God’s Plan A

Posted on July 1, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation; namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation. We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 (WEB)

We have been given the ministry of reconciliation. I don’t know about you but that sentence humbles me. It makes me bow my head. I t makes me go to my knees. It makes me want to jump up and look Jesus in the eyes and say, “Are you NUTS?!! You are counting on me to bring Your message of such extravagant love that draws everyone to YOU?!” And I see Jesus look at me with His kind, all-knowing eyes and saying, “Yes, Jody. After all that I have given you – who better than to tell that story.”

As I write this, I am remembering again where I used to be. A sinner. An arrogant, ‘I don’t need anyone’ sure of myself woman who was so lost and lonely. It did not matter that I had friends and family, I felt unlovable and so I could not receive any love. When I was down in the pit and finally reached out for the Hand that had always been there, the sin washed out of my life and love, extravagant, healing love flooded me. My battered, bleeding heart was healed. My depressed spirit was pumped with joy! Now I know what Jesus meant! I want to tell someone about how God, my Creator, did reconcile me to Him!

An ambassador speaks for the One he/she represents. He/She is to be recognized as the same as the One they represent. What representation do I present? Jesus is gentleness and yet strong. Jesus is intense and powerful and yet has humor and joy. Jesus is Savior, Creator, and Friend. If I spoke every day of the rest of my life about my LORD, I still would not cover all the facets of my LORD.

Can I really grasp the magnitude of how Jesus, who never knew sin, became SIN, so that I could live with Him forever? I have a relationship with my Creator! That is the ‘missing piece’ that born in me. All the searching for that ‘something’ that kept me from saying, “I’m happy. I’m satisfied.” I tried to fill it with so many ‘things’ and with people who have come in my life. And it didn’t work! For over 40 years there was this ‘something’ that was missing in my life. What was missing was a relationship with God. When I “become the righteousness of God”, I have a relationship with God ! It is a treasure that I keep inside of myself and then freely reach inside of my heart and offer this wonderful gift to the next person who is hurting and in need.

I have been given this ministry and I can not keep it to myself. God has given His love (grace) and forgiveness (mercy) and wants me to be His Hands and Feet to take it – out there. Wherever out there is – that is where I am to take this ministry of reconciliation. Thank You, LORD, for not having a Plan B.

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To Be or Not To Be

Posted on June 30, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

Therefore we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord; for we walk by faith, not by sight. We are courageous, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord. Therefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well pleasing to him. For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (WEB)

For many Paul’s whole discussion about which is better: to die and be with Jesus or live and not be with Jesus, is a discussion to be avoided. Death is not a ‘good’ subject.

Unlike the title quote from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, I believe Paul is trying to explain to himself and to us that it is for God to determine our days, their number and their tasks. We are responsible to live our lives remembering that we will be judged for what we did, good or bad.

Life, its brevity and finite time, is to be remembered as we make decisions every day. It is reasonable to think about how I would budget my time each day if I knew it was my last day. Would I look at conflicts in the same way? Would my priorities change?

I believe most of us have areas of our lives that we believe we “have time” to change and “deal with” later. When is later? When will I prioritize my life so that should I receive my call to go home, I would not have regrets.

Another point of this passage that is seldom discussed is judgment. Jesus is my friend. He died for me. He came, God-in-the-flesh to live so that I would know that He understands my life. His love is overwhelmingly extravagant. He will also return as King with the last word in judgment. Every thought, every true turn of my heart toward or away from someone, and every word that encouraged or criticized will be exposed, weighed, and justly determined by Jesus Christ.

I know that I am going to heaven. I have recognized my sin and need for Jesus who is the only One who can save me. I have humbled myself and repented. I desire every day to follow Him. There is no turning back in my life. I am not perfect. There are still words, thoughts, and choices that do not magnify, or represent, my LORD. That is what drives me to my knees and keeps me seeking Him; turning my ears to hear only His Spirit in my life.

