

Deuteronomy 30 is addressed to a situation in which the Israelites have broken their covenant and been scattered all over the world. They are no longer living in their land, and an abundant list of curses have fallen upon them. But they’re still blessed! Why? Because God is faithful no matter what we do. No matter how far we have wandered away from him, he is ready to receive is if we’ll just turn around and let him take us in the right direction.

“Even if you were sent away to the end of the heavens.” Even if you’ve gone as far as it’s possible to go, God is still ready to go there and bring you back if you’ll just remember him and let him do that. Not only is God a God of return (repentance), he’s also a God of full restoration. He’ll bring you back to where you were, make you do well, and make things even better than they were before. And while he’s doing that, he’s going to make your mind work right so that you will make good choices, good resolutions, and then keep them.

As the year goes on, many of us will go astray in one way or another. The one thing the enemy of our souls wants us to do is to decide that we have wandered far away from God—too far to turn and come home. When that happens remember this passage. The voice saying you’re too far away is lying. The truth is that God is still right there, ready to take you back.

There’s a nice hymn written by William J. Kirkpatrick which can be our prayer in times like this:

I’ve wandered far away from God,
Now I’m coming home;
The paths of sin too long I’ve trod,
Lord, I’m coming home.

Refrain

Coming home, coming home,
Nevermore to roam,
Open wide Thine arms of love,
Lord, I’m coming home.

I’ve wasted many precious years,
Now I’m coming home;
I now repent with bitter tears,
Lord, I’m coming home.

Refrain

I’m tired of sin and straying, Lord,
Now I’m coming home;
I’ll trust Thy love, believe Thy Word,
Lord, I’m coming home.

Refrain

My soul is sick, my heart is sore,
Now I’m coming home;
My strength renew, my hope restore,
Lord, I’m coming home.

Refrain

My only hope, my only plea,
Now I’m coming home;
That Jesus died, and died for me.
Lord, I’m coming home.

Refrain

I need His cleansing blood, I know,
Now I’m coming home;
O wash me whiter than the snow,
Lord, I’m coming home.

Refrain

From The Cyber Hymnal (http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/l/c/lcomingh.htm)

(8) For if Joshua had given them rest, He wouldn’t have spoken concerning another day after these things. (9) Therefore there remains a sabbath rest for God’s people. (10) For the one who goes into his rest, also himself rests from his labors, just as God did from his own. (11) Let us then be eager to enter into that rest, so that in it nobody will fall through disobedience after their pattern. — Hebrews 4:8-11

(10) For as the rain and snow comes down from the sky and doesn’t return there unless it waters the land and makes it bring forth plants and sprout, and give seed to the one who plants and bread to the one who eats. (11) It will be the same way with my word that goes out from my mouth. It will not return to me empty, but it will do what I please and will prosper in the purpose for which I sent it. — Isaiah 55:10-11

Yesterday I wrote about how anxious we get to make it to our destination and how God will still have a plan for us, and will still test us even after we arrive at our destination. There is no destination that will allow us to get away from God.

Think about Abraham. He left Ur and went to Haran, then went from Haran to Canaan. He spent some time in Egypt, but he didn’t come into possession of the land that God promised. When he died still as a clan leader, one might have concluded that the whole thing was over. But God renewed his promise to Isaac. Then Jacob, Isaac’s son had to escape all the way back to Haran. It would have been easy to assume that the whole “promise” thing was a failure. But Jacob made it back to Canaan, only to wind up fleeing to Egypt, where his descendants spent several hundred years (215-430, depending on how the chronology is worked out). Finally, the Israelites left Egypt, only to wander around in the wilderness for 40 years.

Can you see the water of God’s word falling on the earth, finding its way into rivers and streams, from one lake to another, perhaps into some folks cooking pots and again into the earth to come forth in springs? But finally it’s going to go back. It will have accomplished what he sent it to do.

In the same way finally the Israelites crossed over into Canaan. God’s promise to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob was fulfilled.

