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My daily devotional Food for the Soul is at a reduced price through labor day. It can be found at this hyperlink.  http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/FFS_2

34 Jesus answered them, “Isn’t it written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods?’ 35 If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture can’t be broken), 36 do you say of him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You blaspheme,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God?’ 37 If I don’t do the works of my Father, don’t believe me. 38 But if I do them, though you don’t believe me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”
(John 10:34-38 WEB)

Jesus answered the Pharisees, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said you are gods?’ If Moses called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the scripture cannot be broken), do you say of him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘you blaspheme, ‘because I said, ‘I am the Son of God?’ Here is the crux of the issue. Jesus says, ” If I do not do the works of my Father, don’t believe me. 38 But if I do them, though you don’t believe me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”

In our culture most have difficulty believing that what the scriptures say about Jesus is true. How could any man claim to be the Son of God. Here again we are to do the works that the Father gave Jesus to do, and to point out the works of the Father that Jesus did as proof of the writings and the claims made about Jesus in the scripture. In this way we can bring those whom the Father is drawing into the knowledge and love of His Son Jesus as their redeemer and Lord.

Heavenly Father, As we point to the works of Yours that Jesus did may we also do Your works that the scriptures may be seen to be true and that those who have yet to believe will come to belief in Your Son Jesus. I ask this in Jesus name, amen.

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31 Therefore Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of those works do you stone me?”
33 The Jews answered him, “We don’t stone you for a good work, but for blasphemy: because you, being a man, make yourself God.”
(John 10:31-33 WEB)

The Jews again wanted to stone Jesus. Jesus asked them “I have done many good works from my Father for which of them do you stone me?” The Jews answered, “We do not stone you for the works, but for blasphemy: because you, being a man, make yourself out to be God.”

In our time most of the culture has great difficulty believing that what has been written about Jesus in scripture is a true account of His life and words. They see Jesus as a great teacher who has wisdom, but cannot accept that He is the Son of the living God. Part of that is that they do not believe in the living God who Jesus claims is His Father. It is up to those who believe to clearly state that the claims made about Jesus in the scripture are true and backed up by historical fact, and that what He said about himself in the scripture is believable because of His works that are recorded there.

Heavenly Father, Your church desperately needs the guidance of the Holy Spirit to counter the false teaching about Jesus that is so present in this age. Give wisdom to those who are daily confronted with false teaching that will utterly refute it with the truth found in the scriptures and may that truth be proclaimed throughout the world. I ask this in Jesus name, amen.

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25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you don’t believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name, these testify about me. 26 But you don’t believe, because you are not of my sheep, as I told you. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father who has given them to me is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
(John 10:25-30 WEB)

Jesus answered the Jews “I told you the works that I do I do in my Father’s name, they testify about me; but you do not believe. You are not of my sheep. They will never perish, and no one will take them from me. My Father has given them to me and He is greater than all. No one is able to take them from Him. I and the Father are one.

This is another of the sayings of Jesus that is hard for the people in our present culture to believe. It appears to most that while Jesus is an enlightened teacher He is nothing more than that. How can it be that He makes himself equal to the Father? Just who does Jesus think that He is. Christians believe that He, the Father and the Holy Spirit constitute the triune God and we are to tell the world about that God and about the salvation for all men that He provided through Jesus.

Heavenly Father, It is true that You and Jesus are one and that You, Jesus and the Holy Spirit constitute the triune God that is the creator of the universe. May we tell the world about this God and about the love that you have for each person. So much so that Your Son Jesus came to this earth lived, died and was resurrected all to provide the means of reconciling all who come to believe in Him to You and the Holy Spirit. I ask this in Jesus name, amen.

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19 Therefore a division arose again among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane! Why do you listen to him?” 21 Others said, “These are not the sayings of one possessed by a demon. It isn’t possible for a demon to open the eyes of the blind, is it?”
22 It was the Feast of the Dedication at Jerusalem. 23 It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in Solomon’s porch. 24 The Jews therefore came around him and said to him, “How long will you hold us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
(John 10:19-24 WEB)

The Jews had another conflict because of Jesus words. A lot of them said “He is insane, and has a demon! Why are you listening to Him?” Others retorted, “These are not the sayings of one possessed by a demon. It isn’t possible for a demon to open the eyes of the blind, is it?”                                                                                                                                        It was the time of the Feast of the Dedication at Jerusalem. Jesus was walking in Solomon’s porch in the temple during winter. The Jews came to Him and inquired, “How long will you hold us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

In our day there are many who discount the scripture as nothing more that a book full of myths and stories. When they are confronted by a Christian who knows the truth about the scripture like the Jews they ask how do you know that what is presented in the scripture is more than just a bunch of myths and is a true depiction of the actions of God in relationship to His creation. We can then point to what the scripture says about itself, what history says about scripture and what the early church did to compile the set of books that we call the Bible and how each of them validates its truth.