So how can I be “confident”? What came before the “therefore”? God promised me a home that will never age and be destroyed. This earthly ‘home’ that is my body is only temporary. It may only last minutes or days or a few year or 100 years but it is going to die. Unless Jesus comes back first, I must die in order to go to heaven. Many, many before me have said that they would live to see Jesus come back. If He does, that is OK with me. I am going to live today like it is my last day whether it is because Jesus came back or because He called me home today. I am ready, confident, and at peace with however God determines my time.

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This Ministry

Posted on June 29, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.           2 Corinthians 4:1-2 (NIV)

We have “this ministry”. My ministry, your ministry, is to take the unveiled knowledge of the hope of Jesus Christ to everyone. Jesus showed me, by His example, that it was about taking that Word of Hope, usually, to one person at a time. We have accounts that Jesus also had crowds of 4,000 and 5,000 people but most of the accounts is a one-on-one meeting with God-in-the-flesh. I have been in a large revival. It is an awesome experience to see 2,000 people literally run to the altar to receive the saving grace of Jesus Christ! It is just as extraordinary to see a person experience the Light of revelation when they accept how much they are loved that God would send His Son to die – for them.

It is in purity, holiness, humility, and honesty that God will come and make His presence known in power. Why did God manifest Himself as a whisper to Elijah instead of a violent wind or thunder? Because when God comes, He does not need to make a BIG noise to get my attention. His very presence is enough to send me to my knees and with my face to the ground.

And is “ministry” just about numbers or is it about disciples? Is the success of a ministry determined by God in numbers or in obedience? Jesus said that the angels in heaven would rejoice over the saving of one sheep vs. the 99. There may be some mother or father or grandmother who has been praying and praying for their son or daughter to know Jesus. It may be that maybe you or I are the first choice of God to be the ambassador to bring Jesus to that child. Will I say, “Yes” or is that not a ‘big enough’ assignment?

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.                  2 Corinthians 4:7-9 (NIV)

And will “this ministry”, if it is really you, LORD, be on a clear and easy path? If there is struggle and adversity, does this indicate that it is not really You? I have been crushed, confused, beat up, and pressed down harder than a paninni sandwich! God is faithful. God is the One I can trust. If I will seek my Lord, spend time with Him alone and in fellowship with other Believers, then God is faithful and trustworthy to guide and direct me in His paths. If this life is troubling and seems to be beating you up in some dark alley – do not give up! Lay down in the Hand of God. Jesus promised that if I take the Hand of God that I cannot be snatched from His Hand. (John 10:28) Paul testified that when he was totally weak – God is STRONG! (2 Corinthians 12:9) When it gets rough, press in closer to the only One who has the answers and the strength to raise you up and pull you out of the pit!

Ministry is about an opportunity to be the hands and feet of God and, in His power, lift people up to Him. From the muck and the mire, the quicksand of this world that sucks people down into despair and hopelessness, GOD IS HOPE! God’s grace, forgiveness, and wisdom is never-ending! No matter what has been, God is sufficient to make all brand new. ALL is made new in God’s ministering Hands. Do not lose heart. Give it to Jesus.

Posted in 2 Corinthians | 1 Comment

“Comfort me, Lord”

Posted on June 28, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

Henry made the statement last night that in his observation of Bible study that people spend more time studying First Corinthians than they do Second Corinthians. That inspired me to start reading.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound to us, even so our comfort also abounds through Christ. But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer. Our hope for you is steadfast, knowing that, since you are partakers of the sufferings, so also are you of the comfort. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 (WEB)

It is in those dark valleys and alleyways of life that I can wonder “Why is this happening to me?” and “Where is God’s plan in this situation?”. Anyone who has any relationship with God, even an antagonistic one, may find themselves raising their fist and sneering at God. I am here to testify to you today that God can take it! As I have said many times, God is the only One who can respond to all your questions. If any of the rest of us try to respond, we will be speaking from our own experience and my experience is not going to be exactly the same as yours or the next person.

God gives His comfort in any situation. He is so perfect to give comfort that fits that person in that situation. He provides to me what I need in order to continue to live and move on in my life. He does that first because He loves me. The second reason is so that I may be so filled with His comfort that it leaks and flows out on people to whom God brings into my life. That could be a son or daughter. It could be someone I see in tears in the local store.

