Till You Are Entirely His

         Let your endurance be a finished product, so that you may be finished and complete, with never a defect. James 1:4 (Moffatt).

 

Many of us are all right in the main, but there are some domains in which we are slovenly. It is not a question of sin, but of the remnants of the carnal life which are apt to make us slovenly. Slovenliness is an insult to the Holy Ghost. There should be nothing slovenly, whether it be in the way we eat and drink, or in the way we worship God.

Not only must our relationship to God be right, but the external expression of that relationship must be right. Ultimately God will let nothing escape, every detail is under His scrutiny. In numberless ways God will bring us back to the same point over and over again. He never tires of bringing us to the one point until we learn the lesson, because He is producing the finished product. It may be a question of impulse, and again and again, with the most persistent patience, God has brought us back to the one particular point; or it may be mental wool-gathering, or independent individuality. God is trying to impress upon us the one thing that is not entirely right.

We have been having a wonderful time this Session over the revelation of God’s Redemption, our hearts are perfect towards Him; His wonderful work in us makes us know that in the main we are right with Him; now, says the Spirit, through St. James, “Let your endurance be a finished product.” Watch the slipshod bits— ‘Oh, that will have to do for now.’ Whatever it is, God will point it out with persistence until we are entirely His.

 

The Discipline Of Disillusionment

        Jesus did not commit Himself unto them. . . for He knew what was in man. John 2:24-25.

 

Disillusionment means that there are no more false judgments in life. To be undeceived by disillusionment may leave us cynical and unkindly severe in our judgment of others, but the disillusionment which comes from God brings us to the place where we see men and women as they really are, and yet there is no cynicism, we have no stinging, bitter things to say. Many of the cruel things in life spring from the fact that we suffer from illusions. We are not true to one another as facts; we are true only to our ideas of one another. Everything is either delightful and fine, or mean and dastardly, according to our idea.

 

The refusal to be disillusioned is the cause of much of the suffering in human life. It works in this way—if we love a human being and do not love God, we demand of him every perfection and every rectitude, and when we do not get it we become cruel and vindictive; we are demanding of a human being what he or she cannot give. There is only one Being Who can satisfy the last aching abyss of the human heart, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. Why Our Lord is apparently so severe regarding every human relationship is because He knows that every relationship not based on loyalty to Himself will end in disaster. Our Lord trusted no man, yet He was never suspicious, never bitter. Our Lord’s confidence in God and in what His grace could do for any man was so perfect that He despaired of no one. If our trust is placed in human beings, we shall end in despairing of everyone.

What do you see in your clouds?

Behold, He cometh with clouds. Rev. 1:7.

In the Bible clouds are always connected with God. Clouds are those sorrows or sufferings or providences, within or without our personal lives, which seem to dispute the rule of God. It is by those very clouds that the Spirit of God is teaching us how to walk by faith. If there were no clouds, we should have no faith. ‘The clouds are but the dust of our Father’s feet.’ The clouds are a sign that He is there. What a revelation it is to know that sorrow and bereavement and suffering are the clouds that come along with God! God cannot come near without clouds, He does not come in clear shining.

It is not true to say that God wants to teach us something in our trials; through every cloud He brings, He wants us to unlearn something. God’s purpose in the cloud is to simplify our belief until our relationship to Him is exactly that of a child—God and my own soul, other people are shadows. Until other people become shadows, clouds and darkness will be mine every now and again. Is the relationship between myself and God getting simpler than ever it has been?

There is a connection between the strange providences of God and what we know of Him, and we have to learn to interpret the mysteries of life in the light of our knowledge of God. Unless we can look the darkest, blackest fact full in the face without damaging God’s character, we do not yet know Him.

“They feared as they entered the cloud. . . .” Is there anyone “save Jesus only” in your cloud? If so, it will get darker; you must get to the place where there is “no one any more save Jesus only.”

 

The way to know

If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine. . . John 7:17.

