Monthly Archives: March 2017

Jesus has some weird ways to think about sleep (John 11:9-11), March 11, 2017

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  1. Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
  2. Jesus makes us think about sleep in some ways you might have never thought about sleep before. Some may even think it a little weird.
  3. Scripture
    1. John 11:9-11
    2. Jesus:  There are 12 hours of daylight, correct? If anyone walks in the day, that person does not stumble because he or she sees the light of the world.  If anyone walks at night, he will trip and fall because he does not have the light within.  (Jesus briefly pauses.) Our friend Lazarus has gone to sleep, so I will go to awaken him.
  4. Devotional
    1. I wish I could face the reality of death as easily as Jesus did. Of course, He knows the other side of that curtain and we don’t. He tells us about it. We hear reports of near death experiences from some, but we really don’t know what lies on the other side of the grave until we actually go through that process. I don’t know about you, but I’m not anxious to go through it.
      1. Not necessarily afraid of death
      2. But not anxious to go through it to face that unknown
    2. Lazarus experience help us face that unknown better
      1. Just sleeps
      2. Waiting to wake up
        1. Most wake up on the other side of this life
        2. He woke up again on this side
    3. Sleep is the time our bodies heal
      1. Minds organize the day through dream process
      2. Cells work their hardest to repair the damage done through the day
      3. Empties themselves of toxins and sends them to the liver and kidneys
      4. Body mends and prepares for the next day
    4. Jesus looked to the tomb and saw something besides decay and death and finality
      1. He saw life and vitality
      2. He saw joy and renewal and continued relationship
      3. He saw beyond the grief of the moment and looked into the future where He would receive His friends in heaven
    5. We all need sleep in this life and Jesus knows we will sleep before we move into the next one
      1. He did not call it death because He doesn’t want us to fear it
      2. He wants those who believe in Him to recognize it for what it is, transition from one state of life to another
      3. When we follow Him we don’t need to fear death
      4. It will be like Lazarus experienced and Jesus described
      5. “Our friend Lazarus has gone to sleep, so I will go to awaken him.”
  5. 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.

Only one purpose (John 11:4), March 10, 2017

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  1. Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
  2. Why do you ask God for the petitions you raise to Him? Jesus had only one purpose for every request. You know what it was?
  3. Scripture
    1. John 11:4
    2. Jesus: His sickness will not end in his death but will bring great glory to God. As these events unfold, the Son of God will be exalted.
  4. Devotional
    1. Wouldn’t it be nice to go into every hospital room and announce these words to every family member of every patient there? Wouldn’t that bring joy to your heart to tell everyone on their deathbed because of cancer or some traumatic injury or heart attack or stroke that they would get up from their bed and have a rich full life?
      1. Our world doesn’t work that way very often
      2. Sickness often ends in death
      3. Graveyards attest to the finality of this life
      4. We are all destined to die
      5. Even Lazarus went back to a tomb one day
    2. Medicine has gotten better
      1. Life has been extended
      2. Life expectancy reaches toward centennial years
      3. A few decades ago, 60 was old
      4. Social security set at 65 because government didn’t expect to have to pay very long when it was established. Average life span was 67.
    3. Jesus had something else in mind
      1. Wanted those around Him to know He had power over death
      2. Wasn’t the first time
      3. Centurion’s daughter
      4. Widow’s son in Cain
      5. None had been dead four days
      6. Practice was to bury the dead within 24 hours
    4. Lazarus would have already begun to decay and smell in the heat of the middle east, even closed away in a cave
    5. Shows us anything is possible for God, He is the creator of life
      1. He can take it and He can give it
      2. He did the same with His own life, yesterday’s words, no one can take it from Him, He willingly gives it up and has the authority to do so
      3. But not for show
      4. Not as some circus act
    6. Why do we ask for the impossible?
      1. Do we do it for ourselves
      2. Do we ask for our convenience or because of our grief
      3. Do we ask so that God will be glorified
    7. Jesus’ sole purpose was to glorify His Father and delayed His coming to Mary and Martha so that God would be glorified and for no other reason. He loved them and Lazarus.
      1. Didn’t want to see them grieve
      2. Didn’t want to see their pain and anguish
      3. Wanted to glorify His Father more, though
    8. What is your motivation for the petitions you raise to God
  5. 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.

