Daily Encouragement

March 1, 2009 - The Security Of The Believers

Meditation on John 10

Jesus compared believers as His sheep. They are safe and secure in Him for the following reasons:

Jesus Himself is our good shepherd. He is the door of the sheep meaning we can have eternal life only through Him. And we come in and out of the sheepfold only through Him. (The ancient shepherd sleeps and guards at the door.) Jesus also gives His life for the sheep. He knows His sheep and hears his voice. He leads the sheep and finds them pasture. He says that we shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch us out of His hand. (v. 28) Moreover, He says that we are given to Him by His Father who is greater than all. No one is able to snatch us out of His Father's hand. (v. 29)

Jesus also gives the characteristics of the believers, His sheep. They hear and know His voice and follow Him. They do not follow a stranger with a strange voice. In other words, they believe Him and the work He did. They believe that He and the Father are one (v. 30), and that the Father is in Him and He is in the Father. (v. 38) These are the true believers that are safe in Him.

Therefore, if you are a true believer, you will enjoy an abundant life secured in Him. (v. 10) If you are not yet, admit that you need Him and His forgiveness. Accept His eternal life into your heart. And acknowledge Him to be your shepherd all the days of your life. He will hear your prayer.

March 2, 2009 - Delayed Answered To Prayer

Meditation on John 11

When Lazarus was seriously sick, his sisters sent messenger to Jesus to ask for His coming. But Jesus purposely stayed two more days at where he was before He came to the sisters and brother's town. By the time he arrived, Lazarus had been dead for four days. There should be a stench from his body already.

Since Jesus was the Son of God, why didn't He answer the prayers of his loved ones immediately? The Bible says that "Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus." (v. 5 NKJV) From other biblical accounts, we find also that Martha and Mary loved Jesus, honored and served Him sacrificially. (Luke 10:38-42) So there seemed to be no reason why Jesus did not answer their request. But Jesus did explain this delay right from the beginning. He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it." (v. 4) As usual, the disciples did not know what He meant then until Lazarus was raised from the dead. Jesus made sure that the people considered Lazarus as really dead according to human knowledge so to convince that He could give resurrection and life.

When God delays His answer to our prayers, there must be some reasons for the sake of His glory. Yes, there is nothing impossible with God. He could even raise the dead!

He emphasized to His disciples that "Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." (John 16:24) Some prayers may be answered a little later. But He did that to show us human frailty as well as His power beyond our expectation. For example, our church has experienced that in our church building program. And I know of other churches have had similar experience too.

So, don't stop praying.

March 3, 2009 - Jesus Is Jehovah God

Meditation on John 12

By His words and miracles (signs), Jesus proved that He was the Son of God. He said that He and the Father are one. He raised the dead. He entered Jerusalem triumphantly to fulfill the prophecy of Zechariah. He predicted His own death as a kernel of wheat that must fall to the ground in order to produce many seeds. There was a voice from heaven to answer His request. But the Jews still did not believe Him. (v. 1-37)

Then the Bible pointed out that their unbelief was also a fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah that the first coming of the Messiah was not recognized by the Jews. (v. 38, Isaiah 53:1) Moreover, John wrote that Isaiah had seen Jesus' glory and spoke about him. (v. 41) When did that happened? Going back to Isaiah 6:1 and the following verses, Isaiah said that "and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty." (NIV) The LORD there was referring to Jehovah or Yahweh. So, Jesus is Jehovah Himself. He came to the world to reveal Jehovah to us. That is why the Word was God. (John 1:1)

At the same passage in Isaiah, the prophet was given the warning that since the Jews had rejected the word of God in the past continuously, God would make their hearts calloused, their ears dull and close their eyes so they might not see, hear and understand. These words of God were fulfilled in Isaiah's time as well as the time of Christ.

But we thank God that Jesus had come as a light into the world. (v. 46) When we see our darkness and let His words shine into our hearts, we will believe that He is Jehovah God. If we do not believe that, we are still in darkness.

