“We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.”
Jesus causes dissension within the Pharisees...JOHN 7:32-53
45Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?”46“No one ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards replied.47“You mean he has deceived you also?” the Pharisees retorted. 48“Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? 49No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.”50Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, 51“Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?”52They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.”
JOURNAL
To begin going through the list of all the names at first is a bit like counting sheep. Yet when I really begin to think that each of those names represents a full life. I life of drama and suffering, laughter, tears, joy, hope, disappointment. Then the impact of seeing them on paper becomes overwhelming. To think that all of these people worship the same God. That each of their lives played into the story and that my life is also grafted into that story. God's story of redemption. They laid the foundation of the Kingdom that I am now a part.
The chief priests are beside themselves with dealing with Jesus and what they see as a threat to their way of life and the influence they have over the people. The Pharisees failed to see that what they longed for most in their life was actually standing right in front of them. It is understandable and reminds me that anytime fear begins to have its way in my life then I can look back and realize it's often that I fear losing something. Many times whatever I fear losing has become more important even than God and his love.
I love watching and reading about people who have been successful in an area of their lives. It really cannot be argued that Michael Jordan is one of the greatest to play the game of basketball. One statement made about him from the documentary "The Last Dance" was "his true gift is that he is able to be fully present in the moment, no matter what that moment is. He doesn't let fear of the past project into the future." Wow...that's a pretty powerful statement and entirely biblical.
Today is a gift, it is not guaranteed. And because it's not guaranteed, to waste it in worry and fear is to cheapen it. To cheapen a day, even a moment of life is sinful and is giving in to the evil that wants to stamp out love in this world. Jesus died so that I might have life and live that life in gratitude, joy and service to him and others.
18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
The chief priests are beside themselves with dealing with Jesus and what they see as a threat to their way of life and the influence they have over the people. The Pharisees failed to see that what they longed for most in their life was actually standing right in front of them. It is understandable and reminds me that anytime fear begins to have its way in my life then I can look back and realize it's often that I fear losing something. Many times whatever I fear losing has become more important even than God and his love.
I love watching and reading about people who have been successful in an area of their lives. It really cannot be argued that Michael Jordan is one of the greatest to play the game of basketball. One statement made about him from the documentary "The Last Dance" was "his true gift is that he is able to be fully present in the moment, no matter what that moment is. He doesn't let fear of the past project into the future." Wow...that's a pretty powerful statement and entirely biblical.
Today is a gift, it is not guaranteed. And because it's not guaranteed, to waste it in worry and fear is to cheapen it. To cheapen a day, even a moment of life is sinful and is giving in to the evil that wants to stamp out love in this world. Jesus died so that I might have life and live that life in gratitude, joy and service to him and others.
18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
1 JOHN 4:16-18
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