Go figure; I’m convinced (John 34-38), March 9, 2017

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  1. Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
  2. I don’t know if probability was a science in Jesus’ day, but it sure gives us something to think about today.
  3. Scripture
    1. John 10:34-38
    2. Jesus:  You know what is written in the Scriptures. Doesn’t it read, “I said, you are gods”? If the Scriptures called your ancestors (mere mortals) gods to whom the word of God came—and the Scriptures cannot be set aside—  what should you call One who is unique, sanctified by and sent from the Father into the world? I have said, “I am God’s Son.” How can you call that blasphemy?  By all means, do not believe in Me, if I am not doing the things of the Father.  But examine My actions, and you will see that My work is the work of the Father. Regardless of whether you believe in Me—believe the miracles. Then you will know that the Father is in Me, and I am in the Father.
  4. Devotional
    1. I don’t know when you last saw a hundred dollar bill, I don’t see them very often anymore with all the electronic transactions we do now days, but a few decades ago, they were pretty common. The problem with hundred dollar bills a few decades ago, though, they were not common enough that people could tell the real thing from the counterfeit.
      1. Good engravers, good parchment, good ink
      2. Public could be fooled
      3. Bank tellers handled enough they knew the difference quickly
    2. Started putting security strips in every denomination $5 and larger beginning in 1990
      1. Tried to thwart counterfeiters
      2. Micro-engraving around portraits
      3. Green-black ink in numbers seen at different angles
      4. Polyester strips with denomination printed on it
      5. Counterfeits look real enough, but when put to the test, they fail
    3. Jesus told those around Him to put Him to the test
      1. Scriptures supported His claims
      2. Tasks performed in the name of the Father supported His claims
      3. Miracles supported His claims
      4. Examine Him the same way you examine a US bill and you’ll see He meets all the requirements
      5. Nothing is missing when stacked against all the criteria of who the Messiah is supposed to be and what He is supposed to do
      6. What exactly are the odds? Professor of mathematics Peter Stoner gave 600 students a math probability problem that would determine the odds for one person fulfilling eight specific prophecies. (This is not the same as flipping a coin eight times in a row and getting heads each time.) First the students calculated the odds of one person fulfilling all the conditions of one specific prophecy, such as being betrayed by a friend for 30 pieces of silver. Then the students did their best to estimate the odds for all of the eight prophecies combined.
      7. The students calculated that the odds against one person fulfilling all eight prophecies are astronomical-one in ten to the 21st power (1021). To illustrate that number, Stoner gave the following example: “First, blanket the entire Earth land mass with silver dollars 120 feet high. Second, specially mark one of those dollars and randomly bury it. Third, ask a person to travel the Earth and select the marked dollar, while blindfolded, from the trillions of other dollars.”¹
    4. Is Jesus who He says He is? That’s the odds of only fulfilling 8 of the sixty He fulfilled, so get your pencil and go figure.  I’m convinced!
  5. 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.

Reality video of your life (John 10:32), March 8, 2017

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  1. Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
  2. Are you ready to let someone follow you around with video cameras to make a real-time movie of your whole life? Believe it or not, it’s already being done. God knows it all.
  3. Scripture
    1. John 10:32
    2. Jesus:  I have performed many beautiful works before you in the name of the Father. Which of these can be judged as an offense that merits My execution?
  4. Devotional
    1. If you could put any part of your life on a video and let the world see it, what would it be?
      1. Would it be some great accomplishment that brought you acclaim?
      2. Would it be the day you received some promotion that made you proud?
      3. Would it be some special event like your wedding day or the birth of your children?
      4. Would it be some kind act you did for someone you love? Or something you did for a complete stranger even?
      5. What would you put on that video of your life?
    2. Now the opposite question. What would you want to keep off of that video of your life if you could?
      1. The hidden sin you don’t want anyone to know about?
      2. The unkind words to friends or family because you didn’t get your way or were frustrated or angry at the outcome of some situation?
      3. Your reaction because you didn’t get that recognition or promotion you thought you deserved?
      4. The time you gave that kind service to someone and received nothing but criticism and harsh words in return?
    3. The thing I like about Jesus’ words in this story is that His life was an open book to all who walked with Him and He asks us to be the same.
      1. Paul said to imitate his life and you’ll find Jesus because he was imitating Christ.
      2. Live a life worthy of imitation
      3. Live without worry of exposure
      4. No such thing as private and public life anymore, everything is exposed thanks to electronic media
    4. Live life openly for others to see
      1. Keeps from becoming something we are not
      2. Vulnerable but without pride or pretense
      3. Show our weakness and causes us to rely on Go and on each other
      4. Forces us to trust Him and others more than ever before
    5. Jesus lived in such a way He could ask, “Which of these beautiful works I’ve performed at the direction of my Father can be judged as an offense that merits My execution?”
      1. The answer is none.
      2. We cannot say that until He has forgive us and tossed our sins away. Frankly, we might still suffer consequences for the wrongs we have made against our fellow man, but God will throw those thoughts into the sea never to remember them against us again when we ask repentantly for His forgiveness.
      3. We can then, with His help do as He asked the adulteress to do, “Go and avoid the sins that plague you.” Stay away from those temptations. Stay out of the areas that you know will cause you to fall. Keep away from the things that Satan will use against you. Lean on Him for His protection against the evil one.
  5. 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.

