Selwyn continues with yesterday’s discussion on the issue of trying to fix all the world’s wrongs. He says: ” … we must watch we don’t take on more burdens than God wants us to carry. … And we must be careful that our concerns do not lead us to the point where we want to control others, because when that happens we ourselves will be defeated and frustrated.”
We receive from the various news’ outlets, a constant flow of news items which will cause those who follow Jesus to feel grief – a grief, which recognises the fallen, broken nature of this world. Yet, we are not called to try and fix everything that is broken; by a series of impulsive, unplanned actions.
Trust in God’s love that He will call on and empower various people to respond to the various events. Talk to Jesus, in prayer, ask Him to open the right doors to you if He requires you to be involved – He always will. Our Lord is not a far-off God, but He is always close to you – through, His Holy Spirit He will guide you and help you to identify the roles or tasks, He has prepared for you to do. He knows you so well, that He will use the most efficient way to convey His will to you – so, keep your eyes and ears open – be prepared to hear His message.
The Scripture for today, contains a spiritual truth which was missed by many of the people in Israel. To those who are ‘deaf’, Jesus’ words don’t make much sense; to those close to Jesus, we can hear Him say: ‘I am, who I am.’
John 5:16-30 (NLT): “So the Jewish leaders began harassing Jesus for breaking the Sabbath rules. But Jesus replied, “My Father is always working, and so am I.” So the Jewish leaders tried all the harder to find a way to kill him. For he not only broke the Sabbath, he called God his Father, thereby making himself equal with God.
So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing. In fact, the Father will show him how to do even greater works than healing this man. Then you will truly be astonished. For just as the Father gives life to those he raises from the dead, so the Son gives life to anyone he wants. In addition, the Father judges no one. Instead, he has given the Son absolute authority to judge, so that everyone will honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son is certainly not honoring the Father who sent him.
I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.
And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it’s here now, when the dead will hear my voice—the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live. The Father has life in himself, and he has granted that same life-giving power to his Son.
And the Father has given him (Jesus) authority to judge everyone because he is the Son of Man. Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son, and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment.
I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will.”
Did you notice the various statements on judgment? Such as this one: ‘The Father judges no one. Instead, he has given the Son absolute authority to judge.’ Then, we read these words of Jesus: ‘I judge as God tells me.’
Concerns versus control
Selwyn continues with yesterday’s discussion on the issue of trying to fix all the world’s wrongs. He says: ” … we must watch we don’t take on more burdens than God wants us to carry. … And we must be careful that our concerns do not lead us to the point where we want to control others, because when that happens we ourselves will be defeated and frustrated.”
We receive from the various news’ outlets, a constant flow of news items which will cause those who follow Jesus to feel grief – a grief, which recognises the fallen, broken nature of this world. Yet, we are not called to try and fix everything that is broken; by a series of impulsive, unplanned actions.
Trust in God’s love that He will call on and empower various people to respond to the various events. Talk to Jesus, in prayer, ask Him to open the right doors to you if He requires you to be involved – He always will. Our Lord is not a far-off God, but He is always close to you – through, His Holy Spirit He will guide you and help you to identify the roles or tasks, He has prepared for you to do. He knows you so well, that He will use the most efficient way to convey His will to you – so, keep your eyes and ears open – be prepared to hear His message.
The Scripture for today, contains a spiritual truth which was missed by many of the people in Israel. To those who are ‘deaf’, Jesus’ words don’t make much sense; to those close to Jesus, we can hear Him say: ‘I am, who I am.’
John 5:16-30 (NLT): “So the Jewish leaders began harassing Jesus for breaking the Sabbath rules. But Jesus replied, “My Father is always working, and so am I.” So the Jewish leaders tried all the harder to find a way to kill him. For he not only broke the Sabbath, he called God his Father, thereby making himself equal with God.
So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing. In fact, the Father will show him how to do even greater works than healing this man. Then you will truly be astonished. For just as the Father gives life to those he raises from the dead, so the Son gives life to anyone he wants. In addition, the Father judges no one. Instead, he has given the Son absolute authority to judge, so that everyone will honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son is certainly not honoring the Father who sent him.
I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.
And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it’s here now, when the dead will hear my voice—the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live. The Father has life in himself, and he has granted that same life-giving power to his Son.
And the Father has given him (Jesus) authority to judge everyone because he is the Son of Man. Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son, and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment.
I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will.”
Did you notice the various statements on judgment? Such as this one: ‘The Father judges no one. Instead, he has given the Son absolute authority to judge.’ Then, we read these words of Jesus: ‘I judge as God tells me.’
Any comments?