Can’t Hear, Can’t See
It was a beautiful day here, Father. Thank You for the blessings of Your creation. Thank you for Your presence. Thank You for family and rest.
John 12:37-43 (<<click here to read the passage)
We met up with some of our dear friends this past weekend. Their 11-year-old son is a really great kid (smart and a total hoot to be around) but a boy through and through for sure. Mom shared that if the TV is on, he is totally engulfed in whatever he is watching. If she has asked him to do something, he may acknowledge she said something but remains transfixed. Not until she turns the TV off, can she motivate him to get his rear in gear!
I want to stress; he is not a bad kid. He has great parents who love him to the moon and back and you can tell he loves them in the same way. But, like many of us, he struggles when his attention is fixed elsewhere, to focus on what is the most important thing to focus on. Mom trumps TV every time. And whether we like to admit it or not, God trumps whatever may be happening in our lives all the time!
As today’s Scripture clearly points out, those in Jesus’ day were not focusing on God – and unfortunately many in our world today are in the same boat. Jesus quotes a portion of the prophet Isaiah’s writings.
The Greek translation of the passage from Isaiah 6:10 makes it very clear what Jesus was saying.
“Go and say to this people,
‘When you hear what I say, you will not understand.
..When you see what I do, you will not comprehend.’
For the hearts of these people are hardened,
..and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes—
…so their eyes cannot see,
…and their ears cannot hear,
…and their hearts cannot understand,
…and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.”
The notes from my Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation address a very important concept – the hardening of our hearts.
People in Jesus’ time, like those in the time of Isaiah, would not believe despite the evidence (12:37). As a result, God hardened their hearts. Does that mean God intentionally prevented these people from believing in him? No, he simply confirmed their own choices. After a lifetime of resisting God, they had become so set in their ways that they wouldn’t even try to understand Jesus’ message. For such people, it is virtually impossible to come to God – their hearts have been permanently hardened.
We must diligently seek to obey the leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It would take a lifetime of disobedience to come to the point of being unable to hear his voice or to see the direction He is pointing us. And I believe, even those who have allowed their hearts to become hardened are never too far gone for God’s grace to reach.
Lord Jesus, tear our attention away from whatever may be taking our focus off of You. And may Your mercy and grace continue to draw the attention of those who have no thought of You whatsoever. Amen.
Aug 22nd, 2021, Sun, 7:41 pm
Darkness and Crushed Toes
It is always a joyous occasion to meet up with old friends, Father. Thank You for our mini-reunion over the last couple of days. Since our youth, we have all changed in many ways, but the depth of friendship is not lost!
John 12:27-36 (<<click here to read the passage)
A few years back, some time after going to bed I got up to take my nightly journey down the hall. It was a pitch-black night and though our bed has been in the same place for years and despite the fact that I had walked the same path almost nightly for years as well, for some reason I drove my big toe directly into the corner of Karen’s dresser. I am sure you realize that it was not a pleasant experience. I didn’t think I had broken it, but it definitely hurt! (X-rays for another injury a couple of days later confirmed it was not broken.)
It’s not happened since but things often take place in the dark that we would not do when we can see properly.
Jesus clearly stated in John 8:12,
“I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” AMP
In today’s passage, Jesus was giving His listeners fair warning that He, the Light of the world, would only be with them a little while longer. He advised them that they needed to take advantage of His presence amongst them while there was still Light – and to [keep on living by it], so that darkness would not overtake them.
Like me on the ill-fated night not so long ago, I drifted aimlessly into Karen’s dresser. If I had been more diligent about walking in the light, even the light from my phone, I very well might not have crushed my toe!
Jesus – the Light – is our only hope and we must diligently strive to believe and trust in the Light [have faith in it, hold on to it, rely on it], so that you may become sons of Light [being filled with Light as followers of God].” v36 AMP
May we abide by the words of the Apostle Paul,
For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. Ephesians 5:8-9 NLT
Aug 19th, 2021, Thurs, 8:11 pm
My Father’s Lap
Father, tonight I’d like to just crawl up onto Your lap. I’m sure You don’t mind. And even though it’s off the wall crazy down with all that’s going on in our world, You will never pass up the opportunity to take me in Your mighty arms and let me know without a doubt that You have always loved me, and always will…
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I feel for those who have never had the opportunity to be loved and love back. My parents and my Grandma Provance were all people that I could count on growing up for a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on. I am sure at some point that I crawled up into their laps and just basked in that overarching love. I’m a little too big to do that now but there is no need to question that my mom and dad are there for me and lift me up to Father whether I ask them to or not.
In our world, unconditional love is not always a given. Often a no-strings-attached, there-for-you-no-matter-what kind of love is hard to come by. I love them back, but I know there have been times when I have hurt them by things I’ve said or done…but their love has never wavered. Yes, I am blessed beyond measure for I surely ask for no greater blessing than that.
But there is most assuredly a love that surpasses even that love! My Heavenly Father’s love for me goes far above and beyond any love that we may have here on earth. The Apostle Paul wrote of it in his letter to the people of Rome,
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors and gain an overwhelming victory through Him who loved us [so much that He died for us]. For I am convinced [and continue to be convinced—beyond any doubt] that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the [unlimited] love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39 AMP
But God’s love of course goes back much further than that. The Prophet Isaiah wrote,
For the mountains may move
….and the hills disappear,
but even then my faithful love for you will remain.