By the way, I must tell this story. A friend was in a store one day and as he turned into the paper goods aisle, he came upon a woman who was staring at bleach with tears streaming down her face. Is she having some reaction to the smell of bleach? No, her shoulders are shaking with sobs. Now most men do not do crying women well. It is not their comfort zone. And in a public place, it would be so easy to keep pushing his cart on by and keep on going! He did push by her but he stopped at the kleenex, grabbed a three-pack and opened a box and handed it to the woman with a light smile. He put the rest of the tissue in his cart and told her he would pay for it and tell the front manager that he had done so in case anyone tried to stop her. This man did not stop in the aisle and pray a profound prayer (although I suspect he did as he continued his shopping day!). He did not speak profound words to this woman who was obviously in great pain. He did offer the comfort of God in a tangible way that may never be forgotten by either her or God who sees everything!

It is God’s desire that I will come through my affliction because of His comfort and that I will understand that I have come through in order to help others to do the same. There are no short cuts to arriving at this knowledge. The closer I press in to God and wrestle through my situations, not letting go until God blesses me! – it may seem the quicker that I move through my present valley. With my eyes on Jesus, time becomes less about hours and days and more about what He is teaching me.

Please let your loving kindness be for my comfort, according to your word to your servant. Psalm 119:76 (WEB)

Psalm 119 is a lot about God’s commands, precepts, laws, ordinances, and such. But it’s not just about the discipline of that (although it is an essential part). It is about how we can trust God to be Who He is and He is faithful to Who He is. I can count on God to freely give His comfort to me, teaching me that as I freely receive His comfort so I will freely give His comfort.

Posted in 2 Corinthians, Psalms | 1 Comment

Power of Love

Posted on June 25, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

– Henry Neufeld

God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die. – John 3:16 (CEV)

God loved.

It’s as simple as that.  We can write books, preach sermons, and teach lessons, but we aren’t really going to get any deeper than that.

It wasn’t because you were the most numerous of all the peoples that God pursued you passionately and chose you.  You were the least of all the peoples.  But because God loved you . . . Deuteronomy 7:7-8a (HN)

God’s love isn’t something new.  God’s love is the foundation for all of his saving activities.  We often speak of the great difference between the Old and New Testaments.  But the foundation of God’s activity was the same in both.

Sometimes I’m told that preaching and teaching about love is soft, that love isn’t really enough.  We need regulations, we need strength, we need punishment.

But God’s love is anything but weak and limited.

God’s love is passionate.  The one word in Hebrew that I translated “pursued you passionately” is the same word that is used in Genesis 34:8 of Hamor’s attraction to Dinah.  That was a passion that resulted in rape.  You may find it shocking that a word used in that way could also be used of God.  What it means is that God loves us passionately.  He loves us with a love that will not be stopped, will not be thwarted, will not give up.

It’s the John 3:16 kind of love.  God loves, and so he gives.  That gift is a passionate gift—a gift that goes all the way, that won’t be stopped or thwarted, that doesn’t have limits.  It is a gift that goes all the way—all the way from heaven to earth, on to the trial and the same, to death on a cross.  That is the passion with which God pursues us.

God loved so much that he gave.

God’s passionate love is an invitation.  Believe in him.  Even better, put your trust in him.  Trust your life and your salvation to the one who loves you so passionately that he gave his all.  That’s the one and only way to have life; those who trust Him have eternal life, they need not, as the CEV translates it, “really die.”

Of course, passion wants a response.

This is my command:  Love each other as I loved you! – John 15:12 (HN)

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How is it Possible?

Posted on June 24, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

Exodus 2 begins with the birth of Moses. Moses begins as the son of a Levite, the priestly tribe of Israel.   Moses’ life continues on for 3 more books or 137 more chapters!  In Numbers 20 Moses disobeys God and the consequences are that he will not enter the Promised Land.  Moses’ death is recorded in Deuteronomy 34.

