HE KNEW

Joh 2:24-25 But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, (25) and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.

Jesus had just begun His earthly ministry in the open. Water had been changed into wine and a dignitary's son was healed from afar through the spoken Word. {John Chaps 1-4}. Man had wrongly learned that there must be signs in order to believe. Disillusionment crept into man's heart when he was called to believe in faith.

Chambers writes that "disillusionment means having no more misconceptions, false impressions, and false judgments in life; it means being free from these deceptions.". These life-time learned experiences can often leave us cynical, hyper critical, and extremely judgmental of others. We begin to see others as they truly are, no illusions. We become "disillusioned"; the flaws are clearly visible.

Mar 8:23-24 Taking the blind man by the hand, He brought him out of the village; and after spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, "Do you see anything?" (24) And he looked up and said, "I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around."

When Jesus finished healing this man and he could see clearly, disillusionment began. The healed saw with his eyes the reality of life, including the flaws, errors, vileness, ugliness of what before was hidden.

The older we are, it seems, the harsher we react to this reality. We become reactionary toward those who do not fit our very narrow molds of what we think we know. It is a myth that the older we get in years, the smarter we become. It may even be the inverse. In that premise might be found God's direction to those walking in His way. Not confrontation. Not hostility. Not argument. Not public rebuke. No, Jesus teaches us to be firm and steadfast in our love. An old adage sums it up well; Listen, listen, love, love.

As children we looked forward to what we might gain and learn. In our dotage we desperately try to hold onto learned memories which we seem to be losing. Even Godly men struggle with this reality as it closes in. Some elders become very stubborn and harsh in their counsel.

Be humble, be patient, be loving as you hear the voice and opinion of the disillusioned senior servant of God. His desire is that you see what he sees and has seen, urging you to gird your loins for what is to come.

He has no patience for the idle.

Deu 7:6-7 "For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. (7) "The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

HE KNEW

Joh 2:24-25 But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, (25) and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.

Jesus had just begun His earthly ministry in the open. Water had been changed into wine and a dignitary's son was healed from afar through the spoken Word. {John Chaps 1-4}. Man had wrongly learned that there must be signs in order to believe. Disillusionment crept into man's heart when he was called to believe in faith.

Chambers writes that "disillusionment means having no more misconceptions, false impressions, and false judgments in life; it means being free from these deceptions.". These life-time learned experiences can often leave us cynical, hyper critical, and extremely judgmental of others. We begin to see others as they truly are, no illusions. We become "disillusioned"; the flaws are clearly visible.

Mar 8:23-24 Taking the blind man by the hand, He brought him out of the village; and after spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, "Do you see anything?" (24) And he looked up and said, "I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around."

When Jesus finished healing this man and he could see clearly, disillusionment began. The healed saw with his eyes the reality of life, including the flaws, errors, vileness, ugliness of what before was hidden.

The older we are, it seems, the harsher we react to this reality. We become reactionary toward those who do not fit our very narrow molds of what we think we know. It is a myth that the older we get in years, the smarter we become. It may even be the inverse. In that premise might be found God's direction to those walking in His way. Not confrontation. Not hostility. Not argument. Not public rebuke. No, Jesus teaches us to be firm and steadfast in our love. An old adage sums it up well; Listen, listen, love, love.

As children we looked forward to what we might gain and learn. In our dotage we desperately try to hold onto learned memories which we seem to be losing. Even Godly men struggle with this reality as it closes in. Some elders become very stubborn and harsh in their counsel.

Be humble, be patient, be loving as you hear the voice and opinion of the disillusioned senior servant of God. His desire is that you see what he sees and has seen, urging you to gird your loins for what is to come.

He has no patience for the idle.

Deu 7:6-7 "For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. (7) "The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

..Jehovah-shalom..

Jdg 6:24 {KJV}

1Ch 22:9 'Behold, a son will be born to you, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side; for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days.

Mat 12:42 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

Isa 9:6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

Isa 32:18-19 Then my people will live in a peaceful habitation, And in secure dwellings and in undisturbed resting places; (19) And it will hail when the forest comes down, And the city will be utterly laid low.

Eph 2:14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall.

Mic 5:5 This One will be our peace. When the Assyrian invades our land, When he tramples on our citadels, Then we will raise against him Seven shepherds and eight leaders of men.

