After Jesus healed a man who had been paralyzed for nearly four decades, the religious Jews became angry with Him. It may seem strange because healing is a good thing, but Jesus performed this miracle on the Sabbath, a day of rest. In the Old Testament, God gave believers a long list of rules to follow in order to remain in harmony with Him, and these rules included keeping the Sabbath.
But in the New Testament, Jesus was sent to change our relationship with the Father. By sacrificing Himself on the cross, He gave us access to a relationship with God, so a long list of rules is no longer necessary. Throughout his life, Jesus shows people the nature of new relationships. But because it was not in line with what the religious circles believed, they were angry with Him.
In John 5, Jesus justifies these changes by revealing His true authority. By calling God His Father, He shared that He is equal to God. This angered religious Jews, but it allows us to look deeper into the relationship between the Father and the Son.
Jesus tells us that the Father and the Son are united in love. The Son does not “work” for the Father—no, They work together, and the work Jesus does perfectly reflects His Father’s will.
This relationship shows that Jesus has the power to give us eternal life with Him.
“I tell you the truth: whoever hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has eternal life. He will not be condemned, because he has passed from death to life.”
John 5:24
When we hear God’s Word and believe in Jesus, we have access to a relationship with Him that will last forever. Unlike the Jews in the Old Testament before this New Testament, we do not have to perfectly follow strict laws to be saved.
All we have to do is accept the gift that Jesus has given us by His authority.
Did you know that thoughts can actually make you more anxious, happy, scared, or satisfied? And what you spend time thinking about can affect your emotions, your actions, and ultimately your character? Your thoughts are some of the most powerful things about you.
The Scriptures can tell us a lot about our thoughts because God knows the power of our minds. Isaiah 26:3 says that God will keep our hearts in perfect peace if we keep our minds focused on Him.
Can you imagine that? Perfect peace.
The more time we spend focusing our thoughts on God and His Word, the more peace we will have in our hearts. This is a powerful thought, especially in a world that is constantly striving for peace and unity.
The starting point of this peace is trust in God. We must come to Him trusting in Who He is and believing in what He has done for us. We know that God is good and just. So if we have faith in Him, we know that He accepts us and loves us. And those who trust in God gain access to Him and His presence.
Perfect peace is available to those who continually trust in God and focus their thoughts on Him.
How much of your thoughts are given to things pertaining to God? Do you focus your mind on Him when you feel anxious or stressed? What are some simple ways you can remind yourself to think about God throughout the day?
Spend some time thinking about the power of your thoughts and the access you have to God through the Scriptures. Try to develop the habit of focusing your thoughts on God so that you can experience His perfect peace.
At the table, at Jesus’ bosom, there was one of His disciples whom Jesus loved. — John 13:23
Sometimes, when I lay my head on the pillow at night and pray, I imagine leaning on Jesus. As I do this, I always remember what the Word of God tells us about the apostle John. The apostle himself describes how he sat next to Jesus during the Last Supper: “At the table, at Jesus’ bosom, there was one of His disciples whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23).
The apostle John uses the phrase “whom Jesus loved” to refer to himself, without mentioning his name. It also depicts a typical meal in first-century Israel, when tables were much lower than today’s, at knee level. Therefore, the “semi-reclining” position was common for those who gathered at the table. So Ivan was half-lying next to the Lord. And when he turned to Him with a question, he literally “clung to the bosom of Jesus” (John 13:25).
Such closeness of the apostle John to Jesus at that moment gives us a useful illustration for our life with Christ today. We do not have the opportunity to bow to Jesus physically, but we can give Him the heaviest burdens of our lives – whatever they may be. He said, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest!” (Matthew 11:28). What a happiness it is to have such a Savior, Whom you can always trust, Who shows His faithfulness in any circumstances of our life! Have you “leaned in” to Him today?
Lord Jesus, help me today to lean on You with my soul so that I can trust You as a source of strength and hope. I entrust all my worries to You, knowing that You are always faithful.
Only Jesus gives the peace we so need!
Author: John Blaze
I will not leave you, nor will I retreat from you! — Hebrews 13:5
A dear friend of mine sent me the following message: “I’m so glad we can tell each other the good things, the bad things, and the terrible things!” We have been friends for many years and have learned to share both pleasant things and our mistakes. We realized that we are far from perfect, so we are not afraid to admit our spiritual defeats, but we also sincerely rejoice in our spiritual victories.
