I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead. Philippians 3:10
Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. John 13:35
When I was a new Christian I oftentimes felt judged, so I judged. And if I felt condemned, I condemned. When too much was expected of me, I expected too much of others but when I spent time with the Lord, I went in with nothing and came away with love. He filled me with love. Love changed me. Love improved my relationships with people. Love improved my attitude toward everything. Love caused me to consider my neighbor as myself. Love caused me to want more of Jesus.
Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. John 13:35
When I was a new Christian I oftentimes felt judged, so I judged. And if I felt condemned, I condemned. When too much was expected of me, I expected too much of others but when I spent time with the Lord, I went in with nothing and came away with love. He filled me with love. Love changed me. Love improved my relationships with people. Love improved my attitude toward everything. Love caused me to consider my neighbor as myself. Love caused me to want more of Jesus.
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| So they pulled their boats up on the shore, left everything and followed Him. Luke 5:11 |
I believe it was love that drew the disciples to forsake all and follow Jesus. Love was what had been missing in their fishing nets (the value of the fisherman rather than the fish they caught) and why Jesus said they would catch men instead. He said, it was more blessed to give than receive. Anyone can receive, not everyone can give. Therefore "more blessed" means it is more powerful to give; more powerful to love; more powerful to truly know Him.
Luke 24:13-53 - Two followers of Jesus were walking together along the road to Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. As they walked along Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. But God kept them from recognizing Him.
He asked them, "What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?
They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, "You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn't heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days!"
"What things?"
"The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth," they said. He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and He was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people. He was crucified, laid in a tomb but now His body is gone and no one knows where He is! We had hoped He was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago! Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and the prophets, explaining from all the scriptures the things concerning himself. But they still didn't recognize Him.
By the time they reached Emmaus Jesus acted as if he were going on, but they begged Him, "Stay the night with us since it is getting late." So he went home with them. As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared.
By the time they reached Emmaus Jesus acted as if he were going on, but they begged Him, "Stay the night with us since it is getting late." So he went home with them. As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared.
They said to each other, "Didn't our hearts burn within us as He talked with us on the road and explained Scriptures to us?"
Something more powerful than following or walking with Him took place while they remained with Him.
Something more powerful than following or walking with Him took place while they remained with Him.
It is not enough to be a follower of Jesus. It's not enough to walk with Him and talk with Him. All those who walk and talk with Jesus don't all know Him. All those who invite Him to come home with them don't all sense His presence. It is only after we've walked, talked and shared sweet fellowship with Jesus, and have partaken of the blessed and broken bread; and experienced our eyes being opened and our hearts burning within us that we recognize why the disciples left everything to follow Him. Peter said, "Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life." John 6:68
Until we realize God's purpose for catching up with His followers was to instill a deeper reason for their existence than merely following, walking or hanging out with a prophet that did great miracles or was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and the people. Jesus wanted to make sure He left them with something more ... a relationship built on a burning love with the living God.
The Emmaus Road into Jerusalem was twenty miles long. Jesus joined them on the last stretch of their journey with seven miles left to go. How many of us walk as followers of Jesus without ever actually walking with Him? When we do finally walk side by side we don't know Him any better than when we were following Him.
So Jesus led them to Bethany with these words ... "But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with the power from heaven." Then they saw Him taken up into heaven. So they worshiped Him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy.
Walking with God, as He created us to walk, does not end in Jerusalem. It compels us all the way to Bethany. It does not end at home. Its does not end at the supper table. It does not end with the breaking of the bread or when our eyes are opened or when our hearts are burning within us while we look back and realize just who had been walking with us all along the way. And it surely didn't end when He suddenly disappeared from their sight. In fact, it never has to end. The burning in our hearts is evidence that He is with us even though we cannot see Him.
Though you have not seen him, you love him, and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. 1 Peter 1:8
True believers, who have been touched with the power of His love, are more than followers. They are more than disciples. They are more than witnesses. He burns within their hearts with an everlasting love -- a loves that heals, a love that saves, a love that adds value to their ordinary lives, a love that never fails, a love one can no longer live without and a love that demands expression. A close relationship with the Lord is what the disciples longed for; it's what we long for, and it's what the whole world is longing for ... that I may know Him!
But if the same spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit. Romans 8:11
I must have Jesus in my whole life
I must have Jesus in my life
In my walking, in my talking
In my sleeping and my waking
I must have Him in my life.
I went in with nothing and came away with love, and because of love, I want to spend every moment with Him. If you want to share the Good News of the Gospel, share the powerful, life-changing love of God. By it you will prove to the world that He is here -- God is with us -- and He will never leave us nor forsake us.
Until we realize God's purpose for catching up with His followers was to instill a deeper reason for their existence than merely following, walking or hanging out with a prophet that did great miracles or was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and the people. Jesus wanted to make sure He left them with something more ... a relationship built on a burning love with the living God.
The Emmaus Road into Jerusalem was twenty miles long. Jesus joined them on the last stretch of their journey with seven miles left to go. How many of us walk as followers of Jesus without ever actually walking with Him? When we do finally walk side by side we don't know Him any better than when we were following Him.
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| The Road to Emmaus into Jerusalem and into Bethany |
So Jesus led them to Bethany with these words ... "But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with the power from heaven." Then they saw Him taken up into heaven. So they worshiped Him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy.
Walking with God, as He created us to walk, does not end in Jerusalem. It compels us all the way to Bethany. It does not end at home. Its does not end at the supper table. It does not end with the breaking of the bread or when our eyes are opened or when our hearts are burning within us while we look back and realize just who had been walking with us all along the way. And it surely didn't end when He suddenly disappeared from their sight. In fact, it never has to end. The burning in our hearts is evidence that He is with us even though we cannot see Him.
Though you have not seen him, you love him, and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. 1 Peter 1:8
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| ... and they spent all of their time in the temple, praising God. Luke 24:53 |
True believers, who have been touched with the power of His love, are more than followers. They are more than disciples. They are more than witnesses. He burns within their hearts with an everlasting love -- a loves that heals, a love that saves, a love that adds value to their ordinary lives, a love that never fails, a love one can no longer live without and a love that demands expression. A close relationship with the Lord is what the disciples longed for; it's what we long for, and it's what the whole world is longing for ... that I may know Him!
But if the same spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit. Romans 8:11
I must have Jesus in my whole life
I must have Jesus in my life
In my walking, in my talking
In my sleeping and my waking
I must have Him in my life.
I went in with nothing and came away with love, and because of love, I want to spend every moment with Him. If you want to share the Good News of the Gospel, share the powerful, life-changing love of God. By it you will prove to the world that He is here -- God is with us -- and He will never leave us nor forsake us.
1 comment:
Our lives are letters to be read by mankind, right? That's MY hope of showing Jesus since I don't do well talking him, unless of course someone asks me why I am filled with love, light, joy and courage in times of trouble that He told us to expect. You are a teacher of the Word WITH words! thanks, mindi-moo-from-out-of-the-bleu-cheese....xoxoxooxoxoxo
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