The fear of public speaking (John 10:25-30), March 7, 2017

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  1. Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
  2. So what’s the greatest fear you face? Many say it’s speaking in front of a crowd. I’m not so sure that’s right, though.
  3. Scripture
    1. John 10:25-30
    2. Jesus:  I have told you, and you do not believe. The works I am doing in My Father’s name tell the truth about Me. You do not listen;  you lack faith because you are not My sheep.  My sheep respond as they hear My voice; I know them intimately, and they follow Me.  I give them a life that is unceasing, and death will not have the last word. Nothing or no one can steal them from My hand.  My Father has given the flock to Me, and He is superior to all beings and things. No one is powerful enough to snatch the flock from My Father’s hand.  The Father and I are one.
  4. Devotional
    1. Studies say that people are more afraid of speaking in front of a crowd than they are of dying.
      1. Might be true until people actually face death
      2. We really don’t know what lies beyond that last breath, that last heartbeat
      3. Something inside us tells us there is more than just the few years we have in these mortal bodies
      4. We want to have assurances of the next step after we pass from this life to whatever we face next
    2. Some want us to think there is nothing beyond this life
      1. Our heart tells us that is not true
      2. God’s word tells us it’s not true, too
      3. If we listen to Him we can find out something about what is next
      4. He tells us something of heaven
      5. Feast with Him
      6. No darkness, God is light
    3. We only get there through Him
      1. Some don’t want to believe that either
      2. Everything people try to disprove turns out to be right in God’s word
      3. Why would we think Jesus’ words about the way to God to be any different?
      4. Listen to what He has to say
      5. Pay attention to the sound of His voice in your heart and do what He says
      6. Ignore the other voices that vie for your attention and focus on the words Jesus tells you
      7. He is the Good Shepherd and takes care of His sheep. He will do what is best for those under His care. That means us if you have accepted Him as the Lord of your life
    4. Death doesn’t have to be the most frightening thing you face. Let speaking in front of a crowd scare you more than anything else. He will walk with us through that shadow that separates us from the next step that takes us into eternity
  5. 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.

Our real hero (John 10:11-18), March 6, 2017

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  1. Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
  2. Topic Introduction with headline.
  3. Scripture
    1. John 10:11-18
    2. Jesus: I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep in His care.  The hired hand is not like the shepherd caring for His own sheep. When a wolf attacks, snatching and scattering the sheep, he runs for his life, leaving them defenseless.  The hired hand runs because he works only for wages and does not care for the sheep.  I am the good shepherd; I know My sheep, and My sheep know Me. As the Father knows Me, I know the Father; I will give My life for the sheep.  There are many more sheep than you can see here, and I will bring them as well. They will hear My voice, and the flock will be united. One flock. One shepherd.  The Father loves Me because I am willing to lay down My life—but I will take it up again.  My life cannot be taken away by anybody else; I am giving it of My own free will. My authority allows Me to give My life and to take it again. All this has been commanded by My Father.
  4. Devotional
    1. These words remind me of the many Congressional Medal of Honor recipients I’ve been privileged to meet.
      1. Director for officer training in the Army Medical Department
      2. Chief of Staff of Army’s schoolhouse for medics
      3. Medal of Honor speakers
      4. Stories were usually the same
      5. Anyone would have done the same, fought for their fellow soldiers and didn’t think about the danger they were facing
      6. Just doing their job
    2. Most awards of the Congressional Medal of Honor are presented to family members posthumously.
      1. Service member died saving the lives of his or her teammates.
      2. Every one I’ve seen suffered severe injury in the course of duty in earning the right to wear the medal
      3. All ready to give their life for their team in the face of the enemy
      4. Only 3,440 people awarded the medal (19 double awards) of the roughly 57 million who have served throughout America’s 240 year history
    3. That’s 0.006% of the people who have served. Not many.
      1. Speaks of Paul’s thought that not many are willing to give their life for a friend
      2. Jesus gave His life for us while we were still God’s enemies, sinners, living apart from Him in disobedience
      3. Many Medal of Honor recipients tell me they were just at the wrong place at the wrong time and just did what their training taught them to do
      4. Jesus gave Himself willingly to save us from certain destruction at the hand of Satan
    4. So to whom should we pledge our allegiance? Don’t you think He deserves our thanks, our praise, and our devotion?
  5. 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.

