​gettheWordout
17 September 2020
John 8:36 NLT Free vs. Not Free
So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.

A companion passage to this verse is 2 Corinthians 3:14-18
But the people’s minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. 15 Yes, even today when they read Moses’ writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand. 16 But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

Only Jesus removes the “veil” that covers up our understanding. The moment we believe in him we have eyes to really see and ears to really hear and minds to really understand spiritual things. And that is where freedom is. We have another option besides our sinful nature. 

Free people choose to deny their sinful nature and get to be more and more like Jesus every day simply by believing in him and continuing to believe.

People who don’t believe aren’t free, for they only have one option – follow their sinful nature and finite amount of human understanding. One option is like living life with one food, one store, and only one pair of underwear = not free.

Dear God,
Thank you for the option to believe in your Son, Jesus and the freedom that accompanies this life. I appreciate knowing real right from real wrong and receiving power from your Holy Spirit to be more like Jesus every day. Thank you for all the infinite good things available to me and for making me free in every way. I love you and this good plan of yours and I pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

​gettheWordout
14 September 2020
John 8:10-11 NLT Simple and Kind
Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”  “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

It is very hard for our human understanding to wrap our brains around what Jesus has done for us. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:17)

We want to see judgment and condemnation for the people who deserve it. That what’s fair. But what is actually fair is that God knows how weak we are and doesn’t demand that we be punished like we deserve. No one would punish a toddler for not being able to walk across the floor without falling down. We are the toddlers. 

Jesus has already taken our punishment for us. We may live with consequences of our actions, but he doesn’t condemn us. He invites us to simply Go and sin no more. That’s pleasant. That makes me want to be like him. When I read about Jesus interactions with sinners, it makes me want to follow him and please him and be like him. It doesn’t make me feel like, “Whew, dodged a bullet; I’ll have to cover my tracks better next time.” Kindness, not judgment, really does lead to repentance just as the scriptures say! 

Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? Romans 2:4

The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth... For he knows how weak we are. Psalm 103:8-11 & 14

When Believers are feeling guilty, condemned, or just plain bad, it isn’t God judging us. Remember forever that Jesus simply invites me to be with him and Go and sin no more.

Dear Lord Jesus,
These are kind words, loving words and life-giving words. Thank you that they are for me too. Thank you for your invitation to follow you and that you never get tired of inviting me or withdraw your invitation. Your compassion is great. I am so thankful for the things that are behind me and the things you will still show me to have a heart like yours. I love you and thank you for saving me and showing me and I pray in your name, amen.

​gettheWordout
8 September 2020
Excuses Excuses
John 5:14 NLT
But afterward Jesus found him in the Temple and told him, “Now you are well; so stop sinning, or something even worse may happen to you.”

There is one key ingredient missing from the interaction between Jesus and the paralyzed man at the pool...

One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?” 7 “I can’t, sir,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.” 8 Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!” (See John 5:1-15)

Did you notice anything missing in this exchange? Jesus usually asks people what they want him to do, and then they tell him the obvious. This time Jesus states the obvious: Would you like to get well? Followed up is something else we haven’t encountered – a list of excuses in place of a dare to hope. 

Jesus knows what this guy needs; the guy does not. This guy did not put his hope in Jesus at all. Instead, he makes excuses and tells Jesus why he isn’t healed. Jesus doesn’t let him complain for long and orders the man to stand up, and instantly the man does.

Furthermore, have we ever seen Jesus warn someone like this after he’s healed them? Jesus often gives instructions to those he’s healed but never such a dire warning as this guy gets. Now you are well; so stop sinning, or something even worse may happen to you. This guy got healed without the key ingredient – faith. He has to be told to stop sinning; his heart hasn’t changed, his faith is not in Jesus, and is still the self-professed victim of circumstance he was before he was healed. His encounter with Jesus was not one of faith, and he is still in danger of judgment.

