Monthly Archives: January 2017

You have a commission, so what does that mean? (John 5:30-35), January 31, 2017

Today’s Podcast

Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
A commission is an important document. It gives the holder the authority to act on behalf of the one who issues the commission. How does that affect us as followers of Christ?
Scripture
1. John 5:30-35
2. Jesus: I have not ever acted, and will not in the future act, on My own. I listen to the directions of the One who sent Me and act on these divine instructions. For this reason, My judgment is always fair and never self-serving. I’m committed to pursuing God’s agenda and not My own.

If I stand as the lone witness to My true identity, then I can be dismissed as a liar. But if you listen, you will hear another testify about Me, and I know what He says about Me is genuine and true. You sent messengers to John, and he told the truth to everyone who would listen. Still his message about Me originated in heaven, not in mortal man. I am telling you these things for one reason—so that you might be rescued. The voice of John the Baptist, the wandering prophet, is like a light in the darkness; and for a time, you took great joy and pleasure in the light he offered.

Devotional
1. In May of 1976, I raised my hand and took an oath of office as an officer in the United States Army accepting a commission issued by Congress.
  1. I serve to support and defend the constitution against all enemies
  2. I serve at the pleasure of the President of the United States
  3. The commission is for life, it doesn’t expire, and remains in effect unless withdrawn by an authority appointed by the President
  4. The commission gives the scope and boundaries of my authority as an officer in the United States Army representing the President and the United States as I fulfilled the responsibilities outlined in that document
  5. I proudly served on active duty for thirty years and continue to support my country under the authority and responsibility of that commission
2. Jesus had a commission from the Father while He breathed the air we breathe and stood on the dirt on which we stand
  1. Came to save that which was lost
  2. Came to be light to the world
  3. Came to heal and forgive
  4. Came to show the Father’s love
  5. Came to give a new covenant
  6. Came to introduce God’s spirit
3. Gave His followers a commission before He left to ascend to His Father
  1. Go
  2. Make disciples
  3. Teach them
  4. Do the things He did
  5. Live within the boundaries of the commission He gave
4. How are you doing with the commission God gave you? Are you living up to the terms of the commission He presented to you? Only you and God know the answer, but He will ask the question one day.
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved. In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

What would this place be life if Adam had obeyed God? (John 5:25-29), January 30, 2017

Leave a reply

Today’s Podcast

Subscribe in: iTunes|Download

Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Have you ever thought about what our world would be like if Adam and Eve had not disobeyed God. What would this place be like if Adam carried out God’s plan from the beginning?
Scripture
1. John 5:25-29
2. Jesus: I tell you the truth: a new day is imminent—in fact, it has arrived—when the voice of the Son of God will penetrate death’s domain, and everyone who hears will live. You see, the Father radiates with life; and He also animates the Son of God with the same life-giving beauty and power to exercise judgment over all of creation. Indeed, the Son of God is also the Son of Man. If this sounds amazing to you, what is even more amazing is that when the time comes, those buried long ago will hear His voice through all the rocks, sod, and soil and step out of decay into resurrection. When this hour arrives, those who did good will be resurrected to life, and those who did evil will be resurrected to judgment.
Devotional
1. That phrase in Jesus’ words today, “the Father radiates with life; and He also animates the Son of God with the same life-giving beauty and power to exercise judgment over all of creation”… made me think about those opening questions today.
  1. What if Adam had not disobeyed?
  2. What would our world be like?
  3. What did God really want from humankind?
2. The Father radiates with life
  1. Triune Godhead present at creation
  2. Created life, not death
  3. Death entered the cosmos as a consequence of man’s disobedience, not God’s creative act
  4. Intends for us to live, not die
3. The voice of God penetrates even dead, inanimate objects, death’s domain, to restore life
  1. Think about how seeds burst from the ground using nutrients from dead and decayed plants and animals
  2. Life comes from death by a creative act of the Father
4. Jesus talks about an amazing time to come, though
  1. He will return
  2. The dead will be resurrected
  3. The good to life
  4. The evil to judgment
5. God never intended for us to die. That was our doing through disobedience. But God’s plan is to restore those who believe in His restorative plan. Those who will follow Him and worship Him will be restored to life eternally. It’s our choice to believe or not. What’s your choice today?
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

