Tried, But Not Forsaken

King James Bible Daily Devotion – Learning Scripture One Day At A Time
Date: Friday, November 06, 2015
Chapters: John 11-12 http://imfollowingjesus.com/Bible-Reading-310.html
Message Title: Tried, But Not Forsaken

Hello My Friend,

As we approach the holiday season we see all kinds of things to catch the eyes of the little and big ones, many portray this as the time of year where miracles happen, people act a little nicer, give a little more, and may even try to get along with each other. What they seem to ignore is the fact that miracles happen every day, and it's not by chance, luck, or karma, it's by the mercies and grace of God. While we who know Christ believe and trust that He is the one any only living God without seeing Him face to face, the world does not see Him, that is why we who are the light must show the Light not only through this holiday season, but all year long because the seeing a saved soul whose life has changed under the Light is believing. “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.” - Ephesians 5:8-10.

While we do believe in Christ and trust Him as our Saviour, God wants us to trust Him through every mountain, valley, and road of life we take. God challenges our belief quite often with sickness either upon ourselves or loved ones, we must understand that sickness does not come from God, it is the devil who afflicts us, God just allows him to. If we can believe in Him through the hard times, He will bless us greatly. Jesus was about to do something that He had not done before, something that we know will only happen when He returns. He decided to use the death of his friend Lazarus to show a miracle that only God/He can do. His sister Martha calls for Him to come and heal him, but Jesus waited until he was already dead and in the tomb before He came to them. First, He is approached by Martha. “Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.” - John 11:21-27.

“Believest thou this?” When we are in the midst of sorrows we can forget that Jesus, while He may seem distant knows all about us and is never too far. He uses the distance to increase our faith in Him, and also reminds us of His promise, that even if His decision is to take away the pain by taking them out of their body, they are still alive with Him. “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:9,10.

Did you ever tire of having to explain yourself over and over again? You wish everyone trusted your judgment and stopped asking so many questions. The truth is, people are so consumed with their needs or sorrows that they forget they already have the answers. When Jesus got close here comes Mary with the same statement as Martha. “Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died? Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?” - John 11:32-40.

“Jesus wept.” This verse often gets thrown out of context, they believe like the Jews did, that He was crying over the death of His friend. What brought tears to His eyes was their unbelief. They were fussing that He was not there to heal him. How many people get mad and curse God when someone dies? How many people walk away from God when they are hurt or things aren't going the way they like? We must remember that God's will in not always ours and we never know the hour in which we choose to walk in someone else's. Once again, God does not allow bad things to happen, it's the devil, but God will use every situation to prove that He is the miracle and can heal all who believe in Him, even through the most difficult times. “On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” - Job 23:9,10.

“when he hath tried me,” Yes, God does try us sometimes, He isn't trying to tempt us to do something against His will, but He does try us to see if we will be faithful to Him. The news of Lazarus resurrecting from the dead had people talking, many believed and were saved, including some of the Pharisees, but those they hid their faith because they were out to kill Jesus and knew anyone siding with Him would be persecuted too.

“Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead. But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus. The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record. For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle. But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” - John 12:9-11,17,18,37,42,43.

“For they loved the praise of men” How sad is it that we, and we are all guilty of this, do things to get recognition from people rather than God. I read a quote, “My life may not be what I planned, but it's what God planned.” It got me thinking, God may have our characteristics down, and we can't choose which family we are born into, but we all have the free will to choose which plan we take. I believe (from the Word of God) that He calls certain people to do things from the time of conception, but we all have a choice in whether or not we follow the plan, and what we are currently doing may not be part of His plan. There are so many people that believe they are in some dark situation because it's God's will. Now, God will turn any situation around to be used in His plan, but we have the choice to be where we are, and if it is truly God's will you will see His hand directing it, not yours. “And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” - Romans 8:27,28.

