48 The people retorted, “You Samaritan devil! Didn’t we say all along that you were possessed by a demon?”
49 “No,” Jesus said, “I have no demon in me. For I honor my Father—and you dishonor me. 50 And though I have no wish to glorify myself, God is going to glorify me. He is the true judge. 51 I tell you the truth, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!”
52 The people said, “Now we know you are possessed by a demon. Even Abraham and the prophets died, but you say, ‘Anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!’ 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”
54 Jesus answered, “If I want glory for myself, it doesn’t count. But it is my Father who will glorify me. You say, ‘He is our God,’ 55 but you don’t even know him. I know him. If I said otherwise, I would be as great a liar as you! But I do know him and obey him. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad.”
57 The people said, “You aren’t even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham?”
58 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I am!” 59 At that point they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden from them and left the Temple.
Tori's Comments:
"anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!" Once we become Christians, we can't just stay where we are. We have to grow in our faith, and take action!
I am! :)
Terrie's Comments:
Am I aiming to glorify God my Father or my own selfish ambitions with my life? Jesus always was pointing back to the Father. He was consistently saying that those who believe in him also prove that they believe in the father.
I love that Jesus refers to Himself as simply "I am" even though it was referred to in the past he used a present tense reference. He always was, He always is and he always will be who He is. He is consistently "I am!"
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Wednesday, May 31, 2017
Tuesday, May 30, 2017
Day 56 - John 8:42-47
42 Jesus told them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me. 43 Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me! 44 For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe me! 46 Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don’t listen because you don’t belong to God.”
Terrie's Comments:
If we belong to God and He is our Father then we will listen to the truth of God's word. It is Satan who is the father of lies. There is no truth in him at all. When you choose to believe a lie from Satan you are using the freedom that God gave you through Jesus to do Satan's work. You can't agree with the truth and believe a lie at the same time. Every moment of everyday we are presented with truth and lies. We have a choice to stand for the truth. The truth we speak about here is God's truth, which is found in the word of God.
Tori's Comments:
I have noticed Jesus has had to repeat His message to the people over and over: that if they loved/knew God, they would love/know him. The sad thing is, that doesn't really seems to make sense to them, only proving His point!
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Terrie's Comments:
If we belong to God and He is our Father then we will listen to the truth of God's word. It is Satan who is the father of lies. There is no truth in him at all. When you choose to believe a lie from Satan you are using the freedom that God gave you through Jesus to do Satan's work. You can't agree with the truth and believe a lie at the same time. Every moment of everyday we are presented with truth and lies. We have a choice to stand for the truth. The truth we speak about here is God's truth, which is found in the word of God.
Tori's Comments:
I have noticed Jesus has had to repeat His message to the people over and over: that if they loved/knew God, they would love/know him. The sad thing is, that doesn't really seems to make sense to them, only proving His point!
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Monday, May 29, 2017
Day 55 - John 8:31-41
31 Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
33 “But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?”
34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. 35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. 37 Yes, I realize that you are descendants of Abraham. And yet some of you are trying to kill me because there’s no room in your hearts for my message. 38 I am telling you what I saw when I was with my Father. But you are following the advice of your father.”
39 “Our father is Abraham!” they declared.
“No,” Jesus replied, “for if you were really the children of Abraham, you would follow his example. 40 Instead, you are trying to kill me because I told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing. 41 No, you are imitating your real father.”
They replied, “We aren’t illegitimate children! God himself is our true Father.”
Tori's Comments:
"everyone who sins is a slave of sin" Perhaps I am just speaking for myself, but especially once I become a Christian, sin felt more like chains, and guilt was so enhanced. Praise God that he turns us from slaves to sons and daughters!
Terrie's Comments:
You will know the truth and the truth will set you free... these are beautiful words. Jesus came to testify to the truth. That truth sets us free. The truth is that God loves us so much that he sent Jesus to die and take on the punishment for our sin's. He did this so we could be reconciled and be in a relationship with Himself again. We no longer have to live in fear of God because we have all been set free from the curse of the Law. We are in a completely new covenant! Our High Priest is Jesus himself. We are sons and daughters of God himself!
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
33 “But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?”
34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. 35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. 37 Yes, I realize that you are descendants of Abraham. And yet some of you are trying to kill me because there’s no room in your hearts for my message. 38 I am telling you what I saw when I was with my Father. But you are following the advice of your father.”
39 “Our father is Abraham!” they declared.
“No,” Jesus replied, “for if you were really the children of Abraham, you would follow his example. 40 Instead, you are trying to kill me because I told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing. 41 No, you are imitating your real father.”
They replied, “We aren’t illegitimate children! God himself is our true Father.”
Tori's Comments:
"everyone who sins is a slave of sin" Perhaps I am just speaking for myself, but especially once I become a Christian, sin felt more like chains, and guilt was so enhanced. Praise God that he turns us from slaves to sons and daughters!
Terrie's Comments:
You will know the truth and the truth will set you free... these are beautiful words. Jesus came to testify to the truth. That truth sets us free. The truth is that God loves us so much that he sent Jesus to die and take on the punishment for our sin's. He did this so we could be reconciled and be in a relationship with Himself again. We no longer have to live in fear of God because we have all been set free from the curse of the Law. We are in a completely new covenant! Our High Priest is Jesus himself. We are sons and daughters of God himself!
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Sunday, May 28, 2017
Day 54 - John 8:25-30
25 “Who are you?” they demanded.
Jesus replied, “The one I have always claimed to be. 26 I have much to say about you and much to condemn, but I won’t. For I say only what I have heard from the one who sent me, and he is completely truthful.” 27 But they still didn’t understand that he was talking about his Father.
28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will understand that I am he. I do nothing on my own but say only what the Father taught me. 29 And the one who sent me is with me—he has not deserted me. For I always do what pleases him.” 30 Then many who heard him say these things believed in him.
Terrie's Comments:
Jesus is who we are to become like. We are to be following the Holy Spirit's leading and listening to what God wants us do do. We are to speak only what we hear from Him. Listening to the Holy Spirit's leading takes time. It is a relationship that is developed. It becomes stronger the more we tune him in. We always have a choice, just like Jesus had a choice. Listening to what He says to do or not to do. Listening to what He says to speak or not to speak. When we make Jesus lord of our lives we are given the Holy Spirit to teach, guide, comfort and empower us to walk in the way we should go.
Tori's Comments:
One characteristic of God I have been dwelling on lately is that He is a guardian, a refuge, a shepherd, in the way that He protects me. I say this because I depend on Him a lot, and glorify Him, for His consistency , which Jesus shows in verse 25. God has not changed, from Genesis to Revelation to today to forevermore!
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Jesus replied, “The one I have always claimed to be. 26 I have much to say about you and much to condemn, but I won’t. For I say only what I have heard from the one who sent me, and he is completely truthful.” 27 But they still didn’t understand that he was talking about his Father.
28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will understand that I am he. I do nothing on my own but say only what the Father taught me. 29 And the one who sent me is with me—he has not deserted me. For I always do what pleases him.” 30 Then many who heard him say these things believed in him.
Terrie's Comments:
Jesus is who we are to become like. We are to be following the Holy Spirit's leading and listening to what God wants us do do. We are to speak only what we hear from Him. Listening to the Holy Spirit's leading takes time. It is a relationship that is developed. It becomes stronger the more we tune him in. We always have a choice, just like Jesus had a choice. Listening to what He says to do or not to do. Listening to what He says to speak or not to speak. When we make Jesus lord of our lives we are given the Holy Spirit to teach, guide, comfort and empower us to walk in the way we should go.