 

The golden rule for understanding spiritually is not intellect, but obedience. If a man wants scientific knowledge, intellectual curiosity is his guide; but if he wants insight into what Jesus Christ teaches, he can only get it by obedience. If things are dark to me, then I may be sure there is something I will not do. Intellectual darkness comes through ignorance; spiritual darkness comes because of something I do not intend to obey.

 

No man ever receives a word from God without instantly being put to the test over it. We disobey and then wonder why we don’t go on spiritually. ‘If when you come to the altar,’ said Jesus, ‘there you remember your brother hath ought against you. . . don’t say another word to Me, but first go and put that thing right.’ The teaching of Jesus hits us where we live. We cannot stand as humbugs before Him for one second. He educates us down to the scruple. The Spirit of God unearths the spirit of self-vindication; He makes us sensitive to things we never thought of before.

 

When Jesus brings a thing home by His word, don’t shirk it. If you do, you will become a religious humbug. Watch the things you shrug your shoulders over, and you will know why you do not go on spiritually. First go— at the risk of being thought fanatical you must obey what God tells you.

 

Confession

John 11:17-27. KJ 2000
 
(17) Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.
(18) Now Bethany was near unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:
(19) And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
(20) Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.
(21) Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
(22) But I know, that even now, whatsoever you will ask of God, God will give it to you.
(23) Jesus said unto her, Your brother shall rise again.
(24) Martha said unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
(25) Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
(26) And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?
(27) She said unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who should come into the world.
One of the great tests of the faith is found in the corridors of the hospital. What does one say to the grieving? When a loved one dies, it is hard to be the counselor.

We see that here. It is fitting that Martha, the pragmatic one of the two sisters, comes out to Jesus first. Is there a touch of reproach in her voice when she says that Lazarus would not be dead had Jesus been there?

Jesus first reply is rather cold. The Jews, with few exceptions, believed in the resurrection of the dead on the last day. But this doctrine was of little comfort; that day was a long way off; no one knew much about it—a theoretical concept, if you will. Martha has been crying in the corridors of the hospital, she is worn out, and grief has taken hold. The resurrection of the dead is cold comfort to her now.

But Jesus does not rest on that. "I am the resurrection and the life." It may be the most stunning statement ever uttered on earth. The man claims to be supreme even over death itself.

There is only one true question: "Who do you say that I am?" There is only one true answer, and this is it.

I am

It is the name of God by which he introduced himself to Moses. No other name could hold such power.

The Resurrection

There is no other. No other power can triumph over the grave. No one else can do this.

The Life

Life? True life, life in himself. Not life derived from parents, but the genuine source of life. The one and only, the original.

The Son of God

God in the flesh, walking the planet with us, as human as we are and divine in every way.

Who Was To Come

Not the afterthought of God, but the central part of his plan, revealed through the prophets.

In one sentence Jesus has transformed the remote, impersonal doctrine of the resurrection of the dead into the living presence of God. Because He lives, we shall live and never die. The theory became flesh, and walked among us. The resurrection is real because he is reality itself.



　

Man, The Rationalizing Creature

Luke 17:1-2.  KJ2000

(1) Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that temptations to sin will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!
(2) It would be better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he was cast into the sea, than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble.

It is said that man is the rational creature. Here we see that man is the rationalizing creature—and Jesus warns us against it.

Perhaps an example will make it clearer. Suppose you're the police officer, cleaning up a dreadful accident. Bodies litter the ground, and off to one side in handcuffs sits the drunk who caused it. "But officer," he explains, "it's not my fault. You should have known that someone would get drunk like this and try to drive." (Being a police officer requires a great deal of restraint.)

It's a common heresy—hey, sin is going to happen, there's a lot of it going around, I just happen to be the perpetrator this time, what's the problem? Your mother would not have accepted such an excuse, and neither will God Almighty. So why do we keep hearing it?

Sin will happen. It's a fact, like death and taxes. But just because something is common doesn't make it right.

