We Have a Part To Play

Reading:  Acts 23, 24, 25
My Verse:  "Then Paul, calling in one of the centurions, said, Take this young man to the commandant, for he has something to report to him."  (23:17)

I find this a fascinating passage.  It speaks to me of my responsibility as a Christian.  So often we are told, Well the Lord will take care of the problem.  This is often to imply that we don't have anything to do with how things play out in our lives.  But this passage tells me otherwise.

 God reveals to Paul that he will go to Rome so he will not die there in Jerusalem.  "And [that same] following night the Lord stood beside Paul and said, Take courage, Paul, for as you have borne faithful witness concerning Me at Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome." (23:11)
Knowing this Paul immediately acted on the warning of his nephew.  He didn't just sit back and say "God will take care of it."  He made sure the centurion knew of the plot to kill him (Paul) so steps could be taken to prevent it.

Lord, I pray for discernment here.  So often You nudge me to some action and I brush it aside.  I recall the death of an aunt.  The week preceding her death I kept thinking I should call her.  Well, I didn't and she died.  I missed an opportunity to witness to her - and that haunts me.  For she, at least as far as I knew did not know You.

Lord, I see how our actions have eternal import.  For eternity stretches out before us.  Death is not the end of our existence, but it is the end of very important decision - making.

"And just as it is appointed for [all] men once to die, and after that the judgement."  (Hebrews 9:27)

"So teach us to number our days, that we may get a heart of wisdom."  (Psalm 90:12)

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

I Commend You To the Word . . .

Reading:  Acts 20, 21, 22
My Verse:  "And now [brethren] I commit you to God.  And I commend you to the Word of His grace.  It is able to build you up and give you [your rightful] inheritance among all God's set-apart ones." (20:32)

Paul is saying good-bye to the Ephesian Christians.  His words express his deep love and concern for their continued spiritual well-being.

First, he makes it clear to them that he gave them the whole gospel.  "For I never shrank or kept back or fell short from declaring to you the whole purpose and plan and counsel of God."  (20:27)  Paul did not gloss over any of God's revelation, no matter how unpopular.  Also by telling them he told them "the whole purpose and plan and counsel of God."  they were not to be looking for further revelation.  This is one thing I do appreciate in our pastor, he certainly teaches us the whole gospel!

Then Paul warned the Ephesian church that they must,  "Take and be on guard for yourselves and the whole flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you bishops and guardians, to shepherd . . . "
First he tells them to take care and guard their own spriritual lives, then their flock, in that order.  He tells them this because he further warns - "Even from among your own selves men will come to the front who, by saying perverse (distorted and corrupt) things, will endeavor to draw away the disciples after them." (20:30)  One sees this today - churches falling apart from within.  We are well warned here by Paul.

Finally, he commends us to the Word which "will build you up and give you inheritance. . ."  Love this, Lord!  You and Your Word are what keeps me from straying!  You and Your Word are what nourishes me.  Your and Your Word encourage and edify me!

"As for God, His way is perfect!  The word of the Lord is tested and tried; He is a shield to all those who take refuge and put their trust in Him."  (Psalm 18:30)

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

With Reason and Respect

Reading:  Acts 16 - 19
My Verse:  "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?  For you bring some strange things to our ears.  We wish to know therefore what these things mean."  (17: 19,20 ESV)

This is a wonderful illustration, Lord, of how to reach people of different world view.  Paul demonstrates here how one can reach a people of another culture in a reasoned and respectful way.

Paul spoke to the Athenians where they were.  "Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious."  The Athenians were idol worshippers - and had numerous idols including one to "the unknown god."  This gave Paul a great opening and he proceeded to bring the entire gospel to them - informing and enlightening them to the error of idolatry and who this unknown God was. 

Paul told them that this god was "The God Who produced and formed the world and all things in it, being Lord of the heaven and earth, does not dwell in handmade shrines.  Neither is He served by human hands, as though He lacked anything for it is He Himself Who gives life and breath and all things to all [people]."  (17:24-25)

Paul then quoted their own authors to support what he was teaching.  By doing this he not only showed that he understood where they were but also that  he had respect for those writers. 