Tori's Comments:
One characteristic of God I have been dwelling on lately is that He is a guardian, a refuge, a shepherd, in the way that He protects me. I say this because I depend on Him a lot, and glorify Him, for His consistency , which Jesus shows in verse 25. God has not changed, from Genesis to Revelation to today to forevermore!
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Saturday, May 27, 2017
Day 53 - John 8:12-24
12 Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”
13 The Pharisees replied, “You are making those claims about yourself! Such testimony is not valid.”
14 Jesus told them, “These claims are valid even though I make them about myself. For I know where I came from and where I am going, but you don’t know this about me. 15 You judge me by human standards, but I do not judge anyone. 16 And if I did, my judgment would be correct in every respect because I am not alone. The Father who sent me is with me. 17 Your own law says that if two people agree about something, their witness is accepted as fact. 18 I am one witness, and my Father who sent me is the other.”
19 “Where is your father?” they asked.
Jesus answered, “Since you don’t know who I am, you don’t know who my Father is. If you knew me, you would also know my Father.” 20 Jesus made these statements while he was teaching in the section of the Temple known as the Treasury. But he was not arrested, because his time had not yet come.
21 Later Jesus said to them again, “I am going away. You will search for me but will die in your sin. You cannot come where I am going.”
22 The people asked, “Is he planning to commit suicide? What does he mean, ‘You cannot come where I am going’?”
23 Jesus continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You belong to this world; I do not. 24 That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am who I claim to be, you will die in your sins.”
Tori's Comments:
Why do we walk in darkness? It's like that passage Paul wrote that talks about not wanting to sin but doing it anyway. Let's instead choose the light, which leads to life! An abundant and full life, as opposed to death, the wages of sin, and the black and white existence if the world. But God shows us the full range of colour!
Verse 19 must have been a blow to the Pharisees!
I suppose verse 20 explains what Jesus meant by "his time".
Praise God that we will not die in our sins! Not only that, but we no longer belong to the world!
Terrie's Comments:
We must know Jesus in order to go where he is. He is sitting at the right hand of his Father in Heaven. In order to go there, it is no mystery for those who read his word, it is very clear that they only way to heaven is through Jesus, his son.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
13 The Pharisees replied, “You are making those claims about yourself! Such testimony is not valid.”
14 Jesus told them, “These claims are valid even though I make them about myself. For I know where I came from and where I am going, but you don’t know this about me. 15 You judge me by human standards, but I do not judge anyone. 16 And if I did, my judgment would be correct in every respect because I am not alone. The Father who sent me is with me. 17 Your own law says that if two people agree about something, their witness is accepted as fact. 18 I am one witness, and my Father who sent me is the other.”
19 “Where is your father?” they asked.
Jesus answered, “Since you don’t know who I am, you don’t know who my Father is. If you knew me, you would also know my Father.” 20 Jesus made these statements while he was teaching in the section of the Temple known as the Treasury. But he was not arrested, because his time had not yet come.
21 Later Jesus said to them again, “I am going away. You will search for me but will die in your sin. You cannot come where I am going.”
22 The people asked, “Is he planning to commit suicide? What does he mean, ‘You cannot come where I am going’?”
23 Jesus continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You belong to this world; I do not. 24 That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am who I claim to be, you will die in your sins.”
Tori's Comments:
Why do we walk in darkness? It's like that passage Paul wrote that talks about not wanting to sin but doing it anyway. Let's instead choose the light, which leads to life! An abundant and full life, as opposed to death, the wages of sin, and the black and white existence if the world. But God shows us the full range of colour!
Verse 19 must have been a blow to the Pharisees!
I suppose verse 20 explains what Jesus meant by "his time".
Praise God that we will not die in our sins! Not only that, but we no longer belong to the world!
Terrie's Comments:
We must know Jesus in order to go where he is. He is sitting at the right hand of his Father in Heaven. In order to go there, it is no mystery for those who read his word, it is very clear that they only way to heaven is through Jesus, his son.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Friday, May 26, 2017
Day 52 - John 8:1-11
1 Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, 2 but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. 3 As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.
4 “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”
6 They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. 7 They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” 8 Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.
9 When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. 10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”
11 “No, Lord,” she said.
And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”
Terrie's Comments:
This is an awesome picture of the New Covenant. Jesus doesn't condemn us. Jesus came to set us free. So often we believe lies of the enemy, we condemn ourselves or we believe lies from others that condemn us.
When we listen to the voice of Jesus whispering to us through the Holy Spirit He is telling us "where are you accusers? Didn't even one of them condemn you? Neither do I. Go and sin no more."
He gives us a fresh start without condemnation. He cheers us on to keep walking in freedom. When we mess up he is right there hoping that we will get back up and believe that he has made us good and he has made us with a purpose! Just keep on going knowing that Jesus is right there cheering you on!
Tori's Comments:
Why was Jesus writing in the dust? It takes up a surprising amount of the passage, and sticks out as an odd thing to do.
Jesus's statement is full of love. Why are we so quick to condemn those who aren't Christians? There's no way they will live holy lives without Christ! Let our words to them be full of love, not condemnation, and inspire them to turn from their sins and to the one who has washed us clean!
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
4 “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”
6 They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. 7 They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” 8 Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.
9 When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. 10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”
11 “No, Lord,” she said.
And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”
Terrie's Comments:
This is an awesome picture of the New Covenant. Jesus doesn't condemn us. Jesus came to set us free. So often we believe lies of the enemy, we condemn ourselves or we believe lies from others that condemn us.
When we listen to the voice of Jesus whispering to us through the Holy Spirit He is telling us "where are you accusers? Didn't even one of them condemn you? Neither do I. Go and sin no more."
He gives us a fresh start without condemnation. He cheers us on to keep walking in freedom. When we mess up he is right there hoping that we will get back up and believe that he has made us good and he has made us with a purpose! Just keep on going knowing that Jesus is right there cheering you on!
Tori's Comments:
Why was Jesus writing in the dust? It takes up a surprising amount of the passage, and sticks out as an odd thing to do.
Jesus's statement is full of love. Why are we so quick to condemn those who aren't Christians? There's no way they will live holy lives without Christ! Let our words to them be full of love, not condemnation, and inspire them to turn from their sins and to the one who has washed us clean!
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Thursday, May 25, 2017
Day 51 - John 7:45-53
45 When the Temple guards returned without having arrested Jesus, the leading priests and Pharisees demanded, “Why didn’t you bring him in?”
46 “We have never heard anyone speak like this!” the guards responded.
47 “Have you been led astray, too?” the Pharisees mocked. 48 “Is there a single one of us rulers or Pharisees who believes in him? 49 This foolish crowd follows him, but they are ignorant of the law. God’s curse is on them!”
50 Then Nicodemus, the leader who had met with Jesus earlier, spoke up. 51 “Is it legal to convict a man before he is given a hearing?” he asked.
52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Search the Scriptures and see for yourself—no prophet ever comes from Galilee!”
Tori's Comments:
Is verse 52 correct? I assume not, but it is a reeeeaaaally self-assured statement.
Terrie's Comments:
Yes Tori verse 52 is a false statement... Jonah, Elijah and Nahum were all from Galilee. Anyone who would have examined this would have questioned their character just as they did in the previous passages when their actions didn't line up with what they were saying.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
46 “We have never heard anyone speak like this!” the guards responded.
47 “Have you been led astray, too?” the Pharisees mocked. 48 “Is there a single one of us rulers or Pharisees who believes in him? 49 This foolish crowd follows him, but they are ignorant of the law. God’s curse is on them!”