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)

Faith is the key ingredient the man with the mat was missing. We can choose to keep believing in and clinging to our entitled excuses OR we can believe in God’s remedy for sin through faith in his Son, Jesus.

Dear God,
Thank you for including this warning about excuses in scripture. Excuses don’t change hearts, your forgiveness does. Thank you for the forgiveness and restoration available through Jesus, in whose name I pray, amen.

​gettheWordout 
2 September 2020 It’s Free to Get Free
John 3:18 NLT 
There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.

Jesus came to make our hearts good again.

It’s a fabulous thought to think about that once upon a time, mankind had self-control. But  then one day they didn’t. Mankind may have only been 2 people back then, but the reality is that no one has what they used to have until Jesus.

Everyone chooses their own way because God allows everyone to have free will. Life is spent experimenting and guessing if we are being good or not unless we use our free will to believe in Jesus. Only by believing in Jesus is a heart made good again, otherwise we remain in the judgement category. (See Romans 3:21-24) 

It makes no sense; it’s contrary to human understanding to not try and do something or make amends or pay a penalty. It makes sense to God, though because it’s the kind way, and he is kind. Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?  (Romans 2:4) 

It’s the simple way, because he knows we are weak. The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. (Romans 8:3) 

It’s the best way because his ways are better than ours. God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.
(Psalm 18:30)

It is free to get free! Isn’t that crazy? We aren’t judged for our sins by simply believing in Jesus. And he brings to our lives all that was available to our ancestors in the Garden... But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!  (Galatians 5:22-23)

No law. No judgment. Right standing with God for those who use their free will to let Jesus make their heart good again.

Dear God,
May I preach the Gospel to myself everyday like this so that the joy of your salvation will never fade in my heart. You are kind and your ways are great and you know I am weak, and you have worked this out for me. Thank you so much. I love you and pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

​gettheWordout
1 September 2020 Human Nature
John 2:23-25 NLT
Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him. 24 But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew all about people. 25 No one needed to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart.

Did I read that right? Many trust in Jesus, but Jesus is suspicious of their sincerity?  Wow. 

It’s true that a good turn out doesn’t mean anything. People flocking to a phenomenon isn’t equal to mass conversions. We see this all the time  when we look at the football field flooded with people at the end of the night at a crusade. If THAT many people were making sincere declarations of faith, the cities would be ridiculously impacted. This doesn’t mean we should stop having crusades or big churches or Christian concerts; we cast our net wide to catch a few fish sometimes, aye?

Jesus explains about human nature when he explains one of his parables:
1. There are people in a crowd who hear the message, but they let the enemy prevent them from believing and being saved. (Luke 8:12)
2. There are people in the crowd who believe, but don’t have deep roots, so they believe for a little while then fall away when they face temptation. (Luke 8:13)
3. There are people who hear the message but they think about their problems, riches, and pleasures more. (Luke 8:14)
4. Lastly, there’s a few in the crowd who hear the Word and cling to it regardless of the Enemy, temptation, problems or desires. (Luke 8:15)

Jesus knows human nature. That means he knows that all the people in the crowd do not identify with this last group of people from the parable of the soils. So how do we identify with that group, then; is it luck?

Paul says that the people in the last group of soils do this:
Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith... 7 We pray to God that you will not do what is wrong by refusing our correction... Do the right thing... 8 For we cannot oppose the truth, but must always stand for the truth... 9 We pray that you will become more mature. (2 Corinthians 13:5-9)

1. Examine what I do – compare my thoughts and actions to what Jesus teaches.
2. Trust in God’s Word over my ideas.
3. Accept correction when necessary; don’t double down & make excuses.
4. Do the right thing.
5. Never oppose the truth in the Word of God.

This is they way to maturity. This is not automatic human nature. This kind of relationship is available to everyone who lets Jesus take over their lives; it is not available to the casual converts exiting the stadium.

Dear God,
Thank you for helping your seed fall in fertile soil. Thank you for reminding me to examine what I think and do so that I will be more like your Son, Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.