There is such pressure today to be tolerant of the beliefs of others.  Paul did not tolerate anyone's erroneous beliefs but he didn't just bash them either.  Always "he reasoned"  with them respectfully. 

Lord, I pray that I will strive to use reason and respect  with others.  I pray that I strive to understand the perspective of others, never to compromise Your Truth, only to use that knowledge to reason with them.

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

Yoke of Legalism

Reading:  Acts 13, 14, 15
My Verse:  "Now then, why do you try to test God by putting a yoke on the necks of the disciples, such as neither our forefathers nor we [ourselves] were able to endure?"  (15:10)

The Jerasulem Council - a first time gathering of Christian leaders convened to work out conflicts as to how new Christian converts, especially Gentiles, should conduct themselves and whether they should be expected to follow the Jewish customs pertaining to circumcision and the Mosaic laws.  Peter is pointing out here that neither the forefathers nor they themselves were able to follow all those laws.  He then goes on to point out that Jesus Christ basically made all that nil.  Jesus freed Christians from rituals and laws.  "But we believe that we are saved through the grace (the undeserved favor and mercy) of the Lord Jesus, just as they are." (15:11)  Here by "they" he is referring to the Gentile converts.  He is pointing out that everyone was now saved by the grace of God.  All that is needed is faith in Jesus Christ.  We can do nothing toward our own salvation but believe and accept the truth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus.

It is so unfortunate that even today many churches saddle their members with the yoke of legalism - telling them they need to do this or that in order to be truly saved.  When all that is required is to believe and accept Christ.  Jesus said. "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me."  (John 14:6)

Lord Jesus, help me in this.  I too find it so easy to look askance at those that are a bit 'different' from myself.  I can so easily get out of my 'comfort zone'.  I pray for wisdom, discernment and mostly for the love spoken of in I Corinthians 13.  "It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude and does not act unbecomingly.  Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking;  it is not touchy or resentful . . . "

I pray this for myself and for the churches so that we will not be placing a "yoke on the necks of the disciples".

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

No Respecter of Persons!

Reading:  Acts 9, 10, 11, 12
My Verse:  "And Peter opened his mouth and said; Most certainly and thoroughly I now perceive and understand that God shows no partiality and is no respecter of persons."  (Acts 10:34)

Talk about exciting times!  I find it hard to stop reading here - Lord, this is a wonderful account of You at work in man - opening up their minds to Your Truth!  Even the minds of great leaders like Peter.  This was a hard truth for the Jews.  There was such a deep entrenched generational enmity between Jew and Gentile.  And yet Peter rose to the occasion as You lead him to realize this new ground breaking Truth - "that God shows no partiality and is no respecter of person." You were revealing to Peter, Lord,  that all people were created by You, all people were to be reached out to with Your gospel.

It is interesting reading when Peter did get to the home of Cornelius.  The first thing he says is, "You yourselves are aware how it is not lawful or permissible for a Jew to keep company with or visit or even to come near or to speak first to anyone of another nationality . . "  What they were doing what unheard of.  They were breaking barriers!  What Peter says next is huge!  "...but God has shown and taught me by words that I should not call any human being common or unhallowed or unclean." (10:28)

And so Peter speaks the gospel to Cornelius, a Gentile.  Cornelius and his household are saved and baptized.  And for confirmation that this was indeed of God the Holy Spirit visibly fell on each of the new converts.  It is pretty wonderful stuff!

I thank You, Lord, for how this read.  It not only reminds me of how I need to be "no respecter of persons"  but also how I need to be, like Peter,  ever open to Your teaching.

"Guide me in Your truth and faithfulness and teach me, for Your are the God of my salvation; for You do I wait all the day long."  (Psalm 25:5)  

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

Stephen's Singleminded Life!

Reading:  Acts 6, 7, 8
My Verse:  "Then all who sat in the council (Sanhedrin) as they gazed intently at Stephen, saw that his face had the appearance of the face of an angel."  (6:15)

Stephen has been busy about the work of his Lord and Savior.  He was intense and singleminded.  "Now, Stephen, full of grace and power worked great wonders and signs among the people." (6:8)  Like Jesus he drew the attention of the Jewish leaders and so was drug before them and falsely accused of many things.  Yet, he stands before them aglow with the presence of his Lord.