50 Then Nicodemus, the leader who had met with Jesus earlier, spoke up. 51 “Is it legal to convict a man before he is given a hearing?” he asked.
52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Search the Scriptures and see for yourself—no prophet ever comes from Galilee!”
Tori's Comments:
Is verse 52 correct? I assume not, but it is a reeeeaaaally self-assured statement.
Terrie's Comments:
Yes Tori verse 52 is a false statement... Jonah, Elijah and Nahum were all from Galilee. Anyone who would have examined this would have questioned their character just as they did in the previous passages when their actions didn't line up with what they were saying.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Wednesday, May 24, 2017
Day 50 - John 7:35-44
35 The Jewish leaders were puzzled by this statement. “Where is he planning to go?” they asked. “Is he thinking of leaving the country and going to the Jews in other lands? Maybe he will even teach the Greeks! 36 What does he mean when he says, ‘You will search for me but not find me,’ and ‘You cannot go where I am going’?”
37 On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! 38 Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” 39 (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)
40 When the crowds heard him say this, some of them declared, “Surely this man is the Prophet we’ve been expecting.” 41 Others said, “He is the Messiah.” Still others said, “But he can’t be! Will the Messiah come from Galilee? 42 For the Scriptures clearly state that the Messiah will be born of the royal line of David, in Bethlehem, the village where King David was born.” 43 So the crowd was divided about him. 44 Some even wanted him arrested, but no one laid a hand on him.
Terrie's Comments:
Jesus was very blunt about so many things while he was walking with his disciples. It amazes me that more people did not understand who he was until he had been resurrected.
Tori's Comments:
Jesus tells people to come often. That is how he called several of his disciples, and that is how he is telling others to drink of the Holy Spirit. It shows how little we actually do, and how this gift of God is free if we only believe and come.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
37 On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! 38 Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” 39 (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)
40 When the crowds heard him say this, some of them declared, “Surely this man is the Prophet we’ve been expecting.” 41 Others said, “He is the Messiah.” Still others said, “But he can’t be! Will the Messiah come from Galilee? 42 For the Scriptures clearly state that the Messiah will be born of the royal line of David, in Bethlehem, the village where King David was born.” 43 So the crowd was divided about him. 44 Some even wanted him arrested, but no one laid a hand on him.
Terrie's Comments:
Jesus was very blunt about so many things while he was walking with his disciples. It amazes me that more people did not understand who he was until he had been resurrected.
Tori's Comments:
Jesus tells people to come often. That is how he called several of his disciples, and that is how he is telling others to drink of the Holy Spirit. It shows how little we actually do, and how this gift of God is free if we only believe and come.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Tuesday, May 23, 2017
Day 49 - John 7:25-34
25 Some of the people who lived in Jerusalem started to ask each other, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill? 26 But here he is, speaking in public, and they say nothing to him. Could our leaders possibly believe that he is the Messiah? 27 But how could he be? For we know where this man comes from. When the Messiah comes, he will simply appear; no one will know where he comes from.”
28 While Jesus was teaching in the Temple, he called out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I come from. But I’m not here on my own. The one who sent me is true, and you don’t know him. 29 But I know him because I come from him, and he sent me to you.” 30 Then the leaders tried to arrest him; but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come.
31 Many among the crowds at the Temple believed in him. “After all,” they said, “would you expect the Messiah to do more miraculous signs than this man has done?”
32 When the Pharisees heard that the crowds were whispering such things, they and the leading priests sent Temple guards to arrest Jesus. 33 But Jesus told them, “I will be with you only a little longer. Then I will return to the one who sent me. 34 You will search for me but not find me. And you cannot go where I am going.”
Tori's Comments:
That many of the people of God did not truly know him is not so irrelevant as it seems in "cultural Christianity". It definitely challenges me to constantly ensure I'm not choosing to "play" Christian rather than BE Christian, which means giving and loving and serving others and God with all of my heart, mind, strength, and soul.
Terrie's Comments:
It seems funny to me that the people perceived that since the leaders were not following through with their plans to kill Jesus that they must believe that he could be the Messiah.
Our actions show what we truly believe. How do our actions confirm or deny that Jesus is our Lord?
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
28 While Jesus was teaching in the Temple, he called out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I come from. But I’m not here on my own. The one who sent me is true, and you don’t know him. 29 But I know him because I come from him, and he sent me to you.” 30 Then the leaders tried to arrest him; but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come.
31 Many among the crowds at the Temple believed in him. “After all,” they said, “would you expect the Messiah to do more miraculous signs than this man has done?”
32 When the Pharisees heard that the crowds were whispering such things, they and the leading priests sent Temple guards to arrest Jesus. 33 But Jesus told them, “I will be with you only a little longer. Then I will return to the one who sent me. 34 You will search for me but not find me. And you cannot go where I am going.”
Tori's Comments:
That many of the people of God did not truly know him is not so irrelevant as it seems in "cultural Christianity". It definitely challenges me to constantly ensure I'm not choosing to "play" Christian rather than BE Christian, which means giving and loving and serving others and God with all of my heart, mind, strength, and soul.
Terrie's Comments:
It seems funny to me that the people perceived that since the leaders were not following through with their plans to kill Jesus that they must believe that he could be the Messiah.
Our actions show what we truly believe. How do our actions confirm or deny that Jesus is our Lord?
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Monday, May 22, 2017
Day 48 - John 7:14-24
14 Then, midway through the festival, Jesus went up to the Temple and began to teach. 15 The people were surprised when they heard him. “How does he know so much when he hasn’t been trained?” they asked.
16 So Jesus told them, “My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me. 17 Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own. 18 Those who speak for themselves want glory only for themselves, but a person who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies. 19 Moses gave you the law, but none of you obeys it! In fact, you are trying to kill me.”
20 The crowd replied, “You’re demon possessed! Who’s trying to kill you?”
21 Jesus replied, “I did one miracle on the Sabbath, and you were amazed. 22 But you work on the Sabbath, too, when you obey Moses’ law of circumcision. (Actually, this tradition of circumcision began with the patriarchs, long before the law of Moses.) 23 For if the correct time for circumcising your son falls on the Sabbath, you go ahead and do it so as not to break the law of Moses. So why should you be angry with me for healing a man on the Sabbath? 24 Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly.”
Terrie's Comments:
"Those who speak for themselves want glory only for themselves, but a person who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies"
Who am I speaking for? What is my motive? Is it to get glory for myself or for Jesus?
Tori's Comments:
"Anyone who wants to do the will of God" Anyone who is walking in the Spirit and in a close relationship with God will be able to spot the difference between truth and lies.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
16 So Jesus told them, “My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me. 17 Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own. 18 Those who speak for themselves want glory only for themselves, but a person who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies. 19 Moses gave you the law, but none of you obeys it! In fact, you are trying to kill me.”
20 The crowd replied, “You’re demon possessed! Who’s trying to kill you?”
21 Jesus replied, “I did one miracle on the Sabbath, and you were amazed. 22 But you work on the Sabbath, too, when you obey Moses’ law of circumcision. (Actually, this tradition of circumcision began with the patriarchs, long before the law of Moses.) 23 For if the correct time for circumcising your son falls on the Sabbath, you go ahead and do it so as not to break the law of Moses. So why should you be angry with me for healing a man on the Sabbath? 24 Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly.”
Terrie's Comments:
"Those who speak for themselves want glory only for themselves, but a person who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies"
Who am I speaking for? What is my motive? Is it to get glory for myself or for Jesus?
