Do you Dare to love like Christ?

 Today's meditation John chapter 11:1-10

1. There was a man named Lazarus In Bethany the town of Mary and Martha and he was sick. (V1)
 2. It was this Mary who anointed the feet of Jesus with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair. Lazarus was her brother. (V2)
3. Mary and Martha sent to  Jesus that Lazarus whom he loves was sick. (V3)
4. Jesus said that his sickness is not unto death but for the glory of God that CHRIST may be glorified in him. (V4)
5. Jesus loved Martha, Mary and Lazarus. (V5)
6. When Christ heard that Lazarus was sick he tarried in the place he was and abided there for another two days. (V6)
7. Then Christ said that they ought to go to judèa again. (V7)
 8. The disciples said to him how he can go there again to the Jews who tried to stone him. (V8)
9. Jesus said there are twelve hours in a day. If a man walks in the day he stumbles not because he sees the light of the world. (V9)
10. But the man stumbles in the night as there is no light in him. (V10)

 Life applications:

When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
John:11:4

Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
John:11:5

The amazing Love of Christ:

In this meditation, God opened my eyes to see a glimpse of the amazing Love of Christ.

1. The love of Christ comprehends the big picture:

When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
John:11:4

The love of Christ was deeper to analyse the issue in the light of God and comprehend what God wanted to do in that particular situation.

Dear Child of God... do we see the hand of God in our difficult situations? Are we able to trust in God in seeing the big picture as Christ did.?

 Let us ask for more of the love of Christ in us that we will be able to love him and trust him more in overwhelming situations in ourselves and in others.

2. Love of Christ is tough:


When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.
John:11:6

The Love of Christ is tough enough not to be shaken by any emotional outbursts.

the love of Christ sees physical things spiritually by-passing all emotions.

Jesus tarried and spent another two days in the place where he stayed, that God's will be accomplished in Lazarus.

Dear Child of God,
Do you feel God does not have compassion on you and is tough as you cry out to him day and night?

Cheer up! This waiting is also a part of the big plan. This is also a characteristic of the great love and wisdom of Christ.

3. The love of Christ submits to the direction of the Holy Spirit in respect to time and space.

Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.
John:11:7

Christ gives us a beautiful example of how to surrender to the leading of the holy spirit.

Many times we with emotional decisions and looking at situations around or hearing to people make haste in decisions not heeding to the gentle voice of the holy spirit.

The spirit of God wants our soul to be at peace in all situations that we can listen to the leading of the holy spirit clearly each time.

 4. Love of Christ is daring:

His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?
John:11:8

Halleluyah! The love of Christ is daring enough to face the cross for us.

 He chose to go to Judea again in spite of an outrage opposition in that place.

Dear Child of the most high God!
You have a heavenly father whose hands will reach out to you even if you are in the midst of hell surrounded by a thousand demons.

Do not be disheartened... you have a loving heavenly father who dares to go any extreme for your cause.

5. The love of Christ gives us a sound mind:

Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walks in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.
John:11:9

Christ is light. If we walk in the light of Christ,  in the direction of the Holy Spirit we will not stumble. The Love of Christ never confuse us.

A. The Lord himself shall be our light and we shall not stumble.

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm:27:1

B. The word of God is a light to our path.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psalm:119:105

C. Christ himself is that light that will bring us to the sanctuary of God.

O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.
Psalm:43:3

D. There is a light inside of us... even our conscience through which God can lead us.

For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.
Psalm:18:28
 The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
Proverbs:20:27

More than anything... if we are walking in the love of Christ we are walking in the light.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1 John:1:7

He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
1 John:2:10

To GOD BE THE GLORY.... amen.

Am I Blind?

Today's meditation John chapter 9: 1-10

 1. As Jesus passed by he saw a man who was blind from birth. (V1)
2. Disciples of Christ asked him whose sin was it that the man was blind, his or his parents? (V2)
3. Jesus told them that neither his sin or his parents, but he was blind that the works of God will be manifested through him. (v3)
4. Jesus said he must work the works of the father when it is day as the night is coming when no man can work. (V4)
5. Christ said as long as he is in the world, he is the light of the world. (V5)
6. After speaking these words Jesus spat on the ground, made clay of the spittle and anointed the eyes of the man with the clay. (V6)
7.  He told him to go and wash in the pool of Siloam meaning sent. He went in obedience and washed and came back seeing. (V7)
8. The neighbours looking at him said if he the person who was blind and sitting and begging?(V8)
9. Some said that it is he And some said it is not. But the man said that it is he. (V9)
10. They all asked him then how his eyes were opened. (V10)

LIFE APPLICATION:

And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
John:9:7

ARE WE BLIND:

This is a good question to ask of ourselves today. AM I BLIND... of course not physically, but are we blind to the things of the Spirit? This is a good thought to ponder and examine ourselves.

1. For the blind everything is dark around them.

But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
1 John:2:11

If we hate our brother we are not walking in the light but in darkness And the darkness has blinded our eyes.