Do you fear death? (John 5:24), January 29, 2017

Leave a reply

Today’s Podcast

Subscribe in: iTunes|Download

Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Do you fear death? I’ve seen too much death in my lifetime, but I’ve seen those who are incredibly afraid of death and those who accept it as just the passage from life to life with no fear in their countenance at all. What’s the difference in them? Stick around and we’ll talk about it.
Scripture
1. John 5:24
2. Jesus: I tell you the truth: eternal life belongs to those who hear My voice and believe in the One who sent Me. These people have no reason to fear judgment because they have already left death and entered life.
Devotional
1. A few years ago I was suffering from some physical symptoms that scared my wife pretty bad. I couldn’t walk more than thirty or forty feet without stopping to suck in all the air around me. I just couldn’t get enough air to satisfy the needs of my body.
  1. Check for asthma
  2. Check for pulmonary edema or other lung problems
  3. Check for cardiac problems
  4. Check for neurological problems
  5. Found nothing except I couldn’t get enough oxygen
2. Family feared for me
  1. Several mechanical problems to be labeled as a disabled veteran
  2. Nothing life threatening
  3. Now I couldn’t get enough oxygen to pass into my blood to satisfy my body
3. For me, no fear, overwhelming peace
  1. Knew the status of my heart
  2. Knew my destination
  3. Knew the next step if i took my last breath
  4. Pain but comfort in pain
4. Eternal life belongs to those who hear My voice and believe in the One who sent Me. These people have no reason to fear judgment because they have already left death and entered life.
  1. Did I want to die
  2. Too much left to do and see
  3. Not anxious to get to the other side
  4. But not afraid of death
5. Good feeling to know death is not as frightening an experience as Satan tries to get us to believe.
  1. A lot of unknown
  2. Watch the faces of believers and non-believers
  3. Peace versus fear and anguish
  4. Personal experience from what should have been frightening experiences
  5. Death approaching is okay when God’s spirit is in you
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

The games children play (John 5:22-23), January 28, 2017

Leave a reply

Today’s Podcast

Subscribe in: iTunes|Download

Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
I love to watch children play games. They seldom care about the rules that come in the box. They just make up the rules as they go along and change them to suit themselves if it looks like new rules will benefit them. We’re a lot like that as adults sometimes, too. Perhaps we should consider Jesus words when we apply those rules to life, though..
Scripture
1. John 5:22-23
2. Jesus: The Father does not exert His power to judge anyone. Instead, He has given the authority as Judge to the Son. So all of creation will honor and worship the Son as they do the Father. If you do not honor the Son, then you dishonor the Father who sent Him.
Devotional
1. Children have a tendency to make up their own rules when they play games. Have you ever noticed that?
  1. Board games with grandkids
  2. Discard the rules quickly
  3. Make up rules that will help them win
  4. Change the rules in the middle of the game to suit them
2. We try to do that in life
  1. Rules are given to us by God in His word
  2. We discard them quickly or don’t pay attention to them just like my grandkids with their board games
  3. Try to make up our own rules or change God’s rules to suit us
  4. Creates a problem
3. Imagine baseball or football game where there is no referee or the referee changes the rules at a whim
  1. Create chaos on the field
  2. Rules provide order and direction and guidance in games and life
  3. In sports the referee is the judge for obedience to the rules
  4. In life, we set up courts with judges and juries to determine obedience to our civil laws
4. God gives us some civil laws to live by, but His word is primarily focused on our spiritual well being
  1. Relationship with each other
  2. Relationship with Him
  3. We will be judged based on the spiritual rules He has established and given to us in His word
  4. Jesus, His Son, God in the flesh, has been appointed as our judge
  5. Since He is our judge, it pays to learn and obey His rules
  6. You wouldn’t play college football without reading and understanding the rules, why do we think it’s okay to go through life without doing the same in matters so much more important, things with eternal consequences
5. It’s time we pick up that spiritual manual God has given us. Read it again and again. Get familiar with the things He expects us to do as we journey through this game of life. Then practice those things daily. He is the referee and will be our judge at the end of time. Knowing that, don’t you think it’s time to live by His rules instead of making them up as we go along?
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

What is in store for us next? (John 5:19-21), January 27, 2017

Leave a reply

Today’s Podcast

Subscribe in: iTunes|Download

Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
We are amazed at all the things Jesus did during the few years He walked the earth in the flesh. But He said some incredible things about what will happen next. Listen to His words to His disciples and us.
Scripture
1. John 5:19-21
2. Jesus: The truth is that the Son does nothing on His own; all these actions are led by the Father. The Son watches the Father closely and then mimics the work of the Father. The Father loves the Son, so He does not hide His actions. Instead, He shows Him everything, and the things not yet revealed by the Father will dumbfound you. The Father can give life to those who are dead; in the same way, the Son can give the gift of life to those He chooses.
Devotional
1. I remember a smoking cessation commercial many years ago that said a lot about kids behavior.
  1. Man washing his car
  2. Pre-school aged son mimicking with rag and squirt gun
  3. Dad takes a break to take a smoke
  4. Son picks up the pack from his dad’s shirt pocket and pulls out a cigarette
  5. Warning from the surgeon general
2. Children mimic their parents
  1. It’s how they learn most of their skills
    1. Fishing
    2. Camping
    3. Tools
  2. It’s how they learn good and bad behavior
    1. Previous illustration
    2. Helping others
    3. Kind gestures (Christmas picture)
  3. It’s how they learn about relationships
  4. It’s how they learn about God
3. Jesus tells us the Father does not hide His actions from His Son, but shows Him everything.
  1. Miracles performed are just a taste of what’s in store
  2. Healing the sick
  3. Feeding the hungry
  4. Raising the dead
  5. Forgiving sins
  6. Giving us His spirit to live in us
4. The things not yet revealed by the Father will dumbfound you.
  1. Can you imagine what they might be after all we have seen today?
  2. God’s word is still true!
  3. I can’t wait to see what is in store for us at the hand of the Father can you?
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

One person sows, and another reaps (John 4:32-38), January 26, 2017

Leave a reply

Today’s Podcast

Subscribe in: iTunes|Download

Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
“One person sows, and another reaps.” It seems no matter how hard we try, someone else gets the credit and the profit for the work we do. Is that fair? Listen to what Jesus has to say.
Scripture
1. John 4:32-38
2. Jesus: I have food to eat that you know nothing about.

Disciples (to one another): Is it possible someone else has brought Him food while we were away?

Jesus: I receive My nourishment by serving the will of the Father who sent Me and completing His work. You have heard others say, “Be patient; we have four more months to wait until the crops are ready for the harvest.” I say, take a closer look and you will see that the fields are ripe and ready for the harvest. The harvester is collecting his pay, harvesting fruit ripe for eternal life. So even now, he and the sower are celebrating their fortune. The saying may be old, but it is true: “One person sows, and another reaps.” I sent you to harvest where you have not labored; someone else took the time to plant and cultivate, and you feast on the fruit of their labor.

Devotional
1. It just doesn’t seem fair, does it? You do the work and someone else reaps the benefit. We sometimes feel that way with the companies we work for or the when we purchase big ticket items and think about the profits the companies must be making and in all sorts of situations. But we need to stop and remember Jesus’ words. The saying is old, but it is true.
2. God made it that way
  1. One person sows and another reaps is true in more cases than you think and part of being in a community
  2. He made us interdependent
  3. Each of us have different skills and talents
  4. Stop and think about what it means for us today
3. One sows another reaps
  1. You drive a car you probably didn’t make
  2. You eat food you probably didn’t grow
  3. You eat meat you probably didn’t raise
  4. You wear clothes you probably didn’t make
  5. You sit on chairs and eat at tables you didn’t construct
  6. Think of the things you enjoy you had no part in creating
4. One person sowing and another reaping is the nature of life
  1. Jesus uses the example to talk about the harvest of people ready to be introduced to the kingdom of God
  2. We Satan sneak in feelings of jealousy about someone else’s reaping
  3. When we think about the nature of sowing and reaping in everyday life our attitude changes
5. Remember the story of sowing and reaping and be happy you live in community with others so you don’t have to create everything yourself. You can enjoy the efforts of others and they can enjoy your efforts as well.