Tori's Comments:
"Anyone who wants to do the will of God" Anyone who is walking in the Spirit and in a close relationship with God will be able to spot the difference between truth and lies.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Sunday, May 21, 2017
Day 47 - John 7:1-13
1 After this, Jesus traveled around Galilee. He wanted to stay out of Judea, where the Jewish leaders were plotting his death. 2 But soon it was time for the Jewish Festival of Shelters, 3 and Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles! 4 You can’t become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!” 5 For even his brothers didn’t believe in him.
6 Jesus replied, “Now is not the right time for me to go, but you can go anytime. 7 The world can’t hate you, but it does hate me because I accuse it of doing evil. 8 You go on. I’m not going to this festival, because my time has not yet come.” 9 After saying these things, Jesus remained in Galilee.
10 But after his brothers left for the festival, Jesus also went, though secretly, staying out of public view. 11 The Jewish leaders tried to find him at the festival and kept asking if anyone had seen him. 12 There was a lot of grumbling about him among the crowds. Some argued, “He’s a good man,” but others said, “He’s nothing but a fraud who deceives the people.” 13 But no one had the courage to speak favorably about him in public, for they were afraid of getting in trouble with the Jewish leaders.
Tori's Comments:
So what, exactly, does Jesus mean by His time? His crucifixion?
Terrie's Comments:
Jesus was led by the direction of the Holy Spirit. He was very sensitive to what his Father was saying to do, where to go, what to say. He sets an example for us to follow. It is hard to hear lies about yourself. It is hard to hear truth about yourself and not get caught up in pride. Jesus was asked to be silent at this time. I can only imagine that his flesh was waging war on his emotions. He could not defend the lies or confirm the truth. He was asked to simple be silent and hide. Sometimes we are asked to be silent... to not confirm truth or deny lies being spoken. How good are we at doing this when our "reputation" with men is "on the line"? Do we trust God to be our defense and have our back?
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
6 Jesus replied, “Now is not the right time for me to go, but you can go anytime. 7 The world can’t hate you, but it does hate me because I accuse it of doing evil. 8 You go on. I’m not going to this festival, because my time has not yet come.” 9 After saying these things, Jesus remained in Galilee.
10 But after his brothers left for the festival, Jesus also went, though secretly, staying out of public view. 11 The Jewish leaders tried to find him at the festival and kept asking if anyone had seen him. 12 There was a lot of grumbling about him among the crowds. Some argued, “He’s a good man,” but others said, “He’s nothing but a fraud who deceives the people.” 13 But no one had the courage to speak favorably about him in public, for they were afraid of getting in trouble with the Jewish leaders.
Tori's Comments:
So what, exactly, does Jesus mean by His time? His crucifixion?
Terrie's Comments:
Jesus was led by the direction of the Holy Spirit. He was very sensitive to what his Father was saying to do, where to go, what to say. He sets an example for us to follow. It is hard to hear lies about yourself. It is hard to hear truth about yourself and not get caught up in pride. Jesus was asked to be silent at this time. I can only imagine that his flesh was waging war on his emotions. He could not defend the lies or confirm the truth. He was asked to simple be silent and hide. Sometimes we are asked to be silent... to not confirm truth or deny lies being spoken. How good are we at doing this when our "reputation" with men is "on the line"? Do we trust God to be our defense and have our back?
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Saturday, May 20, 2017
Day 46 - John 6:60-71
60 Many of his disciples said, “This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?”
61 Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what will you think if you see the Son of Man ascend to heaven again? 63 The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But some of you do not believe me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray him.) 65 Then he said, “That is why I said that people can’t come to me unless the Father gives them to me.”
66 At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. 67 Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?”
68 Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. 69 We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.”
70 Then Jesus said, “I chose the twelve of you, but one is a devil.” 71 He was speaking of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, one of the Twelve, who would later betray him.
Terrie's Comments:
The law doesn't have the power to save... If you live by the law you will be condemned by the law. If you live by the spirit there is no condemnation because you have put your faith in Jesus Christ and live covered by his right standing with God. He is your intercessor! We have a new covenant, which does not condemn us, it frees us from all condemnation because it sets us free from the curse of the law.
Tori's Comments:
"Human effort accomplishes nothing." I'm just gonna rest on that one for a bit. It needs reminding, especially in a society that is all about business and productivity.
Peter's response to Jesus is one I feel similar to. At this point in my walk of faith, how could I ever turn back? Where would I even go? Nothing can compare with what Jesus has given me, and how He has loved me.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
61 Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what will you think if you see the Son of Man ascend to heaven again? 63 The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But some of you do not believe me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray him.) 65 Then he said, “That is why I said that people can’t come to me unless the Father gives them to me.”
66 At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. 67 Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?”
68 Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. 69 We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.”
70 Then Jesus said, “I chose the twelve of you, but one is a devil.” 71 He was speaking of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, one of the Twelve, who would later betray him.
Terrie's Comments:
The law doesn't have the power to save... If you live by the law you will be condemned by the law. If you live by the spirit there is no condemnation because you have put your faith in Jesus Christ and live covered by his right standing with God. He is your intercessor! We have a new covenant, which does not condemn us, it frees us from all condemnation because it sets us free from the curse of the law.
Tori's Comments:
"Human effort accomplishes nothing." I'm just gonna rest on that one for a bit. It needs reminding, especially in a society that is all about business and productivity.
Peter's response to Jesus is one I feel similar to. At this point in my walk of faith, how could I ever turn back? Where would I even go? Nothing can compare with what Jesus has given me, and how He has loved me.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Friday, May 19, 2017
Day 45 - John 6:53-59
53 So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. 54 But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. 57 I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever.”
59 He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
Tori's Comments:
"last day" again.
All of the "true"s reminds me of those scriptures in Hebrews that talk about how the temple was a shadow of the real one, and same with the old covenant.
Terrie's Comments:
We see again that Jesus is the only way to have eternal life!
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
59 He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
Tori's Comments:
"last day" again.
All of the "true"s reminds me of those scriptures in Hebrews that talk about how the temple was a shadow of the real one, and same with the old covenant.
Terrie's Comments:
We see again that Jesus is the only way to have eternal life!
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Thursday, May 18, 2017
Day 44 - John 6:43-52
43 But Jesus replied, “Stop complaining about what I said. 44 For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up. 45 As it is written in the Scriptures, ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. 46 (Not that anyone has ever seen the Father; only I, who was sent from God, have seen him.)
47 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life. 48 Yes, I am the bread of life! 49 Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. 50 Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.”
52 Then the people began arguing with each other about what he meant. “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” they asked.
Terrie's Comments:
I love the fact that we are taught by God himself. Through the Holy Spirit we receive direct instruction in the word.
Just like the law can't save anyone, manna was only a temporary solution to hunger and couldn't save them eternally. Bread feeds our flesh but Jesus is the only one that can save us eternally.
Tori's Comments:
So is the "last day" referring to the judgement day?
ANYONE who believes. Anyone, anyone, anyone. It is all throughout this passage, yet I know some people find it hard to believe.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
47 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life. 48 Yes, I am the bread of life! 49 Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. 50 Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.”
52 Then the people began arguing with each other about what he meant. “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” they asked.
Terrie's Comments:
I love the fact that we are taught by God himself. Through the Holy Spirit we receive direct instruction in the word.
Just like the law can't save anyone, manna was only a temporary solution to hunger and couldn't save them eternally. Bread feeds our flesh but Jesus is the only one that can save us eternally.
Tori's Comments:
So is the "last day" referring to the judgement day?
