Tag: John 1:14
Day 3–Good News for ‘Tent-Dwellers’!
Scripture reading for May 27: Psalm 91:7-10 “A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place–the Most High, Who is my Refuge–no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent.”
In Scripture, our bodies are likened to ‘tents’ that we live in while on earth. John 1:14 states that ‘The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. . ‘, referring to Jesus coming to earth to live among His people and reveal the heart of the Father God. The word ‘dwell’ actually means to ‘tabernacle’ or pitch a tent. If you remember, the Israelites had a ‘tent’ for God, the Tabernacle, that they carried and pitched for God to dwell in their midst. The cloud of God’s glory would rest over it until it led them in their journey. It was a fire by night bringing light and the comfort of God’s presence. They also had a yearly feast of Tabernacles where they lived in temporary dwellings remembering their journey through the wilderness. (Leviticus 23:33-36)
The psalmist wrote to encourage those who know God by Name and trust in Him as their Refuge and Fortress. Thousands may fall close to you, but the plagues and satanic attacks of this life will not come near you. You will observe the recompense of the wicked only. The psalmist King David wrote in Psalm 37:34 that those waiting on God will look on when the wicked are cut off. If the Lord Most High is your ‘dwelling place’, if His ‘Tabernacle’ is your refuge or secret place, no harm or evil will come near your ‘tent’!
What good news the psalmist brings to first responders on their missions to help the hurting and diseased! These ancient confessions of faith in the Most High God give us comfort and courage to face danger with calm and trust. No plague or evil can harm us as God abides in our ‘tent’.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for these ancient words written down to encourage and teach Your people faith and trust. Help us as faith responders to remember that You dwell in our ‘tent’ by the Holy Spirit. You give us power and courage to share the Good News with those You send us to. Amen.
Day 3–Jesus’ Gift of Peace
Scripture reading for March 11: John 14:25-27 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My Name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
John 16:33 “I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.””
First responders must be prepared to enter into the trouble and chaos of others involved in accidents, crime, sickness or disease. On top of that, each person has troubles of their own to deal with. In these Scriptures we uncover a Source of peace that helps us overcome each incident. God has made several key provisions for those who trust in Him and His Son, Jesus Christ. He desires that all men and women enter into the perfect peace He offers. That peace comes when we receive and believe His Word. Faith comes into our hearts through this process. Jesus Christ came as the ‘Word made flesh’ (John 1:14) and He spoke His Word to those willingly following Him. “So faith comes by hearing and hearing through the Word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17)
But after Jesus gave His body and blood to cover and cleanse us from guilt and sin, Jesus rose again and told His disciples to wait for the Promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit would live in each believer and personally teach each person the Word of God and help them to apply it through faith. The Holy Spirit would bring the fruit of peace. (Galatians 5:22) He would actually bring Christ Jesus’ own peace that gives comfort to us in the midst of the world’s troubles. It enables us to overcome those troubles and fears and walk in confidence. It is a gift from our Father and Lord to be received daily as we walk with Him.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your amazing provision of peace given through the Words of Your Son Jesus Christ. Even more amazing is the Gift of Your Holy Spirit living in me to teach me God’s Word and manifest the fruit of peace through me to a world in trouble. Amen.
Scripture’s Divine Origin
Scripture reading for November 14: 2 Peter 1
“For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son, with Whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice born from heaven, for we were with Him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic Word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the Morning Star rises in your hearts, knowing that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will or man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Peter 1:16-21
As Peter wrote his second and final letter to the church before his execution by Rome, he reminded the believers to hold Scripture in high regard. He wrote as an “eyewitness” of Christ’s Majesty. Peter was speaking of the transfiguration where Moses and Elijah met with Jesus on the mountain and Jesus was transfigured in the sight of Peter, James and John who were there at Jesus request. (Matthew 17:1-8) He and the others heard the voice of God the Father declaring His beloved Son. This glorious experience was wonderful, but Peter wanted the believers to recognize that Scripture that was written down and passed down from the fathers and prophets was just as true and to be trusted.