….My covenant of blessing will never be broken,”
….says the Lord, who has mercy on you. Isaiah 54:10 NLT
No matter what this world has to throw at us, no matter where we are, no matter if we are amongst the thousands or all alone, He is there. Going all the way back to the time of the Law given through Moses to the people of Israel, Moses said to Joshua,
“It is the Lord who goes before you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or abandon you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8 AMP
So today, don’t hesitate to crawl up onto God’s lap. He’s expecting you!
Aug 18th, 2021, Wed, 8:47 pm
Torn Between the Two
Thank You, Father, for friends from long ago who are yet friends today. I am grateful for new friends as well. I am blessed with the camaraderie of both. And all, of course, can be traced back to Your bounteous care and love!
John 12:27-36 (<<click here to read the passage)
Have you ever been torn between choices you’ve had to make? Having to choose to do something that you would do anything not to have to do is often beyond difficult. Oft times not doing what has to be done can lead to just as excruciating ends.
Here is a hypothetical(ish) example. You are a part of an important organization that is very close to tearing itself apart. A meeting must transpire to address the problem that is at hand. It will be uncomfortable and could very well lead to harsh words on the part of both “sides”. In the end, division could still take place but ignoring it is just killing the organization. So, though hope is small, confrontation is of the greatest necessity. And with great misgivings and with aching of heart, soul, and mind, you move forward and cast aside all thoughts of retreat.
Just about any situation could be accommodated to fit in the above situation. We’ve all found ourselves on one side or the other. Some relish those kinds of things but most of us dread them. But we must do what needs to be done.
Jesus found Himself between the greatest rock and hard spot to ever exist in all of eternity. Understanding that He was just as fully man as He was God, helps us to appreciate why He said at the beginning of verse 27,
“Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’?” NLT
Jesus knew what was coming. We know now what was coming. Incomprehensible pain and suffering were just days away. The physical aspects alone of what He would be put through would have given us cause to not only pray the prayer Jesus prayed but, how many of us would have run as far away from the whole thing as quickly as we could?
Then there is the spiritual part that we can only struggle to grasp. Jesus would literally be taking upon Himself – and He being pure and holy to the uttermost – the sins of man. And not just one man or woman but all the entirety of humanity from creation until judgment day! Unbelievable right?
But this was Jesus’ answer to His own prayer.
“But this is the very reason I came! Father, bring glory to your name.” v27b-28
Jesus may have been torn between two very difficult situations, but He chose – he wasn’t forced, or coerced – he chose to go through it all because it was the only way we would be saved from the condemnation we all so justly deserve. All glory and praise to His holy name! Amen.
Aug 17th, 2021, Tues, 7:14 pm
Focus Not Just on the Here and Now, but on the Life to Come
Father, thank You for motivating me to get through some filing today, as well as some prep for Sunday. I pray that I can find those things I seem to have stuck somewhere. Amen.
John 12:20-26 (<<click here to read the passage)
When I’m bored, I poke around on my phone and over time I have seen quite a few “this is where they are now” videos or slide shows of people who featured prominently on big and small screens at some point. And, from a worldly perspective, there are very few “happy endings”.
Especially child actors don’t seem to fair well. For a while, they are “all that” and the center of attention. But youth fades into adulthood and far too often the “cute” factor is no longer a factor. Off the top of my head, I can only think of a couple of them that went on to make something of themselves as time marched on.
Shirly Temple was Hollywood’s number one box-office draw as a child actress from 1934 to 1938. As an adult, she was named United States ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia and served as Chief of Protocol of the United States.
Kurt Russell and Ron Howard both found success in their youth. And both continue to make a name for themselves – Russel in front of and behind the camera. And since his Happy Days years, Howard has greatly impacted the big screen with several Academy and Golden Globe awards to his name.
I’m sure there are more, but of the thousands that have been in the industry there are far more who have crashed and burned, their lives ruined. And others…wisely bailed on the industry before their lives could be destroyed.
I don’t know the spiritual condition of the three souls I mentioned above, but Jesus clearly states in today’s passage,
Those who love their life in this world will lose it. v25a NLT
Unfortunately, many pursue the fullness of this life only to find that their pursuit comes to an abrupt halt. Dead-end routes are the norm, not the exception. Even those who “have it all” often find that there is no true satisfaction in it all. Many have taken their own lives, while the same could be said for others who allowed their obsession with drugs and alcohol and promiscuous lifestyles to bring their lives to an unexpected conclusion.
Those are the ways of the rich and famous…but minus the rich and famous part, are our lives really that much different? We work and work for some semblance of satisfaction and fulfillment only to often come to the end of our lives and ask, “Is that it? All that time, energy, and labor and that is all I ended up with?”
Jesus goes on to say in the rest of verse 25,
…but the one who hates his life in this world [and is concerned with pleasing God] will keep it for life eternal. AMP
Lord Jesus, help us to focus and apply our lives to take advantage of not just the here and now, but on the life to come. May we be people after Your own heart, seeking to love You with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength – and in response, to love our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:29-31). Amen.
Aug 16th, 2021, Mon, 7:16 pm