Measure of Love

MEASURE OF LOVE

Fifth of fourteen devotions in Gethsemane series

John 14:15-24 

John 14:15: “If you love Me, you will obey what I command.”

            This trip to Gethsemane isn’t easy.  We stretch to obey the urging of God’s indwelling Spirit.  But…since we’re still living in this fallen world…what’s the harm dancing around the edges of God’s will?

            “I won’t get addicted,” we promise God.

            Obeying Jesus’ commands is so important that He repeats Himself two more times.  Whenever God repeats Himself, it’s like mom yelling your entire name to get your attention.  

            Salvation is free for the believer-in-Christ.  God’s love is certain.  People’s reactions are unpredictable.  If you’re reading this, God accurately predicted your faith in His Son.

            John 15:19 says, “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own.  As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.  That is why the world hates you.”  People’s behavior after salvation is the wild card, certainly a measure of our love. 

            Sayings like, “Actions speak louder than words,” demand visual proof before promises are believed.  Jesus’ disciples understood “I love You, Lord!” required proof of action.  The lesson linked below shows what Jesus’ disciples heard, and lived by. 

            “Whoever has My commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves Me.  He who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I love him and will show Myself to him.”  (John 14:21).  That’s the first time Jesus repeated the opening Scripture.

 

            “Honest, Lord, I can stop doing this anytime I want!” we vow.

            Sort of Loving God isn’t good enough.   And He knows the difference!  He wants His kids “all in,”  or nothing at all.  That’s why stretching to answer God’s call to serve is sooo hard for people to agree to.  Total surrender sounds awful!

            Will I lose freedom to pursue my dreams?  No.  God knit you together in your mother’s womb to pursue your dreams.  But, what if God makes me do something I hate or am not good at? 

            Really?  Think how much God loves you.  How can a loving Father put His beloved child in an unsuitable fit?

Take Home Nugget

            “If anyone loves Me, he will obey my teaching.  My Father will love him, and We will make Our home with him.” (John 14:23).  Notice how Jesus sweetened His love and obey statement when repeating Himself the third time?  Jesus will show Himself to us.  The Father will make His home with us! 

            That convinced me to totally surrender myself to God.

            Total surrender is the measure of Believers’ love.  God will break every addiction you may have first surrendered to!

 I’m all in Lord!  

Adapted from “The Measure of Our Love.” Dr. Charles Stanley.  March 5, 2015. In Touch magazine. Georgia, USA.

J.D. Griffith

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Stretching to Answer

STRETCHING TO ANSWER

Fourth of fourteen devotions in Gethsemane series

1 Peter 2:9-17 

1 Peter 2:9: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to god, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.”

            Can you stretch to remember “Pressed to Stretch” devotion?  Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane under pressure like the olives for which this garden is named.  Instead of extruding oil, Jesus was pressed so hard that He sweated blood (Luke 22:44).

            Under this extreme pressure, Jesus stretched to obey the Father’s will.  That’s what that garden represents, and what this series intends.

            Are you prepared to stretch?

 

            Lent is a noun meaning a holy season (forty days) beginning on Ash Wednesday, ending on Easter.  (Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness).  Lent is when Believers fast and repent before God.  Examining our hearts wearing sackcloth and ashes (Isaiah 58:5), many people give up something they love during Lent.  This sacrifice reminds us of Jesus TOTAL sacrifice for us. 

            Lent is also the past tense of the verb to give.  Lend is present tense.  The giver lends something expecting the borrower to either return it or repay some way. … Stay tuned, Believers.

            Jesus gave Himself.  He stretched to obey the Father.  He gave Pilate only answers earthly people could understand (John 18:28-39).  He gave His blood poured out when flogged.  He gave His body to be nailed to the cross.  He gave up His spirit in death.

            What does Jesus want from His followers during the season of Lent?

            Jesus calls His followers to follow Him to the garden of Gethsemane.

            Believers also stretch to obey God.  Jesus calls us when we receive salvation making Him our Lord.  Ding dong.  What does Jesus want?  The opening Scripture calls Believers to be a chosen people, a royal priesthood. …The first thing is stretching to answer Jesus’ call to sanctification.  God intends that all Believers be set apart from the world.  His indwelling Spirit enables us to turn away from evil ways.  Believers are to turn towards God Almighty for comfort, direction and provision in every situation.         

Take Home Nugget

            The second call finds Believers stretching to answer Jesus’ call to service.  This is a huge stretch because service to God requires total surrender.  Isaiah, Jesus and Paul surrendered themselves totally to serve God.  Their eager complete surrender is shown in the lesson linked below.

            If you’ve answered “Yes” to these calls—then you’re ready—for stretching to answer Jesus’ call to accountability.  Jesus judges every thought, spoken word and deed as either precious stones or worthless straw  (1 Corinthians 3:12).   

 Stretch me to answer correctly, Lord!   

Adapted from “How God Calls.” Dr. Charles Stanley.  March 3, 2015. In Touch magazine. Georgia, USA.