Scripture does not come from man’s ideas or thoughts. Peter told how he and holy men and women of old, like Moses, were moved on by the Holy Spirit to write down God’s revealed truth. Scripture does not have its origin in man’s will or imagination. Scripture is God’s eternal Word spoken through men and women who were willing to yield to God. Scripture is full of the Spirit and Life of God the Father. Scripture is eternally true. Heaven and earth will pass away, but God’s Word will never pass away. (Matthew 24:35) It is critical for our world view to hold the highest regard for God’s eternal Word and Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. (John 1:14)
Have you taken time to consider the origin of the holy Scriptures? Do you believe in the eternal truth of God’s Word? If all we have in the Bible are just the opinions of men, how does this change our world view?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your Word and the solid foundation of truth that I have come to know and depend on. Thank You for moving on men and women throughout our history and inspiring them to write down Your thoughts for us to know You. I will preach and teach Your Word with confidence! Amen.
World view from above!
Scripture reading for April 9: John 3
“He Who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. He bears witness to what He has seen and heard, yet no one receives His testimony. Whoever receives His testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. For He Whom God has sent utters the Words of God, for He gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” John 3:31-36
John’s Gospel describes Jesus as the Son of God Who came from above. Jesus came to bear witness of the Father and God’s Word. He is the ‘Word made flesh” (John 1:14) Who came to dwell among His people. Jesus, as God’s Son, was loved by His Father and given authority and dominion over all things. He was given the Father’s Gift, the Holy Spirit, without measure! Therefore, it is imperative that anyone wanting to understand God the Father and His truth would come to Jesus Christ. Those that are of the earth can only speak and know in an earthly way from earth’s low view point.
In this passage, John declares that believing in the Son, Jesus, brings eternal life. Believing involves obeying the Son and His Word which is the definition of faith. Anyone who refuses to believe the Son of God and obey His Word will never see eternal life. Not only that, but that person will remain under God’s wrath that is eternally set against sin and those clinging to it. All born of woman on this earth, except the Son of God, are born in sin and under God’s wrath. This world view is very simple and very clear, enabling all to understand God’s truth and declaration of how to obtain eternal life. Repentance is a choice to exchange our earthly world view for heaven’s eternal truth.
Have you come to consider Jesus’ world view from above and chosen to believe? Do you have the assurance of eternal life promised to those who believe? Have you considered that to do nothing with Jesus is to be under the wrath (eternal anger) of God?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for revealing to us Your great love through Your Son. Thank You for bearing witness to me that I might repent and be saved from Your eternal wrath. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I might declare this Good News with power from above! Amen!
The likeness of the Glory of God
Scripture reading for August 17: Ezekiel 1-6
Ezekiel had just turned 30 years of age and he was a priest who now entered full-time ministry. He had been taken into captivity and was in Babylon with a group of exiles which included Daniel and his friends. They met by the Chebar River to have their Sabbath observances and feast days. While they were meeting, God opened the heavens and gave Ezekiel a vision of God that changed his life and gave him direction and focus. God called him to go to His people and give them God’s Word. God warned him the people were rebellious, obstinate and stubborn. (Ezekiel 2:1-4)
The vision that Ezekiel saw of the throne of God was spectacular. It began with a windstorm coming from the north with a towering thundercloud and flashing lightning and fire in the center. As it got closer, Ezekiel could see four living creatures. (Ezekiel 1:4-9) These creatures had the form of a man but they had four faces and feet like a calf and four wings with hands underneath. They glowed like bronze and the faces were that of an eagle, ox, lion and man. Below on the ground, there was a wheel that sparkled and had another intersecting wheel. These wheels were full of eyes on the rim and enabled the creatures to move in all directions as the Spirit moved them. When these creatures with the wheels moved, there was a sound like that of roaring waters, like the voice of God.
As Ezekiel looked he noticed a glowing throne of sapphire above the creatures and on the throne was a figure like that of a man. He was glowing with fire and brilliant light surrounded Him. This light looked like a rainbow and glowed with radiance! (Ezekiel 1:26-28) This figure had the “likeness of the Glory of God”! When Ezekiel saw it he fell to the ground in awe. He was overcome by the likeness of God’s glory!