Moses is hidden for the first three months of his life by his mother because Pharoah has decreed that all Israelite males are to be thrown in the Nile at birth and drowned.  This was Pharoah’s idea of how to take care of the Israelite population explosion that he feared would result in a rebellion among the Hebrew slaves and the overthrow of his government.  I don’t know how a woman can hide a newborn-3 month-old baby.  I haven’t known any infants who were quiet enough to be invisible!

So Moses’ mother makes a waterproof wicker basket, puts her infant into it, and floats the basket into the Nile River.  Rather ironic that Pharoah had used that same site for his method of infanticide!

Pharoah’s daughter finds Moses one day as she is doing her bathing ritual and decides to keep him as her own.  Exodus 2:6 says that she knew he was Hebrew.  Maybe he looked like a Hebrew.  Maybe he had a cloth wrapped around him that identified his heritage.  The daughter knew he was a slave child and yet she took him in as a son.

Exodus 2:11 says that Moses himself knew he was Hebrew and saw the slaves as “his own people”.   As he saw how his “people” were treated, Moses felt the need to intervene. He killed a Hebrew overseer and fled to Midian, across the desert, and the rest—is history.

As I was reading, it was at this point that I thought, “How did all these things come to past?”  “How did a baby survive in the Nile?”  “How did it ‘happen’ that Pharoah’s daughter was able to keep a Hebrew infant and raise it as her own?”  Maybe Jesus said it best:

Looking at them, Jesus said, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26 (WEB)

God looked at His children, oppressed by Pharoah, and answered their cries for freedom.  He did it through a man, Moses, who grew up because God gave a miracle to protect the one He had chosen.  Before I begin to think that Moses had no choice in this, I look at the story of Moses and the burning bush.  Moses could have run away.  Moses could have decided he was going to ignore this strange phenomenon.  How could he do that when he knew the story of his deliverance in the Nile River in a basket?!!!

Moses had a choice when God called him and he argued long and hard.  He argued with God long enough that God’s anger burned against him!!!  (Exodus 3-4)  God didn’t strike him dead.  God gave him a partner…Aaron.  God gives.  God gives us what we need.  All we have to do is say, “Yes”.  God will do the rest.  It is obedience that turns God’s head and touches His heart.

All things are possible with God.  There is no prayer ‘good enough’ or number of people who gather that are ‘enough’.  It is God’s love.  It is God’s goodness that reaches out to His children and pours out blessings of opportunities to do for Him.

“You, in your loving kindness, have led the people that you have redeemed.

You have guided them in your strength to your holy habitation. Exodus 15:13 (WEB)

Take a step of faith today that you have been reluctant to take.  Take a step toward God and let Him love you!  All things with God are possible!

Posted in Exodus, Matthew | Comments Off on How is it Possible?

Walk With God

Posted on June 23, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

The story of David and his fight with the giant, Goliath, may be the most famous Old Testament story.  Israel was fighting the Philistines.  They did that a lot during this part of history.  Saul was king.  He was a king who was afraid.  He had disobeyed God (1 Samuel 15) and God had rejected him as king.  David, son of Jesse, had now been anointed by God’s prophet, Samuel, to be king.  David was not actively trying to overthrow Saul.  He was waiting on God’s timing for that.  (That is a wise word to remember.)  So Saul and his army are sitting on one hill and the Philistines are on the other with a valley between them.  Every day, the Philistines’ best fighter, Goliath, would come out and shout insults at the Israelites.  This nine foot soldier challenged them to send out someone brave enough to fight him.  No one volunteered.

One day David came to check on his two older brothers who were part of the Israelite army.  He heard Goliath’s taunts.  He saw how everyone ran away in fear despite Saul’s promise to give great wealth and his daughter to the one who would fight the giant.  He saw no one stepping forward.  No one answered ‘the call’.  It should be noted here that although David’s older brothers did not step up to fight – they were quick to criticize David and seemed to be jealous of him or afraid that David would embarrass them by failing!  No help but willing to throw stones at their own brother! And what was David’s response?

“…For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” 1 Samuel 17:26 (WEB)

David identified his enemy as a ‘zero’ in his estimation.  This giant was nothing in David’s eyes.  He had no fear of this loud mouth Philistine!  David also knew who would stand with him when he stepped into that valley with Goliath.

