JESUS SPEAKING
“I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill me, because my word has no place in you. I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.” They answered and said to him, “Abraham is our Father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham” (John 8: 37-39.)
INSIPRED THOUGHTS
The Jews were very fixated on, and blindly devoted too, their ancestors, whom they professed as being righteous and worthy of honor. The fifth commandment said, “Honor Your Father and Mother” and Abraham was one of the original Fathers of the Jewish people. Abraham’s children honored him by recognizing his authority. They lifted him up as being wiser, stronger, purer, and holier than they were. So his grandchildren, who honored their parents, honored Abraham twice as much. As the Jewish nation continued onward through history, Abraham continued to be held in ever greater esteem by each successive generation. They began to idolize him and put him in the place of God. Many were outraged when Jesus proclaimed himself to be in a position of greater honor than Abraham. Although many professed to honor Abraham they had no respect for him, because they lived lives in opposition to his obedient life lived for God. Jesus told them they were descendants of Abraham, but not his children; instead, he identified them as Son’s of the Devil. In their obedience to Satan, they sought to kill Jesus, the “Son of God.” Although words can be used for self-deception and to deceive others, Jesus reminded them that their actions revealed the truth of whose children they were.
Nowhere is this better illustrated than in many of the orthodox churches of today; the Catholic Church for example (not that everyone in this denomination is unsaved; this is simply an example of how a church in the past has claimed salvation could only come through allegiance to them. This church is changing a bit today, and there are many Godly people in these churches, both in the church itself, and in the leadership, despite recent corruption.) They replaced obedience to God with church affiliation. Some people believe that if you tithe and show up to church, you’re secure for an eternity. Unfortunately, sons and daughters of God aren’t those who attend a specific church, but whose actions are consistent with those of Jesus. This behavior stems from a faith and an honor for God; not from an honor for a Bishop, a pastor, a priest or a pope; God and His Son, and the Holy Spirit, alone are worthy of honor…believers should be led by, and seek to follow, them. A tattoo of a cross on the back or body means nothing (not that they are bad, I wear a cross, but they mean nothing in terms of my closeness with God.) What good is a bible if the words aren’t manifested in your actions? What good is church attendance if the night before was spent living in opposition to God? Holding to symbols, and professions of faith are inadequate; living the faith is sufficient.
Today, we have to let God use us. How? Give up honoring other things, and make Jesus Christ your God. Open His word, and when you read a passage, don’t close the book and forget what you read, but seek to make that passage manifest in your life. Jesus said to invite the lame, the sick, the outcasts to dinner. Can you take your lunch break and spend it with someone who fits that description? Is there someone who might want to eat lunch with you but can’t afford it? Jesus said to give to everyone who asks; when you pass by a beggar who asks you for money and you’re in a hurry, stop and be a child of God; give what you can if you have it. When you are talking to another person, how difficult is it to share with them how much Christ has done for you? When your employer asks you to give 100%, give 200%. When you’re on your way to work, turn off the radio and pray as he has taught you, “Our Father who art in heaven…” There are so many more ways you can be like Jesus; but it begins with honor. Can you give up what you think to be the right way so that you can follow his way? Relearn how to live, and let him be your teacher, your guide, and your Father.
“Lord Heavenly Father we ask and pray that You would mold us and shape as you will. Father, Help us to honor You, and to lift up Your Son up. Make us Your children, and help us to be doers of the word, and not just hearers only. Remove from us Lord any hope in worldly things, or affiliations that are not of You. Continue to manifest Your words in our lives, that our actions may bring others to You. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you.
Jesus Speaks 