But only partially. As our text from Hebrews says, that rest wasn’t complete. There still remains a rest for God’s people. We may think that 2,000 years have passed and so the promise has faded and will never be fulfilled. But look again at Hebrews 4:9. Simply because the rest of the Israelites was not complete, the author knows that there must be a rest remaining. It hasn’t been fulfilled, so it will be fulfilled. For him it’s as simple as that.

We’re still going somewhere. God’s word may be wandering around the water cycle from raincloud to lake to stream. It’s going and going and going, but someday it’s going to find you and it will be fulfilled.

Count on it!

(1) And Moses and the Israelite elders commanded the people: “Keep the commandment that I am commanding you today. (2) Now when you cross of the Jordan to the land that YHWH your God is given you, you will set up great stones and you will paint them with lime. (3) And you will write all the words of this instruction on them when you cross over so that you may come to the land that YHWH your God is giving to you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as YHWH the God of your ancestors told you. — Deuteronomy 27:1-3

“Are we there yet?”

Anyone who has traveled with young children is acquainted with this refrain. There is no time too early in the journey for it to start, and it doesn’t come to an end until the journey is truly over. It’s the age old desire to get there, to finish, to find a place of rest.

Think about what the phrase “when you get to the land” must have meant to the Israelites. This was the ultimate “are we there yet” situation. For 40 years they had been traveling, and not in an air conditioned plane or car. It was all hard, hot slogging through the desert. I wonder how many times the Israelites asked, “Are we there yet?”

The idea that we’re going to reach a place of peace and rest is a source of hope for many of us. And it’s not a bad hope. It’s even a promise. Hebrews 3 and 4 tell about the rest that is promised to God’s people.

But there’s something important to remember. We can get rest from trials and temptations, we can find plateaus and times of peace in our lives, but there is never a time when we are no longer on God’s plan. We don’t get a rest from godliness, and most importantly we don’t get a rest from faith. I know that at times when I have had to rely on God, taking one step at a time with just the provision available for the one step, I’ve often hoped that I could get beyond that point to a place where God allowed me sufficient provision so that I wouldn’t have to worry.

But the interesting thing is that God tells me that I shouldn’t worry now! Further, God tells me that I am always dependent on him. So when will I actually get to the point at which I no longer have to worry? It will be at the same time as I realize that under God’s plan I don’t actually have to worry about anything! When will I get to the point at which I no longer have to depend on God? Well, never. No matter how well God prospers me he will still be expecting me to do things that are beyond what I am capable of on my own.

I imagine the Israelites had a moment of annoyance each time they heard another list of things they were supposed to do after they got to the promised land. But the things they were commanded to do were for their own good—not burdens to be born but aids to better living. That’s how God works.

Remember this: When you get to the land, God is still there, and your journey is not really over until that final one.

¹²Because just as the body is one but has many parts, and all the body’s parts are one body, so it is with Christ. ¹³For you were all baptized by one Spirit into one body, whether you were Jews or gentiles, slaves or free before, and all of you have drunk of one Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 (TFBV)

All of us have wondered from time to time just how it is we are to identify the work of the Holy Spirit. How are we to know who is following God and who is not? How do we make a choice? There are many tests, but the key element throughout is to identify the working of the Holy Spirit.

In order to do so, we have to listen. If we listen, the Holy Spirit will tell us what our gifts are, and what gifts are available in our congregation, Sunday School class, or small group. If we listen, the Holy Spirit will tell us how to effectively use those gifts to perform the various functions and fill the various offices of the church.

The key to it all is listening!

Most of us were taught the use of a prism in science classes. You let white light pass through a prism, and it splits into various colors. Imagine the Holy Spirit as a reverse prism. Instead of splitting the light into various colors that separate and go their own way, he takes various colored beams and brings them together into a single source of light.

We are the various colored beams. If we will listen to the Holy Spirit, he will bring us together in just the right way to produce the single beam of God’s light. That single beam can be called effective ministry.

Now you may wonder what this illustration has to do with identifying the work of the Holy Spirit. Here it is. Paul’s key way of identifying the work of the Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12 was the way in which the One Holy Spirit brings all of the diverse elements of the body together to work as one in ministry.

And the subject doesn’t change in chapter 13. The great love chapter simply shows us what people will be like when they have been brought into unity under the one Spirit. When the Holy Spirit speaks, he speaks unity.