That's no excuse. Indeed, it is less than an excuse, for if you see a problem that is common you should be well warned by it.

Sometimes we need the explicit warning, and that is what Christ is giving us here. Those who think that their sin is good because it causes the grace of God to abound more need to read these two verses.

Note, however, that Christ particularly refers to causing others to stumble. This is indeed a deadly thing, for if I sin for myself, there is the chance that I can ask forgiveness—but if I lead someone else astray, can I really lead them back? It's not easy.

This type of deadly sin is caused in two ways:

Often, it is the "cool" leading the blind. If a bone through the nose becomes popular, we must have a bone through the nose. If being single and having a baby is cool, we must. you get the idea.

Worse, however, is the case of the "righteous" leading the blind. When a spiritual leader takes his flock down the deadly path, the sin is very grave indeed.

Christ makes the point with bluntness. Is your life so valuable to you that you would sacrifice eternal life? Is the bone in the nose—or the pride in being so "spiritual" - worth so much that you would volunteer to go to hell for it?

Follow Wisdom

I, Wisdom [from God], make prudence my dwelling, and I find out knowledge and discretion. Proverbs 8:12

There is a lot of powerful information in this small scripture—information you would do well to explore. In the Scriptures being prudent means being good stewards or managers of the gifts that God has given you to use. Those gifts include time, energy, strength, and health, as well as material possessions.
 
Each of us has been given a different set of gifts, and each of us has different abilities to manage those gifts. It is your individual responsibility to develop knowledge and discretion as to how you can best use your gifts. You do this by listening to the Lord and obeying what He tells you to do.

Following Wisdom is an excellent choice—one that will bring you many blessings!

Look to the Future for Your Reward

For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful; but afterwards it yields peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it [a harvest of fruit which consists in righteousness—in conformity to God's will in purpose, thought, and action, resulting in right living and right standing with God].
 - Hebrews 12:11

We should look to the future, determine what we want to see happen, and then discipline ourselves in order that we may have it. We must not buy into the lie that we should only live for the moment or that the present is all we have. We also have a future to consider, and we need to begin to live with an eye toward "after ward," toward the "later on" times. We have to begin to care just as much or more about later on than we care about right now.

If you want to be thinner when the time comes to wear your swimsuit in June, you need to start eating healthily and exercising before summer arrives. If you want to be able to afford a new car next year, you need to work toward getting out of debt right now. If you dream of living in a nice, clean, orderly home, you have to clear out the clutter and clean it up!

Discipline may not be pleasant for your flesh while you're doing it, but it will give you a tremendous sense of satisfaction in your soul—the satisfaction that comes from knowing you are making good choices. If you will pay the price to be disciplined now, you will enjoy rewards later. If you don't pay the price now to do what is right, then you'll suffer the consequences of an undisciplined life later. You can pay now or you can pay later, but at some point, we all reap the harvest of the choices we've made. We can't simply wish our lives were different; we have to press through laziness, fleshly desires, and bad attitudes and refuse to give up on the discipline that will yield good fruit later on. If there is something you want to see happen in your future, start disciplining yourself toward it now, and later on you will enjoy the fruit of it.

Trust in HimGod's Word in Hebrews 12:11 says "no discipline brings joy . . . but afterwards . . ." If you discipline yourself now, you can trust that He'll bring you great reward afterward.

Believe in Prayer

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
Philippians 4:6 NLT

How many problems have you solved by worrying? How much time have you spent worrying about things that didn't end up happening? Has anything ever gotten better as a result of your worrying about it? Of course not!

The instant you begin to worry or feel anxious, give your concern to God in prayer. Release the weight of it and totally trust Him to either show you what to do or take care of it Himself.

Prayer is the blueprint for a successful life. During His time on Earth, Jesus prayed. He entrusted everything to God—even His reputation and life. We can do the same. Don't complicate your communication with God. Believe in Him and ask Him for what you need through simple, confident prayers.