David said, “Yahweh who delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.”      1 Samuel 17:37 (WEB)

King Saul, surprisingly to me, said “OK.  Let the kid go.”  Guess he was desperate!  The king even tried to give David his own armor.  David found out quickly that Saul’s armor would not work for him.  Now that will preach!  I cannot go into battle every day and try to wear the faith of another.  I must spend time with the Lord myself and allow the Holy Spirit to water the faith God has given me.

David walked into the valley with the assurance of who would win.  His relationship, his intimacy with God was so strong that he knew the outcome before it began.

“…and that all this assembly may know that Yahweh doesn’t save with sword and spear: for the battle is Yahweh’s, and he will give you into our hand.” 1 Samuel 17:47 (WEB)

David knew that not only would Goliath be defeated but the entire Philistine army would bite the dust!!!  I want that!  I want to grab on to the strength and power of God and know that there is no army or weapon that can defeat me! (Isaiah 54:17)

David defeated Goliath – with a sling and stone.  That’s the story we usually tell.  It is a story of faith and God’s love.  It is a story of a boy who would be king and would defeat many armies – because he walked with his LORD.

Posted in 1 Samuel, Isaiah | Comments Off on Walk With God

Heaven is Home

Posted on June 22, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

For we know that if the earthly house of our tent is dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, [but]eternal, in the heavens. For most certainly in this we groan, longing to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven;…           2 Corinthians 5:1-2 (WEB)

For our citizenship is in heaven, from where we also wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will change the body of our humiliation to be conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working by which he is able even to subject all things to himself. Philippians 3:20-21 (WEB)

But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, seeing that you look for these things, be diligent to be found in peace, without blemish and blameless in his sight. 2 Peter 3:13-14 (WEB)

Are you homesick for heaven?

I remember my first day of kindergarten.  It was a half day; maybe four hours away from my mom.  I thought that I would never go home!  When I discovered that my mother would come and get me every day and I had something to share at the table each night like my older brother, I thought school was great!

I went to an international Girl Scout event when I was 16.  I was several thousand miles away from my small hometown, located in middle America, for ten days.  I flew on an airplane for the first time. I met girls from all over the world. It was a wonderful experience but I was ‘sick for home’ and glad to touch down on familiar earth.

I went away to college. My first ‘away time’ was from September to Thanksgiving.  I was really homesick then!  I was ‘sick’ for the familiar; for the comfort of home.  Do I feel the same way about heaven?

My parents, my son, and friends have all died and gone before me to heaven.  There is a song by Mercy Me, Homesick, that speaks truly about how my home is where my heart is. Now that someone I love is in heaven, I begin to understand the concept of being homesick for heaven.  I feel that.  I understand that.  But lately, I have wanted to be homesick for heaven because of God, not just James or Mom or Dad. I am on a journey to seek the heart of my Father and Savior.  I want to be more homesick for Him and feel that homesickness for Him more than anyone.

Now before someone mistakenly wonders if I am suicidal – I do not want to leave this world one second before God’s plan for me!  I know that He has plans for me.  There are opportunities that God is opening for me to serve Him.  I surely do not want to miss even one of them!  I do want to understand how Abraham thought of himself as an ‘alien’.  I want to be counted among the faithful who also considered themselves ‘aliens’ (Hebrews 11:13).  I want to care more about God’s treasures and less about the treasures of this world.  I want to be a ‘light’ that will lead others to walk in the truth of God.  My face is set toward home.  (smile)

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Ready – Light – Go!

