Tag: inspiration devotion

Your Destiny is Determined

There is a trail I ride that is called the hidden trail. It’s not really hidden, but there is a big dip at the start of it that scares off most riders. There were several times I looked at it and turned back. I didn’t want to get injured and be a burden to my family or miss time from work. Once I finally committed, it ended up being the most enjoyable trail on the mountain. People treat a relationship with Jesus the same way. They don’t want to commit at first, but once they do, they never regret it. Your destiny is determined.

‭‭John‬ ‭17:3‬

“This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

The seventeenth chapter of John is Jesus’ prayer for the disciples after the Last Supper. He starts off praying that they (and the church after them) know that eternal life is only found in God through His Son Jesus. Part of this was prophetic because ever since then, humans have been trying to enlarge the opening to heaven by saying that all roads there. Jesus also wanted the Disciples to be sure of their eternal destiny because of their assurance of salvation. They knew this, and this ensured their entrance through the pearly gates.

Crowning Moment

The coronation of a king or queen is filled with rich tradition and great fanfare. When they bow down, and the crown is placed on their head, the whole cathedral recognizes power transition. That crown represents the position that they are now in. As they sit on the throne, they assume the responsibility that comes with their crown. Did you know that there will be twenty-four elders in heaven who will have crowns and who will sit on thrones around Jesus’? It will be a crowning moment.

Revelation‬ ‭4:4

“Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads.”
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Heaven is going to be an amazing place. At the center will be the throne room where Jesus will be sitting. Around Him will be twenty-four thrones on which the elders will be seated. They will be wearing white garments, which represent how they have been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb. There is a lot of debate about who these twenty-four will be but suffice it to say it will take the twelve Apostles, including Paul. Their primary focus will be to cast their crowns and worship the Lord.

Get Back on Track

My brother lifted his truck when we were younger. It looked like it was an off-road vehicle, and he liked to drive it where it wasn’t meant to go. Unfortunately, he was always getting towed out of the sand by someone who had a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Christians have a propensity to get off the path God has for them and then need to be brought back. Hosea shows us how to get back on track.

‭‭Hosea‬ ‭12:6

“Therefore, return to your God, Observe kindness and justice, And wait for your God continually.”

After all of the dire prophecy and indictments to Israel, Hosea tells them how to get back on track in their walk with the Lord. As with most instructions in the Bible, they are simple to understand but challenging to implement. First, they have to return to God. This means first recognizing their sins and then turning from them (repentance). You will never get back on track with the Lord unless you acknowledge you are a sinner and there is sin in your life that needs to be made right. No one gets around this. It doesn’t matter how good you think you are or how many good deeds you have done to needy people. Your sin separates you from the presence of God. Take the time to get right with Him.

Avoid the Darkness

Light and darkness are common ways that Hollywood symbolizes good and evil. The good guy wears white while the bad guy wears black. The criminal is always sitting in dark places until the police officer comes in and shines a light on the situation. It is something all of us understand. Jesus tells us to avoid the darkness and walk in the Light.

‭‭John‬ ‭12:35‬

So Jesus said to them, “For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes.”

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote on a similar topic out of 1 John. The principle of light and darkness were important ones for both Jesus and John. Jesus declared in John 8:12 that He was the Light of the World. Here in chapter twelve, He tells them that “for a little while longer the Light is among you.” He refers to His time before His death and that the disciples needed to walk in that light while they had it. Judas didn’t pay attention, but the others did. Straying away from the light allows the darkness to overtake you.

Seasons of Growth

The seasons are starting to change. In my area, winter is starting to give way to spring. The days are getting longer, and the temperatures are starting to warm up. With the rains, the hills all around are turning green, and life is sprouting up everywhere. Most everyone loves the new life that comes with spring. Just like the seasons of nature, Christians go through seasons of growth as well. It’s when those seeds of God’s Word, which were planted in your heart, shoot forth and begin to grow.