David and Jonathan were also connected by a strong friendship that began back in those glorious days when David defeated Goliath (1 Sam. 18:1-4). They shared their fears during the bad period when Saul, Jonathan’s father, was full of envy and treachery (1 Sam. 18:6-11; 20:1-2). Finally, they suffered together in those terrible days when Saul tried to kill David (1 Sam. 20:42).
True friends do not abandon us when our life circumstances change for the worse. They are always with us both in our happy days and in our bad. In the terrible days when we feel temptations, friends can show us how to hold on to the Lord.
True friendship is a gift from God. And God Himself is an example of the best, perfect Friend, Who remains faithful to us in any period of our life – good, bad or terrible. The Lord reminds us: “I will not leave you, nor will I depart from you!” (Heb. 13:5).
Dear Lord, I thank You for the good friends You send into my life. But above all I thank You for Your friendship.
A friend is the one who first comes to the rescue when the whole world turns its back on us.
Author: Kayla Ochoa
Is it possible to live a life that honors God? Is it possible to train our minds and bodies to do what we know is right instead of feeling powerless in the face of temptation?
Paul’s letter to the churches in Galatia is a guide to the following questions:
“But I say to you, let the Spirit guide your behavior. Then you will not satisfy the desires of your sinful nature.”
Galatians 5:16
By not surrendering and submitting to God’s guidance, our sinful nature is fighting against what God has for us.
Given to ourselves, we desire what the world desires. And the more we indulge our unique shades of temptation, the more we crave (for example, craving sweets instead of sugar or craving pornography for a dopamine release). But with the help of the Holy Spirit who softens, shapes and reshapes our hearts, we can learn to desire what God thinks is best.
Simply put, the secret of godly living is the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit is simply God – one of the three persons of the Trinity: the Father, the Son (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit.
Jesus has already done the hard and beautiful work of salvation by living, dying, and rising again for His children, but now He wants to continue His mighty work in us and through us.
Does it seem impossible? Yes, it is impossible if you are fighting alone. But, as Jesus told His disciples: “It is impossible with men, but not with God, for nothing is impossible with Him” (Mark 10:27). The psalmist also expressed another valuable thought, writing: “And where is the way that leads a young man to purity? Obeying Your orders!” (Psalms 119:9).
When we hold on to His Word, which was inspired by the Holy Spirit, it is not only possible, but probable, to live a life that honors Him.
Finally, brethren, what is true…honest…righteous…pure…lovely…praiseworthy, when what virtue…praise, think about it! — Philippians 4:8
More than 2 million copies of the young Japanese woman Marie Kondo’s book on tidying up and organizing have been sold. The main idea of this book is to help people get rid of unnecessary things in their homes, closets, pantries, which are an unnecessary burden. “Take this or that thing,” Marie advises, “and ask yourself if it makes you happy.” If the answer is yes, leave it. If “no” – throw it away.
The Apostle Paul encouraged the believers of the city of Philippi to strive for joy in their relationship with Christ: “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say: rejoice!” (Phil. 4:4). The apostle urged, instead of a life full of turmoil and restlessness, to bring everything to God in prayer and allow God’s peace to “guard” our hearts and our minds in Christ (Phil. 4:6-7).
If we think about our daily responsibilities and affairs, it is obvious that not all of them cause us joy. But let’s ask ourselves: “How can this or that matter cause joy in God’s heart and my heart?” Understanding why we do a certain thing can change our attitude towards it.
“Finally, brothers, what is true…honest…righteous…pure…lovely…worthy of praise, when what virtue, when what praise, think about it!” (Phil. 4:8).
This Pauline instruction is spiritual food for our minds and a recipe for joy.
Господи, покажи мені, які мої сьогоднішні справи можуть принести радість Тобі й мені.
The beginning of joy is to focus on the Lord.
Author: David McCasland
Can you think of a time when it was so hard that you wanted to give up but didn’t? Where did you get your strength from? What kept you going?
One of the most amazing things about being a follower of Christ is that our own strength is only part of the equation. God’s power grows in us. Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our Defense and Strength, a sure Help in trouble.” How incredible that it doesn’t say, “Sometimes help is available.” He is a “constant help”.
In 2 Chronicles 15, we see that Asa, the king of Judah, was faced with great problems – he was trying to reorient the people of Judah to God after years of idolatry and war. He faced a huge challenge! Through the prophet Azariah, God spoke encouragement to him to encourage him:
“But be of good courage and do not give up your hands, because your work will be rewarded!”
