Proverbs 3:1-4 (ESV)
Trust in the LORD with All Your Heart
“[1] My son, do not forget MY teaching,
but let your heart keep MY commandments,
[2] for length of days and years of life
and peace they will add to you.
[3] Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
bind them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
[4] So you will find favor and good success
in the sight of GOD and man.”
John 15:1-10 (ESV)
I AM the True Vine
“[1] “I AM THE TRUE VINE, and MY FATHER is THE VINEDRESSER. [2] Every branch in ME that does not bear fruit HE (THE VINEDRESSER) takes away, and every branch that DOES BEAR FRUIT HE prunes, that it may bear MORE FRUIT. [3] Already you are clean because of the WORD that I have spoken to you. [4] Abide in ME, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in ME. [5] I AM the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in ME and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, FOR APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING. [6] If anyone does not abide in ME he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. [7] If you abide in ME, and MY WORDS abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and “IT WILL BE DONE FOR YOU”. [8] By this MY FATHER is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be MY disciples. [9] As the FATHER has loved ME, so have I loved you. Abide in MY love. [10] If you keep MY commandments, you will abide in MY love, just as I have kept MY FATHER’S commandments and abide in HIS LOVE.”
Yesterday I wrote about “FOR APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING”. As I was meditating over these words following sharing the devotional, my mind was almost captivated by the words “IT WILL BE DONE FOR YOU” a couple of verses later in the text!
ALMIGHTY GOD doesn’t require me to venture into HIS WORD any further to REVEAL HIMSELF to a Brain Damaged person who is only a high school graduate! HE ordained this servant to go to work instead of college following high school! HE orchestrated me to be “walking the mall” in August 1982 with my best friend and for me to walk into a “pantyhose store” with the intentions of asking the girl working there to go out with my friend. She said yes, but to going out with me that weekend. Now forty-two years later she and I are celebrating our 40+ year anniversary!!
There are TOO MANY ways that GOD has “made straight” our paths (Proverbs 3:5-6) for me to say that I had absolutely anything to do with it! “If you ABIDE in ME” is my greatest failure as a BELIEVER! I cannot remember a day where I have ABIDED in HIM for the entire day? I am BLESSED that JESUS lives in and for me. The song written by (and sung by) André Crouch in the 1970’s that says “where would I be if JESUS didn’t love me” says it best for me!
We don’t/can’t fully understand, fathom or grasp the MAGNITUDE of WHO GOD, JESUS or THE HOLY SPIRIT IS! Our “limited” minds don’t possess the capacity of knowing precisely WHO, WHAT, WHERE, HOW or WHY (or any other descriptive word) GOD OPERATES? Likewise, the PROMISE “IT WILL BE DONE FOR YOU” is a statement that I will NEVER fully understand! It is NOT that GOD “owes” me an understanding (1 Corinthians 2:11), or that HE owes me anything, but HE SAYS “IT WILL BE DONE FOR YOU” and I claim HIS WORDS, as JESUS CHRIST lives in me (John 17:23) and I WANT TO SERVE HIM!!!
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John 15:1-10 (ESV)
I AM the True Vine
“[1] “I AM THE TRUE VINE, and MY FATHER is THE VINEDRESSER. [2] Every branch in ME that does not bear fruit HE (THE VINEDRESSER) takes away, and every branch that DOES BEAR FRUIT HE prunes, that it may bear MORE FRUIT. [3] Already you are clean because of the WORD that I have spoken to you. [4] Abide in ME, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in ME. [5] I AM the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in ME and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, “FOR APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING”. [6] If anyone does not abide in ME he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. [7] If you abide in ME, and MY WORDS abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and IT WILL BE DONE FOR YOU. [8] By this MY FATHER is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be MY disciples. [9] As the FATHER has loved ME, so have I loved you. Abide in MY love. [10] If you keep MY commandments, you will abide in MY love, just as I have kept MY FATHER’S commandments and abide in HIS LOVE.”
