Posts Tagged ‘trust in the lord’


Under Gods Command

John 15:17-19  This is the command: Love each other. If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

Christians will get plenty of hatred from the world; from each other we need love and support. Do you allow small problems to get in the way of loving other believers? Jesus commands that you love them, and he will give you the strength to do it.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.


Under Gods Command

John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-fruit that will last. The Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

Jesus made the first choice-to love and to die for us, to invite us to live with him forever. We make the next choice-to accept or reject his offer. Without his choice, we would have no choice to make.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.


Under Gods Command
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

John 13:36-38 Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.” Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crow’s you will disown me three times!

Peter proudly told Jesus that he was ready to die for him. But Jesus corrected him. He knew Peter would deny that he knew Jesus that very night to protect himself. In our enthusiasm, it is easy to make promises, but God know the extent of our commitment. Paul tells us not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought. Instead of bragging, demonstrate your commitment step-by-step as you grow in your knowledge of God’s Word and in your faith.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; (6) in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.


Under Gods Command

John 13:34-35 “A new command I give you.  Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples.  If you love one another.”  

Jesus says that our Christ like love will show we are his disciples.  Do people see petty bickering, jealousy, and division in your church? Or do they know you are Jesus followers and not just a fan by your love for one another?  Love is more than simply warm feelings; it is an attitude that reveals itself in action.  How can we love others as Jesus loves us? By helping when it’s not convenient, by giving when it hurts, by devoting energy to others welfare rather than our own, by absorbing hurts from others without complaining or fighting back.  This kind of loving is hard to do. That is why people notice when you do it and know you are empowered by a supernatural source.  The Bible has another beautiful description of love in 1 Corinthians 13.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; (6) in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.   


Under Gods Command
Jesus Washes the Disciples Feet

John 13:12-17  When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Jesus did not wash his disciples feet just to get them to be nice to each other. His far greater goal was to extend his mission on earth after he was gone. These men were to move into the world serving God, serving each other, and serving all people to whom they took the message of salvation.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; (6) in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.


Under Gods Command

John 13:3-6 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

Jesus was the model servant, and he showed his servant attitude to his disciples. Washing guests feet was a job for a household servant to carry out when guest arrived. But Jesus wrapped a towel around his waist, as the lowliest slave would do, and washed and dried his disciple’s feet. If even he, God in the flesh, is willing to serve, we his followers must also be servants, willing to serve in any way that glorifies God. Are you willing to follow Christ’s example of serving? Whom can you serve today? There is a special blessing for those who not only agree that humbles service is Christ’s way, but who also follow through and do it.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; (6) in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.


Under Gods Command

John 13:1-2 It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.

Jesus knew he would be betrayed by one of his disciples, disowned by another, and deserted by all of them for a time. Still “he now showed them the full extent of his love.” God knows us completely, as Jesus knew his disciples. He knows the sins we have committed and the ones we will yet commit. Still, he loves us. How do you respond to that kind of love?

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; (6) in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.


Under Gods Command
Jesus Summarizes His Message

John 12:47-50 “As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So what ever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”

The purpose of Jesus first mission on earth was not to judge people, but to show them the way to find salvation and eternal life. When he comes again, one of his main purposes will be to judge people for how they lived on earth. Christ’s words that we would not accept and obey will condemn us. On the day of judgment, those who accepted Jesus and lived his way will be raised to eternal life and those who rejected Jesus and lived any way they pleased will face eternal punishment. Decide now which side you’ll be on, for the consequences of your decision last forever.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; (6) in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.


Under Gods Command
Jesus Summarizes His Message

John 12:44-46 “When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

We often wonder what God is like. How can we know the Creator when he doesn’t make himself visible? Jesus said plainly that those who see him see God, because he is God. If you want to know what God is like, study the person and words of Jesus Christ.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; (6) in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.


Under Gods Command

Most of the People Do Not Believe in Jesus

John 12:37-38 Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.  This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet.  “Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 

Jesus had performed many miracles, but most people still didn’t believe in him.  Likewise, many today won’t believe despite all God does.  Don’t be discouraged if your witness for Christ doesn’t turn as many to him as you’d like.  Your job is to continue as a faithful witness.  You are responsible to reach out to others, but they are responsible for their own decisions.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; (6) in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight