KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Saturday, November 11, 2017
Chapters: John 15-17, Luke 39-71
Message: Hated By The World, Loved By Christ
Hello My Friend,
Approximately forty-seven years, eight months, and eighteen days ago, God created me, He had a plan for me from conception, it was predestined that I would come to know His Son, but the rest was up to me. God’s gift of free will gave me the choice on whether or not I would do what I was predestined to do, and praise God by His mercy and grace He found me, gave me a tender heart to come to know His as my Saviour, and not only be His creation, but His child. The world cannot see how precious life is, they will destroy it in an instant if it meant it would satisfy their own lusts, but to God, every life is precious, that is why we are all predestined to know Him from conception. Sadly, few do, even with Him being right in front of their faces. “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” – Romans 1:20,21.
“even his eternal power and Godhead;” The Godhead, God, the Father, Jesus, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, all three, while unique and different individuals, are One Almighty God. I, like many others due to my Catholic upbringing, was brought up believing that Jesus and God are two people, and yes, while they are correct in them being different individuals, they are incorrect in believing that they are not one in the same person. To the world, this is incomprehensible, and quite frankly, to many “Christians” also, but to the believer, all things are possible. So many religions claim they know God, but here is the key, if they do not know the Son, they do not know the Almighty God. Jesus continues speaking to the disciples, revealing how they will be hated.
“These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.” – John 15:11-13,18-22.
“but now they have no cloke for their sin.” There is a reason why Jesus is hated so much by the world, He brings conviction. You see, people do not want to accept the fact that what they are doing is sin and cause for hell, they cover their sin so that it appears acceptable. Then Jesus shows up, their sin is exposed, and they get offended, so offended that the only option is to destroy Jesus, and anyone else who represents Him. Jesus explains not only that we are hated, but that they will try to destroy us too, but that we ought not be offended, but rather rejoice in all this because God is on our side.
“These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” – John 16:1-3,20-24.
“that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.” You have seen them, suicide bombers, they think they are ridding the world of evil and pleasing God in the process. Can you imagine from birth being taught that you were going to be a human sacrifice for God and preparing for that? God did it one time, used a human sacrifice for the redemption of man, and He was so careful about it that He made sure He Himself would be that sacrifice. Life is precious to God, so precious that the only option to give everlasting life to a soul would be through one man, Jesus Christ. Some would say, if life is precious to God then why does He send people to hell. God sends no one to hell, unbelievers are cast into hell because of sin, and that includes anyone who does not believe that Christ alone is their redemption. Believe it or not, God only wants the best for anyone He creates, it is the pride of man that people are cast into hell. “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” – Revelation 21:7-8.
Intercession; The act of interceding or pleading for another, it is someone going before God and interceding on our behalf. Every born again, child of God has the same intercessor, He is the Lord, Jesus Christ Himself. Before a person even asks Him to save them, amazingly, He has already seen their hearts opening toward Him, and is praying for them, literally pleading that their hearts would be open and receive Him. Even more amazing is that the second a person says, “I believe Christ died for me.” they are saved before they even say Amen, and He is with them forever. Nothing, and I mean nothing, can separate us from Christ, even though we cannot escape the persecution, Christ is right there with us, not only praying for us. Just before Jesus would be captured and crucified He was praying to God.
“I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” – John 17:9-11,14-15,20-23.
“that they may be one, as we are.” You see that, the second we receive Christ as our Saviour we become one with Him, and that means we become one with God. Jesus still prays for all of His believers, while He wants everyone to be saved, He is more concerned about those who do believe in Him than those who do not. Jesus knew the time had come to finish the mission that God sent Him to do, to fulfill the promise of being the one and final sacrifice needed to be redeemed for their sins, and give eternal life to all who believe in Him, as He was speaking here comes Judas, ready to expose Jesus.
“And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him. Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves? When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.” – Luke 22:24-53.
“but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.” Right now the devil and all his minions were in their glory, but the time will come when they will be put in their place. Christ suffered the most horrific beating and humiliation for you, He hung on a cross for you, He shed His blood for you, He died for you. He gave His body to be the sacrifice that would save you from hell, as well as the judgment that will come to all when He returns. Are you prepared for His return? Jesus will be here as a thief in the night, but He will not be subtle, you will know when He comes to claim all that are His. “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” – I Thessalonians 4:16,17.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” – John 15:4.
Today’s Prayer: God, I want to thank You for sending Your Son to save me, I am trusting fully in Him for eternal life with You. While I humble myself to You, help me to submit solely to You, with all the joy, peace, and comfort that only comes from Christ who is mine. Lord, just as You are the example that I need to follow let me be the example for someone else to follow in hopes that they too can find peace and joy in the Saviour. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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