Heavenly Father, You have given us the riches found in the scripture as the testimony of Your love for us and for Your creation. You have provided within the scriptures the means to prove that they are more than stories or myths but an accurate description of Your love for us and for Your creation. May we clearly point to the truth that You have provide that others may come to know how much You love them and who will choose to Love You in return. I ask this in Jesus name, amen.

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“ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 A second likewise is this, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
(Matthew 22:37-39 WEB)

Today I am stepping aside from the Gospel of John to give my thoughts on the recent events in Charlottesville, VA.

The above verses are a quote of the summary of the Law by Jesus. As I read it we are first to Love God with all that we are. When we have done that we are then to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Here when we are talking about loving ourselves it is not about the self-important kind of love that loudly proclaims how great we are to any and all, but the kind of love that reminds us to take care of our physical, emotional and spiritual well-being so we can serve and be a benefit to our neighbor.

Just who is the neighbor we are to love. Is it the person living next door to us, or is our neighbor more than just those we encounter daily. Jesus made it clear by using the people group that was thought to be the lowest of the low in His day (the Samaritans) who is our neighbor. Who do you look at as the lowest of the low. Is it the African-American who lives in the bad part of town, or the Asian who lives with his own race primarily, or perhaps the Hispanic who came here illegally. All of these are your neighbor. Whatever, people group you would avoid is your neighbor. According to Jesus you are to love your neighbor. Also if you would class any of the groups mentioned as enemies you are to pray for them. This includes neo-nazies, or the members of any and all extremist groups whether they are on the right or the left, or whether they are affiliated with a religion or not we are to pray for them, give them a cup of cold water when they are thirsty, house them when they are homeless, feed them if hungry or tend to their wounds if necessary.

I  will end with the prayer of St Francis:

Lord make me and instrument of your peace                                                                                                                         Where there is hatred…let me sow love.                                                                                                                                       Where there is injury…pardon.                                                                                                                                                     Where there is doubt…faith.                                                                                                                                                       Where there is despair…hope.                                                                                                                                                       Where there is darkness…light.                                                                                                                                                 Where there is sadness…joy.                                                                                                                                                             Oh Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek                                                                                                                     To be consoled….as to console,                                                                                                                                                             To be understood…as to understand,                                                                                                                                                 To be Loved…as to love,                                                                                                                                                                                                       For                                                                                                                                                                               It is in giving…that we receive,                                                                                                                                                             It is in pardoning, that we are pardoned,                                                                                                                                           It is in dying…that we are born to eternal life.

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13 The hired hand flees because he is a hired hand, and doesn’t care for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and I’m known by my own; 15 even as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep, which are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice. They will become one flock with one shepherd. 17 Therefore the Father loves me, because I lay down my life,  that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down by myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. I received this commandment from my Father.”
(John 10:13-18 WEB)

Jesus is stating the truth that a hired hand flees because he is hired and does not care for the sheep. He states that “He is the good shepherd that He knows his own and His own know Him as He knows the Father and the Father knows Him. I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice. They will become one flock with one shepherd. Therefore the Father loves me, because I lay down my life,  that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down by myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. I received this commandment from my Father.”

In our world so many miss the point that Jesus is making here. He is stating that He is the person who has been sent to lead the Jews to the Father. He then goes further and states that He was also sent to lead the Gentiles to the Father. His finishes by stating that the Father loves Him because He chooses to lay down His life for His followers, and that there is no one who can take His life from Him, but that He has the authority to lay His life down and to take it back up. He said He had been given the authority by the Father. It is up to those who believe in Him to make it clear to those who do not believe in Him.

Heavenly Father, Here it is clear that Jesus came that both the Jews and Gentile are called to follow Him, and that He has the authority from You to both lay his life down for His followers and to take it back up. May we clear give the message that Jesus came to call all people to follow Him that they might be saved and gain eternal life in Your kingdom. I ask this in Jesus name, amen.