When I was a youngster in the youth department of the church I was attending, I was asked to do a devotional for the youth ministry during an outing they had. Now I wasn’t CHOSEN yet, but I read the above passage of Scripture and GOD kept these verses in my mind for the rest of my life, so far!
Now, nearly fifty years later while reading John 15, I was allowing the SPIRIT OF GOD to speak to me and HE said “FOR APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING”!! I wasn’t a BELIEVER in the mid-70’s, but GOD used that devotional to SPEAK to my life as only HE can!
Realizing that HE is now telling me while reading these verses that “FOR APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING” is VIVIDLY more clear now! The seventeen day coma I experienced in July 2007 opened my EYES to SEE things in a different light. I couldn’t do ANYTHING on my own during the almost three week period that I was intubated (Isaiah 42:5). It was as if I had always “just figured” my next breath was coming??? But since I have been where I was in July 2007, I am able to SEE things EXTREMELY more clearly!!!
Yes, “FOR APART FROM ME (JESUS) YOU (me!) CAN DO NOTHING” now carries a completely different meaning! I tried “on my own”, and I failed miserably!!!
My prayer is that everyone who reads this will have their EYES OPENED to SEE that “FOR APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING” before your time is up!!!
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John 9:1-7 (ESV)
JESUS Heals a Man Born Blind
“[1] As HE passed by, HE saw a man blind from birth. [2] And HIS disciples asked HIM, “RABBI, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” [3] JESUS answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of “GOD MIGHT BE GLORIFIED IN HIM”. [4] We must work the works of HIM WHO sent ME while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. [5] As long as I AM in the world, I AM the LIGHT of the world.” [6] Having said these things, HE spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then HE anointed the man’s eyes with the mud [7] and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and CAME BACK SEEING.”
There is MUCH that could be written about the seven verses of Scripture above! However, we need to be careful NOT to elevate the words “GOD MIGHT BE GLORIFIED IN HIM” before any other words!!!
Job 42:1-2 (ESV)
Job’s Confession and Repentance
“[1] Then Job answered the LORD and said:
[2] “I know that YOU can do “ALL THINGS”,
and that no purpose of YOURS can be thwarted.”
Thwart: To prevent the occurrence, realization, or attainment of
YOU can do “ALL THINGS”!
Most everyone I know is aware of the “massive brain hemorrhage” I experienced on July 09, 2007. “My intentions” were to get up that morning and begin fundraising for a nonprofit that I had already filed the paperwork for to help underprivileged kids go to college or trade school. Because I was operating at a pace that I could not sustain, ALMIGHTY GOD had to get my attention! HE did that by allowing a blood vessel in the “word recall” portion of my brain to begin leaking!!!
That began an “unintentional” process of getting my LIFE to where I could HEAR from the CREATOR, not because I was holy, but because HE IS!!! I am extremely unworthy, but HE CHOSE me BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD (Ephesians 1:4) for a REASON, and I needed to experience that REASON!!!
GOD says in Psalms 46:10 (ESV) “BE STILL, and know that I AM GOD. I WILL BE exalted among the nations, I WILL BE exalted in the earth!” GOD can take care of the kids needing assistance to go to college or trade-school. HE doesn’t need me or anyone else to help HIM. HIS COMMAND was for me to BE STILL, then prepare for I WILL BE to fulfill whatever is needed.
In the focal passage today, Job says GOD can do “ALL THINGS”!!! HE doesn’t need me to do it for HIM! In “ALL THINGS” HE needs me to BE STILL and get out of HIS WAY!!!
John 10:1-6 (ESV)
I Am the Good Shepherd
“[1] “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. [2] But HE WHO enters by the door is the SHEPHERD of the sheep. [3] To HIM the GATEKEEPER opens. The sheep hear HIS VOICE, and HE calls HIS OWN sheep by name and leads them out. [4] When HE has brought out all HIS OWN, HE goes before them, and the sheep follow HIM, for they know HIS VOICE. [5] A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” [6] This figure of speech JESUS used with them, but “THEY DID NOT UNDERSTAND” what HE was saying to them.”
