Day 300

By
The Deity of Jesus Christ!

Scripture

October 26—John 5-7: Claims by the Son of God

Observation

The evidence continues to build for the deity of Jesus who is called the Christ. The man by Bethesda Pool discovers that he is truly the Water of Life. A crowd of more than five thousand learns firsthand that he is the Bread of Life. The religious leaders must decide if he is from God (and therefore that his words are true—including his unflattering comments about them) or from Satan. They conclude the latter to be true, resulting in murderous plots and divided public opinion.

Application

Are you ever disappointed with God? You pray for something you know is God-honoring, and there seems to be no response. An illness or tragedy strikes that God could have (and in your opinion should have) prevented. You start a much-needed new program in your church and it falls flat. Someone else at work gets the promotion that by rights should have been yours. Your neighbor's obnoxious son hits a home run and your son strikes out. Someone backs into your car at the mall and leaves a note—with no name or phone number. Where is God in all of this?

Today's reading includes a tragic description (6:60-71). As long as Jesus was fulfilling the disciples' expectations about him (performing miracles, feeding multitudes, casting out demons), they gladly followed him. But once he started talking about the spiritual requirements of discipleship (6:62-65), that was altogether different!

God wants you to serve him on his terms, not yours. He wants you to leave the "whys"... and the "whens"... and the "wherefores" to him, and concentrate instead on the role of being restfully dependent and instantly obedient. Are you willing to do that today? Then carry this thought with you: "I try...I fail; I trust... he succeeds... through me!"

Prayer

We pray today, God, for all your servants out there in the world spreading the gospel to void and dark filled people. We need you to let them see our light shining so bright that it will pique their interest to want to know the God we serve. Guide us, protect us and bless us with your abundant blessings. Thank you Lord, and we will be careful to give you the honor, the glory and the praise! In Jesus' name! Amen! 

The Gospel!



© Odessa Mathis about my Father's business! 2020

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