ANYONE who believes. Anyone, anyone, anyone. It is all throughout this passage, yet I know some people find it hard to believe.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Wednesday, May 17, 2017
Day 43 - John 6:35-42
35 Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But you haven’t believed in me even though you have seen me. 37 However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them. 38 For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will. 39 And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day. 40 For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.”
41 Then the people began to murmur in disagreement because he had said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Isn’t this Jesus, the son of Joseph? We know his father and mother. How can he say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”
Tori's Comments:
Are you hungry? Thirsty? Perhaps you are going to the things of the world for sustenance instead of Jesus! The peace, acceptance, joy, and love that humanity seems to be constantly be searching for is right in front of us, just like it was right in front of the people in Jesus's day.
Terrie's Comments:
It is God's will that ALL who see JESUS and BELIEVE in him should have ETERNAL LIFE! Jesus will raise them up at the last day! It is not God's will that any who see Jesus are lost.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
41 Then the people began to murmur in disagreement because he had said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Isn’t this Jesus, the son of Joseph? We know his father and mother. How can he say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”
Tori's Comments:
Are you hungry? Thirsty? Perhaps you are going to the things of the world for sustenance instead of Jesus! The peace, acceptance, joy, and love that humanity seems to be constantly be searching for is right in front of us, just like it was right in front of the people in Jesus's day.
Terrie's Comments:
It is God's will that ALL who see JESUS and BELIEVE in him should have ETERNAL LIFE! Jesus will raise them up at the last day! It is not God's will that any who see Jesus are lost.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Tuesday, May 16, 2017
Day 42 - John 6:25-34
25 They found him on the other side of the lake and asked, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”
26 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. 27 But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.”
28 They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?”
29 Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”
30 They answered, “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do? 31 After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, ‘Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ”
32 Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. 33 The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
34 “Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.”
Terrie's Comments:
It surprises me that they had just seen the multitudes fed, their sick healed and they ask Jesus for a sign and a miracle... what were they looking for??
Verse 29 sums up what is required by God in the new covenant... "This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent."
Tori's Comments:
Verse 29 really stands out to me. Immediately after asked how to perform the same signs, I feel like Jesus is trying to get them to understand that THEY can't. All God asks of us is to believe and follow, and He will work through us after that point!
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
26 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. 27 But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.”
28 They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?”
29 Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”
30 They answered, “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do? 31 After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, ‘Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ”
32 Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. 33 The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
34 “Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.”
Terrie's Comments:
It surprises me that they had just seen the multitudes fed, their sick healed and they ask Jesus for a sign and a miracle... what were they looking for??
Verse 29 sums up what is required by God in the new covenant... "This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent."
Tori's Comments:
Verse 29 really stands out to me. Immediately after asked how to perform the same signs, I feel like Jesus is trying to get them to understand that THEY can't. All God asks of us is to believe and follow, and He will work through us after that point!
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Monday, May 15, 2017
Day 41 - John 6:16-24
16 That evening Jesus’ disciples went down to the shore to wait for him. 17 But as darkness fell and Jesus still hadn’t come back, they got into the boat and headed across the lake toward Capernaum. 18 Soon a gale swept down upon them, and the sea grew very rough. 19 They had rowed three or four miles when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat. They were terrified, 20 but he called out to them, “Don’t be afraid. I am here!” 21 Then they were eager to let him in the boat, and immediately they arrived at their destination!
22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the far shore saw that the disciples had taken the only boat, and they realized Jesus had not gone with them. 23 Several boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the Lord had blessed the bread and the people had eaten. 24 So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went across to Capernaum to look for him.
Tori's Comments:
Verse 20... Don't be afraid when God is moving. We can know that He is with us and there is no need to fear.
Terrie's Comments:
Don't be afraid I am here! Jesus still says that to us when we are in our storms. The disciples were eager to let Jesus into the boat... Jesus was already making provision for them to arrive at their destination. They arrived immediately at their destination! That is so cool. When we invite Jesus into our storms he has already provided the solution and the provision to arrive safely on the other side. We just need to believe, rest, trust :-)
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the far shore saw that the disciples had taken the only boat, and they realized Jesus had not gone with them. 23 Several boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the Lord had blessed the bread and the people had eaten. 24 So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went across to Capernaum to look for him.
Tori's Comments:
Verse 20... Don't be afraid when God is moving. We can know that He is with us and there is no need to fear.
Terrie's Comments:
Don't be afraid I am here! Jesus still says that to us when we are in our storms. The disciples were eager to let Jesus into the boat... Jesus was already making provision for them to arrive at their destination. They arrived immediately at their destination! That is so cool. When we invite Jesus into our storms he has already provided the solution and the provision to arrive safely on the other side. We just need to believe, rest, trust :-)
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Sunday, May 14, 2017
Day 40 - John 6:10-15
10 “Tell everyone to sit down,” Jesus said. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (The men alone numbered about 5,000.) 11 Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted. 12 After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, “Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.” 13 So they picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scraps left by the people who had eaten from the five barley loaves.
14 When the people saw him do this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, “Surely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting!” 15 When Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king, he slipped away into the hills by himself.
Terrie's Comments:
Do I sometimes see what Jesus has done and come to conclusions about what comes next in my life? Those people saw that He was able to feed them with a miracle and they were ready to force him to be their king. That was not what the plan of God was though. God had greater plans. Do we sometimes put God in a box by limiting him to our human and earthly plans? He has plans for our lives that are not limited to this earth... they are eternal plans. He has our best interest in mind always.
Tori's Comments:
This reminds me of that story with the woman at the well we read earlier... and how Jesus can give water that satisfies. I just thought it was interesting that there is an emphasis on how everyone ate as much as they wanted, and that everyone was full. Without Christ there, everyone would have been left hungry, searching for any sort of food that could help. But Jesus provided enough food to completely satisfy them, a feast for them in a way.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
14 When the people saw him do this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, “Surely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting!” 15 When Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king, he slipped away into the hills by himself.
Terrie's Comments:
Do I sometimes see what Jesus has done and come to conclusions about what comes next in my life? Those people saw that He was able to feed them with a miracle and they were ready to force him to be their king. That was not what the plan of God was though. God had greater plans. Do we sometimes put God in a box by limiting him to our human and earthly plans? He has plans for our lives that are not limited to this earth... they are eternal plans. He has our best interest in mind always.
Tori's Comments:
This reminds me of that story with the woman at the well we read earlier... and how Jesus can give water that satisfies. I just thought it was interesting that there is an emphasis on how everyone ate as much as they wanted, and that everyone was full. Without Christ there, everyone would have been left hungry, searching for any sort of food that could help. But Jesus provided enough food to completely satisfy them, a feast for them in a way.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Saturday, May 13, 2017
Day 39 - John 6:1-9
1 After this, Jesus crossed over to the far side of the Sea of Galilee, also known as the Sea of Tiberias. 2 A huge crowd kept following him wherever he went, because they saw his miraculous signs as he healed the sick. 3 Then Jesus climbed a hill and sat down with his disciples around him. 4 (It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration.) 5 Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?” 6 He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do.
7 Philip replied, “Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money to feed them!”
8 Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. 9 “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?”
Tori's Comments:
In verse 6, is Jesus testing Philip to see his faith?
Terrie's Comments:
Just as Jesus asked a question to see what Phillip's response was, Jesus sometimes asks us questions in our lives not because he doesn't know what to do, but because He wants us to believe that He is going to take care of it. How do we respond when a need arises in our lives? See that it is to big and impossible for us to achieve or do we look to Jesus and see that anything is possible?
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
7 Philip replied, “Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money to feed them!”
8 Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. 9 “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?”
Tori's Comments:
In verse 6, is Jesus testing Philip to see his faith?