JESUS was speaking to a group of Pharisees, people that were astute in the traditions and culture of the Jewish religious community. They believed that keeping “the law” was essential for holy living. “THEY DID NOT UNDERSTAND” that their “laws” and “rules” were NOT doing anything to protect themselves! Instead, they thought they were “better than everyone else” and that they would be first when THE MESSIAH came!! The Pharisees were some of the ones who actually had JESUS “put to death”, but the death could not hold my SAVIOR!!!
Am I any better than the Pharisees??? I go to church, participate in the Sunday School lesson, help with serving others, and whatever else I can do. But if JESUS were walking by, would HE see my “good deeds” as “filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6)?
Romans 3:10 says “as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;”! The ONLY HOPE I (or any of us) have is to CLAIM the BLOOD of JESUS when we stand at the JUDGMENT SEAT!!! I DON’T KNOW WHY JESUS LOVED ME (Andre’ Crouch), but PRAISE HIM HE CHOSE me to be a slave for HIS GLORY!!! That might be difficult to fathom, but JESUS is all I can claim!!! We who are CHOSEN can SEE our eternity before us, but “THEY DID NOT UNDERSTAND” are the most common people around!!!!
John 14:8-11 (ESV)
“[8] Philip said to HIM, “LORD, show us the FATHER, and it is enough for us.” [9] JESUS said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know ME, Philip? Whoever has seen ME has seen the FATHER. How can you say, ‘Show us the FATHER’? [10] Do you not believe that I AM in the FATHER and ”THE FATHER IS IN ME”? The words that I say to you I do not speak on MY OWN authority, but the FATHER WHO dwells in ME does HIS works. [11] Believe ME that I AM in the FATHER and the FATHER is in ME, or else believe on account of the works themselves.”
JESUS was speaking to HIS disciples in general, but during the present conversation HE was speaking to Philip. Philip isn’t mentioned nearly as much as Peter or any of the other disciples, but JESUS was about to disclose to the entire disciple body (excluding Judas, see John 13:30!) some words that would ultimately change their lives!
JESUS KNEW that the disciples were going to lay down their lives for HIM. The disciples, however, didn’t!! HE was preparing them for after HIS crucifixion, when they would have to rely on the HOLY SPIRIT to guide their lives (Acts 2:2)! Although JESUS knew that the HOLY SPIRIT (part of the TRINITY) was capable of, we (human mortals) require HIS OMNIPOTENCE to be slowly revealed to us to avoid overloading our limited brain functionality!
“THE FATHER IS IN ME” is something that JESUS spoke to HIS disciples over 2,000 years ago! But even though we hear it, can we actually, functionally understand that the TRINITY is COMPLETE, even when we don’t understand? GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON (JESUS), and GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT ALL work together in UNISON, with ONE ACCORD! ONE doesn’t operate “on HIS own”. HE operates in UNISON, with ONE ACCORD!!
In the seventeenth chapter of John, JESUS says to HIS FATHER that WE ALL will be as ONE! Since the TRINITY lives inside of us, we must yield to a HIGHER POWER and not try to keep control of our lives! Since “THE FATHER IS IN ME” and JESUS is in me, I need to YIELD to HIM to control my life.
HEAVENLY FATHER, cause me to DAILY surrender my life to YOUR guidance and remember that YOUR SON is in me, YOUR HOLY SPIRIT is in me, but also “THE FATHER IS IN ME”!!!
John 8:48-59 (ESV)
Before Abraham Was, “I AM”
“[48] The Jews answered HIM, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” [49] JESUS answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor MY FATHER, and you dishonor ME. [50] Yet I do not seek MY OWN glory; there is ONE WHO seeks it, and HE IS THE JUDGE. [51] Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps MY WORD, he will NEVER see death.” [52] The Jews said to HIM, “Now we know that YOU have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps MY WORD, he will never taste death.’ [53] Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! WHO DO YOU MAKE YOURSELF OUT TO BE?” [54] JESUS answered, “If I glorify MYSELF, MY glory is nothing. It is MY FATHER WHO glorifies ME, of whom you say, ‘HE is our GOD’. [55] But you have not known HIM. I know HIM. If I were to say that I do not know HIM, I would be a liar like you, but I do know HIM and I keep HIS WORD. [56] Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see MY day. He saw it and was glad.” [57] So the Jews said to HIM, “YOU are not yet fifty years old, and have YOU seen Abraham?” [58] JESUS said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, “I AM”.” [59] So they picked up stones to throw at HIM, but JESUS hid HIMSELF and went out of the temple.”