Posted on June 21, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

1Then again the kingdom of heaven can be illustrated by 10 virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Now five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3The foolish ones took their lamps, but didn’t take any extra oil. 4But the wise ones took oil in containers along with their lamps. 5So the bridegroom was delayed, and they became drowsy and all went to sleep. 6And in the middle of the night there was a shout, “Look! It’s the bridegroom! Go out to meet him.” 7Then all the virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish ones said to the wise ones, “Give us some of your oil, because our lamps have gone out. 9But the wise virgins answered, “Never! There won’t be enough for all of us. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.” 10But as they went to buy oil, the bridegroom arrived, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding, and the door was shut. 11Afterward, the remaining virgins came and said, “Lord! Lord! Let us i
n!” 12But he answered, “I tell you truly, I don’t know you.” 13So watch, because you don’t know the day or the hour.      Matthew 25:1-13 (HN)

– Henry Neufeld

We need to be ready when the bridegroom comes! That’s a good message to get from this parable. It’s also a good “morning” parable, telling us to get moving and be on the ball. (OK, some of you are probably not morning people and lots of cheerful yelling early in the morning doesn’t help get you moving. You can come back to this later in the day.)

If we shift our focus just a little bit, this parable tells us several things about life as Christians.

1.      Our life as Christians is not just about the end. While the goal is to meet the bridegroom, our lives consist of being ready all the time. Christianity is not something we can pick up and drop as it is convenient.

2.      It’s not good enough just to have lamps. We have to take action to make our light shine. We can share our faith just by our actions, but if we don’t also take action to see that the light shines steadily and shines in the right place. A friend of mine recently participated in a candlelight walk through a park. Afterward, he was fascinated by the way people carried their candles. Some held them in front of their face. Others held them low and ahead of them. He went back to the park and tried the various positions. The one that worked was holding the candle above his head, shining the light around. I think we can learn something about our personal, spiritual light from that experiment.

3.      All of us slip sometimes. The question is whether we can get the lamp lit up again and get going. This isn’t about five virgins who slept and five who stayed awake. It’s about ten who slept and only five who were ready to get up again and get moving. You may have trouble getting started in the morning. That’s not something bad; everybody has their bad times. The question is what you do with the good ones.

4.      Some opportunities move right past us. If we don’t move when the opportunity is available, it may pass us by.

God is a God of opportunities. If you slept through the last one, be watching for the next.

Posted in Matthew | Comments Off on Ready – Light – Go!

Holy Spirit: The Promise

Posted on June 18, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

“I have said these things to you, while still living with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you. Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, give I to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful. You heard how I told you, ‘I go away, and I come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I said ‘I am going to my Father;’ for the Father is greater than I.”      John 14:25-28 (WEB)

This week reading and studying about the Holy Spirit has been an encouraging time for me. I needed that. Take a moment and read over this first Scripture and then close your eyes and imagine Jesus’ face, His eyes as He is saying these words.

I hear Jesus reassuring these disciples that He is not leaving them alone. He is keeping, what is for me, the #1 promise in Scripture: I will not leave you or forsake you. This is the promise that I reach out for in my darkest moments when I feel ‘doubt’ attempting to sneak in and sucker punch me. In just a few sentences, Jesus confirms that I will never be alone. He promises ‘peace’. Remember the peace promised in Proverbs? The fulfillment of the peace that exceeds my understanding! And then Jesus, to me, reminds me that He is God. “Do not be afraid, little one. I am the I AM, remember!”

“I have yet many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now. However when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak from himself; but whatever he hears, he will speak. He will declare to you things that are coming. He will glorify me, for he will take from what is mine, and will declare it to you. All things whatever the Father has are mine; therefore I said that he takes of mine, and will declare it to you.         John 16:12-15 (WEB)

And more promises. Jesus always has more to say to me. His Spirit always has more to teach me. I will never reach a ‘boring’ point in our relationship. There will always be a new day that will show me again that my LORD will never leave me and never let me go. I choose to leave in the palm of His hand and that is where I will stay.

The Spirit will declare. Oh, may I be listening! And as He keeps telling me – it’s about a relationship. Every day we talk. Every day we spend time together so that as the days go by, I know that I hear His voice.

And that leads to the testimony that so many are searching to find. People who do not have a relationship yet are looking for real promises and real truth. They are looking for something that they can hang on to in a world that changes minute to minute.

Come, Holy Spirit. Come live in me. Give me ears to hear You and the knowledge to know only You. May my heart be open only to You. May I glorify and magnify my LORD and Savior in all that I am.

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