October 14 - John 7:1-9 | Luke 9:51-56 | Matthew 8:18-22 | Luke 9:57-62 | John 7:10-8:20

Good morning everyone,

As we begin today’s reading, it is only about six months before the crucifixion of Jesus. He is in Galilee and was not crazy about going to Judea where the Jewish leaders there  wanted to kill him. Think for a moment on how preposterous that was. Their reasoning? We don’t like what He is saying so we’ll get rid of him. Ugh! Just as absurd was, Jesus’ own brothers did not believe He was the Messiah. They kind of taunted him with, “if you want to be a public figure you need to get out and do your work” (paraphrased) But Jesus just told them, “Not now. My time is not yet here.”

Jesus finally does go to the festival and begins teaching in the courts to a crowd that is split over what he represents, good or evil. Some saying, “You are demon-possessed, claiming He wanted to kill them. Others claimed he was a prophet, and still others said

“He is the Messiah.” However that all found His teaching to be so amazing. So much so  that it even held the attention of the Pharisees to the point where they just didn’t arrest him, which had been the plan.

In John 8:12 Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” I love that! Walking with  Jesus is walking in the light. There is so much evil and wickedness that dwells in the dark, it is at best, a very frightening place to be. At worst, deadly. 1 John 1:5-7 says, “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.  If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”

Walking in the light means several things, some obvious some not so obvious, basically it it comes down to living a good moral life according to the instructions of the Bible and spreading God’s Word. Right? It means being controlled by the truth, by the desires that fall in line with God's way of thinking and shunning the evil temptations of the world.  Sometimes it can be harder than others, God knows that but in Romans we are told to put on the armor of light. That He is our armor. In Psalm 27 it says, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?” Who indeed! “Doing truth” according to Jesus isn’t being perfect, or arriving at sinlessness, rather it is the simple willingness to come into the light of Life in the sight of God. Make sense? Then remain there with the rest of the fellowship, no matter how uncomfortable at times. It is so critical, so pivotal! Where you will spend your eternity, heaven or hell, hinges on this.

So I wonder, when Jesus walks through the courtyard of your heart is he embraced and recognized as the Messiah? Are you are convinced, with everything you are, that God is a fountain of light?  If yes, then you can be confident you will some day move home and spend all the rest your eternity worshiping our Abba.

If you have not asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savor, I strongly encourage you to. Do it this very second. Repent and choose Jesus. It is so simple, just talk to Jesus, say, “Jesus, I know I am a sinner and that You hung on a cross so that all my sins could be washed away. I ask that You would forgive me of my sins and come into my heart to rule my life” 

If you spoke that prayer and sincerely believe it, you can trust Jesus heard it and the Holy Spirit has come into you and has begun a good work in you. I would encourage you to tell someone of your declaration of faith, celebrate and move forward in Christ. Because you see,  your declaration of faith is a bit like getting married. When a couple stands before an altar they pledge themselves to one another for the rest of their lives. However, that was only the ceremony. The rest of life is an ongoing pledge to one another. It is a lot of work and a lot of faith, the one time pledge is not strong enough to keep them together without ongoing commitment. I would encourage you, I would encourage all of us to remember to commit each every day to the Lord. To remember the great I AM in all that we do. Amen?

Have a great day and to God be the glory.

God bless you all….