Category: Jesus

“The Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”

Jesus not only proclaimed that the Kingdom of God was at hand; He revealed the secret to entering it. The important attitude is ‘humility’, the only entrance is the Son, and the rule of the Kingdom is ‘love.’

“I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”

How can we enter God’s presence except humbly? He created us, He knows all, and He has all power. Only in humility can we recognize and accept the passageway to the Father.

“I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep… I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved.”

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

On earth, Jesus walked in fellowship and in submission to His Father. He lived in the Kingdom and the mark of His life was love. Love led to compassion, healing, truth-telling, and sacrifice. Love flowed from the Father as the Son obeyed. This is the rule of the Kingdom for us. We walk in love as we receive love from our Savior.

“Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” Amen.

“As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you. Now remain in My love. If you obey My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have obeyed My Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: love each other as I have loved you.” John 15:9-12

“Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:4-5

If we could fully grasp these words, I think our favorite invitation of Jesus would be: “Abide in Me.” We are the branches… connected to the most beautiful, the most healthy, and the most productive Vine ever planted. The Gardener has planned it this way and the Vine simply whispers, “Stay in Me.”

And why would I not want to stay in Him? Without the Vine, I am nothing. Why would I want my identity to come from somewhere else? Jesus is the only source that matters. If I live in Him, why should I worry if my life is going to be productive? Jesus promises that if we remain in Him there will be much fruit… because fruit comes from Him.

Bruce Wilkinson wrote, “In abiding… you seek, long for, thirst for, wait for, see, know, love, hear, and respond to… a Person.” Everything centers in the Person Jesus Christ, who took our sins to the cross and died that we might be a part of Him. He has risen and He is our life!

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4

Jesus tapped me on the shoulder and said, “Bob, why are you resisting me?” I said, “I’m not resisting you!” He said, “You gonna follow me?” I said, “I’ve never thought about that before!” He said, “When you’re not following me, you’re resisting me.”
– Bob Dylan

If we believe Jesus is ‘the Way,’ does it not make sense that he tells us to follow him? As King, he has authority to command us, but I think sometimes he beckons us as our Brother.

“As I followed the Father, so I am inviting you to follow me. Do you think I was foolish to ‘become nothing’ to come to earth as a servant? No, I tell you that such a path led to incredible reward. And self denial will also bring you reward as you trust the Holy Spirit to lead.

“My apostles did not like to hear me talk of the cross I was destined to carry, but they did not know of the joy that was set before me. They did not know of the victory ahead or the blessings others would receive as I followed my Father. Any cross you bear for my sake will also have purpose. Pick up your cross and follow me and you will understand my joy.”

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who being in the very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:5-11

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Mark 8:34

Bob Dylan quote from ‘The Shack’ by William P. Young; Windblown Media; Los Angeles, California; ©2007; p. 231

“Come to me” is the simple and beautiful invitation Jesus extends to everyone. We, like the early apostles, tend to make matters more complicated than God intends. When parents brought their children to the Teacher, the disciples raised barriers, convinced that Jesus should not be bothered by the young and ignorant.

But Jesus would hear none of it. “Don’t stop them; let the children come! These little ones point to the kingdom of God! In fact, everyone who comes to Me must become more like them.”

Our Savior, with open arms, welcomes all into His presence. “Come young; come old; come healthy; come sick; come rich; come poor; come sinners; come righteous; come if you’re tired; come if you’re worried; come if you’re searching; come if you’re in need!”

So will I come? Do I hear the invitation? Have I forgotten He is there? Am I too busy? Do I realize I am in need? Or do I resist the idea of being humble like a child?

Oswald Chambers wrote this:

The questions that matter in life are remarkably few, and they are all answered by the words – “Come unto Me.” Not – Do this, or don’t to that; but – “Come unto Me.” If I come to Jesus my actual life will be brought into accordance with my real desires; I will actually cease from sin, and actually find the song of the Lord begin.

Have you ever come to Jesus? Watch the stubbornness of your heart; you will do anything rather than that one simple childlike thing – “Come unto Me.” If you want the actual experience of ceasing from sin, you must come to Jesus.

Jesus makes Himself the touchstone … Personal contact with Jesus alters everything. Be stupid enough to come and commit yourself to what He says. The attitude of coming is that the will resolutely lets go of everything and deliberately commits all to Him.

“Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

(Quote from “My Utmost for His Highest” by Oswald Chambers; ©1935 by Dodd, Mead & Company, Inc.)

Ten-year-old John selected a Psalm to read before bedtime this past week: “The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic.” (Psalm 29:3-4)

“I know what this is talking about,” John said. “What’s that?” I asked. “When Jesus was in the boat with his friends and the storm came, his voice went over the waters and made things better.” “Hmmm…, I think you’re right.”

The voice of the Lord can calm any situation and the presence of the Lord is our need for any storm. So many of our persecuted brothers and sisters teach us deep lessons as they testify of God’s faithfulness in suffering.

European Christians helped Brother Yun and his family escape his native country China in 2001. For twenty years he was a wanted man for refusing to be silent about Jesus. Arrested numerous times, Brother Yun spent over seven years in different prisons and endured incredible torture for the name of Christ. Through all his experiences, our brother’s great testimony is: ‘God is with us.’

He wrote: “The people who really suffer are those who have never experienced God’s presence. The way to have God’s presence is by walking through hardship and suffering – the way of the cross. When a child of God suffers you need to understand that God allows it. He has not forgotten you! The devil cannot snatch you away! Jesus made this beautiful promise to his children: ‘My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.’” (John 10:27-29)

“Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!’ He replied, ‘You of little faith, why are you so afraid?’ Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.” Matthew 8:24-26

Quote from Brother Yun, The Heavenly Man, ©2002 Monarch Books, p. 312