Rev 17:14 "These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful."

Joh 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

..Jehovah-shalom..

Jdg 6:24 {KJV}

1Ch 22:9 'Behold, a son will be born to you, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side; for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days.

Mat 12:42 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

Isa 9:6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

Isa 32:18-19 Then my people will live in a peaceful habitation, And in secure dwellings and in undisturbed resting places; (19) And it will hail when the forest comes down, And the city will be utterly laid low.

Eph 2:14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall.

Mic 5:5 This One will be our peace. When the Assyrian invades our land, When he tramples on our citadels, Then we will raise against him Seven shepherds and eight leaders of men.

Rev 17:14 "These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful."

Joh 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD

Jud 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.

Joh 15:4-5 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. (5) "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

Gal 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (23) gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Joh 15:8-10 "My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. (9) "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. (10) "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.

1Jn 2:5 But whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him.

Joh 15:12 "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.

Rom 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

1Jn 4:16 We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD

Jud 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.

Joh 15:4-5 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. (5) "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

Gal 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (23) gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Joh 15:8-10 "My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. (9) "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. (10) "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.

1Jn 2:5 But whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him.

Joh 15:12 "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.

Rom 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

1Jn 4:16 We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

TRUST IN THE LORD

Pro 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. (6) In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.

Psa 62:8 Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah.

Psa 32:8-10 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. (9) Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, Otherwise they will not come near to you. (10) Many are the sorrows of the wicked, But he who trusts in the LORD, lovingkindness shall surround him.

Isa 30:21 Your ears will hear a word behind you, "This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right or to the left.

Exo 33:15-16 Then he said to Him, "If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here. (16) "For how then can it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people? Is it not by Your going with us, so that we, I and Your people, may be distinguished from all the other people who are upon the face of the earth?"

Your very presence, and the fruit of your salvation is the calling card of all those who have been saved by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen and AMEN.

ARE YOU SAVED?

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

TRUST IN THE LORD

Pro 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. (6) In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.

Psa 62:8 Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah.

Psa 32:8-10 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. (9) Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, Otherwise they will not come near to you. (10) Many are the sorrows of the wicked, But he who trusts in the LORD, lovingkindness shall surround him.

Isa 30:21 Your ears will hear a word behind you, "This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right or to the left.

Exo 33:15-16 Then he said to Him, "If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here. (16) "For how then can it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people? Is it not by Your going with us, so that we, I and Your people, may be distinguished from all the other people who are upon the face of the earth?"

Your very presence, and the fruit of your salvation is the calling card of all those who have been saved by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen and AMEN.

ARE YOU SAVED?

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

The Spiritually Self-Seeking Church

By Oswald Chambers

Eph 4:13 ..until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

Reconciliation means the restoring of the relationship between the entire human race and God, putting it back to what God designed it to be. This is what Jesus Christ did in redemption. The church ceases to be spiritual when it becomes self-seeking, only interested in the development of its own organization. The reconciliation of the human race according to His plan means realizing Him not only in our lives individually, but also in our lives collectively. Jesus Christ sent apostles and teachers for this very purpose— that the corporate Person of Christ and His church, made up of many members, might be brought into being and made known. We are not here to develop a spiritual life of our own, or to enjoy a quiet spiritual retreat. We are here to have the full realization of Jesus Christ, for the purpose of building His body.

Am I building up the body of Christ, or am I only concerned about my own personal development? The essential thing is my personal relationship with Jesus Christ, that I may know Him-(Philippians 3:10). To fulfill God's perfect design for me requires my total surrender-complete abandonment of myself to Him. Whenever I only want things for myself, the relationship is distorted. And I will suffer great humiliation once I come to acknowledge and understand that I have not really been concerned about realizing Jesus Christ Himself, but only concerned with knowing what He has done for me.

My goal is God Himself, not joy nor peace,
Nor even blessing, but Himself, my God.

Am I measuring my life by this standard or by something less?

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

The Spiritually Self-Seeking Church

By Oswald Chambers

Eph 4:13 ..until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

Reconciliation means the restoring of the relationship between the entire human race and God, putting it back to what God designed it to be. This is what Jesus Christ did in redemption. The church ceases to be spiritual when it becomes self-seeking, only interested in the development of its own organization. The reconciliation of the human race according to His plan means realizing Him not only in our lives individually, but also in our lives collectively. Jesus Christ sent apostles and teachers for this very purpose— that the corporate Person of Christ and His church, made up of many members, might be brought into being and made known. We are not here to develop a spiritual life of our own, or to enjoy a quiet spiritual retreat. We are here to have the full realization of Jesus Christ, for the purpose of building His body.