When asked point blank if the accusations were true he did not directly deny them but went into a long teaching and historical discourse of the gospel story speaking of; Abraham, Joseph, Moses and the unbelief of the people of Israel.  He concludes by accusing the council of unbelief.  "You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit.  As your fathers did , so do you."  (7:51,52)

These seem like harsh words, they certainly were not very diplomatic.  But Stephen spoke truthfully.  He saw the cold haughty hypocritical hearts of the leaders.  His words cut deeply - because they were truth.  The council became so angry that Stephen ended up being stoned to death.

One might think that Stephen went too far, but upon reflection he could do nothing else.  He lived for his Lord.  He did not care or worry about his safety.  He was willing to do and be whatever his Lord wanted of him - in this case it meant martyrdom.

Stephen is such a wonderful example of living fully for You, Lord.  He so completely trusted in Your love for him.  He knew that nothing would happen to him that You didn't want to happen.  And when he was stoned - You took him through that gloriously. 

Thank, You, for the example of  Stephen's purposeful and singleminded life.

Ditat  Deus - God Enriches! 

Do A One-Eighty!

Reading:  Acts 3,4,5
My Verse:  "So repent; turn around and return [to God], that your sins may be erased, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord."  (3:19)

Such an amazing verse!  Peter told the people they needed to do a  one-eighty degree turn!  He said, "turn around" - for they were headed in the wrong direction.  He plead with them to "return [to God]"

Only then will sins be forgiven - "that your sins may be erased."  Oh - to be guilt free - to have one's sins blotted out!  Who doesn't want that?

And finally "that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord."  Times of refreshing!  This world can definitely wear us down.  We are so often in need of encouragement - lifting up.  Here Peter tells us we will get "times of refreshing from the presence of our Lord"  if we do a one-eighty degree turn and return to Him!

So very simply stated.  Peter was a master at  simply and strongly stating Your Truths, Lord.  Thank You for such a man as Peter.

Thank You for helping me to do  that one-eighty degree turn.  Thank You for erasing my sin.  Thank You for the times of refreshing.

Ditat  Deus - God Enriches!

Only God Knows Tomorrow!

Reading:  Acts 1,2
My Verse:  "He said to them, It is not for you to become acquainted with and know what time brings, . .
. which the Father has appointed by His own choice and authority and personal power."  (1:7)

Oh, Father God in heaven, this is a truth I need so to keep ever before me!  You, Lord God, only You knows what tomorrow brings.  This is something we as humans spend way too much time attempting to plan for and fretting over - our future.

Planning is okay, just so we keep You uppermost in those plans.  For You, Lord God, are a God of order and You expect me to live a disciplined and ordered life.  This takes some planning on my part.  "Only let us hold true to what we have already attained and walk and order our lives by that."  (Phil. 3:16)  I thank You for my husband, for it is from him that I have learned much in this area of being organized!   I have yet so far to go.

But fretting is never profitable in any way.  "And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure to his stature or to the span of his life?"  (Matt. 6:27)  I need to be so 'centered' in You Lord that I am not swayed by current circumstances.  I need to be like David.  "For David says in regard to Him, I saw the Lord constantly before me for He is at my right hand that I may not be shaken or overthrown or cast down."  (Acts 2:25)

Yes, You only hold tomorrow in Your Hands.  And You love me more than I can ever understand.

Help me, Lord God to stay focused on that truth!

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

Small Things

Reading:  John 20, 21
My Verse:  "But the burial napkin which had been around Jesus' head was not lying with the other linen cloths, but was rolled up in a place by itself."  (20:7)

So achingly beautiful these final chapters of John are.  Lord, I can envision You rising up from Your death couch and pausing to take the time to fold the face napkin and set it down.  This small - seemingly insignificant act speaks volumes to me.  I need to pay attention to the small things in my life - for how I deal with them reflects my whole attitude.  I am learning, Lord!

You appeared to Mary Magdalene first.  Why Mary?  She was not important in the world's eyes.  Yet . . .  Lord, again this speaks to me.  I need to pause in my hurried activities and pay attention to the people You bring into my life each day.  Again, Lord I am learning, but oh so slowly!

