Vessels and Versions

Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent (John 17:3 NIV).

Facebook’s format changes sometimes surprise me, but I’m glad it’s an available tool for now. WordPress has been telling me my browser is out of date and now has made some change that won’t allow me to see my toolbars the same way. I’m using Internet Explorer 8; I checked expecting to see IE6 or something ridiculous, but it’s IE8, and I happened to learn yesterday at work that not all websites even support IE9 yet, however long it’s been out. Even with changed toolbars, I still get to post my appreciation for the Word, a hobby that brings me great joy. Like my photos on Facebook, I know I view my postings more than anyone else, but it still pleases me to share God’s goodness. I want the Lord to know I’m thankful, and I enjoy seeing how He blesses others.

John 17:3 carries a message that even different translations can’t complicate. I like looking at scriptures in various translations sometimes. I’m glad for those who loved the Word enough to prayerfully publish each work, but I know the translation is a vessel. The power of the Word is spiritual not linguistic. Jesus prays for His disciples: For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them (John 17:8). Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth (John 17:17). As I study scripture faithfully and consistently, the Holy Spirit works to change what doesn’t please God. Often I wish what doesn’t please me would take priority, but the Lord works from the inside out. Moses tells Israelites of the Lord’s covenant with them: “Moreover the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live (Deu 30:6). I might want better eating habits, but the Lord is more concerned that I pray without ceasing and daily put on the full armor of God.

Paul says in Ephesians: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against..the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil” (Eph 6:12). Lord, thank-you for your Word that works to change me from the inside out. Forgive me when my actions don’t reflect the fruits of your Spirit. Help me prevail against attitudes that don’t recognize your authority. “Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law..Your testimonies also are my delight; They are my counselors” (Psalm 119:18,24).

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent (John 17:3 KJV).

This is life that lasts forever. It is to know You, the only true God, and to know Jesus Christ Whom You have sent (John 17:3 NLV).

And this is the life age-during, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and him whom Thou didst send — Jesus Christ (John 17:3 YLT).

The Jesus Basket

Anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. (John 10:1-2)

Years ago, while struggling in a substitute teaching job, I saw a counselor who told me I had all my eggs in one basket. I didn’t disagree, but today I see the real problem was that I only had one basket, and it was the wrong one. I’m not criticizing the counselor; just yesterday one of my twitter pastors said, “I will not always be right, but I will always be real.” Reading John 10 on the sheep and the gate reminds me of that cheesy basket analogy in many ways.

Theives and robbers steal. At 26 or so, I knew my attention was usually fixed in one direction, but all I could seem to do then was shift it from one thing to another. I only had one basket – not because that’s all God gave me at birth, but mistakes and circumstances put me in that mindframe. Thieves and robbers want us isolated and helpless, not enabled in “a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven” (Deu 10:11). Jesus says: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10). Activities that defy God by their very nature or render us useless as His servants steal from God’s design and destroy our potential.

Jesus continues, “I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). Moses describes the promised land as “a land for which the LORD your God cares; the eyes of the LORD your God are always on it” (Deu 11:12). We too are an investment through Jesus’ death on the cross. John 10 has several scriptures that I onced pointed to thinking the Bible was just full of symbolic stories: “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture” (John 10:9). Today I know our God did not create us to be fixated and stuck. Jesus is the Word, found in the Holy Bible. Establishing His Word in my mind and in my heart allows me to find again & use the gifts He gave me. “They will come in and go out” is not to say we are welcome to live as heathens two days a week. Jesus tells an invalid and a woman accused of adultery: “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you” (John 5:14). “Go now and leave your life of sin” (John 8:11). Jesus’ sheep are for His glory. He’s given us talents, and we are to use them. He says to his faithful, “Well done, my good servant!” (Luke 19:17)

Jesus says of the hired hand: “when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep” (John 10:12-13). Some baskets don’t hold up. They get holes or the handles break. Putting hope in anything circumstance dependent often brings heartache and trouble. My job of some 12 years or so could change quite a bit depending on the results of a project I’m working on. Denial, or what I think of as being overly optimistic, has often characterized my choices. As I work lately, my nerves rattle, but I lose no sleep over the outcome of my analysis. At one time, I wouldn’t have slept because I’d be at home working on the project, searching for a way for the impossible to be a reality. Rattled nerves aside, I’m so grateful today, I know God is in control, and my peace is in His plan.