Am I building up the body of Christ, or am I only concerned about my own personal development? The essential thing is my personal relationship with Jesus Christ, that I may know Him-(Philippians 3:10). To fulfill God's perfect design for me requires my total surrender-complete abandonment of myself to Him. Whenever I only want things for myself, the relationship is distorted. And I will suffer great humiliation once I come to acknowledge and understand that I have not really been concerned about realizing Jesus Christ Himself, but only concerned with knowing what He has done for me.

My goal is God Himself, not joy nor peace,
Nor even blessing, but Himself, my God.

Am I measuring my life by this standard or by something less?

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

Give me your heart, my son, And let your eyes delight in my ways.

Pro 23:26

Deu 5:29 'Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear Me and keep all My commandments always, that it may be well with them and with their sons forever!

Act 8:21 "You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.

Rom 8:7-8 Because the mind of the flesh is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God; for neither indeed can it be: (8) and they that are in flesh cannot please God.

2Co 8:5 And not according as we hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord, and to us by God's will.

2Ch 31:21 And in every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart and prospered.

Pro 4:23 Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.

Col 3:23 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, Eph 6:6-7 not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. (7) With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men.

Psa 119:32 I shall run the way of Your commandments, For You will enlarge my heart.

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

Give me your heart, my son, And let your eyes delight in my ways.

Pro 23:26

Deu 5:29 'Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear Me and keep all My commandments always, that it may be well with them and with their sons forever!

Act 8:21 "You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.

Rom 8:7-8 Because the mind of the flesh is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God; for neither indeed can it be: (8) and they that are in flesh cannot please God.

2Co 8:5 And not according as we hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord, and to us by God's will.

2Ch 31:21 And in every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart and prospered.

Pro 4:23 Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.

Col 3:23 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, Eph 6:6-7 not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. (7) With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men.

Psa 119:32 I shall run the way of Your commandments, For You will enlarge my heart.

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

THE DAY WILL SHOW IT

1Co 3:13, 4:5 Each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. (4:5) Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him from God.

Rom 14:10, 12-13, 2:16 But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. (12) So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God. (13) Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way. -Rom 2:16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.

Joh 5:22, 27 "For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, (27) and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.

Jer 32:18-19 Who shows lovingkindness to thousands, but repays the iniquity of fathers into the bosom of their children after them, O great and mighty God. The LORD of hosts is His name; (19) great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, giving to everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds.

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

THE DAY WILL SHOW IT

1Co 3:13, 4:5 Each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. (4:5) Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him from God.

Rom 14:10, 12-13, 2:16 But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. (12) So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God. (13) Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way. - Rom 2:16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.

Joh 5:22, 27 "For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, (27) and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.

Jer 32:18-19 Who shows lovingkindness to thousands, but repays the iniquity of fathers into the bosom of their children after them, O great and mighty God. The LORD of hosts is His name; (19) great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, giving to everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds.

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?

Psa 130:3

Psa 106:33 Because they were rebellious against His Spirit, He spoke rashly with his lips.

Mat 15:11 "It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man."

Pro 16:28 A perverse man spreads strife, And a slanderer separates intimate friends.

Pro 12:18-19 There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, But the tongue of the wise brings healing. (19) Truthful lips will be established forever, But a lying tongue is only for a moment.

Jas 3:8,10 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. (10) From the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.

Col 3:8-9 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. (9) Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices.

Rev 14:5 And no lie was found in their mouth; they are blameless.

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?

Psa 130:3

Psa 106:33 Because they were rebellious against His Spirit, He spoke rashly with his lips.

Mat 15:11 "It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man."

Pro 16:28 A perverse man spreads strife, And a slanderer separates intimate friends.

Pro 12:18-19 There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, But the tongue of the wise brings healing. (19) Truthful lips will be established forever, But a lying tongue is only for a moment.

Jas 3:8,10 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. (10) From the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.

Col 3:8-9 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. (9) Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices.

Rev 14:5 And no lie was found in their mouth; they are blameless.

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?