Bible League: Living His Word "You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve.Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God." Jesus told the crowd of Jews that was following Him that they must believe in the one the Lord had sent, that they must believe in Him (John 6:29). The Jews had a problem with this. They had a problem with the belief that Jesus was the one sent from heaven, that He was something more than a mere mortal. They asked, '"Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, 'I came down from heaven'?"' (John 6:42). Many of the Jews that had been following Jesus turned away from Him that day. This prompted Jesus' question to the Twelve in our verse for today: "You do not want to leave too, do you?" Peter answered that Jesus had the words of eternal life. Jesus had the words that would save anyone who believed them from eternal death and destruction. Peter knew that if Jesus' words were true, then you can't just walk away from Him, you can't just ignore Him. Peter said they could not walk away because they had come to believe that Jesus was the one sent from above, that He truly was "the Holy One of God." They had been enabled by the Father in heaven above to come to Jesus and believe in Him (John 6:65). Although Jesus' life and ministry testified to the truth of His claim, it still took a special work of the Father to enable them to believe. Indeed, it takes a special work of grace from the Father for anyone to believe. Once the decision is made, once the belief comes about, however, you have only one option. You have to stay with Jesus and follow Him. You can't go back to where you were, you can't follow someone else, you can only take up your cross and follow Jesus, wherever that may lead (Matthew 16:24). There may be trials, troubles, tribulations, and persecutions, but it doesn't really matter. For if the Father has enabled you to believe in Jesus, then there is simply no other place to go. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingEzekiel 32, 33 Ezekiel 32 -- Lament over Pharaoh and Egypt NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Ezekiel 33 -- Ezekiel the Watchman; News of Jerusalem's Capture NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading 1 Peter 1 1 Peter 1 -- Peter Praises God for His Manifold Grace; Be Holy, for I Am Holy NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.Insight Why is it so tempting to “love pleasure rather than God”? Pleasure is something we can control; God cannot be controlled. Most pleasures can be obtained easily; love for God requires effort and sometimes sacrifice. Pleasure benefits us now; the benefits of loving God are often in the future. Pleasure has a narcotic effect; it takes our minds off ourselves and our problems. Love for God reminds us of our needs and our responsiblities. Pleasure cooperates with pride. It makes us feel good when we look good in the eyes of others. Challenge To love God we must lay aside our pride and our accomplishments. Have you chosen to love pleasure, or to love God? How do you know? Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Proverbs 24:33, 34 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: so shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.The worst of sluggards only ask for a little slumber; they would be indignant if they were accused of thorough idleness. A little folding of the hands to sleep is all they crave, and they have a crowd of reasons to show that this indulgence is a very proper one. Yet by these littles the day ebbs out, and the time for labor is all gone, and the field is grown over with thorns. It is by little procrastinations that men ruin their souls. They have no intention to delay for years--a few months will bring the more convenient season--to-morrow if you will, they will attend to serious things; but the present hour is so occupied and altogether so unsuitable, that they beg to be excused. Like sands from an hour-glass, time passes, life is wasted by driblets, and seasons of grace lost by little slumbers. Oh, to be wise, to catch the flying hour, to use the moments on the wing! May the Lord teach us this sacred wisdom, for otherwise a poverty of the worst sort awaits us, eternal poverty which shall want even a drop of water, and beg for it in vain. Like a traveller steadily pursuing his journey, poverty overtakes the slothful, and ruin overthrows the undecided: each hour brings the dreaded pursuer nearer; he pauses not by the way, for he is on his master's business and must not tarry. As an armed man enters with authority and power, so shall want come to the idle, and death to the impenitent, and there will be no escape. O that men were wise be-times, and would seek diligently unto the Lord Jesus, or ere the solemn day shall dawn when it will be too late to plough and to sow, too late to repent and believe. In harvest, it is vain to lament that the seed time was neglected. As yet, faith and holy decision are timely. May we obtain them this night. Daily Light on the Daily Path 1 Kings 19:9 Then he came there to a cave and lodged there; and behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"Job 23:10 "But He knows the way I take; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold. Psalm 139:1-3,7,9,10 For the choir director. A Psalm of David. O LORD, You have searched me and known me. • You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. • You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways. • Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? • If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, • Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me. James 5:17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the LORD will be exalted. Psalm 37:24 When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand. Proverbs 24:16 For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, But the wicked stumble in time of calamity. Galatians 6:9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. Matthew 26:41 "Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." Psalm 103:13,14 Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him. • For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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