The Holy Spirit is speaking . . . LISTEN!!!!

(This devotion is adapted from my forthcoming book Identifying Your Gifts and Service – Small Group Edition. — HN)

Does God care about my ‘troubles’?

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

“Dear woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” John 2:1-4

I have been at this point. I have a problem and Jesus seems to say, “This is not my problem, Jody. It’s not time for me to help you.”

“BUT JESUS!!! I’M HURTING HERE!”

Jesus has a time and a plan for my life. He desires the best for me. The people in this story knew how many were going to come to the wedding feast. Experience had given them an idea of how much wine the guests would consume in the week long celebration. Did they run out of money? Did they cut corners on the wine so the bride and groom could have a nicer home? Well, I don’t know that from the story that John has told. I only know that in my own life, I do have experience and the wisdom that comes from experience and the voice of God through His Spirit that warns me before the ‘troubles’ fall. I also have the experience that tells me that God is always before me! But Jesus sees the trouble of the bride and groom. He knows the embarrassment that they are about to experience. Jesus steps away from the schedule and meets the need.

Many times I think that my concerns or worries are too small or insignificant to God. He has worlds to run and kings and presidents to advise. He has wars to keep His hand upon and disease to wipe out. Who am I to bother God with something BIG in my life that is small in comparison to others. Who am I?

…heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ… Romans 8:17

He has declared that he will set you in praise, fame and honor high above all the nations he has made and that you will be a people holy to the LORD your God, as he promised. Deuteronomy 26:19

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1

THAT is what and who I am! A CHILD OF GOD!

As a loving parent, do I ignore the cries of my child for food, warmth, loving attention, and comfort? NO! Neither does God! If something is important to me, it is important to God. I can talk and talk to God about any given subject. He will meet with me at the point where I need Him.

Tell God what is hurting today. Talk to Him. God will always listen. He does not think I am silly or weak.

For our Jesus, our High Priest, is able to understand our weaknesses. He came to earth to show us that He lived and was tempted in every way that we are – but He did not worry or sin. Let us then KNOW that we KNOW – we can come before God’s throne and know that because of Jesus – God sees us with loving eyes and a loving heart. Hebrews 4:15-16 (my paraphrase and emphasis)

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Galatians 6:7

My grandparents had a farm in heartland of Missouri. I learned how to gather eggs, clean stalls in barns, bale hay, and even milk cows. My heritage taught me that “hard work will produce a good harvest”! It was a basic fact that the most fertile ground will produce nothing unless seed is sown into it.

Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.” John 3:5

Jesus was answering questions from a Pharisee, Nicodemus, who wanted to know how to get eternal life. A Pharisee was a leader, someone who was to be the example to the Jewish people, leading them in living a ‘holy life’ that would guarantee them that they would live eternally … in the bosom of Abraham. (Luke 16:22) Nicodemus was about legalism. Legalism does not need God. Legalism is about me. It is about my opinion of how I should live before God and whether I think you are living up to my standards! I set the boundaries of fellowship and decide who is allowed inside of those boundaries and even the state of their salvation. Those who ascribe to a legalistic approach to faith are encouraged to “just follow the company policy”. They are not encouraged to think for themselves but to just conform to what has always been.

[Jesus said,] “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

John 3:16-17

Salvation is not something that can come from human plans or human strength. It is God’s business. Salvation comes forth from the seeds that God’s Spirit sows into each one of us. Grace, God’s un-countable love, was God’s idea and came to us at His expense. Why would God give His salvation to us instead of sticking with a very long list of “do’s” and “don’t’s” that we couldn’t live?

BECAUSE HE LOVES US!!!

EVERYONE who believes in Him – gets salvation. Period. That’s it. No code. No ritual. God made my heart. God knows my heart. God sows into my heart. Like Nicodemus, I given the life-giving words from Jesus and I have the opportunity to be a part of a bountiful harvest.

He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there. John 19:39-42

God’s grace has no boundaries. He will bring me full circle in His kingdom. God will sow into me. And then He will show me how to sow into others.