Finally, You made breakfast for the disciples.  "When they got out on land, they saw a fire of coals there and fish lying on it and bread. . . . Jesus said to them.  Come, have breakfast."  (21:9, 12) 

So beautiful this act of service and love.  You, Our Risen Lord took time to prepare a meal for Your disciples because they had been working hard and were hungry.

Lord Jesus, You show me by Your every act that nothing is so small or insignificant that it should not receive my full attention.  You show me how I as Your follower am to approach all things in life.

Thank You.

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

Jesus Was Not A Victim!

Reading:  John 18, 19
My Verse:  "When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, It is finished!  And He bowed His head and gave up His Spirit."  (19:30)

No, Lord, You were not a victim here.  You knew what was coming - this is why You came to earth - to do the unthinkable!   You came to give up Your life.  It all happened as You and the Father planned.

So many things happened to show Your Deity.

"When Jesus said to them, I am He, they fell backwards and fell to the ground."  (18:6)  Such power in that pronoucement. "I am He!"

You would not let Your disciples fight for You.  You told Peter, "Put the sword back into the sheath!"  Then You healed the ear of the man, Malchus that Peter had cut off.  Right there You did a miracle. 

Even Pilate feared You and wanted nothing to do with Your crucification.  "So when Pilate heard this said, he was more alarmed and awestricken and afraid than before."  (19:8)  He, Pilate was reacting to  what the Jews were saying.  They said that You, Jesus claimed to be the Son of God.  Pilate seemed to sense the truth in this.

When he, Pilate, tried to get Jesus to defend himself because he, Pilate had authority to crucify Jesus or not.  Jesus told him.  "You would not have any power or authority whatsoever against (over) Me if it were not given you from above.  For this reason the sin and guilt of the one who delivered Me over to you is greater."  (19:11)
And, finally, You said.  "It is finished!"  Then, Jesus, You bowed Your head and gave up Your spirit.  The cross by itself could not kill You.  Neither could the people if you had not cooperated in this amazing event.  You did this to conquer death.  "Oh death, where is your sting?  Oh  Hades, where is your victory?"  (I Cor. 15:55 NKJV)

Yes, Lord You were the conquerer, the Victor -  not the victim!

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

Farewell Prayer

Reading:  John 17
My Verse:  "I am praying for them.  I am not praying for the world, but for those You have given Me for they belong to You."  (17:9)

Here You are, Lord.  It is finally that time.  You know what is coming and so You prepare Yourself for the coming ordeal through prayer.

First, You pray for Yourself.  "Father the hour has come.  Glorify and exalt and honor and magnify Your Son, so that Your Son may glorify and extol and honor and magnify You."  (17:1)  This is magnificent!  Oh, Lord, how much I have to learn from You.  Each time I read Your Word a new truth is revealed to my spirit.  It is not only okay for me to pray for myself, I need to!

Second, You pray for Your followers.
      "I am praying for them."
      "I do not ask that You will take them out of the world, but that You will keep and protect them from
the evil one."  (17:15)
      "Sanctify them by Truth."  (17:17)
     "That they may be one, just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe and be convinced that You have sent Me." (17:21)
      "Father, I desire that they also . . . may be with Me where I am . . . "  (17:24)
How Your love for us comes through here in Your words. 

Finally, You pray for future believers.  "Neither for these alone do I pray, but also for all those who will ever come to believe in Me through their word and teaching."  (17:20)  So encouraging, that You expected more to come to You.  How I need to be ever optimistic here, especially for those that I have prayed for so long but seen no results.  Thank You for this Lord, it helps me to pray with more expectation and hope for those loved ones that need You.

This Your final prayer teaches us so much but mostly shows how much You love us!

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
 

I AM THE VINE!

Reading:  John 15, 16
My Verse:  "I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I  in him bears much fruit.  However, apart from me[cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing."  (15:5)

So many deep amazing truths here!  Lord, You are nearing the end of Your time on earth as a human.  Your words begin to have a sense of urgency in them.  This whole passage needs to be in BOLD.  It shouts out THIS IS IMPORTANT!  Your amazing love and compassion strongly flows through here.