Today's Prayer: God, I thank You for giving me life and the life You have given me, I may not understand some of the things I go through, but do understand that it's my choice in how I handle them and many times it's my plan that goes forward. I want to live my life in Your will, I want to glorify You in all that I do, and I do believe that You put people and things in my life to get me in You will, to try, and to get the glory for having been the one directing me. Lord, lead me and guide me, show me the path You want me on and how to walk it. Keep me looking straight toward You, and not question Your ways when they seem so strange to me. I see Your hand in my life, and know that You are working a great work in me as well as those who know me, let me not forget Your promises, and give me the patience and strength I need to see them unfold. I love You Lord, and ask these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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Offended Of Christ, But Not Forsaken

King James Bible Daily Devotion – Learning Scripture One Day At A Time
Date: Sunday, October 11, 2015
Chapters: Matthew 26 http://imfollowingjesus.com/Bible-Reading-284.html
Message Title: Offended Of Christ, But Not Forsaken

Hello My Friend,

The will of God takes us to places we cannot imagine, and if not for the power of God in us we would never get through some of the challenges we are faced with. We hear a lot of people standing up for their faith and even dying for it, but what about those who out of fear deny they know Christ? There is a reason why Jesus refers to His people as sheep, they get lost without a shepherd. Once saved always saved, Christ knows that under pressure many will deny they know Him, but He knows who are His, He knows His sheep, and when the time is right He will call them and they will come running. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” - John 10:27,28.

I know them, and they follow me, not everyone what says they know Christ are actually saved. Perhaps the most infamous person of all time would be Judas Iscariot, he was definitely presented with the Gospel, and perhaps even led people to Christ himself, but never believed nor received Him himself. In fact, he knew there was a plot to have Jesus killed and orchestrated a plan to get Him captured. “Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him. But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people. Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.” - Matthew 26:3-5,14-16.

And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him, Christ lets His disciples know that someone was among them was about to betray Him. When there was occasion, He let them know about it. He had often told them that the Son of man should be betrayed, now He tells them that one of them should do it, that when they saw it, they might not only be the less surprised, but may give him a chance to change His mind. “And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born. Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said. Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.” - Matthew 26:21-25,31,32.

All ye shall be offended because of me this night: each one began to examine himself to find whether he wa scapable of betraying Him. Those who love Christ really do not intend to turn on Him completely, but they can become offended (stumble or fall) given certain circumstances of deep fear of persecution. We do not have to live in fear, if we keep our eyes on Jesus, even when we are being mocked, tested, and tried of our faith, we can get through it. Paul said it best, to be absent from the body means to be present with the Lord, if they kill us, at least we will be with Jesus and any loved ones who were saved. “Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” - 2 Corinthians 5:6-8.

The time was here that Jesus would be betrayed and captured, before things began to happen He goes up to Gethsemane to pray. Even though Jesus is God, He gave all His power to the Father and submitted to His will. Since He has the same flesh that we do, He felt deep sorrow for what was about to happen, but knew that if it didn't come to pass there would be no victory. When He returns, He was betrayed by Judas and captured.

“Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him. And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear. Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me. But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.” - Matthew 26:48-56.

At any time He could have intervened and chosen another way to save mankind, but He continued for one reason and one reason only, to be that pure sacrifice needed to redeem a soul who believes in Him once and for all. While God would rather see us receive Christ and trust Him with all things without any pain and agony in our lives, the majority of the time people do not receive Him or understand the purpose of having received Him until they are faced with pain and agony. It is the pains and agony's of life that not only bring us closer to God, but give us the victory through Christ. So, while we may have lapses of judgment through our pains and agony's, Jesus knows who are His, He has already given us the victory, we just need to remember that and realize that our faith in Him does not return void. “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” - 1 Corinthians 15:55-58.

Today's Prayer: God, I have chosen today to stand by You, when things are going great, I will stand by You, when I am being persecuted, I will stand by You, when I feel all alone and it seems like life is falling apart, I will stand by You. Nothing gives me more comfort, hope, and peace than when I remind myself that You are with me. And although I know my works do not save me, I know that my faith and acceptance of Your Son in my life does. Let me never lose the joy of my salvation and let me never forget that You love me and that Christ lives in me. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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