Strategically Placed

For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and dense darkness [all] peoples, but the Lord shall arise upon you [O Jerusalem], and His glory shall be seen on you.  Isaiah 60:2

I believe the lives of God's people are going to get better and better, but the lives of those who are still in bondage to the world will get worse and worse as they sink deeper and deeper into despair and depression. The light of God will intensify in us as we allow Him to work in us and make us the kind of vessels through which His glory can shine.
 
God is willing to purge us and cleanse us of the things in our lives that are not like Christ, if we will welcome His fire into our lives. Ask Him to work in you and cleanse you of anything that is hindering Him from flowing through you. Like a gardener, God wants to prune off all the dead things in our life so we can bear good fruit for Him.
 
I believe God has strategically placed His people all over the world, in every company, every marketplace, every hospital, school, and so on. As the darkness in the world becomes darker in these last days, His glory will shine brighter on those who belong to Him. Then we will be able to help the lost find their way.
 
This is the day for believers to shine and be used by God as never before. The world will not be won through a handful of preachers. We desperately need an army of people available for one-on-one ministry in their neighborhoods, at their work, and in the marketplace. This is why I implore you today to make a deeper commitment to God than ever before. Not only do you need God; He also needs you!
Don't discount yourself by believing that God could not possibly use you. He can; He wants to; and He will!
 
Love Others Today: God has strategically placed you where you are right now. Be a light that shines in the darkness.

Dinner Guests

Luke 14:12-14.  KJ2000.

(12) Then said he also to him that bade him, When you give a dinner or a supper, call not your friends, nor your brethren, neither your kinsmen, nor your rich neighbors; lest they also bid you again, and a recompense be made you.
(13) But when you give a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:
(14) And you shall be blessed; for they cannot recompense you: for you shall be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.


The good hostess works hard at inviting the "right" guests for the party—those who will be pleasant in conversation. If the dinner is a political occasion (whether of party politics or business) then the guests will be selected carefully to construct relationships which will further the purposes of the host. All this must be done carefully.

But there is more: the meal, the entertainment, the table settings, all must be "just so." Nothing must be left to chance; the exactly correct impression must be presented. The show must go on—and perfectly.

Not so with our Lord. Consider some of the people he invited to be among the twelve:

• Some were fishermen; of such fiery temper they were known as the "sons of thunder." Inviting a guest whose mouth is open before his brain is engaged is not wise.
• Some were of the radical persuasion. In this time Jesus included a genuine revolutionary, ready for bloodshed.
• Consider how well that radical got along with Matthew—a toady for the Roman regime, a tax collector, a man hated as a traitor to his own people.

These were some of the people Jesus gathered around him, and to whom he promised rich rewards. These were the honored, first guests at his eternal banquet.

We are his disciples; therefore we are to be his imitators. Does the circle of our friends include such disreputable characters? Or do we confine ourselves to those who are respectable? Those whose reputations will enhance our own?

It is easy enough to give money to feed the poor; there are any number of agencies willing to collect it and use it properly. This is good. But a better thing is that we, ourselves, take up the cross and deal with the matter directly. The beggar by the roadside looks filthy, but he is made in the image of God. Will we pass him by? Or will we feed him?

If we feed him, we feed the least—and our Lord tells us that as we treat the least, we treat Him. It takes imagination of the spirit to see Christ in that beggar by the roadside. The Lord of all reality, who spoke and all things began, assures us that it is so. Have pity on the poor; lend to the Lord; he will repay—and with rich interest.

