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Jesus is Interested in You

Jesus is Interested in You

When Jesus gathered with His closest friends shortly before His betrayal and arrest, He says, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 16.13; ESV)

While most know the verse, it is important to realize the background of His words. The background is simple, yet chilling.

Jesus was getting ready to die, and He knew it. As one might say, “His time had come.” He knew that shortly one of his closest followers would betray him for money, that another would deny him three times and still all the others would disappear for a while. He would be left alone. It would be difficult.

Jesus taught many lessons throughout His brief time on Earth, but one of the greatest lessons He taught was service. Even though He knew His friends would leave Him, He still stood firm and served them so their lives could be greater.

Jesus’ interests were clearly in the lives of those around Him. He knew His purpose (Luke 19.10) and His purpose was not of His own, but that of the Father. (John 6.38) Even in His prayer in John 17, one can see the actions of Jesus were to glorify the Father (John 17.1-5). As Jesus prays for Himself, He does not forget His friends (John 17.20-26)

Are you interested in the people?

Jesus found an interest in people because they needed someone to lead them to a better life. Earlier in His ministry, Matthew records that Jesus “…had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9.35-38)

Are you sharing the story of Jesus’ interest in people?

Remember, Jesus is interested in you.

Just a thought,

Jesus is Interested in You

The Power of Improving Yourself

The apostle Peter is known for two things (1) putting his foot in his mouth often and (2) delivering the sermon on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2. Those two events in Peter’s life are his most well-known, but also a testimony to his personal growth.

Peter followed Christ after his brother Andrew brought him to see Jesus (John 1.41-42). Who knew that fisherman from a small town in Galilee would follow the Messiah for three years, open his mouth too soon, yet stand before other followers of Jesus and deliver a message which would, through the power of God, convert over 3,000 people from the beginning. (Acts 2.41)

Who knew?

God knew.

God knew that one person had the power to share a message and convert others.

Jesus knew.

From their first meeting, Jesus called Peter “Cephas” which means rock. Whether it is a look into Peter’s character or his firmness in his beliefs, we know that the word “rock” would mean greater things as the years went on. (Note Matthew 16.16-18)

What caused such growth in Peter? What caused Peter to go from being a fisherman to being a gospel preacher? What allowed Peter to go from an open mouth to preaching from an open heart?

Peter was not a PH.D. candidate, nor was he a theological scholar, yet the Jewish leaders noticed something about his life. They noticed that this “uneducated, common” man had been with Jesus. (Acts 4.13)

Because Peter spent time with Jesus, people saw his boldness and his life. Spending time with Jesus not only changed Peter’s life, but it will change your life.

How can you spend time with Jesus?

Open his words and spend time with His followers being encouraged together.

Just a thought,

Jesus is Interested in You

A Few More Weeks…until 2024!

In a few more weeks, Lord willing, calendars will move from 2023 to 2024. Another year has come and gone. Its days have hurried by.  For many, the days of 2023 seem like they just started; for others, they are ready for a new year to begin.

A new year brings a time to live better. As some say before, “you cannot go back and start a new beginning, but you can start today and create a new ending.” Through the blessings of God, each one of us can begin a new year with a clean slate.

How will you begin 2024?

  1. Will you read your Bible all the way through? It is the word of God that is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. (Psalms 119.105)

 

  1. Will you practice a pure religion? James says a pure religion is to visit the fatherless and the widows in their affliction. (James 1:27)

 

  1. Will you attend services to build one another up? The Hebrews writer encourages us to stir one another up to love and good works by being together. (Hebrews 10.24-25)

 

  1. Will you let your light shine brighter in 2024? The world, in all its chaos, will try to do better at the beginning of next year. Many people make those resolutions, and we can be a shining light in the world. (Matthew 5.14-16; Philippians 2.14-15)

 

I love that God sees fit, despite our craziness, to give us days upon this earth. They are times spent with family, friends, working and doing whatever else our hands find to do. Looking back on our lives, I am sure that each of us will agree that we have been blessed.

How will you bless others with the blessings that God has given you this upcoming year?

Just some thoughts,

 

Jesus is Interested in You

The Key of Me

Prayer is a powerful aspect of a follower of Jesus because it is the communication avenue with the Father. The spiritual armor of a Christian includes prayer. (Ephesians 6.18) Paul, in describing the full armor of God, tells us to pray at all times.

While we know about prayer, and we even recognize the need for daily prayer, for what are we praying? As our words leave our minds to reach God’s ears, what are we asking God to do? Or what words are we saying?

Patrick Morley took time to consider what he was praying. In examination of his words, he compared his prayer with the Model Prayer of Matthew 6.9-13. As he concluded his examination, he said, “I realized most of my prayers were prayed in the key of me. So I started praying all my prayers in the key of we. It is amazing how our prayers take flight when they soar on wings that include them.” (The Christian Man, Patrick Morley, 2019, page 103)

If you were to examine your prayer life, would you pray in the key of “me” or the key of “we?” When you take a moment and examine the Model Prayer of Matthew 6, what do you see? A quick examination of the words of Mathew 6.9-13 show the words, “our,” “us,” and “we.”

Even the prayer of Jesus as He was about to face crucifixion found His words focused on others. The words recorded in John 17 show the purpose of Jesus as He seeks to glorify God through His life, then He prays for the people around Him.

While there is nothing wrong with asking God to be with us, or sharing our wants and needs with the Father, are we praying for others as well?

Just some thoughts,

Jesus is Interested in You

How Many Reasons Can You Give?

“The sun comes up; it’s a new day dawning; It’s time to sing Your song again. Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me; Let me be singing when the evening comes.”

Those words begin a song written by Matt Redman describing the reasons to give thanks to the Lord. We know that each day is a blessed day. (Psalm 118.24) We know, as Christians, God will take care of us throughout our lives. If He takes care of the birds of the air, He will take care of us. (Matthew 6.26)

How many reasons can you give for offering praise to God?

In an interview with Worship Leadership Magazine, Matt Redman said these words about the song, “10,000 Reasons”:

“The point behind the song is this, if you wake up one morning and you cannot think of a reason to bring God some kind of offering of thanks or praise, then you can be sure there’s something wrong at your end of the pipeline, and not His. We live beneath an unceasing flow of goodness, kindness, greatness, and holiness, and every day we’re given reason after reason why Jesus is so completely and utterly worthy of our highest and best devotion.” 

As you reflect on your life, how many reasons can you give to praise the Lord?

The song, 10,000 Reasons, is based on the words of Psalm 103. In that psalm, David says, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psalm 103.2-5)

Are you praising the Lord today?

 Just a thought,

Here is an acapella version of 10,000 Reasons from The Acapella Company.