J.D. Griffith

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Ding Dong

DING DONG

Third of fourteen devotions in Gethsemane series

John 3:1-15 

John 3:14-15:  “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so must the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.”

           

            The opening Scripture is a simile [SIM-i-lee].  Similes compare one thing to a different thing claiming how they’re alike.  See the lesson linked below to understand the comparison between a snake on a pole and Jesus Christ.  But this devotion will explore “lifted up” and “everyone who believes in Him may have.”

            Seriously, your eternal life or eternal death is at stake. 

            Ding dong shows your door bell ringing.  What would you do if you answered your door to find Jesus standing there?  Would you invite Him inside your home?  Jesus comes with gifts like eternal life for you and everyone in your household.

            Really, God is calling you now.

 

            If you read the whole opening Scripture reference, you’ll discover Nicodemus’ problem.  Clearly, Nicodemus wanted to believe in Jesus.  You understand, don’t you…that “born again” is becoming a new person when you accept Jesus’ offer of forgiveness of sins?  (2Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 4:24). 

            When you embrace what salvation means, you have assurance of eternal life (John 3:36).  Jesus becomes Lord of your life.  His Spirit comes to live inside your heart.  From that point you’re sealed as a “child of God.”  (Ephesians 4:30, 2 Corinthians 6:18).

            “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” (John 3:17).

            “When He had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, He lifted up His hands and blessed them.  While He was blessing them, He left them [was lifted up] and was taken up to heaven.” (Luke 24:50-51).

            John 6:40 promises, “For My Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up [lifted up] in the last day.”

            What’s unsaid is what all “everyone who believes in Him will have.”  As though forgiveness of sins, being a child of God, eternal life and indwelling Spirit isn’t enough, God loves to give more to His kids!  (John 15:7).  Just ask Him, in Jesus’ name (John 14:14).      

Take Home Nugget

            The very next verse following the opening Scripture passage is John 3:16.  This well-known and dearly loved message is what Believers are to spread throughout the world:  “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.”

            How will you answer when God comes calling?

 Welcome Jesus!  Please come inside and make Yourself at home in my heart! 

Adapted from “The Call of God.” Dr. Charles Stanley.  March 2, 2015. In Touch magazine. Georgia, USA.

J.D. Griffith

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Pressed to Stretch

PRESSED TO STRETCH

Second of fourteen devotions in Gethsemane series

Matthew 26:36-46 

Matthew 26:36:  “Then Jesus went with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and He said to them, ‘Sit here while I go over there to pray.’”

           

            Gethsemane [geth-SEM-an-ee] was Jesus’ favorite garden.  Its Hebrew name means “press” as in a mill—a mill where olives are pressed, crushed to extract the oil.  This was where Jesus regularly went to “get away from it all.”

            Fittingly, Gethsemane is at the foot of the Mount of Olives.  This was also where Jesus fled the last free night of His earthly life.  He might have smirked at the irony of fleeing to that very place when He felt “crushed”.    

            Constantly surrounded by people, Gethsemane was where Jesus went to pray.  Alone time with His Father.  But this night, Jesus invited eleven friends. This night, Jesus needed human support.

            He pressed further into the garden with Peter, James and John.  There, he admitted, “My soul is overwhelmed [crushed] with sorrow to the point of death.” (Matthew 26:38).  

            Acting typically like a human, Jesus pleaded to His Father, (Please, remove this cup)!  Acting typically like God, Jesus humbled Himself before the Father, and obeyed (Your will be done).  Luke 22:44 says that Jesus sweat blood from extreme anxiety.

            Let’s appreciate Jesus’ obedience: crushed, humbled. 

 

            Jesus knew that He’d be betrayed, arrested, disowned, deserted, interrogated, tried and sentenced to death. 

            Matthew 27:26 says, “Then he [Pilate] released him [Barabbas] to them [the crowd].  But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.”

            Some days are simply too long and hard (See lesson linked below).  Jesus understands being pressed to the point of despair.  Jesus comes to us during these times encouraging us to stretch (keep the faith)—like He did. 

Take Home Nugget

            Looking on the bright side, we aren’t beaten to within an inch of our lives.  That’s what “flog” means.  Jesus was whipped with leather strips embedded with metal and glass shards.  Each lash ripped His skin wide open.  Can you imagine the blood pouring freely from His wounds?  Can you count His exposed bones?

            Then Jesus lugged His cross as far as He could before collapsing to the ground.  His hands and feet were nailed into the wood.  Can you hear the “thud” when the cross fell into the hole…then yanked upright?

            The worst over, Jesus fulfilled the remaining Scripture.  Finally, He said,   “It is finished.”  John 19:30 says He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

             

              Your stretching will never be this hard or dramatic.  But before your death, I pray that your finish will be as complete. 

           

Jesus stretched to a point that He died a victor.

Adapted from “Getting Away with God.” Dr. Charles Stanley.  March 1, 2015. In Touch magazine.  Georgia, USA.