2. Our minds can be blinded by the God of the world that we cannot believe in Christ and his light cannot shine in us.

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
2 Corinthians:4:4

3. When we sin against God, we do not know where we stumble in the noon day:

We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noon day as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men.
Isaiah:59:10

And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung.
Zephaniah:1:17

4. If we lack attributes like virtue, faith, knowledge, temperance, faithfulness and godliness, we can be short sighted.

But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
2 Peter:1:9

5. Taking bribe can blind our eyes:

Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.
1 Samuel:12:3

Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.
Deuteronomy:16:19

What to do when we realise we are spiritually blinded?

Our God is a God who heals the blind. He leads them in paths they never know.

I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
Isaiah:42:6

To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
Isaiah:42:7

And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.
Isaiah:42:16

So God wants us to follow these steps Today.

1. Acknowledge that we are blinded spiritually and ask God for help, that we might see.

Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Revelation:3:17

I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Revelation:3:18

2. Allow God to work in those blind areas however painful and however dirty it is.

When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay.
John 9:6.

We see a creating power of God working here. The same hands that made Adam with the clay is now creating eyes with clay in the blind man.

The spirit of Christ is divine. That is what when mingled with the dust of the ground has got the divine power to create. Let the same power to create work in our hearts too, that our spiritual eyes be opened too.

3. Go and wash yourselves in Siloam... meaning sent.

Here the waters of Siloam means the word of God.

Dear Child of God,
The WORD of the God has the power to cleanse. It has the power to heal and it has the power to open our eyes.

He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
Psalm:107:20

He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.
Psalm:147:18

The WORD of GOD enlightens our eyes.

The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
Psalm:19:8

So let us go to this Siloam which God has given us, even this word of God and wash ourselves, that our eyes can see with clarity.... May God reveal himself to us more. Amen.

SHINING LIGHTS

 MEDITATION John 5:31-39

1. Christ said if he witnesses about himself he is not true. (V31)
2. Jesus said there is another person who bears witness about him and that his witness is true. (V32)
3. The Jews sent to ask of John and he witnessed the truth. (V33) But Christ said he does not receive the testimony of any man. (V34)
4. John was a burning and shining light and Jesus said that they were rejoicing in his light for a while. ( v35)
5. Jesus said that he has a greater witness than John as the works that the Father God has given him to do, will testify about him that he was sent of the Father God. ( v36)
6. Father God who sent him, witnesses of CHRIST. Nobody else have heard him speak or known his shape. (V37)
7. If we do not believe in Christ, the word of the father cannot abide in us. (V38)
8.  Christ tells us to search the scriptures. We think there is eternal life in it. It is the scriptures that testify about Christ.  (V39)

 LIFE APPLICATION:

 Testimony of Christ:

1. The WORD of GOD says nobody can accept one witness or what the person speaks about himself.

One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.
Deuteronomy:19:15

It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.
John:8:17

Let us see now those witnesses that testify about Christ and that their testimony was true.

B. The testimony of the Father God about Christ:

JESUS says that the Father God himself bears testimony about him and that his testimony is true.

And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
John:5:37

C. The WORD of GOD testifies about Christ:

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
John:5:39

And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;
Hebrews:3:5

D. The Holy Spirit testifies about Christ:
Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1 John:4:2

This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
1 John:5:6

E. We are his testimonies:

Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:
1 Corinthians:1:6

For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
2 Corinthians:1:12

And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Revelation:19:10

LIFE APPLICATION 2:

Shining Lights:

God has called us to be shining lights in the dark world

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Matthew:5:14

We are supposed to get the light from Christ and shine in the dark world. The WORD of GOD says,

God is light.

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
1 John:1:5

God wants us to walk in his light.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1 John:1:7

We are called to show forth his praises that brought us into his marvellous light.

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
1 Peter:2:9

And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign forever and ever.
Revelation:22:5

B. Beware! In darkness we can create our own light too.


Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.
Isaiah:50:10

Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.
Isaiah:50:11

Most of the times, when darkness comes our way, God wants us not to create our own fire but to wait on him. The WORD of GOD says,

O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.
Psalm:43:3

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psalm:119:105

He will enlighten our souls and show our paths with the word of God being the light. But we have to wait upon him.

C. We can enjoy the light of another person too.

He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
John:5:35

But John was not THE LIGHT, but Christ is.

He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
John:1:8

That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
John:1:9

So let us carry the testimony as the light in this dark world receiving the light of God and walking victoriously. God bless you.

That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Philippians:2:15

The WORD became flesh : A Meditation John 1: 1- 5

1. Jesus is THE WORD.
2. He was in there in the beginning in the form of the word.
3. Jesus was there in the beginning when the world was created in the form of THE WORD.
4. Everything on Earth is made by him, through him and for him.
5. He is life.
6. This life in Jesus is a light to all men.
7. Where this light (life) is,  there can be no darkness.
8. This is one light that darkness can never swallow.

LIFE APPLICATION:
1. Can we equate the Holy scriptures  to Christ Jesus who came in flesh?
2. Do we still live in darkness not allowing the light of Christ to shine through us?
3. If light is life then darkness is death. Which side are we.?
Let this word of God work in us and through us that we will be able to walk in the light as children of the most high God.