Wilt Thou Be Made Whole?

Scripture: John 5: 4-6

For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever desire he had. And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?

Scripture Commentary: “Wilt thou be made whole?”

When Jesus asks, “Wilt thou be made whole,” he is asking you. We live with sickness in our spirits because everyday life makes us forget about Jesus. We get so caught up that we don’t see the cure in front of us.

No matter how trapped you feel in your infirmities, God can minister to your deepest needs. Don’t let a problem or hardship diminish your hope. Have faith.

God has a special job for you in spite of your condition; maybe even because of it. Jesus healed this man both physically and spiritually.

God’s forgiveness is the greatest gift you will ever receive. Don’t neglect his gracious offer.

Read the Entire Chapter:
John Chapter 5

Call on the Name of the Lord to Be Saved

Scripture: Acts 2: 20-21

The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Scripture Commentary: We can call on the name of the Lord at any time, and during any situation.

To call on the name of the Lord when we are in need, and living a Christian life can be two different things. When you ask for forgiveness, for salvation, do you change your ways? Do you avoid repeating the behavior that you needed the Lord to save you from? Often times we do not.

We go through life making mistakes but God forgives.

We ask for God’s forgiveness and go on living our lives, not the life God planned for us. We go through life making mistakes. At times we may think God has not forgiven us.

He doesn’t just forgive our first folly; he forgives again and again and again. He promises to forgive us if we are willing to give ourselves over to him and what he wants for us.

Peter was an unstable disciple during Jesus’ ministry. He let his bravado be his downfall, and he went as far as denying Jesus. Jesus forgave and restored him. In the end, Peter became powerful and dynamic. He spread the Gospel.

God will always forgive you.

There is always a place for you in his house as long as you are willing to walk in.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Acts Chapter 2

Follow Jesus and Become Fishers of Men

Scripture: Luke 9: 57-59, 61-62

As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” He said to another man, “Follow me.” But the man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” (57-59) Jesus said to him, “let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Still, another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”(61-62)

Scripture Commentary: Are you willing to follow God?

Jesus wants total dedication, not halfhearted commitment. We can’t pick and choose among Jesus’ ideas and follow him selectively. We have to accept the cross along with the crown, judgment, and mercy.

Will you count the cost and be willing to abandon everything else that has given you security?

Focusing on Jesus means nothing else distracts us from the manner of living God set out for us. Our motives become pure and our actions are for the kingdom of God. A wholehearted commitment means putting all of our faith in God. It means making sacrifices that he knows we can make. It means trusting that whatever cost we have to pay is part of God’s plan for us.

We must make sacrifices for our salvation.

In this scripture, Jesus doesn’t teach us to forsake responsibilities to family. He perceives the real motives and excuses behind the men’s words. They were not willing to give themselves over to Jesus fully, and Jesus would not accept them partially.

God gives us eternal life, and in return, he asks for our absolute dedication. In return for his love, he asks for ours. There is a cost to following Jesus. As Jesus sacrificed his life for the forgiveness of our sins, we must make sacrifices for the kingdom of God and for our salvation.

Will you follow God?

Will you walk with God? How dedicated are you to your relationship with Christ?

Read the Entire Chapter:
Luke Chapter 9

Do You Deny Jesus By Your Actions?

Scripture: Matthew 26: 34-35, 75

Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples. (34-35) Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crows, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.(75)

Scripture Commentary: We deny Jesus when we deny the truth

We all are or have been Peter. At some point in our lives, we have or will deny the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ. We, like Peter, are in denial.

When we know we are wrong, we try to divert attention from ourselves. If we are in the act of doing something wrong, then for that moment we do not know Jesus. And, if confronted with our wrongdoing, we refuse to acknowledge it. By denying the truth, we turn our back on Jesus.

Do not reject the God who saves you from disaster.

Acting in the ways listed above flatly deny your relationship with Jesus. If any of those descriptions apply to you, then you are on the road to rejecting Christ.

In our minds, we declare that we will not disown Him, but in our actions, we scatter like the disciples.

It is easy to say that we are devoted to Christ, but our words don’t hold weight until they are tested in the face of persecution. If you live in the way Jesus teaches, then you will never reject him.

You know that he will never reject you.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Matthew Chapter 26

Ask, Seek, and Knock on God’s Door

Scripture: Luke 11:9-10

And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Scripture Commentary: Ask and God shall give it to you.

But, what are you asking for? It seems like we constantly ask God for things. To name a few, we want him to give us houses and cars and money … and forgiveness. How often do you stop and reflect on what God has given you instead of asking him for more?

Before you ask God to forgive your transgressions, make sure that you don’t harbor ill feelings toward others in your heart. Jesus taught his disciples to forgive. But if we cannot forgive others for their transgressions, then how can we expect God to forgive us? Forgiveness is the cornerstone of a relationship with God. Therefore, God has forgiven our sins over and over, so in turn, we must forgive those who have wronged us.

We are all God’s children.

Some are good; however, everyone needs help. As members of God’s kingdom on earth, it is our job guide others to Christ. Ask God to guide you. Let him strengthen your light so that he can enable you to lead others out of the darkness.

God prepares to give us what he knows we need. When we ask, seek, and knock, we receive, find, and open.