Briefly this morning, JESUS KNEW WHO HE IS/WAS! “The Jews” did NOT! The SPIRITUAL EYES of people are what requires DIVINE INTERVENTION! This can ONLY be accomplished by “I AM”!!!
Isaiah 65:17-25 (ESV)
New Heavens and a New Earth
“[17] “For behold, I create “NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH”,
and the former things shall not be remembered
or come into mind.
[18] But be glad and rejoice forever
in that which I create;
for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy,
and her people to be a gladness.
[19] I will rejoice in Jerusalem
and be glad in MY people;
no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping
and the cry of distress.
[20] No more shall there be in it
an infant who lives but a few days,
or an old man who does not fill out his days,
for the young man shall die a hundred years old,
and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed.
[21] They shall build houses and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
[22] They shall not build and another inhabit;
they shall not plant and another eat;
for like the days of a tree shall the days of MY people be,
and MY chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
[23] They shall not labor in vain
or bear children for calamity,
for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the LORD,
and their descendants with them.
[24] Before they call I will answer;
while they are yet speaking I will hear.
[25] The wolf and the lamb shall graze together;
the lion shall eat straw like the ox,
and dust shall be the serpent’s food.
They shall not hurt or destroy
in all MY holy mountain,”
says the LORD.”
Colossians 1:13-14 (ESV)
“[13] HE (GOD) has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of HIS beloved SON (JESUS), [14] in WHOM we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Exodus 3:7-12 (ESV)
“[7] Then the LORD said, “I have surely seen the affliction of MY people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, [8] and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. [9] And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to ME, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. [10] Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring MY people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” [11] But Moses said to GOD, “WHO AM I” that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” [12] HE said, “But I WILL BE WITH YOU, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve GOD on this mountain.””
Moses was reared in Pharaoh’s palace with “privilege”!! He was raised by his own mother, but only after Pharaoh’s daughter found him in a basket in the river. Moses then killed an Egyptian when the Egyptian was beating a Hebrew brother. After burying the dead Egyptian in the sand, Moses decided to FLEE from Egypt! GOD came to Moses when Moses was keeping sheep at Mount Horeb (Exodus 3:1) for his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian to enlighten him on GOD’S PLAN to FREE HIS people!!
Most people have heard the story of DELIVERANCE of the Children of Israel from Egyptian captivity. What this devotional will deal with is whom precisely GOD used to deliver the Children of Israel from Egyptian captivity. Moses replied to GOD ALMIGHTY “WHO AM I” when GOD told him that HE was going to send him to Pharaoh to bring HIS Children OUT OF EGYPT! Moses couldn’t SEE how GOD was going to release the Children of Israel from the Egyptians, especially when Egypt was very powerful at the time.
Moses was very well aware of the intricacies of the Egyptian hierarchy. Was this a coincidence??? GOD has a PLAN, and that PLAN was coming together with amazing precision. Although Moses “stuttered” (Exodus 4), he was also CHOSEN by the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES to deliver HIS CHOSEN NATION to the Promised Land! Yes, Moses might not have been the eloquent speaker, but he was the person who GOD CHOSE to perform HIS PLAN!!!
“WHO AM I” asked by Moses needs to be answered “you are just being used by ME (YHWH) to complete MY PLAN”!!’ GOD uses imperfect people to do things that are seemingly impossible. TO THIS DAY the rock where GOD provided water to the Children of Israel at Mount Horeb (Exodus 17:6) is still there! Moses told GOD “WHO AM I” in Exodus 3:11, but GOD really needed EVERYONE to see WHO I AM is/was (Exodus 3:14)?!?!?!