March 4, 2009 - Wash One Another's Feet

Mediation on John 13

Jesus purposely gave an example of servanthood to his twelve disciples during supper. He got up and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. The Bible continues, "After that He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciple's feet, and wipe them with the towel with which He was girded." (v. 5 NKJV)

Normally it was the task of a slave to wash people's feet. Here it was, Jesus was washing all the feet of His disciples including Judas the one who was going to betray him! Humanly speaking it was unthinkable. But Jesus did this to show them that He, being their Teacher and Lord would wash their feet, they also ought to wash one another's feet. What humility and what love Jesus had demonstrated to all of us.

I remember so vividly how a layman impressed me because he always said "At your service." to his pastor. This was at the first church I served as a youth minister. He welcomed me and said "At your service" to me too. He was a handy man and he helped fixed thing and did lots of jobs in the church voluntarily. He was never bossy or telling people what to do. In contrast today, many Christians do like to take leadership in the church. But they are interested in making decision, instructing people what to do or training others. They do not like to listen or being told what to do. Servanthood is totally out of their thinking. They have great vision and are not interested in small services. I wonder what Jesus would say to them.

I am reminded of the ending of a song, "Make me a servant. Make me a servant. Make me a servant today." (Make Me A Servant by Kelly Willard)

March 5, 2009 - The Greatest Comfort

Meditation on John 14

There is no greater comfort than that given by Jesus. Before he faced the cross and would leave His disciples, He gave a series of comforting words to them and to us as follows:

1. He said that He would go to His Father's house and prepare a place for us. He would also come back and take us to be with Him. (v. 2-3)

2. He said that Christians would do greater things than what He did because He will do whatever we ask in His name. (v. 12)

3. He said that He would give us another counselor (comforter) to be with us forever. (v. 16) That is the Holy Spirit which has already come during the day of Pentecost. (Acts 2)

4. He also promised, "He who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." He who keeps His commandment is the one who loves Him, He explained. (v. 21 NKJV)

5. Then He assured us that "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (v. 27 NIV)

With all these reassurances from our Savior, our hearts can be strong in whatever circumstance.

March 6, 2009 - To Stay In Jesus

Meditation on John 15

"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." (v. 5 NKJV) These are the words of Jesus to His disciples. What does "abides" mean? The New International Version uses the word "remains" instead. The concept is to maintain a close fellowship with Jesus. One scholar says that it means to dwell, to stay, to settle in, and to sink deeper.

That is the only way for a Christian to bear fruit for Jesus. Apart from staying close to Jesus, we can do nothing spiritually in His kingdom and our service means nothing to God.

God is interested in a productive Christian. If we do not bear fruit for Him, He will take us away and cast us out. (v. 2) He will throw us into the fire to be burned. (v. 6) Also, He prunes every branch meaning to clean us with His word so that we can bear more fruits. (v. 2-3)

How then do we stay close to Him? Jesus said that it is through obedience to His Word. (v. 10) When we read and meditate His word and obey what He says, we will be productive for Him. His most important command for us is to love one another. (v. 12) Loving one another in the Lord is an indication that we stay close to Jesus.

I pray that you will stay close to Jesus today.

March 7, 2009 - The Work Of The Holy Spirit

Meditation on John 16

When Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to come to the disciples, He told us the work of the Holy Spirit, the Helper (the Comforter). First of all, He convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. People can realize their sin of not acceptance Christ, their need of the righteousness of Jesus and the judgment of evil is due to the work of the Holy Spirit. (v. 8-11)

Then the Holy Spirit guided the disciples into all truth of God because He is the Spirit of truth. He would tell the disciples the things to come so they could write the New Testament. (v. 13)

The task of the Holy Spirit also is to glorify Jesus. (v. 14) He will help all Christians to understand the truth too. (v. 14b, 1 John 2:20, 27)

Therefore, our conversion and growth in Christ are all the work of the Holy Spirit. Have you sensed the work of the Holy Spirit in your life as a Christian? Can you trace that?