The wolf and the shepherd (John 10:7-10), March 5, 2017

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  1. Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
  2. I don’t know if you’re a fan of Aesop’s Fables, but Jesus’ words today remind me of “The Fox and the Shepherd.” Stick around and find out why.
  3. Scripture
    1. John 10:7-10
    2. Jesus: I tell you the truth: I am the gate of the sheep.  All who approached the sheep before Me came as thieves and robbers, and the sheep did not listen to their voices.  I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be liberated, will go in and go out, and will find pastures.  The thief approaches with malicious intent, looking to steal, slaughter, and destroy; I came to give life with joy and abundance.
  4. Devotional
    1. Aesop gave us a lot of pithy little stories to help us remember some life lessons. Most adhere to the same moral codes God asks of us. “The Fox and the Shepherd” reminds me of how Satan stands by ready to pounce. The story goes like this:
    2. A wolf hung about near a flock of sheep for a long time, but made no attempt to molest them. The shepherd at first kept a sharp eye on him, for he naturally thought he meant mischief. But as time went by and the wolf showed no inclination to meddle with the flock, he began to look upon him more as a protector than as an enemy; and when one day some errand took him to the city, he felt no uneasiness at leaving the wolf with the sheep. But as soon as his back was turned the wolf attacked them and killed the greater number. When the shepherd returned and saw the havoc he had wrought, he cried, “It serves me right for trusting my flock to a wolf.”
      1. Clearly, Jesus isn’t the shepherd in this story
      2. He guards us if we let Him
      3. But the world want to break in and rob us of everything good and holy
    3. When we talk about the wolf being at the door, this is the picture I often see
      1. Not a growling, aggressive, ready to kill everything at first sight animal
      2. But a patient predator waiting for the right moment
      3. Waiting for us to let our guard down so he can enter our lives with the right temptations to cause us to fall
      4. As soon as we let our guard down the wolf pounces
      5. Looks and acts like a protector, but at the first opportunity, death awaits
    4. Jesus reminds us He is the shepherd at the gate and if anyone tries into come into the fold by any means other than through Him, they are a robber and a thief.
      1. Satan wants to get his hands on us and destroy us just like the wolf in Aesop’s tale. But Jesus is ever vigilant. God will never leave us or forsake us.
      2. We can trust Him as the Good Shepherd to always be on at the gate helping us through this journey, protecting us from the evil one when we let Him.
    5. Aesop can teach us a few things, but Jesus can teach us a lot more if we will listen to Him. Try Him out for a while and you’ll see
  5. 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.

The good shepherd (John 10:1-5), March 4, 2017

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  1. Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
  2. We can learn a lot from shepherds. Stick around and I’ll tell you about the one I met in Germany.
  3. Scripture
    1. John 10:1-5
    2. Jesus: I tell you the truth: the man who crawls through the fence of the sheep pen, rather than walking through the gate, is a thief or a vandal.  The shepherd walks openly through the entrance.  The guard who is posted to protect the sheep opens the gate for the shepherd, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  When all the sheep have been gathered, he walks on ahead of them; and they follow him because they know his voice.  The sheep would not be willing to follow a stranger; they run because they do not know the voice of a stranger.
  4. Devotional
    1. While living in Germany, we lived above some vineyards but also had some pretty good pasture land in the back of the house above those vineyards even though we lived in the suburbs of Wurzburg. A few times during our stay there, we had a shepherd visit those fields.
      1. Weather beaten and aged
      2. Two dogs to help care for the sheep
      3. Carried everything he needed on his back and herded the sheep to open fields around the countryside ‘
      4. Build makeshift pens at night with poles and rope
      5. Laid his lean to across the entrance
    2. Dogs were an important tool for the shepherd
      1. Protected the sheep
      2. Kept enemy away
      3. Kept sheep herded into a common area
      4. Listened to every command
      5. Obeyed immediately
    3. Sheep recognized the shepherd’s voice, too
      1. Called and they would gather around him
      2. Knew it was time to move on
      3. Time to bed down
      4. Time of safety or time of danger
    4. Animals seem to learn so much faster than people sometimes
      1. Jesus calls Himself the good shepherd
      2. After watching that shepherd in Germany a few times I learned a lot about how shepherds interact with their sheep
      3. Not always gentle, but always loving and with their best interests in mind
      4. Not always the easiest path, but the path that will get them to the best pastures in the end
      5. Not always the way that seems best to the sheep and He has to push and pull them sometimes with those dogs nipping at their heels until they sometimes bleed, but always taking the best care of them
      6. They hear his voice and follow wherever he leads them
    5. We could learn a lot from those sheep and the good shepherd
  5. 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.

