Exploring God's Colossal Promises
The Bible calls us to be fruitful. What does fruitfulness look like? John 12 gives five examples. Will I trust the promises in this chapter or seek a mere fraction of what they offer?
When confronted by hopeless cases that require a miracle, will we dare to speak simple prayers of faith? What holds us back? Are our reasons Bible-based or fear-based? Consider the response of Jesus when Mary and Martha send word that their brother Lazarus is deathly ill.
The Good Shepherd is also the Good Warrior! Artists often portray Jesus and His flock in tranquil scenes. But John 10:1-14 speaks of deadly combat. We are part of a war to the death, but we follow the Good Shepherd who has laid down His life for the sheep and continues to guard our lives.
Prophets like Elijah performed many miracles, while John the Baptist did none — with one exception! Do you know John’s singular, stupendous supernatural sign? John 10:41 reports: “Though John never performed a sign, all that John said about this man [Jesus] was true.” John’s sole miracle was foretelling the truth about Jesus.
Did you know that sheep are evangelists? How do sheep witness? In “A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23,” author Phillip Keller explains how sheep inform lost sheep they encounter that their Shepherd is Good and worth following.
When Psalm 100 says we are the sheep of God’s pasture, and Jesus says I am the Good Shepherd, is that a poetic metaphor? Or does it described a life-changing reality? The answer is found in John 10.
In 2013 while driving home from a thrilling evangelism conference, the Holy Spirit downloaded to me a new tune. As David says: “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God” (Psalm 40:3a NIV). Singing this song encourages me to trust Jesus as He takes me on fishing trips with Him. I pray it will do the same for you.
Miracles are messy and controversial. In John 9, after Jesus heals a blind beggar, the poor guy gets into hot water with the Religion Police. Will we avoid miracles, or will we seek what Jesus is doing today without concern that His miracles will rock the boat?
When Jesus invites us to walk with Him, it’s not for a stroll in the park but a march of endurance. Yet He promises we “will never walk in darkness,” and “the truth will set us free.” (John 8:12 & 32) Jesus teaches us how to find the strength for the journey in John 8.
When faced with ethical choices, some people ask: “What would Jesus do?” But when Jesus was in such circumstances, what question did He ask? In John 8:1-11, the enemies of Jesus drag before Him a woman caught in the act of adultery. Hefting rocks, they throw a hard question at Jesus, “Moses said to stone this disgraceful woman. But what do you say, Jesus?” In John 8:28-29 Jesus says that He does nothing without the initiative of God the Father. So, in this ethical dilemma, what does the Father show Jesus to say and do?
How accurate is your enemy detector? One positive byproduct of pushback is that we discern who are God’s friends and who are God’s enemies. Who is opposing you right now? On the surface, do they appear to be God’s friends or God’s enemies? Below the surface, which are they? Will we stand up to them or back down? Which did Jesus do?