Terrie's Comments:
Just as Jesus asked a question to see what Phillip's response was, Jesus sometimes asks us questions in our lives not because he doesn't know what to do, but because He wants us to believe that He is going to take care of it. How do we respond when a need arises in our lives? See that it is to big and impossible for us to achieve or do we look to Jesus and see that anything is possible?
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Friday, May 12, 2017
Day 38 - John 5:41-47
41 “Your approval means nothing to me, 42 because I know you don’t have God’s love within you. 43 For I have come to you in my Father’s name, and you have rejected me. Yet if others come in their own name, you gladly welcome them. 44 No wonder you can’t believe! For you gladly honor each other, but you don’t care about the honor that comes from the one who alone is God.
45 “Yet it isn’t I who will accuse you before the Father. Moses will accuse you! Yes, Moses, in whom you put your hopes. 46 If you really believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me. 47 But since you don’t believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?”
Terrie's Comments:
Who do I honour? do I honour the people written about in the Bible or do I honour God? The religious leaders were honouring Moses but they forgot that Moses was only a worthy leader because he was led by God. Moses was trying to get God's people to keep their eye's on their creator. Jesus was trying to get God's people to keep their eyes on God but got the same response.
Jesus is worthy of all of our honour.
Tori's Comments:
What are the standards of honour in our current culture? Those who are beautiful? Who are wealthy? What about celebrities? Let me know your thoughts!
Either way, it is not the same as how God honours... which is to those who humble themselves. Just think of the one who God has exalted above all (JESUS!) and humbled himself ultimately in becoming human and dying.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
45 “Yet it isn’t I who will accuse you before the Father. Moses will accuse you! Yes, Moses, in whom you put your hopes. 46 If you really believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me. 47 But since you don’t believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?”
Terrie's Comments:
Who do I honour? do I honour the people written about in the Bible or do I honour God? The religious leaders were honouring Moses but they forgot that Moses was only a worthy leader because he was led by God. Moses was trying to get God's people to keep their eye's on their creator. Jesus was trying to get God's people to keep their eyes on God but got the same response.
Jesus is worthy of all of our honour.
Tori's Comments:
What are the standards of honour in our current culture? Those who are beautiful? Who are wealthy? What about celebrities? Let me know your thoughts!
Either way, it is not the same as how God honours... which is to those who humble themselves. Just think of the one who God has exalted above all (JESUS!) and humbled himself ultimately in becoming human and dying.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Thursday, May 11, 2017
Day 37 - John 5:31-40
31 “If I were to testify on my own behalf, my testimony would not be valid. 32 But someone else is also testifying about me, and I assure you that everything he says about me is true. 33 In fact, you sent investigators to listen to John the Baptist, and his testimony about me was true. 34 Of course, I have no need of human witnesses, but I say these things so you might be saved. 35 John was like a burning and shining lamp, and you were excited for a while about his message. 36 But I have a greater witness than John—my teachings and my miracles. The Father gave me these works to accomplish, and they prove that he sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has testified about me himself. You have never heard his voice or seen him face to face, 38 and you do not have his message in your hearts, because you do not believe me—the one he sent to you.
39 “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! 40 Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life.
Tori's Comments:
Wow, verse 39 is probably the one that sticks out to me the most. When reading the Bible, the whole bible, we can see how over thousands of years and generations.... they all point to Jesus. Ever since the beginning, before we even knew who He was!
Terrie's Comments:
All scriptures point to JESUS! It is all about JESUS... the Whole thing from Genesis to Revelation!! The things that Jesus did while he lived here on earth proved that he was doing the will of God. When the gifts of the Holy Spirit are allowed to flow in our lives, they too, testify to whom our Father is and that He is who we are representing. Our lives point to Jesus when we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and do what the Father is telling us to do and to say.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
39 “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! 40 Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life.
Tori's Comments:
Wow, verse 39 is probably the one that sticks out to me the most. When reading the Bible, the whole bible, we can see how over thousands of years and generations.... they all point to Jesus. Ever since the beginning, before we even knew who He was!
Terrie's Comments:
All scriptures point to JESUS! It is all about JESUS... the Whole thing from Genesis to Revelation!! The things that Jesus did while he lived here on earth proved that he was doing the will of God. When the gifts of the Holy Spirit are allowed to flow in our lives, they too, testify to whom our Father is and that He is who we are representing. Our lives point to Jesus when we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and do what the Father is telling us to do and to say.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
Day 36 - John 5:24-30
24 “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.
25 “And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it’s here now, when the dead will hear my voice—the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live. 26 The Father has life in himself, and he has granted that same life-giving power to his Son. 27 And he has given him authority to judge everyone because he is the Son of Man. 28 Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son, 29 and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment. 30 I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will.
Terrie's Comments:
We are made righteous through our relationship with Jesus. If we have believed what he said and make Him Lord of our lives we will live and not be condemned for our sins.
I love that I have already passed from death into life!
Tori's Comments:
Those who believe in God HAVE ALREADY passed from death into life. We should act like it! We already have that joy and hope, and we're just waiting until its complete fulfillment :)
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
25 “And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it’s here now, when the dead will hear my voice—the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live. 26 The Father has life in himself, and he has granted that same life-giving power to his Son. 27 And he has given him authority to judge everyone because he is the Son of Man. 28 Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son, 29 and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment. 30 I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will.
Terrie's Comments:
We are made righteous through our relationship with Jesus. If we have believed what he said and make Him Lord of our lives we will live and not be condemned for our sins.
I love that I have already passed from death into life!
Tori's Comments:
Those who believe in God HAVE ALREADY passed from death into life. We should act like it! We already have that joy and hope, and we're just waiting until its complete fulfillment :)
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Tuesday, May 9, 2017
Day 35 - John 5:16-23
16 So the Jewish leaders began harassing Jesus for breaking the Sabbath rules. 17 But Jesus replied, “My Father is always working, and so am I.” 18 So the Jewish leaders tried all the harder to find a way to kill him. For he not only broke the Sabbath, he called God his Father, thereby making himself equal with God.
19 So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing. In fact, the Father will show him how to do even greater works than healing this man. Then you will truly be astonished. 21 For just as the Father gives life to those he raises from the dead, so the Son gives life to anyone he wants. 22 In addition, the Father judges no one. Instead, he has given the Son absolute authority to judge, 23 so that everyone will honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son is certainly not honoring the Father who sent him.
Tori's Comments:
Verse 17 is something I can't seem to fully understand. Is he just emphasizing that God does not need to rest, but man does? That the Sabbath is made for man, not God?
Terrie's Comments:
Jesus was pretty clear about who he was. We are also called sons and daughters of God and fellow heirs with Jesus Christ. We are told that as children of God we are to be doing the Father's will just as Jesus did while he was on earth. When Jesus left this earth and ascended into heaven he also said that we would do greater works than he did while he was on the earth through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
19 So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing. In fact, the Father will show him how to do even greater works than healing this man. Then you will truly be astonished. 21 For just as the Father gives life to those he raises from the dead, so the Son gives life to anyone he wants. 22 In addition, the Father judges no one. Instead, he has given the Son absolute authority to judge, 23 so that everyone will honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son is certainly not honoring the Father who sent him.
Tori's Comments:
Verse 17 is something I can't seem to fully understand. Is he just emphasizing that God does not need to rest, but man does? That the Sabbath is made for man, not God?
