Reading and Rereading the Gospels

I have been reading through the book of John.  This is a unique gospel from the others.  It takes a deep dive into the heart of Jesus and who he is. It has been great! If you’re looking to learn more about John’s account of the gospel check out my daily devotional on it HERE! 

This is my third time going through this gospel in the past two years.  It never ceases to amaze me how God can bring out something new in his word when I open it.  His scripture is fresh and revealing every time.  God has been opening my eyes to a “come and see” attitude.  My mind has definitely been geared towards “just come and see Jesus.”  And as that has been ingrained into my mind God has provided aspects that bolster that belief.  

The latest development in this bolstering of my faith has been in one of Jesus’s discourses with the crowds.  Jesus says these profound words 

“All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.”

These words have fired me up! They give me joy and confidence unimaginable!  And they do it in two ways specifically.

Have you ever felt like you weren’t worth it?  Or feel like no matter what you do you’re doing something wrong?  I think we all have.  And sometimes those things get so heavy that thoughts of self depreciation weigh down everything else going on. But this saying from Jesus is what I’m now reminding myself of during these times.  Jesus says that he came to do God’s will on this earth.  Then he explicitly states what that will is.  Those who come to him will not be turned away, and once they have come to him he will not lose any of them.  I remind myself that I have come to Jesus.  And since I have come to him he embraces me with love unimaginable ALWAYS.  I have to stress the always part. That’s the best part! After saying he will accept me he said he won’t lose me either.  Once part of the family I’m always part of the family.  I’m in his embrace forever.  No way I can get out of it!  I was reading a commentary on this subject and the author said something to this effect.  If I’m ever cast out, turned away, or left alone, then Jesus is either a) incapable of following completely the will of the Father (which means he’s not God and this whole thing is a farce) or Jesus blatantly disobeys the Father (which again means he’s not God and this gospel thing is meaningless).  Just think about that for a second….If Jesus is God (which he is) then these words spoken hold weight that is beyond any of the weight of the negative feelings and thoughts I bring to myself (whether true or false) because only this truth remains.  Have I come to Jesus surrendered in faith and trust in him?  If so, I am loved and embraced completely no matter what.  That’s the first comfort God has brought me through this passage. What's the next?

I’m a missionary, an evangelist.  I’m a chaplain and discipler.  I want to reach people for the glory of God.  I want to see others become part of this beautiful kingdom a new world God is creating.  And it can be discouraging when I don’t see people grabbing hold of Jesus with all they have.  It can be tough to see at times the devastating tragedies that happen in the lives of people yet they never turn to or acknowledge God’s power to save and change the circumstance.  But I remind myself of Jesus’s words.  “Those the Father gives to him will come.”  That’s it.  No ifs ands or buts.  Those whom the Father gifts to the Son will come.  I just have to be faithful in what I am doing and it will all come together.  It's good that I study and practice and do all the things to make my conversation and presentation as woosome as possible.  But in the end God is handling the situation.  What a burden release! I don't have to feel like I am failing my God because I’m not getting results.  I’m doing what I’m supposed to by being obedient to his call. He’s got the rest. 

I want to bring these things to you in hopes that they encourage you as they have encouraged me. I pray it gives you peace in comfort in the arms of the savior when things get tough and your thoughts consume. I pray that it helps you find security and assurance of the inescapable love of Jesus.  But I also hope that it brings boldness. A boldness to be a witness and share the loving gospel of Jesus with everyone around. That the words of Jesus may bring a confidence in his power to save and an assurance of our part only to testify.  May these words stir a fire and passion for witness and a fervor to see God’s kingdom grow because in the end, those whom the Father calls will come!