2 Chronicles 15:7
God knew what Asa was up against. He knew every detail of the burden and everything that was put at stake. God also knew what strength He could give to those who were willing to rely on Him. He didn’t say, “Good luck there, it doesn’t look easy, but you won’t fail.” He said: “But be courageous and do not let your hands drop, because your work will be rewarded!”.
Just as Asa heard these words and took courage, so we can take courage. We are not alone. We can rely on God’s strength. The reward will not be delayed. Don’t give up.
May He test me – like gold, I will come out! — Job 23:10
In one interview, singer-songwriter M. Andrew talked about her high stress trying to balance work, marriage and motherhood. Reflecting on this difficult period in her life, she said, “It felt like God was taking me through the refining process.”
Job, too, was stunned when he lost all his cattle, all his children, and his health. To make matters worse, even though Job worshiped God every day, he felt as if the Lord was ignoring all his pleas for help. It seemed that God had completely disappeared from the horizon of his life. Job claimed that he does not see God in the north, nor in the south, nor in the west, nor in the east (Job 23:2-9).
But in the midst of this despair, Job had a spiritual epiphany. His faith flared up like a candle burning in a dark room. “He knows the way that is with me, let him test me – like gold, I will come out!” (Job 23:10). God tests Christians through various difficulties to cleanse them of self-confidence, pride and worldly wisdom. When it seems that God is silent in times of trial and does not answer our pleas for help, then perhaps He is thus giving us an opportunity to grow in faith.
Pain and problems can make our character strong if we trust God during difficult times in our lives.
Dear Lord, help me to believe that You are with me even when I do not see or understand Your work in my life. I place myself in Your hands and believe that any of my sufferings are necessary for the achievement of Your good purposes.
A period of testing our faith can strengthen our faith.
By Jennifer Benson Schuldt
Give thanks for everything, because this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. — 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Due to constant power outages, our area is often plunged into darkness. It is very difficult to tolerate such inconvenience when it is impossible to use the most important appliances at home.
Our believing neighbor often asked us: “And we need to thank God for that too.” She meant the well-known verse: “Give thanks for everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thess. 5:18). And we always answered: “Yes, of course. We must thank God for everything.” But we said it without much enthusiasm, and our words contradicted our constant grumbling as the lights went out.
But one day our belief that “we should thank God for everything” acquired a new meaning. When I returned from work, I saw our neighbor, in a state of shock, crying and saying: “Thank Jesus that there was no light, otherwise our house would have burned down, and I would surely have perished with my whole family!” It happened that the garbage truck hit a pole, which caused the high-voltage cables to fall directly on her house. If there was voltage in these cables, a tragedy would surely occur.
In difficult circumstances, it is not easy to say: “Thank you, Lord.” But we should always thank God, because any problematic situation is an opportunity to learn to trust Him, even if we do not understand His goals.
Father, we honor You with our words, but very often our actions reveal our distrust of You. Help us to see Your work in any situation – no matter how difficult it is.
By God’s grace, we can be grateful to God for everything.
Author: Laurence Darmany
Paul’s letter to the Roman churches is filled with a deep understanding of the nature of God, the power of Jesus’ death on the cross, and how it affects our lives. At the beginning of the letter, Paul gives his readers a few general statements before diving into its content.
In Romans 1:16-17, Paul begins to discuss one of the main central ideas of the letter to the Romans.
He begins with the Gospel. The gospel message is that when mankind was enslaved by sin, Jesus came and lived a perfect human life and then died on the cross in our place. He took upon Himself the punishment we deserved and paid the full price for it.
Now true life and salvation is available to everyone who believes in this gospel message. Only through the message of the Gospel can we be truly saved.
Also, everyone has equal access to salvation. No one has a special privilege or status before God to be saved first. Every person on earth can receive salvation from God by believing in Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
Paul says that this message first came to the Jews because Jesus’ mission on earth began with God’s people. However, through Jesus and the apostles, this message spread to the Gentiles. Thus, every person has access to God’s saving power through Jesus.
If this message is new to you, spend some time in God’s Word each day learning about the message and hope of the Gospel. Thank God that He sent Jesus to make salvation available to all people, including you. And now live with the assurance that you are saved and redeemed by God.