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7 Jesus therefore said to them again, “Most certainly, I tell you, I am the sheep’s door. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters in by me, he will be saved, and will go in and go out, and will find pasture. 10 The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who doesn’t own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, leaves the sheep, and flees. The wolf snatches the sheep, and scatters them.
(John 10:7-12 WEB)

Jesus is claiming to be the sheep’s door. He says that those who came before him are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. He says that He is the door and that those who enter by Him will be saved and will go in and out, and will find pasture. The thief comes to kill, steal, and destroy. Jesus came that they might have abundant life. He states that He is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the Sheep. The hired hand is not a shepherd, does not own the sheep, sees a wolf coming, and flees. The wolf snatches the sheep and scatters them.

In our culture today we can clearly see the difference between those who have chosen to believe in and follow Jesus and those who do not. Those who follow Him know Him as the Good Shepherd and hear His voice doing what He commands. Those who do not follow Him prey on those who do and attempt to scatter them but the true followers do not listen to those who do not and continue to seek to do His will.

Heavenly Father, May all who follow Your Son Jesus when the wolves come seeking them remain faithful to Your Son and drive the wolves away. May their faithfulness attract those who do not believe to come to a belief in Jesus that they might obtain salvation and eternal life. I ask this in Jesus name, amen.

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1 “Most certainly, I tell you, one who doesn’t enter by the door into the sheep fold, but climbs up some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 But one who enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. 4 Whenever he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 They will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him; for they don’t know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus spoke this parable to them, but they didn’t understand what he was telling them.
(John 10:1-6 WEB)

Jesus is telling His disciples that the the man who enters a sheepfold by climbing over the fence and not through the door is a thief. He points out that the man who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. He says that the gatekeeper opens it for him, that the sheep listen to his voice and he calls them by name to lead them out. Whenever he gets his sheep, he goes in front of them and they follow him because they know his voice. The sheep will not follow a stranger, but will run from him because they do not know the stranger’s voice. Jesus told them this parable but they did not understand it.

In our world today there are very few who will come and follow Jesus. They are strangers to Him because they have not heard His voice and have not been discipled by those who follow Jesus. It is up to the few who follow Jesus to commit to telling others about him that they might come to hear His voice and follow Him. Otherwise they will continue to follow the ways of the world to their destruction.

Heavenly Father, Give us hearts that are willing to go to others and tell them about the salvation that You provided through Your Son Jesus. May they hear words we say and come to hear the voice of Jesus bringing them to salvation, and into relationship with you; bringing them to eternal life in Your kingdom for the honor of Your name. I ask this in Jesus name, amen.

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39 Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, that those who don’t see may see; and that those who see may become blind.”
40 Those of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?”
41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.
(John 9:39-41 WEB)

Jesus is stating that He came into the world, that those who do not see may see; and those who see may become blind. The Pharisees who were with Him heard the statement and asked, “Are we also blind?” Jesus told them if they were blind they would not have sin; but you say “we see” and your sin remains.

In today’s culture most go about thinking they are good people, and they are by the standards of the world, but they do not meet the standard that God set in the scripture. They do not even think to strive for righteousness because no one has taught them about righteousness or to seek it. It is up to those who are believers to open their blind eyes to the truths contained in the scripture and move them from blindly following the mores of the culture to seeking holiness and righteousness.

Heavenly Father, Our culture is in many ways blinded to the truths contained in the scriptures. They follow each other like lemmings to perdition. My we lead them to the light of the Gospel that they may come to seek holiness and righteousness bringing honor to Your name and becoming heirs to your eternal kingdom. I ask this in Jesus name, amen.

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34 They answered him, “You were altogether born in sins, and do you teach us?” Then they threw him out.
35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and finding him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of God?”
36 He answered, “Who is he, Lord, that I may believe in him?”
37 Jesus said to him, “You have both seen him, and it is he who speaks with you.”
38 He said, “Lord, I believe!” and he worshiped him.
(John 9:34-38 WEB)

The Pharisees answered the man saying, “Do you teach us when you were born in sin?” Then they threw him out of the temple. Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, He found him and said, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” The man answered, “Who is he, Lord, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said “You are seeing Him, and it is He who speaks with you.” The man said, “Lord I believe!” and he worshiped Him.

In these four verses we see the crux of the passage. The man is healed by Jesus, thrown out of the temple after he confesses the same, and is found by Jesus who asks do you believe in the Son of God? The man states that he does and worships Jesus. In our time we are confronted with the same question. Do you believe in the Son of God? As was the man who healed responded, we are to respond in kind. Yes Lord I believe and worship him.

Heavenly Father: In the entire passage about the blind man who was healed there is a progression from unbelief to belief. Belief occurs when the man realizes who Jesus is and what He did for him. In our day the story points to that progression in our own lives. Have we moved from doubt to faith in Jesus, if not help us to believe; if so may we tell others that they too may come to belief. I ask this in Jesus name, amen.

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