Invitations

Luke 14:1-11.  KJ2000
 
(1) And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat on the sabbath day, that they watched him.
(2) And, behold, there was a certain man before him who had dropsy.
(3) And Jesus answering spoke unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?
(4) And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;
(5) And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have a donkey or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not immediately pull him out on the sabbath day?
(6) And they could not answer him again about these things.
(7) And he put forth a parable to those who were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief places; saying unto them,
(8) When you are bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest place; lest a more honorable man than you be bidden of him;
(9) And he that bade you and him come and say to you, Give this man your place; and you begin with shame to take the lowest place.
(10) But when you are bidden, go and sit down in the lowest place; that when he that bade you come, he may say unto you, Friend, go up higher: then shall you have honor in the presence of them that sit at table with you.
(11) For whosoever exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted.
 

It is the custom in our day to invite guests to a wedding and arrange the seating for them. This is commonly done with round tables, place names at each, thus ensuring pleasant conversation and no damaged egos. It is a reflection of how much we value pride in our land that this is necessary. It is also a sign that politeness still is of value in a land in which the young are taught that rudeness and maturity are the same thing.


See the politeness of our Lord here:
 
Does he condemn this Pharisee, as he does so often in other circumstances? No; he teaches him, and by the gentle means of a parable.
 
Even the parable itself is gentle, for it concerns a different kind of feast—a wedding feast.


The virtue of politeness, especially as a guest, is hereby proclaimed. One of the reasons politeness needs to be taught so well is that it helps us over our pride. Are you the lowest of the guests at the wedding? This can really hurt if you thought you deserved an important place. But if you are not a family member or long time friend, you understand that you will be at the outer tables—and are therefore not offended. Politeness can be used to control our expectations, and these must often be kept in check. Being the lowest only hurts when you expected to be the highest.


Our Lord is the same kind of guest. When we first take him into our hearts, it appears that he is the lowest and meekest of guests. Does he insist on perfect sinlessness in behavior immediately? No, he begins his gentle (but firm) work upon our souls with polite persistence. At first it is the very noticeable sin that is remedied, but as time goes by we note that he brings up one thing after another, only as we can bear to deal with them, correcting them gently, as is His nature.

But see what this does to us! We come to him with the sense of awe which is the natural result of meeting the Living God. As we grow in the faith, we go "higher up." Our place at the banquet becomes closer to the Host. We should lose none of the sense of awe, but we should grow in the familiar sense that here is the Friend of Sinners, the one in whom love is completely perfect. As we grow, we come closer to Him. As we come closer to Him, we become more like Him. We start at the back of the hall—but our Lord calls, "Friend, come higher up." 

Jerusalem, Jerusalem

Luke 13:31-35. KJ 2000

(31) The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get out, and depart from here: for Herod will kill you.
(32) And he said unto them, Go, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out demons, and I perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be finished.
(33) Nevertheless I must walk today, and tomorrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish outside of Jerusalem.
(34) O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which kills the prophets, and stones them that are sent unto you; how often would I have gathered your children together, as a hen does gather her brood under her wings, and you would not!
(35) Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, you shall not see me, until the time comes when you shall say, Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord.

There is a certain bittersweet sensation to watching a grown child go astray. The heart yearns for earlier years, happier times. The mind wants to scream warning—and the mouth sometimes does, even knowing that it will be rejected word for word.

There is something of that in this passage. It begins with the King of Kings putting a king in his place. Herod, like all the rest of us, is accountable to God.

• God's plans, not Herod's, will prevail. His threats are nothing to the living God.
• God's timing will prevail as well. His steps are deliberate and the days are numbered.
• Even so, the end will come rapidly—and who will be prepared?

Jerusalem—the prophets' slaughterhouse

Nothing so shows the rebellious nature of man, his utter sinfulness, than this. Jerusalem, the city where God placed his Name, designated to be the one place on earth where the presence of God could be found by anyone, is the prophets' slaughterhouse. Those who come in the name of the Lord find a bludgeon, an axe or a saw applied to their bodies. In this case, it will be a cross.

And what is the reaction of Jesus to this? What does he want to do with the city which has so foully treated the prophets, and is about to crown that performance by crucifying the Author of Life? He wants to hold them in his arms and love them. He loves these people; his mercy is very tender toward them, as a mother would be toward her wayward child. But it is not to be.