If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

Would bringing back blue laws help? (John 4:21-26), January 25, 2017

1 Reply

Today’s Podcast

Subscribe in: iTunes|Download

Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Do you remember blue laws? If you’re younger than 50, probably not. We don’t have many if any blue laws around anymore, but maybe we should. Maybe we wouldn’t be in the pickle we’re in today with our worship. Listen and find out why.
Scripture
1. John 4:21-26
2. Jesus: Woman, I tell you that neither is so. Believe this: a new day is coming—in fact, it’s already here—when the importance will not be placed on the time and place of worship but on the truthful hearts of worshipers. You worship what you don’t know while we worship what we do know, for God’s salvation is coming through the Jews. The Father is spirit, and He is seeking followers whose worship is sourced in truth and deeply spiritual as well. Regardless of whether you are in Jerusalem or on this mountain, if you do not seek the Father, then you do not worship.

Woman: These mysteries will be made clear by He who is promised, the Anointed One.

Jesus: The Anointed is speaking to you. I am the One you have been looking for.

Devotional
1. I’m not sure, but I think the largest segment of the population today are the baby boomers. Generations before us, families were larger, but they have now passed on our parents started worrying about population growth, being able to send us to college and provide for all us baby boomer kids in the suburbs, and so our families tended to begin to curb those population swells. The Gen-Xers and Millennials seldom have more than two kids and many have no kids, so the baby boomers are the big chunk in the US anyway. So what’s that got to do with today’s scripture?
2. Greatest Generation and their children
  1. Raised with societal norms of Christian standards in this country
  2. Church every Sunday
  3. Blue laws
  4. Nothing open on Sunday
3. Baby Boomers became interested in money
  1. Relaxed and abolished blue laws
  2. Worship anytime or anywhere
  3. Sports took center stage on Sunday afternoon instead of family
  4. Christian values were no longer the norm
4. Today
  1. No worship tolerated
  2. 24 hour operations the norm
  3. Christian values viewed as hate speech
  4. Cesspool of sex, drugs, and violence everywhere you turn
5. Jesus’ words come back to haunt us today because we have lost our way in worship and following what He wants us to do.
  1. It doesn’t matter where or when we worship
  2. but…The Father is spirit, and He is seeking followers whose worship is sourced in truth and deeply spiritual as well. Regardless of whether you are in Jerusalem or on this mountain, if you do not seek the Father, then you do not worship.
  3. When we let the world dictate our norms and leave Him out, we run the risk of losing our eternal life

If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

Give a fish or teach to fish, what does that have to do with Jesus? (John 4:8-20), January 24, 2017

Leave a reply

Today’s Podcast

Subscribe in: iTunes|Download

Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach him to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. I’m sure you’ve heard that saying many times. That old piece of wisdom popped into my head as I read Jesus’ words today. Let me tell you why.
Scripture
1. John 4:8-18
2. Jesus: Would you draw water, and give Me a drink?

Woman: I cannot believe that You, a Jew, would associate with me, a Samaritan woman; much less ask me to give You a drink.

Jews, you see, have no dealings with Samaritans.

Jesus: You don’t know the gift of God or who is asking you for a drink of this water from Jacob’s well. Because if you did, you would have asked Him for something greater; and He would have given you the living water.

Woman: Sir, You sit by this deep well a thirsty man without a bucket in sight. Where does this living water come from? Are You claiming superiority to our father Jacob who labored long and hard to dig and maintain this well so that he could share clean water with his sons, grandchildren, and cattle?

Jesus: Drink this water, and your thirst is quenched only for a moment. You must return to this well again and again. I offer water that will become a wellspring within you that gives life throughout eternity. You will never be thirsty again.

Woman: Please, Sir, give me some of this water, so I’ll never be thirsty and never again have to make the trip to this well.

Jesus: Then bring your husband to Me.

Woman: I do not have a husband.

Jesus: Technically you are telling the truth. But you have had five husbands and are currently living with a man you are not married to.

Devotional
1. So, you’ve heard the old sage’s wisdom many times in your lifetime, I’m sure. “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”
  1. Simple logic when you think about it
  2. Fill his belly once yourself or teach him to fill it every day on his own
  3. Too many times we are satisfied with giving someone a fish instead of teaching him to fish
2. Why is it so easy to feed instead of teach?
  1. Takes much more time
  2. Must invest yourself in the person’s life
  3. Must understand their strengths and limitations
  4. You must know how to do it in the first place
3. Why would Jesus’ words bring me to these thoughts today?
  1. God-sized hole in each of us
  2. Easy to try to fill it with worldly pleasure; like giving a person a fish, it doesn’t last
  3. Jesus wants us to dig deep into His word
  4. Study what He tells us
  5. Put it into practice
  6. Learning from God how to fill that God-sized hole His way satisfies for eternity
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