The verdict is in, guilty as charged (John 9:39-14), March 3, 2017

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  1. Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
  2. Guilty! Caught in the act and no defense can free you. Now what do you do? There is no escape, or is there?
  3. Scripture
    1. John 9:39-41
    2. Jesus:  I have entered this world to announce a verdict that changes everything. Now those without sight may begin to see, and those who see may become blind.

Some Pharisees (who overheard Jesus):  Surely we are not blind, are we?

Jesus:  If you were blind, you would be without sin. But because you claim you can see, your sin is ever present.

  1. Devotional
    1. The evidence stacks up. There is no doubt. Any question of innocence has been swept away with the overwhelming reality of what lies before the judge. There is no question of the outcome. You stand at the defendant’s table with no defense. Head down, heart pounding, you know what the only verdict can be guilty because you did it. You know you did it and God, the Judge knows you did it.
      1. Something amazing happens
      2. You’re forgiven
      3. Free to live, just follow Me
      4. Past is forgotten, files stacked on the bench just disappear
    2. What we deserve
      1. Punishment for our sin
      2. Bible says only adequate punishment for our disobedience is death
      3. Separation from Him because He is a holy God and abhors evil
      4. All the ills and evil that the world can throw at us because of our selfish desires and ungodly behavior
    3. What He gives us when we come to Him with a contrite heart in true repentance
      1. Grace – unmerited, undeserved favor with Him
      2. Mercy – not what we deserve
      3. Forgiveness
      4. Sins forgotten – cast into the sea to be remembered no more
      5. Loving embrace
      6. Adoption into His family
    4. When we believe in Him we begin to see the law can only condemn us
    5. When we trust in Him for forgiveness of our sins, we experience His grace and mercy
      1. Able to feel His spirit invade our life and change our outlook
      2. Able to extend His grace and mercy to others
      3. Able to introduce Him to others because His love reaches out through us
    6. Jesus announces a new verdict that changes everything. Feel the grace and joy that brings when you accept His gift of love into your heart
  2. 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.

Who visits your church? (John 9:35-37), March 2, 2017

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  1. Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
  2. Here’s an odd question that you probably shouldn’t know, but should make you think about the welcome your church provides. How many alcoholics, drug addicts, prostitutes, and adulterers visit your congregation regularly?
  3. Scripture
    1. John 9:35-37
    2. The religious leaders banished him [the blind man Jesus healed] from their presence.  Jesus heard what had happened and sought out the man.

Jesus: Do you believe in the Son of Man?

Formerly Blind Man:  I want to believe, Lord. Who is He?

Jesus:  You have seen His face with your new eyes, and you are talking to Him now.

  1. Devotional
    1. In the Sunday School class I’ve been attending the last couple of  weeks, we talked about the way the church has done exactly what the religious leaders of Jesus’ day did.
      1. Alcoholics
      2. Drug addicts
      3. Homosexuals
      4. We don’t want anything to do with “those” people
      5. We don’t want to tarnish our congregation with the wrong kind of people
    2. We even take our dislike for anyone that doesn’t agree with us to the streets
      1. Protests
      2. Facebook
      3. Twitter
      4. But is God happy with our approach?
    3. Jesus ate with tax collectors, prostitutes, thieves, the people the Pharisees and religious leaders wouldn’t come near
      1. Why?
      2. Until you build a relationship with someone they won’t listen to what you have to say
      3. He never condoned their sinful action
      4. But He still loved them as one of God’s creations
      5. Jesus saw the potential of what God could make them instead of what sin had made them
    4. Remember the woman caught in adultery?
      1. Who can say they have never sinned?
      2. No matter how large or how small, disobedience separates us from God
      3. Look at that first act that banished Adam from God’s presence, he ate fruit from a forbidden tree, how horrible is that compared to the sins we think are so much more egregious than something we might do
      4. Paul’s list
        1. Gluttony
        2. Gossip
        3. Dissension
        4. These separate us from God as surely as murder, kidnapping, rape, homosexuality, or any other law you might bring to mind
    5. With that in mind, how should we change our approach personally and as churches to all those Jesus would have befriended? Don’t you think it’s time we welcome them instead of tossing them out?
  2. 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.”

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