KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Wednesday, November 02, 2016
Chapters: Luke 19, Mark 11
Message: Seeing Jesus
Hello My Friend,
Faith, it seems like every other message I write is about faith, and while it may seem repetitious, God wants to get it through our heads that we are to live by faith and not sight. Our sight is always deceiving, especially when it comes from the back of our heads. Think about it, we see with our heart and emotions more than we see with our eyes, one day I see endless possibilities the next, everything is impossible. That is where faith comes in, and since it goes up and down like a roller coaster, we cannot depend on our heart or emotions to be our guide on faith, we need to let Jesus be our guide. “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.” – II Timothy 1:12-13.
“for I know whom I have believed,” You know what? There are numerous things that we go through in life, and we are going to miss out on some things because we did not believe God could do them through us, but there is one thing we will not miss out on and that is eternal life with His Son. Sometimes I imagine what it would have been like to be here when Jesus walked the earth, would I have been like the countless who were blind to who He really is? There was a man named Zacchaeus, a tax collector, hated among the people because they were known to be corrupt, very wealthy, had everything he wanted, but something was missing, when he heard about Jesus he wondered perhaps that what He had to offer was what he was missing and tried to see Him.
“And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” – Luke 19:3-10.
“That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.” Do you know what is incredible about this story? When Zacchaeus saw Jesus he knew that everything he possessed was worthless, and that He was the one he needed. You know, people are going to murmur, grumble and complain whenever someone they consider below them gets saved. I can recall when I was younger and Catholic how much hatred they had over the Jews, but when I actually came to know who the Jews actually were I realized God is no respecter of persons, He treats them all the same, Jesus came to save and seek the lost, and until a person sees that they are a sinner they will not see Jesus. “Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God. In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.” – Romans 2:9-11,16.
You know, even as Christians we have to be careful who we get around, just because a church mentions Jesus or even believes in Him that does not mean they believe He is the only way to God and heaven, the same goes for people in the church. I know people need the benefit of the doubt because only Jesus knows who are His, but I swear once you see Jesus you see those who may be imposters. When Jesus arrived in Jerusalem it was incredible, people were praising God, of course, the Pharisees were among them, and they did not like that.
“And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way. And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.” – Luke 19:36-40.
“Master, rebuke thy disciples.” There are always going to be people among the crowd that try to keep the those who truly believe in Christ quiet, especially false religion. As I drive down the main road to go to my church I pass a Muslim community center, they have a marquee that often flashes quotes from the Qur’an, this time it is shouting out at you, “Free Qur’ans”. If there is ever a time that we as Christians need to show Jesus in us it is now, people need Jesus, and they are not going to find Him in the Qur’an, the Book of Mormon, the Sunday Missile, or the Watch Tower, oh, they will find His name, but they will not tell the truth about Him. Christians are a minority today, they are being persecuted, falsely prosecuted, and even dying because of their faith, but we must not stop proclaiming Jesus King. As Jesus enters the city He looks around and begins to cry.
“And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.” – Luke 19:41-44.
“but now they are hid from thine eyes.” Jesus is touched with a concern for the people, His natural passions moved, and tears fell from His eyes as He foresees what is about to take place. This must be understood of Christ merely as man, and is proof of His human nature, He was about to endure a horrendous feat and the people were oblivious to it. Jesus did not cry vain tears nor for Himself, He knows the value of souls, the weight of guilt upon them, and how low it will press and sink mankind. He knows what He is about to endure for every, and how many would be destroyed because they would not accept Him when they saw Him. We do not need to see a physical person to believe in Jesus, we just need faith, faith is the key to enduring in this life while we await our King. Jesus reminds His disciples that we must live by faith.
“And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.” – Mark 11:22-26.
“when ye pray, believe that ye receive them,” A man was building a church in a small town, but there was something missing, a parking lot, there was a mountain where the lot should have been. The pastor of the church remembered these verses and began asking God to move the mountain. Within days of the church being completed a man came by, he was building a mall on the other side of the mountain and offered to have it removed, the man not only paid for everything himself, he even gave him some money. You see, when we have faith in God, You really can see His hand in everything. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” – Hebrews 1:1,3,6.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.” – Mark 11:9-10.
Today’s Prayer: Jesus, You are the Light that needs to shine through me so others can see You and receive You as their Saviour too. Lord, Let me be a witness and testimony of great faith, help me endure all my trials and tribulations, to live my life that others see You through me, and increase my faith, show Yourself mighty that I will shout and proclaim Your name, praising God for all His wonderful works that You did through me. In Your name, Jesus…Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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