Just how much does God love us? (John 3:16-21), January 23, 2017

Leave a reply

Today’s Podcast

Subscribe in: iTunes|

Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Just how much does God love us? Sometimes we let familiar verses get too familiar. Listen to one today in a different translation to hear again the depth of God’s love for us.
Scripture
1. John 3:16-21
2. For God expressed His love for the world in this way: He gave His only Son so that whoever believes in Him will not face everlasting destruction, but will have everlasting life. Here’s the point. God didn’t send His Son into the world to judge it; instead, He is here to rescue a world headed toward certain destruction.

No one who believes in Him has to fear condemnation, yet condemnation is already the reality for everyone who refuses to believe because they reject the name of the only Son of God. Why does God allow for judgment and condemnation? Because the Light, sent from God, pierced through the world’s darkness to expose ill motives, hatred, gossip, greed, violence, and the like. Still some people preferred the darkness over the light because their actions were dark. Some of humankind hated the light. They scampered hurriedly back into the darkness where vices thrive and wickedness flourishes. Those who abandon deceit and embrace what is true, they will enter into the light where it will be clear that all their deeds come from God.

Devotional
1. So many see God only as someone who wants to put a damper on life.
  1. A list of don’ts
  2. Take the fun out of any party
  3. Looking over our shoulder looking for our sins to zap us
1. Important verse tells us the nature of God
  1. Loves us so much He became one of us
  2. He came not to judge, but to rescue the world from our own self destruction
  3. He came to offer life
2. Then and now acted as light to expose the hidden things that cause that destruction
  1. Crime show detectives looking for evidence use flashlights even in the daylight
  2. Pinpoint the light
  3. Focus attention
  4. Expose ill motives, hatred, gossip greed, violence, and the like
  5. Many hate Him because they see their real self when He exposes their soul
3. Can you imagine a surgeon trying to operate in the dark?
  1. Only by exposing the diseased parts in bright light can they be removed
  2. Exposing sin makes it possible to get rid of it
  3. The Light came so we can be cleaned up
  4. Jesus came to rescue us from certain destruction
4. God loved us so much, He gave His Son, so that anyone who believes in Him for the forgiveness of their sins and obey Him, will not face that certain destruction, but will instead have everlasting life. What a Savior we have.
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

Nicodemus learned a lot from Jesus one day (John 3:10-15), January 21, 2017

Leave a reply

Today’s Podcast

Subscribe in: iTunes|Download

Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Do you ever take what we know about life in the Spirit for granted? Do you ever even think about life in the Spirit and what it’s all about? Nicodemus got a pretty good lesson one day. We can learn a lot from what Jesus said to him that day.
Scripture

Devotional
1. Put yourself in Nicodemus place 2,000 years ago. What would you think about the conversation you were having with Jesus? Do you ever take what we know about life in the Spirit for granted? Do you ever even think about life in the Spirit and what it’s all about?His Spirit came to live in us after His departure.
2. Important concept Jesus talked about often in His ministry.
  1. The promise He gave His disciples and the power He gave them to live the way He wanted them to live
  2. Before Jesus left He talked a lot about what God’s spirit would do for us and in us, so the conversation He begins with Nicodemus is important
  1. But Nicodemus, like many, chose to reject the truth Jesus spoke.
    1. Responsible to teach faith – a rabbi
    2. Didn’t understand the necessity of life in the spirit.
    3. We cannot live the life Jesus wants us to live apart from His spirit in us
    4. It takes faith and acceptance of His guidance, lordship in our life
  1. World doesn’t agree
    1. Self made man
    2. What’s in it for me
    3. What do I gain
    4. Selfish motive is the world’s answer
    5. Servanthood is Jesus’ goal
1. Nicodemus came to learn and based on later events in his life it appears he learned well the lessons of life in the Spirit. History gives credence to His coming to Christ and being one of the dissenters in His trial and crucifixion. He may have been in the upper room on the day of Pentecost. He learned his lessons
2. The question for you and me, will we learn from the Master? Will we believe the evidence of His words and His actions? Will we believe in Him so we may gain the everlasting life He promises? It’s up to you.
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”