Open the door. Find what God has for you.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Luke Chapter 11

We Need a New Heart and a New Spirit to Live Right by God

Scripture: Ezekiel 18: 30-32

Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions, so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.

Scripture Commentary: Create in me a new heart, O God

God gives everyone a moral compass, a way to distinguish good from evil and right from wrong. When you do something wrong you tell God that you are deviating from his path. The wrong action calls for punishment, and we almost always believe it is unfair. We call God unfair when in reality we need to live up to his ways of fairness and follow the path he has set for us. We need to take on a new heart and a new spirit according to God’s ways.

Our God is a God of love and perfect justice.

He shows mercy on those who recognize their sin and ask for forgiveness, but he cannot tolerate those who knowingly go against him.

Wicked people die both spiritually and physically.

God takes no joy in these deaths. He would prefer they turn away from their ways and do good. He wants to give them a life of love.

What do you choose?

Read the Entire Chapter:
Ezekiel Chapter 18

Additional Reading:
Psalms Chapter 51

Let Nothing Separate You and Your God

Scripture: Isaiah 59:1-2

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

Scripture Commentary: For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.*

God can and will do everything for you. He will love you unconditionally, show you mercy, and give you eternal life. In return, he seeks openness, confession, and your request for forgiveness. Let nothing separate you and your God.

Sin offends God and separates us from him.

God can neither ignore nor tolerate sin as if it did not matter. If someone treats you poorly and doesn’t apologize, do you continue having a relationship with them, or do you shut them out of your life? Why shouldn’t God do the same when you treat him wrong?

If you live a life of sin, you force God to turn away from you.

Dying with sin means no forgiveness, and we separate ourselves eternally from God. God wants us to live with him forever, not live in eternal damnation.

Choose to live the life with God.

If you confess that you believe God gave his only Son to save the world so that neither you nor I, nor anyone, should perish; and you choose to live a Christian life, then God is with you.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Isaiah Chapter 59

**Additional Reading:
Isaiah Chapter 41

For God So Loved the World … That Means You!

Scripture: John 3: 16, 36

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.(16) He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.(36)

Scripture Commentary: God’s love resides in the mercy he shows us every day

The Gospel vocalizes its full purpose in the John 3:16 verse. God so loved the world that he gave the human part of his Son to save us. This same love resides in the mercy he shows us every day.

Who among us would put ourselves, let alone one of our own children, to death for anyone? God knows us all, and he loves us all that much. He has declared his true love for us … so much more than we can ever comprehend.

God allows us to choose Jesus and eternal life … or not

Some still reject God’s offer of salvation even with the knowledge of what he does for us. Verse 36 spells out the results of rejecting the Son. Rejecting Jesus Christ equals rejecting God the Father. By rejecting God we are calling him a liar.

God allows us to choose him or not. Choosing Jesus means choosing an eternal life with God. Rejecting Jesus means you choose God’s wrath. The choice of God’s wrath is the final and fatal decision that plants you in hell “where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9: 47-48). Embrace Jesus and live with the Father.

Read the Entire Chapter:
John Chapter 3
Mark Chapter 9

Read Other Posts on the Book of John:
Christ is the True Vine
The Productive Branch Bears Fruit
The Holy Spirit Will Guide You to Understanding

The Wicked Do Not Seek God

Scripture: Psalms 10: 3-6

For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth. The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them. He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.

Scripture Commentary: Why are you upset when wicked people prosper?

Some people succeed in everything they do, and they brag that no one, not even God, can keep them down. There is an incompatibility in the wicked between blind arrogance and the presence of God in their hearts.

We may wonder why God allows these people to amass great wealth while they despise God as they do. Why are you upset when wicked people prosper? Are you angry about the damage they’re doing or are you just jealous of their success?

God will punish the wicked in his time

Keep in mind that God’s guiding influence is not in these people’s lives. We must gain the right perspective on wickedness and wealth. The wicked will surely be punished because God hates their evil deeds.

Wealth is only temporary. Do you know of anyone who was able to take their wealth with them into death?

It is not necessarily a sign of God’s approval if a person is wealthy. Don’t let wealth or the lack of it become your obsession. True wealth is with the One and Only, Jesus Christ.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms Chapter 10

The Prayer of an Old and Gray-Headed Man for Rescue

Scripture: Psalms 71: 18

And even when I am old and gray-headed, O God, do not abandon me,
Until I declare Your [mighty] strength to this generation, Your power to all who are to come.

Scripture Commentary: You are never too old and gray-headed to serve God

A person is never too old and gray-headed to serve God, never too old to pray. As we face the sunset years, we recognize that God has been the constant help in our lives.

Remembering God’s lifetime of blessing will help us see the consistency of his grace throughout the years, trust him for the future, and share with others the love he has for us.

God has no limitations

Although age may stop us from certain physical activities, it needn’t end our desire to tell others about all we have seen God do in our lives. We must never despair, but keep on expecting his help no matter how severe our own limitations become.

When your situation seems hopeless, remember that in your long life he kept you safe from harm even when you did not acknowledge him. Do not leave this earth without sharing the love of God.

Exalt God

He is our security; we must cling to him. Take the time each day to be still and exalt God.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms Chapter 71