The Scripture states that sinful man would die if he could see the full radiance of His Glory. But God grants some grace to see a glimpse of His glory. Moses was hidden by God in the cleft of the rock and was allowed to see His backside. (Exodus 33:18-20) Now God has sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to show mankind the Glory of God. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, Who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) The gift of the Holy Spirit enables us to have the Glory of God revealed to us by the Spirit. We are being transformed by that grace gift with ever increasing glory! (2nd Corinthians 3:18) When Jesus Christ appears and the trumpet blows, we will be instantly transformed into a glorious body, like His glorious body! (1st Thessalonians 4:16-18) We now carry the “likeness of the Glory of God”!
The matchless Word of God
Scripture reading for June 26: Psalm 119
My favorite person to study is God! In order to know Him, I must study His matchless Word! Jesus was the Word made flesh who lived among us. (John 1:14) His Word is truth just as He is the Truth! (John 17:17) His Word is eternal just as He is eternal, without beginning or ending! (Psalm 119:89) (Matthew 24:35) His Word contains all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge just as in Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge! (Colossians 2:2-3) His Word is Spirit and Life, bringing God’s Spirit and Life into my inner man and bringing Light to my eyes. (Psalm 119:105) (John 6:63) His Word keeps me from sin and purifies my life, because the Word is righteous and true! (Psalm 119:11) (John 17:17)
In all but two verses, this psalm uses one of six different terms that refer to God’s Word. The first term is the “law” of the Lord. (Psalm 119:1) Laws are unchanging truths written down declaring God’s will. Laws are used to judge and to decree acceptable and unacceptable behavior. They are written down to be learned and obeyed! The next word is “statutes” (Psalm 119:2) A statute gives us instruction. They are like laws, but with more wisdom and instruction. “Precepts” is another term used by the psalmist, and is a statement of truth that is binding and permanent. God’s precepts are made for obedience! (Psalm 119:4) A “decree” is a statement of revealed truth about any given subject. God’s decrees are truth to be obeyed! (Psalm 119:5) “Commands” are forceful statements used to declare a direction or act that is imperative. Commands possess authority to command action! (Psalm 119:9, 11) “Promise” is something that is decreed to happen or be fulfilled by the Giver of the promise: God Who is totally trustworthy.
These terms help us to understand the beautiful holiness of God and His matchless Word. In the final chapter of Scripture, an angel tells the Apostle John that his Words are trustworthy and true! (Revelation 22:6) He is further warned against adding to or taking away from the Word given to him! Anyone who tries to change God’s Word is in danger of losing their share in the tree of Life and the Holy City! (Revelation 22:18-19) What attribute of God’s Word fascinates you the most and why?
Rejoicing in the One and Only!
Scripture reading for November 2nd: Luke 23-24, John 1-3
Key Scriptures: Luke 23:34-35 “Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His clothes by casting lots. The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at Him. They said, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”
John 1:14, 18 “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. . . .No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side has made Him known.”
Jesus was mocked and ridiculed as He hung on the cross for the sins of mankind. He prayed for mercy on those who crucified Him because of their ignorance. But to those who believed on Him, they got to behold the glory of ‘the One and Only’ who sits at the Father’s right hand! They could see Him and not die but live! Hallelujah!
Rejoicing in Christ Jesus: “Dogs have surrounded Me; a band of evil men has encircled Me, they have pierced My hands and My feet. I can count all My bones; people stare and gloat over Me. They divide My garments among them and cast lots for My clothing.” Psalm 22:16-18 “But,” He said, “you cannot see My face, for no one may see Me and live. Then the Lord said, “There is a place near Me where you may stand on a rock. When My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by.” (Exodus 33:20-22)
Oh the Glory of His Presence!
Scripture reading for April 25th: 2nd Chronicles 4-7
Key Scriptures: 2nd Chronicles 5:13-14 “The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang: “He is good; His love endures forever.” Then the temple of the Lord was filled with a cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of the Lord.”
Solomon, King David’s son, dedicated the magnificent temple that was built according to God’s instructions. He built it in Jerusalem on Mt. Zion, the place God had chosen for His Name to dwell. As the singers and musicians played in unison, God’s glorious Presence came as a cloud and filled the temple with such glory and power that no one could move to perform their service!
Rejoice in God’s Presence: “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) “Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days.” . . . But the temple He had spoken of was His body.” (John 2:19-21)