Unlike theives and circumstances, Jesus offers a guarantee: Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works” (John 10:37-38). I have so much to be thankful for in my personal life. If a careful and honest assesment were done, it would be impossible to recommend any solution apart from Christ Jesus. Instead of satisfaction from circumstances, depression, or substance abuse, I have a joy filled life with my family, love for many things that remind me of God’s amazing work, and peace knowing my testimony can be used to offer hope. After Jesus confirms He is Savior by pointing to God’s miracles, John 10 reads that Jesus returns to where John the Baptist spent his early days. “There he stayed, and many people came to him. They said, ‘…all that John said about this man was true.’ And in that place many believed in Jesus” (John 10:40). Lord, I thank you for forgiveness of sin. I praise you for leading me away from trouble and heartache. I pray my testimony is received by any who’ve witnessed or experienced failure by putting their eggs in the wrong basket. I am blessed by and grateful for revelation that your Word is not a cheesy analogy or symbolic rhetoric. Christ Jesus laid down His life for me, and He is the gate. With my mouth I greatly extol you for you stand at the right hand of the needy (Psalm 109).

“I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd” (John 10:16).

Babies and Births

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit (John 3:5-6).

Jesus’ teaching on being born again of the Spirit reminds me of my confirmation in our church as a teenager. I was silly & hormonal with little or no understanding of spiritual things, but following the classes, I formally accepted Christ as Savior. I believe that change, initiated by motherly encouragement, has been the source of much grace in many moments of decision when my selfish nature was defeated. Jesus says of His testimony: “Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful” (John 3:33). Declaring truth brings stability; in a planning session, known truths are noted so the discussion can result in a workable solution. Jesus’ Word in John 3 also reminds me of my pregnancy. I learned I was pregnant in a detox facility. It was a blessed moment in time to receive that news and start forming a decision about what to do. The craziness that led me there weakened resolve to continue my lifestyle, but the drudgery of moving forward had not struck. Practical circumstances in my life were the main reasons I gave when asked if I was sure I wanted to have the child: I had a job with leave benefits, family support, and love for my then boyfriend. To be sure, when I returned from rehab, a quick return to my addict behavior threatened my job & family support, and the boyfriend’s involvement seemed less likely and desirable. Fortunately, with the chaos, if I’d considered ending the pregnancy, I probably couldn’t have organized it before it was too late in Helen’s term to be easily done. Psalm 102 reads: “The LORD looked down..from heaven He viewed the earth, to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death” (v19-20).

The psalmist who proclaims God’s authority and mercy writes: “Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD” (Psalm 102:18). What’s so amazing about God’s love is how it always existed. He sees suffering and creates a path for us to choose our way back to Him. My relationship with the boyfriend was shallow and troubled, but that adolescent affection likely helped me make the right decision while I was spiritually immature. Regarding leave benefits, being fired from a long held restaurant job many years ago broke me of prideful thinking that I was immune to such disciplinary action. Praise the Lord for leading me through circumstances to a solution that is not just workable but giving of abundant life. God sent His Son to release those condemned to death so that a people not yet created may praise the Lord. Jesus says: “The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth” (John 3:31). Praising the Lord is not like praising people to win friends or gain influence. A recent message at my church emphasized that God is already above all; we do not elevate Him with our praise but His Spirit within us. Praising the Lord brings what is good in us to the surface and cleanses our spirit.

Jesus says, “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit” (John 3:8). Lord, thank-you for sending your Son to live and die among us so we can receive from the Holy Spirit of His who lives within us. You know the before and after. You build bridges for us to escape stubborness and rebellion. You who laid the foundations of the earth respond to the prayer of the destitute and will not despise our plea (Psalm 102). Thank-you for forgiveness when we believe Jesus is your Son sent to redeem us. I praise you Lord, that today I am one of your children living in your presence, and your descendants will be established before you (Psalm 102:28). I pray all who need your forgiveness hear your blessed invitation and call on your name.

Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son (John 3:18).