Terrie's Comments:
Jesus was pretty clear about who he was. We are also called sons and daughters of God and fellow heirs with Jesus Christ. We are told that as children of God we are to be doing the Father's will just as Jesus did while he was on earth. When Jesus left this earth and ascended into heaven he also said that we would do greater works than he did while he was on the earth through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Monday, May 8, 2017
Day 34 - John 5:9-15
9 Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking! But this miracle happened on the Sabbath, 10 so the Jewish leaders objected. They said to the man who was cured, “You can’t work on the Sabbath! The law doesn’t allow you to carry that sleeping mat!”
11 But he replied, “The man who healed me told me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’”
12 “Who said such a thing as that?” they demanded.
13 The man didn’t know, for Jesus had disappeared into the crowd. 14 But afterward Jesus found him in the Temple and told him, “Now you are well; so stop sinning, or something even worse may happen to you.” 15 Then the man went and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had healed him.
Terrie's Comments:
Jesus didn't follow the law... he was led by the Holy Spirit. He was following the law that was written on his heart. Jesus was leading by example for us to follow. He was loving God and loving others. This man was healed because Jesus cared more about loving than about the rules for the Sabbath.
Tori's Comments:
Ah, I am glad to get the second part of the story!
Wow, verse 14 seems pretty harsh, and I feel like we almost tend to brush over that part and about the importance of true repentance.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
11 But he replied, “The man who healed me told me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’”
12 “Who said such a thing as that?” they demanded.
13 The man didn’t know, for Jesus had disappeared into the crowd. 14 But afterward Jesus found him in the Temple and told him, “Now you are well; so stop sinning, or something even worse may happen to you.” 15 Then the man went and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had healed him.
Terrie's Comments:
Jesus didn't follow the law... he was led by the Holy Spirit. He was following the law that was written on his heart. Jesus was leading by example for us to follow. He was loving God and loving others. This man was healed because Jesus cared more about loving than about the rules for the Sabbath.
Tori's Comments:
Ah, I am glad to get the second part of the story!
Wow, verse 14 seems pretty harsh, and I feel like we almost tend to brush over that part and about the importance of true repentance.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Sunday, May 7, 2017
Day 33 - John 5:1-8
1 Afterward Jesus returned to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish holy days. 2 Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate, was the pool of Bethesda, with five covered porches. 3 Crowds of sick people—blind, lame, or paralyzed—lay on the porches. 5 One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?”
7 “I can’t, sir,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.”
8 Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!”
Tori's Comments:
Haha, what a cliffhanger this one ends on! :)
Terrie's Comments:
What is our response when Jesus asks us a question like "Would you like to get well?" Do we listen when he gives us the answer to our problem? Or does the answer that he gives seem too simple at times to meet our desire to do something to fix the problem?
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
7 “I can’t, sir,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.”
8 Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!”
Tori's Comments:
Haha, what a cliffhanger this one ends on! :)
Terrie's Comments:
What is our response when Jesus asks us a question like "Would you like to get well?" Do we listen when he gives us the answer to our problem? Or does the answer that he gives seem too simple at times to meet our desire to do something to fix the problem?
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Saturday, May 6, 2017
Day 32 - John 4:43-54
43 At the end of the two days, Jesus went on to Galilee. 44 He himself had said that a prophet is not honored in his own hometown. 45 Yet the Galileans welcomed him, for they had been in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration and had seen everything he did there.
46 As he traveled through Galilee, he came to Cana, where he had turned the water into wine. There was a government official in nearby Capernaum whose son was very sick. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged Jesus to come to Capernaum to heal his son, who was about to die.
48 Jesus asked, “Will you never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?”
49 The official pleaded, “Lord, please come now before my little boy dies.”
50 Then Jesus told him, “Go back home. Your son will live!” And the man believed what Jesus said and started home.
51 While the man was on his way, some of his servants met him with the news that his son was alive and well. 52 He asked them when the boy had begun to get better, and they replied, “Yesterday afternoon at one o’clock his fever suddenly disappeared!” 53 Then the father realized that that was the very time Jesus had told him, “Your son will live.” And he and his entire household believed in Jesus. 54 This was the second miraculous sign Jesus did in Galilee after coming from Judea.
Terrie's Comments:
When Jesus says something to us do we believe what he says and go on our way? Or do we continue to look for another answer to our problem? When Jesus says something is done he means what he says. When we read the Bible we can ask the Holy Spirit to reveal things to us in His word. When scriptures jump out at you or you get a deeper insight into the passage it is the Holy Spirit speaking to you through the word of God. It is a beautiful thing!
Tori's Comments:
The Galileans welcomed him because they had SEEN. Reminds me of that verse that says that those who believe without seeing will be blessed.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
46 As he traveled through Galilee, he came to Cana, where he had turned the water into wine. There was a government official in nearby Capernaum whose son was very sick. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged Jesus to come to Capernaum to heal his son, who was about to die.
48 Jesus asked, “Will you never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?”
49 The official pleaded, “Lord, please come now before my little boy dies.”
50 Then Jesus told him, “Go back home. Your son will live!” And the man believed what Jesus said and started home.
51 While the man was on his way, some of his servants met him with the news that his son was alive and well. 52 He asked them when the boy had begun to get better, and they replied, “Yesterday afternoon at one o’clock his fever suddenly disappeared!” 53 Then the father realized that that was the very time Jesus had told him, “Your son will live.” And he and his entire household believed in Jesus. 54 This was the second miraculous sign Jesus did in Galilee after coming from Judea.
Terrie's Comments:
When Jesus says something to us do we believe what he says and go on our way? Or do we continue to look for another answer to our problem? When Jesus says something is done he means what he says. When we read the Bible we can ask the Holy Spirit to reveal things to us in His word. When scriptures jump out at you or you get a deeper insight into the passage it is the Holy Spirit speaking to you through the word of God. It is a beautiful thing!
Tori's Comments:
The Galileans welcomed him because they had SEEN. Reminds me of that verse that says that those who believe without seeing will be blessed.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Friday, May 5, 2017
Day 31 - John 4:39-42
39 Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, “He told me everything I ever did!” 40 When they came out to see him, they begged him to stay in their village. So he stayed for two days, 41 long enough for many more to hear his message and believe. 42 Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. Now we know that he is indeed the Savior of the world.”
Tori's Comments:
Why did he stay in the village for two more days? Because the villagers begged him to. How often do we choose not to ask God because we assume He'll say no? As we grow closer to God, I feel like we learn more and more about what God is leading us to ask, but I also don't think we should never pray for things, specifically our needs as God has promised to provide us with exactly that.
Terrie's Comments:
We can introduce our friends to God's goodness but at some point they need to believe in Jesus. Not just because of what we have said or what we have personally experienced, but by their own relationship and encounter with Jesus.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Tori's Comments:
Why did he stay in the village for two more days? Because the villagers begged him to. How often do we choose not to ask God because we assume He'll say no? As we grow closer to God, I feel like we learn more and more about what God is leading us to ask, but I also don't think we should never pray for things, specifically our needs as God has promised to provide us with exactly that.
Terrie's Comments:
We can introduce our friends to God's goodness but at some point they need to believe in Jesus. Not just because of what we have said or what we have personally experienced, but by their own relationship and encounter with Jesus.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Thursday, May 4, 2017
Day 30 - John 4:27-38
27 Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked to find him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask, “What do you want with her?” or “Why are you talking to her?” 28 The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, 29 “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” 30 So the people came streaming from the village to see him.
31 Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus, “Rabbi, eat something.”
32 But Jesus replied, “I have a kind of food you know nothing about.”
33 “Did someone bring him food while we were gone?” the disciples asked each other.