J.D. Griffith

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Most Precious Gift

MOST PRECIOUS GIFT

First of fourteen devotions in Gethsemane series

John 17:17:  “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.”

1 John 4:16:  “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.  God is love.  Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.”

            The Bible is God’s love letter to the world.  Can you imagine God smile each time His kids open their Bibles?  Maybe…talk to Me now?  God is eager for a relationship with us through prayer. 

            God loved you before the creation of the world.^a   And nothing can make Him stop loving you.^b  That’s eternal unconditional love.

            God’s love for you is personal and sacrificial [sak-ri-FISH-al].  He proved that when He sent His Son Jesus into the world.  Jesus came to offer you eternal life (personal).   But He had to die in order to make good on His offer (sacrifice).  Let that truth sink in a minute.

            Simply be still.  Allow God’s love to surround you and seep deeply into your pores.  Do you feel the glow of His warmth settling inside your heart—then radiating to your fingers and toes?  That’s God loving you.  He does that naturally because “God IS love.”^c

            Jesus is God’s most precious gift to you.

            Jesus set aside His divinity when discovering He was born as a human baby!  Jesus learned as a child who He is,^d whose He is,^e and His purpose  as  a human in the world.^f    Jesus prayed to our Father to set His followers apart from the world.  Sanctify [SANK-tif-fy] means to set apart.   

            Jesus wants this accomplished by Believers knowing God’s truth.

 Where do we find God’s truth?  In the Bible! 

                                                                                                                                                                                     

           

            This devotion comes just after Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.  Lent is a time for Christians to draw close to Jesus.  His earthly ministry ends before our eyes.

            Lent ends with an exclamation mark.  The exclamation mark is Easter—when Jesus rose from the dead. 

            Sacrifice is always a trade-off that hurts.  In Jesus’ case, He traded earthly life for dying as payment of (human) sins and offer of eternal life.  Jesus’ pain of suffering and death was a perfect trade-off because He rose from the dead.  This means that you can rise back to life, too!

            This series is entitled Gethsemane [geth-SEM-an-ee].  Gethsemane is a park.  Jesus used to go there to pray.  We’re going there to stretch our faith.    

^{a b c d e f} See lesson linked below for Scripture references.

Take Home Nugget

            In a couple days, USA celebrates Valentine’s Day.  People fall in love and celebrate what they think is the most precious gift of love for another on Valentine’s Day.   

           

The love God has for His kids is given back to Him when we love one another.

Adapted from “Love Beyond Compare.” Dr. Charles Stanley.  December 14, 2015. In Touch magazine.  Georgia, USA.

J.D. Griffith

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Supreme Authority

SUPREME AUTHORITY

Psalm 119:160:  “All Your words are true; all Your righteous words are eternal.”

            Welcome back!  I’m soooo proud that you returned!  The last devotion—Divine Governing Right Now—challenged you to believe Bible’s absolute truth and agree that Jesus is Lord of your life.  You’re allowing God’s indwelling Spirit to transform selfish into self-control, your will replaced with His will.    You’re ready to “exercise dominion” taking charge of some things.

            The opening scripture confirms God’s words are true, righteous and eternal.  Since every word in the Bible is Spirit-led, humans never introduced error into the books they authored. 

  

            The Bible is supreme authority on God.  Believers are God’s kids, allowing His supreme authority over our lives.  God made us in His image so that we could form family relationships. 

            Some earthly God-fearing fathers exercise dominion over their households—their families.  They take “dad responsibilities” very seriously.  Their kids grow up knowing love while respecting dad’s authority over their lives. 

           

            These dads show their family head’s up on God.  Family members are surrounded by love and respect his authority.  When free will urges any to rebel, earthly dads and our heavenly Father often respond differently. 

            That’s why reading the Bible is important.  Believers take God’s word seriously.  Believers acknowledge God’s supreme authority.  We invest time to read, study and learn God’s will directly from the Bible. 

            God has a plan for every one of his kids!

            When we learn what His will is, it’s useless to make excuses why we don’t want to obey.  Sometimes we deny that commands come from God.  We often reason that the timing isn’t right.  We find all kinds of ways to disobey God.

            Our heavenly Father loves when we give Him supreme authority over our lives.  Cooperating with His indwelling Spirit aligns our hearts and minds with God’s will.  When Believers’ lives fall apart, it’s often because we failed to give Him supreme authority.  We forgot to take the Bible seriously. 

Take Home Nugget

            Jesus said in Matthew 28:18-20, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

            Jesus’ command is direct.  He’s speaking directly to you.  Why not dust of that Bible displayed in your room and open it up?  God will be very pleased, and He’s got so much to teach you!

You teach the most important thing is to know You, Lord.  Help me to read Your word daily.  Delight in me as I delight in knowing You, Lord! 

Adapted from “The Bible’s Supreme Authority.” Dr. Tony Evans.  January 15, 2016.  http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/alternative-view/  

J.D. Griffith

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