You  call Yourself the vine.  According to Thayers Lexicon "as a vine imparts to its branches sap and productiveness, so Christ infuses into His followers his own divine strength and life."  I cannot live my life as a follower of You without You!  I need to be connected to You so that Your divine love and wisdom flows into me and enables to live as You would have me to live.

A Sara Groves song helps to express my thoughts here so well.  She was in a place in her life that she couldn't 'hear' You.  She asks You to speak up because her ability to hear You was greatly diminished.  We end up there so often.  The cacophony of our world drowns You out.  It is so important - vital, that we recognize this and cry out to You.  Cry out to You to have mercy on us in our unbelief!  In our apathy!  In our weakness!

In another of her songs, her cry is for You Lord to "stir my heart" and "renew my first desire".  We daren't assume that we are okay.  We are way too weak, even Peter, the Rock denied You.  Oh Lord, we are so ever "prone to wander".

Yet, Lord, You also give us promises as Paul wrote in Philippians 1:6.  "And I am convinced and sure of this very thing. that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ[right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full conpletion in you."  This has been my life verse as You know Lord.  I thank You for these sweet words.

But, I cannot sit back and expect You to do it all in this relationship.  I have a responsible part in this.  I need to ever, "Be alert and on your guard; stand firm in your faith (your conviction respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, keeping the trust and holy fervor born of faith and a part of it.)  Act like men and be courageous; grow in strength!"  (I Cor. 16:13)

So, Yes!  Thank You, Lord for this passage, for the sense of urgency.  I must ever be alert and do my part to keep my branch well connected to You the vine!

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

He Prepares A Place For Us!

Reading:  John 13, 14
My Verse:  "In My Father's house there are many dwelling places (homes).  If it were not so I would have told you; for I am going away to prepare a place for you." (14:2)

This has to be one of the most comforting verses of the Bible.  I know when Mom was in the hospital this last time and we were made to understand that she was not be to with us much longer, she would tell visitors, "I am going to my mansion in heaven."   That she faced death with a steady expectedness and a soft, deep joy.  That she had confidence in where she was going. This was such a comfort to me. 

Thank You, Lord, for this verse.  Thank You for telling us that You have gone to prepare a place for us.  This tells me that I will not be a disembodied spirit floating about in heaven.  I will have a specific dwelling place, a home in eternity. 

This idea of You preparing a dwelling place for me is wonderful.  It makes me ponder the whole concept of 'home'.  I even looked up the Greek meaning of the words - dwelling, home, prepare, to make sure I was understanding what You are saying here.  A home is so important even here on earth, where it is only a temporary dwelling.  It is where we find refuge from the outside world.  It is where we rest and recoup our energies for further work.  It is where we seek the fellowship of our family and friends.  It is where we find comfort.  I look at my role as a homemaker with so much more seriousness and a kind of honor.  I like being the one to prepare and keep our home for the comfort of my family.  You set before me such a wonderful example.

Then, Lord, You go on to say. "And when I go to make ready a place for you, I will come back again and will take you to Myself, that where I am there you may be also."  (14:3)

How wonderful is that!?

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

Jesus Wept

Reading:  John 11, 12
My Verse:  "Jesus Wept." (11:35)

This is an amazing thing!  You, God, wept openly.  You, God, were visibly distraught - "sighing repeatedly" and "deeply disquieted"  as You approached the tomb of Lazarus.  Why?

Was it to show us that You, in Your humanity felt the same sorrow we do at the death of a loved one?  To show us that it is okay for us to mourn?  That sorrow is very real and very much a part of our human experience?  Your weeping showed Your humanness - Your sadness at the suffering of loved ones.  By weeping openly You showed me that weeping does not need to mean lack of faith.  Neither does it show weakness.

A footnote in the ESV says that there was anger mixed with Your sorrow, Lord.  You were sad but also angry at the evil presence of death.  Death was so not meant to be.  You did not create us for that experience.

But, while I am here - on this earth - sorrow will indeed be a part of my life. It is very likely I will experience that pain of losing a loved one to death again before I myself die.   And it is okay for me to weep.  I am encouraged by this as I tend to be emotional.

