10/03/2024
This morning I have been studying John 14 and reading a devotional that was based on John 14:14. I have always loved this verse and that Jesus says he will do anything for us... After all, who wouldn’t love a verse that promises us everything? And, all we have to do is keep his commandments… Whoops, wait a minute! How can we, with all our human frailty, be expected to do that? Is He asking the impossible of us? At first blush it appears that He is, but as Paul Harvey used to say… "Now for the rest of the story."
“If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”
John 14:14 ESV
Jesus expects a few things from us; He expects our love, obedience, and righteousness. So, how can we possibly achieve these lofty requirements? Well, if we read further to verse 20 we get the answer "“In that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.” That's right God is in Jesus and He is in us! We have been given all the ingredients for success, and as if that weren't enough He goes a step further by providing us with a tutor. We are told this in verse 20... "But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you.” Let’s read this complete passage together…
““If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.”
John 14:15-20 ESV
So as we pray and live our lives we should do so expecting success and not failure; victory and not defeat. We have all the pieces we need, God, Jesus, The Holy Spirit, prayer, and for those times when we make a mistake we have forgiveness through the resurrection and the promise. We don't need to depend entirely on our own abilities because God has provided for us. He has bolstered our faith and given us the means, and ability, to insure our success.
So, all we have to do now is use what the Lord has provided, and we will be successful in obeying his commandments. We are given everything in one wonderful, and amazing, word… GRACE.
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”
Titus 2:11-14 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for promising to give us everything we ask for if we will obey your commandments, and then providing us with the means to accomplish this daunting task. Thank you for giving us the ability to love you with all our hearts, minds, souls, and strength, and for all the blessings we receive from both Jesus, and your Holy Spirit. Thank you Abba for having given us what appeared to be an impossible task, and then helping us to accomplish it so that your will and desire would be done in us. Help us always Lord as we seek to obey your commandments, and thus be granted eternity in your presence. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God; not our God of the impossible, but of the possible. You are indeed our mighty and loving God who makes all things possible for those who love you. Praised be your name Father for extending your bountiful provision in all things to us, and then leading us to ask you for them as we should, and giving us the wherewithal to accomplish the stipulations you have set for us. You are merciful Father, and your grace is more than sufficient for us. By your grace, which flows from Jesus Christ, we are forgiven our sins, and perfected. As we ask you in prayer, you heal our bodies and souls. In this we give you all the glory forever because we can do nothing except in Christ, and He can do nothing except through you. We worship you today, and pray, as always, that your will be done.
Amen, Amen, Amen!
“But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Matthew 19:26
“For nothing will be impossible with God.”
Luke 1:37 ESV
““I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.””
John 5:30 ESV
“”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.””
John 15:5 ESV
Rich Forbes