34 Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. 35 You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. 36 The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! 37 You know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’ And it’s true. 38 I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest.”
Terrie's Comments:
Because Jesus spoke out the word of knowledge that he was given a whole village was told the good news! If Jesus had not spoken that bold word to the woman at the well many people would have missed out on who he was. Not only that but Jesus spoke about getting his strength from doing the will of God.
Do we realize that we can receive strength from stepping out in faith and following the leading of the Holy Spirit?
Tori's Comments:
As a girl, I'm so thankful for this story. That a Samaritan woman (both questionable in the society) would be someone Christ would choose to talk to, to be "worth" talking to, is very encouraging for those who self-deprecate. You're never too far gone, and he doesn't see you by the labels others choose to define you. He sees you as "loved" and "His".
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
31 Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus, “Rabbi, eat something.”
32 But Jesus replied, “I have a kind of food you know nothing about.”
33 “Did someone bring him food while we were gone?” the disciples asked each other.
34 Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. 35 You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. 36 The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! 37 You know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’ And it’s true. 38 I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest.”
Terrie's Comments:
Because Jesus spoke out the word of knowledge that he was given a whole village was told the good news! If Jesus had not spoken that bold word to the woman at the well many people would have missed out on who he was. Not only that but Jesus spoke about getting his strength from doing the will of God.
Do we realize that we can receive strength from stepping out in faith and following the leading of the Holy Spirit?
Tori's Comments:
As a girl, I'm so thankful for this story. That a Samaritan woman (both questionable in the society) would be someone Christ would choose to talk to, to be "worth" talking to, is very encouraging for those who self-deprecate. You're never too far gone, and he doesn't see you by the labels others choose to define you. He sees you as "loved" and "His".
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
Day 29 - John 4:13-26
13 Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. 14 But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”
15 “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.”
16 “Go and get your husband,” Jesus told her.
17 “I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied.
Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband— 18 for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!”
19 “Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. 20 So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim,where our ancestors worshiped?”
21 Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. 23 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. 24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”
25 The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
26 Then Jesus told her, “I am the Messiah!”
Tori's Comments:
Evidence of nonliving water is all around us. The world, even just friends that are Christians, noticeably search for things only Christ can give. And it can be heartbreaking to watch a friend trying to find fulfillment in relationships, media, or any multiple things. It should cause us to want to evangelize even more, especially because...
Christ offers living water. Where our idols of the world never truly satisfy, Christ satisfies for eternity. No more searching. We know who we are in Christ, and we have purpose and value in him.
My only question is once we have tasted this living water, why do we run back to the things that never truly bring fulfillment? We each have our own temptations, but we need to constantly be reading the Word, spending time with Christ, and just reminding ourselves to not drift from our relationship with God. We need to remember everything he has given us.
Terrie's Comments:
This is an awesome revealing of the fact that we no longer worship God from a specific place but from our spirits anywhere we are. The living water of the Holy Spirit in each one of us makes that possible. We no longer have to search out God because God lives within us through his Holy Spirit.
Jesus also reveals to this woman that he is the Messiah... this is not something he did straight out very often in his years of ministry according to what was recorded.
This passage is another example of a time when Jesus had a word of knowledge revealed to him by the Holy Spirit. Because of that word of knowledge that Jesus spoke to the woman about her past, she believed in Jesus.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
15 “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.”
16 “Go and get your husband,” Jesus told her.
17 “I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied.
Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband— 18 for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!”
19 “Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. 20 So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim,where our ancestors worshiped?”
21 Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. 23 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. 24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”
25 The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
26 Then Jesus told her, “I am the Messiah!”
Tori's Comments:
Evidence of nonliving water is all around us. The world, even just friends that are Christians, noticeably search for things only Christ can give. And it can be heartbreaking to watch a friend trying to find fulfillment in relationships, media, or any multiple things. It should cause us to want to evangelize even more, especially because...
Christ offers living water. Where our idols of the world never truly satisfy, Christ satisfies for eternity. No more searching. We know who we are in Christ, and we have purpose and value in him.
My only question is once we have tasted this living water, why do we run back to the things that never truly bring fulfillment? We each have our own temptations, but we need to constantly be reading the Word, spending time with Christ, and just reminding ourselves to not drift from our relationship with God. We need to remember everything he has given us.
Terrie's Comments:
This is an awesome revealing of the fact that we no longer worship God from a specific place but from our spirits anywhere we are. The living water of the Holy Spirit in each one of us makes that possible. We no longer have to search out God because God lives within us through his Holy Spirit.
Jesus also reveals to this woman that he is the Messiah... this is not something he did straight out very often in his years of ministry according to what was recorded.
This passage is another example of a time when Jesus had a word of knowledge revealed to him by the Holy Spirit. Because of that word of knowledge that Jesus spoke to the woman about her past, she believed in Jesus.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Tuesday, May 2, 2017
Day 28 - John 4:1-12
1Jesus knew the Pharisees had heard that he was baptizing and making more disciples than John 2 (though Jesus himself didn’t baptize them—his disciples did). 3 So he left Judea and returned to Galilee.
4 He had to go through Samaria on the way. 5 Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. 7 Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” 8 He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food.
9 The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?”
10 Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”
11 “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? 12 And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?”
Terrie's Comments:
The fact that Jesus was alone and talking to a Samaritan woman is even more remarkable when we realize that He knows so much about her past (as we will see tomorrow). Not many people would have been seen with her, let alone a single man who was a Jew. Even Samaritan's were not likely to be socializing with her. She had come to the well alone at a time when no one else was likely to be drawing water. I wonder if this divine, life changing, community changing encounter was a result of Jesus listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit and being in the right place at the right time to be used by God his Father!
Tori's Comments:
Jesus was tired. He grew weary. Every time I think on another layer of Jesus's humanity, his sacrifice and mercy seems even more amazing.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
4 He had to go through Samaria on the way. 5 Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. 7 Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” 8 He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food.
9 The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?”
10 Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”
11 “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? 12 And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?”
Terrie's Comments:
The fact that Jesus was alone and talking to a Samaritan woman is even more remarkable when we realize that He knows so much about her past (as we will see tomorrow). Not many people would have been seen with her, let alone a single man who was a Jew. Even Samaritan's were not likely to be socializing with her. She had come to the well alone at a time when no one else was likely to be drawing water. I wonder if this divine, life changing, community changing encounter was a result of Jesus listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit and being in the right place at the right time to be used by God his Father!
Tori's Comments:
Jesus was tired. He grew weary. Every time I think on another layer of Jesus's humanity, his sacrifice and mercy seems even more amazing.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Monday, May 1, 2017
Day 27 - John 3:31-36
31 “He has come from above and is greater than anyone else. We are of the earth, and we speak of earthly things, but he has come from heaven and is greater than anyone else. 32 He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but how few believe what he tells them! 33 Anyone who accepts his testimony can affirm that God is true. 34 For he is sent by God. He speaks God’s words, for God gives him the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves his Son and has put everything into his hands. 36 And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”
Tori's Comments:
Anyone who doesn't OBEY the Son. We can't just sit on our butts; God has called us to take action and fulfill the mission Jesus gave us: Go tell the world!
Terrie's Comments:
When we believe the words of Jesus and his testimony we affirm that God is true. The only way to Heaven and eternal life is through believing in Jesus Christ.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Tori's Comments:
Anyone who doesn't OBEY the Son. We can't just sit on our butts; God has called us to take action and fulfill the mission Jesus gave us: Go tell the world!
Terrie's Comments:
When we believe the words of Jesus and his testimony we affirm that God is true. The only way to Heaven and eternal life is through believing in Jesus Christ.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
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