Week 51 - John 21:15-17

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"

"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."

Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."

Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"

He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."

Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."

The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" 

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?"  He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."

Jesus said, "Feed my sheep."

Life Application Study Bible, NIV, footnote:

In this beach scene, Jesus led Peter through an experience that would remove the cloud of his denial.  Peter had disowned Jesus three times.  Three times Jesus asked Peter if he loved him.  When Peter answered yes, Jesus told him to feed his sheep.  It is one thing to say you love Jesus, but the real test is willingness to serve him.  Peter had repented, and here Jesus was asking him to commit his life.  Peter's life changed when he finally realized who Jesus was.  His occupation changed from fisherman to evangelist; his identity changed from impetuous to "rock;" and his relationship to Jesus changed -- he was forgiven, and he finally understood the significance of Jesus' words about his death and resurrection.

Commit your life to Jesus and serve Him!

Week 50 - John 14:15

If you love me, you will obey what I command.  

It doesn't get any more simple than that!  This verse always reminds me of my own children.  I want them to obey me -- ultimately, not because of the fear of consequences but because they LOVE me.

John 14:21 says, "Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.  He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."

John 14:23 says, "Jesus replied, 'If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.  My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.'"

Obey the Lord out of your great LOVE for Him!

Week 49 - John 3:7

You should not be surprised at my saying, "You must be born again."

This entire passage reads:

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.

10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness,so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
Life Application Study Bible, NIV, footnotes:

The kingdom is personal, not national or ethnic, and its entrance requirements are repentance and spiritual rebirth, Jesus later taught that God's kingdom has already begun in the hearts of believers.  It will be fully realized when Jesus returns again to judge the world and abolish evil forever.  

Jesus was explaining the importance of a spiritual rebirth, saying that people don't enter the kingdom by living a better life, but by being spiritually reborn.  

Verse 16:  Some people are repulsed by the idea of eternal life because their lives are miserable.  But eternal life is not an extension of a person's miserable, mortal life; eternal life is God's life embodied in Christ given to all believers now as a guarantee that they will live forever.  In eternal life there is no death, sickness, enemy, evil, or sin.  When we don't know Christ, we make choices as though this life is all we have.  In reality, this life is just the introduction to eternity.  Receive this new life by faith and begin to evaluate all that happen from an eternal perspective.

I had to post one of my favorite videos with this verse!

Week 48 - Matthew 26:26-28

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body." 

Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you.  This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."

Life Application Study Bible, NIV, footnotes:

How does Jesus' blood relate to the new covenant?  People under the old covenant (those who lived before Jesus) could approach God only through a priest and an animal sacrifice.  Now all people can come directly to God through faith because Jesus' death has made us acceptable in God's eyes (Romans 3:21-24).

The old covenant was a shadow of the new (Jeremiah 31:31; Hebrews 8:1), pointing forward to the day when Jesus himself would be the final and ultimate sacrifice for sin.  Rather than an unblemished lamb slain on the altar, the perfect Lamb of God was slain on the cross, a sinless sacrifice so that our sins could be forgiven once and for all.  All those who believe in Christ receive that forgiveness.

Week 47 - Matthew 24:42-44

Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Life Application Study Bible, NIV, Footnotes:

Christ's second coming will be swift and sudden.  There will be no opportunity for last-minute repentance or bargaining.  The choice we have already made will determine our eternal destiny.

Jesus' purpose in telling about his return is not to stimulate predictions and calculations about the date, but to warn us to be prepared.  Will you be ready?  The only safe choice is to obey him today.

I don't know about you, but in the culture we live in, there are a lot of days I find myself thinking, Lord Jesus, come quickly!  As Christians, it will be a glorious day when Jesus returns but to many, sadly, it will be more like a thief in the night.  Do you know people who need to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ?  Don't wait!  Jesus will return at an hour when we do not expect him!

Week 45 - Matthew 22:37-38 and Week 46 - Matthew 22:39

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment.  

And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

Life Application Study Bible, NIV, Footnotes:

Jesus says that if we truly love God and our neighbor, we will naturally keep the commandments.  This is looking at God's law positively.  Rather than worrying about all we should not do, we should concentrate on all we can do to show our love for God and others.

I hope this is not too confusing -- I'm posting two weeks at a time because these commands go together.  

For such a little word, LOVE is so big!  Our family has been studying 1 Corinthians 13, which is commonly referred to as the love chapter.  I wanted to study it with my children because it seems that almost any conflict can be resolved by simply applying this scripture.  

Read 1 Corinthians 13 here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20corinthians%2013&version=ESV

Life Application Study Bible, NIV, footnotes:

Our society confuses love and lust.  Unlike lust, God's kind of love is directed outward toward others, not inward toward ourselves.  It is utterly unselfish.  This kind of love goes against our natural inclinations.  It is possible to practice this love only if God helps us set aside our own desires and instincts, so that we can give love while expecting nothing in return.  Thus the more we become like Christ, the more love we will show to others.

Love the LORD and your NEIGHBOR!

Week 44 - Luke 14:12-14

Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid.  But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

God opens his kingdom to everyone.  In what ways can you invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind into your life, your home, your fellowship?  May we seek to love and serve the Lord with our whole hearts and glorify Him in all we do!