Lord Jesus, thank You for showing Your humanity here, for showing me I need not be ashamed of my tears.  "You number and record my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle - are they not in Your book?" (Psalm 56:8)

Greater still I thank You that I can look forward to that time when, "God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more, neither shall there be anguish nor grief nor pain any more, for the old conditions and the former order of things have passed away." (Revelation 21:4)

Knowing that You had victory over death enables me to deal with the sorrow.  Thank You.

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

Well, This Is Astonishing!

Reading:  John 9, 10
My Verse:  "The man replied, Well, this is astonishing!  Here a Man has opened my eyes, and yet you do not know where He comes from."  (9:30)

Out of pure frustration this man, who had been blind from birth and so was probably a beggar proceeded to lecture the learned men of the  church.  Of course these men did not take kindly to this and threw him out of the temple for his audaciousness!  It is kind of funny.  This was like the third time the poor man was questioned, so the men of the church sort of asked for it (so to speak).  They just would not believe the story of the miracle and of Who You were, Jesus.  They just did not want to believe.

It makes me think of people today who hear of You and know of You yet they keep seeking You through other means than what You have set out in Your Word.  They seek other religions, religions that do not require of them what You require - our very heart, mind and soul. 

Over and over You tell us.
   "I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that I Myself am the Door for the sheep." (10:7)
    "I Am the Good Shepherd"  (10:11, 14)

We are today a learned people.  We love information - are we not called the "Information Age"?  Yes, we fill our heads with facts - technical, mechanical, historical, etc.  Like those learned men questioning the healed blind man we tend to become blinded ourselves by  mere facts and knowledge, so that we cannot see the Truth.

I like how Tozer addresses this.  "Facts are not to be despised.  They are to be sought for their practical value and used in the service of truth, but they are never to be allowed to substitute for those "treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3) which are hidden in Christ."

Yes, Lord, You are the Door and the Good Shepherd.  These are spiritual Truths that the learned men could not grasp and this to the astonishment of the healed blind man. 

You go on to promise us that once we become Yours - we will always be Yours.  "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never lose it or perish throughout the ages.  And no one is able to snatch them out of My hand."  (10:28)

This, too, is a Truth to be astonished at and so thankful for!

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

Examine My Own Heart!

Reading:   John 7,8
My Verse:  " . . . let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.   . . .They listened to Him, and then they began going out, conscience-stricken, one by one, from the oldest down to the last one of them. . . ."  (8:7-9)

You, Lord, are so amazing!  You go right to the core of the issue.  In this case You very simply and clearly revealed to the accusing, sanctimonius men the sin in their own self-righteous hearts. The simple words, " . . .let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her . . ", placed such a bright light on their hearts that they could do nothing but slink away with tail tucked between their legs!  When all the men had gone away You asked the woman.  "Woman, where are your accusers?  Has no man condemned you?  She answered, No one, Lord!"  (8:10,11)

How I need to examine my own heart as You caused these accusing men to do.  It is so easy to look critically and judgementally at others, especially when they have committed an obvious and outright 'sin'.  I need to instead be examing my own heart for hidden sins that are just as hated by You.  It is so easy to place the blame elsewhere when I feel I have been slighted.  Lord, help me to not be so quick to judge.  Help me instead to question my own heart attitude, motives.  "Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; test my heart and my mind."  (Psalm 26:2)

I love how the guards seemed to completely forget what they were supposed to do with You, Jesus, because they were so awed by Your Words!  "Never has a man talked as this Man talks! (7:46)  It is interesting how the Pharisees did not even seem to wonder at this but simply reprimanded the guards.  The hearts of the Pharisees were so darkened, so full of their own idea of what was truth.  Lord, let me never forget that it is far too easy to get there - to be a Pharisee.  I must ever be open to You, to Your teachings.  I do not want to become dogmatic in how I live my Christian life.  I would be ever fresh and renewed by You and Your Truth!

Thank You, Lord, that I can trust in You to keep me from a Pharisaic attitude.  "So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him,  If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples.  And you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." (8:31,32)

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!