The truth is very bitter indeed. Within a few years the city will be ripped from the hands of the Jews, and they will be destined to wander the earth for centuries. Only in our own time have they returned, in war, to the city of David. Many feel that this is a sign of the times, signaling the imminent return of our Lord. This may be; no one knows that hour. But the time will someday come, that is sure.

This follows close upon Christ's words about the narrow door. It tells us how he will feel when he rises to close that door, keeping out the ones he never knew. It will be a bittersweet time for Him, for he came to seek and save the lost, and he does not wish for even one to perish. The choice is not his; it is ours. We make it now, as we live. Will he grieve over us?

First and Last

Luke 13:22-30.

(22) And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.
(23) Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,
(24) Strive to enter in at the narrow gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
(25) When once the Master of the house is risen up, and has shut the door, and you begin to stand outside, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know not where you come from:
(26) Then shall you begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in your presence, and you have taught in our streets.
(27) But he shall say, I tell you, I know not where you come from; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity.
(28) There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
(29) And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.
(30) And, behold, some are last who shall be first, and some are first who shall be last.

The question

The question is impertinent. If you want the right answers, you must first ask the right questions. Why is this the wrong question?

 

• Christ is not here to gratify your curiosity. He is not a tame lion to perform tricks at your command. Few or many, what does that matter? 

 

• The real question is, "easy or difficult?" That's the one that matters, and the Man who knows says, "difficult." Therefore, you must make every effort.

The answer

The answer gives us two pictures of the entrance to heaven:

• "Every effort" must be made—the Greek implies a struggle. So many of us think it easy; it is often said so from the pulpit. Our Lord never left such an impression.

 

• Moreover, the door is narrow—which implies that a precise aim is required. It is not good enough to be good enough.

The picture of the Master

Christ then draws an interesting picture of the householder. It is as if he is looking on at the wanderings of the people—but the time will come when he has seen enough, and will close the door. When that day comes, he says to those who are remaining outside, "I never knew you." They are shocked!

Argument

How can our Lord say He never knew us? They make two arguments to him, both of which are rejected:

 

• We "ate and drank" with you—perhaps meaning Communion, or perhaps meaning we went to all the church potluck suppers. In either case, attendance and ceremony are external; God looks on the heart.

 

• You taught in our streets—as if his presence itself somehow rubs off on the unconcerned. It is an attempt to use influence which doesn't exist.

The shock of this will come to many who are secure in their religiosity. They've put God in his place; they have a nice little shrine, but of course he has no real effect upon their lives. They see themselves as great in the kingdom of God; God can hardly see them for their smallness. The first shall be last, and the last shall be first, indeed.

Recognizing the Real Thing

John 10:22-39
 
And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long do you make us to doubt? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you, and you believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. But you believe not, because you are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one. 

Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I showed you from my Father; for which of those works do you stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone you not; but for blasphemy; and because that you, being a man, make yourself God. Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, You are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; Say you of him, whom the Father has sanctified, and sent into the world, You blaspheme; because I said, I am the Son of God? If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though you believe not me, believe the works: that you may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,


For those exploring the cost of the kingdom, it comes up often.  They ask, "How can I know for sure that this Jesus is indeed the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the Living God?"  We must take this in two steps:

• Did he ever claim such a thing?
• If he did, is there any evidence to support it?

The claims of Jesus

In this short passage, Jesus makes three specific statements which indicate that he and God the Father are one in the same.

"No one can snatch them out of my hand," he says—and then echoes that thought with his Father's hand.  He is equating himself with the Father.

He gives his sheep eternal life.  But who has the power of eternal life—except the eternal God?
Finally, he makes it explicit:  "I and the Father are one." 

Some smiling heathens will tell you that Jesus never claimed to be God.  Don't you believe it;  even his enemies understood this claim.