‭‭John‬ ‭12:24‬

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”

A grain of wheat is a seed. Unless that grain is planted, it will never produce wheat. The process by which that happens is that the kernel of wheat dies and gives life to a stalk of wheat, which has multiple wheat kernels that can either be processed into flour or replanted to produce more wheat. Jesus uses this metaphor to let His followers know that He must die so that people could be made right with God. If He didn’t die, then he would’ve been known as a good teacher, and people would die in their sins.

Walk in the Truth

There is a humorous belief in the United States that men never ask for directions. This may be true where you live also but it has risen to epic proportions here. Men will drive around lost for hours instead of humbling themselves and asking someone who knows how to get there. The same can be said for a lot of Christians who are trying to live for Jesus without consulting His Word for direction. John tells us to walk in the truth.

‭‭3 John‬ ‭1:4

“I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.”

At the end of his life the Apostle John was simple and direct to the church. He emphasized loving one another and living by the truth of God’s Word. That falls in line with what Jesus said were the two greatest commandments: “Love the Lord your God” and “Love your neighbor.” It is as simple as it sounds. We can make it more complicated or seek for something much deeper but in the end it really is about loving God, which happens by us being obedient to His Word, and loving others.

Full of Life

Finding someone full of life is getting to be a challenge. It seems the stress of the world is weighing everyone down. Everyone is being tossed back and forth by the waves of events that have gripped our world. Jesus never intended for us to live lives of apprehension. He desires that we are full of life and growing closer to Him.

‭‭John‬ ‭11:25

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,”

When Lazarus died, Jesus was questioned for why he lingered so long before coming to heal him. Lazarus died during that time, and Martha came up to Jesus and said, “If you would’ve been here, Lazarus would not have died.” Jesus replied, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection.” This is when Jesus tells her “I am the resurrection and the life.” This was a critical dialogue between Martha and Jesus. It showed Jesus had power over death and that life could be found in Him.

Can’t Touch This

One of the songs on my youth is MC Hammer’s “Can’t Touch This.” It’s all about how Hammer is untouchable because he is so good. That didn’t work out too well for him but Jesus also told His disciples something similar when they told Him about a mob that wanted to attack Him. Nothing was going to happen to them until the right time because He was with them.

‭‭John‬ ‭11:8-10

The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?” 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”

There were twelve hours the Jews considered to be the day. Those hours started at 6 am and ended at 6 pm. The other twelve hours were considered night time. Everything was supposed to happen during the day, when it was light. Anything that happened at night was considered suspect. There was a lynch mob that wanted to take Jesus out and the disciples were concerned. Jesus reassures them that they aren’t going to attack him until it’s the right time because the people would turn on them.

Discern the Times

These are crazy times. There is not a week where I don’t encounter something completely insane. People are acting strange, and many of them are professing Christians. How do you navigate what is true and false? John tells us to discern the times. False prophets who deny Jesus will come on the scene and try to lead many astray.

‭‭2 John‬ ‭1:7

“For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.”

There are a lot of people and belief systems that deny Jesus came in person or that he was resurrected from the dead. They will throw lots of theories out there that might make you question your faith. Remember that Jesus warned us about these people, and so did John. They will tell lies to draw people away from the faith and to follow them. Their talk is slick and persuasive, and for those who don’t think quickly on their feet, it would be easy to get confused. Stay faithful and watch as Jesus makes Himself known to you.

Licking Your Wounds

Our one-year old Labrador Retriever loves to lick everybody. If you have some leftover food on your hands, she will lick it off. If you fell and scratched your knee, she will come and lick your wound. I’m not a fan of dog slobber, but you can’t deny her love. Making bad choices can lead to some internal wounds. Instead of sitting around licking your wounds, go to Jesus and let Him heal you.

‭‭Hosea‬ ‭6:1‬

“Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us.”

Israel was pretty abused and beat up after it’s idolatrous relationships with other nations. God likened them to a mistreated prostitute that had been cast aside. I know that sounds harsh and uncaring, but God was describing Israel’s idolatry. They had sold themselves like harlots to other nations, and this was the result. God had tried to prevent them from doing it and was there to receive them back. Sometimes you can’t do anything to prevent someone from making bad choices. Fortunately, they saw the errors of their ways and decided the best thing to do was return to the Lord.