The evidence

Claiming to be God (besides being blasphemy) could be a sign  of insanity.  Is there any evidence to support this claim?  Jesus gives us here three categories of evidence for his claim:

• The evidence of the Scripture.  Over and again we find reference to the Scriptures prophesying the Christ.
• The evidence of the miracles.  How does a man who is a lunatic or liar do such things?
• The evidence of family likeness.  Search the Scriptures.  Find out what God the Father is like;  then see if this Jesus is not the living character likeness of Him.

The challenge to us

If you are a Christian, then you believe that this Jesus is the Son of God.  But do you act like you believe it?  Are you indeed one of his sheep?  Do you hear his voice and follow, obeying his commands?  Do you tell others of his call to salvation?  Do you show his care for the sick, the poor and the weary?

Jesus, the friend of sinners, is also the God omnipotent and omniscient.  Do you honor him both as friend and God?

A Guide All the Way

"He will be my guide even unto death" (Psa_48:14)
We need a guide. Sometimes we would give all that we have to be told exactly what to do and where to turn. We are willing to do right, but we do not know which one of two roads we are to follow. Oh, for a guide!

The LORD our God condescends to serve us as guide. He knows the way and will pilot us along it till we reach our journey's end in peace. Surely we do not desire more infallible direction. Let us place ourselves absolutely under His guidance, and we shall never miss our way. Let us make Him our God, and we shall find Him our guide. If we follow His law we shall not miss the right road of life, provided we first learn to lean upon Him in every step that we take.

Our comfort is that as He is our God forever and ever, He will never cease to be with us as our guide. "Even unto death" will He lead us, and then we shall dwell with Him eternally and go no more out forever. This promise of divine guidance involves lifelong security: salvation at once, guidance unto our last hour, and then endless blessedness. Should not each one seek this in youth, rejoice in it in middle life, and repose in it in old age? This day let us look up for guidance before we trust ourselves out-of-doors.

Refreshing Sleep

"So He giveth His beloved sleep" (Psa_127:2)

Ours is not a life of anxious care but of happy faith. Our heavenly Father will supply the wants of His own children, and He knoweth what we have need of before we ask Him. We may therefore go to our beds at the proper hour and not wear ourselves out by sitting up late to plot, and plan, and contrive. If we have learned to rely upon our God, we shall not lie awake with fear gnawing at our hearts; but we shall leave our care with the LORD, our meditation of Him shall be sweet, and He will give us refreshing sleep.

To be the LORD's beloved is the highest possible honor, and he who has it may feel that ambition itself could desire no more, and therefore every selfish wish may go to sleep. What more is there even in heaven than the love of God? Rest, then, O soul, for thou hast all things. Yet we toss to and fro unless the LORD Himself gives us not only the reasons for rest but rest itself. Yea, He doth this. Jesus Himself is our peace, our rest, our all, On His bosom we sleep in perfect security, both in life and in death.

Sprinkled afresh with pardoning blood, // I lay me down to rest // As in the embraces of my God, // Or on my Saviour's breast.

God with Us

"God shall be with you" (Gen_48:21)

Good old Jacob could no more be with Joseph, for his hour had come to die: but he left his son without anxiety, for he said with confidence, "God shall be with you." When our dearest relations or our most helpful friends are called home by death, we must console ourselves with the reflection that the LORD is not departed from us but lives for us and abides with us forever.

If God be with us, we are in ennobling company, even though we are poor and despised. If God be with us, we have all-sufficient strength, for nothing can be too hard for the LORD. If God be with us, we are always safe, for none can harm those who walk under His shadow. Oh, what a joy we have here! Not only is God with us, but He will be with us. With us as individuals; with us as families; with us as churches. Is not the very name of Jesus, Immanuel -- God with us? Is not this the best of all, that God is with us? Let us be bravely diligent and joyously hopeful. Our cause must prosper, the truth must win, for the LORD is with those who are with Him. All this day may this sweet word be enjoyed by every believer who turns to "Faith's Check Book." No greater happiness is possible.