Tag Archives: John

What does peace mean to you? (John 20:20-21), April 28, 2017

Today’s Podcast

Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
I grew up in the 60’s and 70’s and you saw peace signs everywhere. Technology brought the Viet Nam War into our living rooms for the first time in history and we heard the daily body count from across the sea. Everyone longed for peace.
Scripture
1. John 20:20-21
2. Jesus: May each one of you be at peace.

As He was speaking, He revealed the wounds in His hands and side. The disciples began to celebrate as it sank in that they were really seeing the Lord.

Jesus: I give you the gift of peace. In the same way the Father sent Me, I am now sending you.

Devotional
1. What does peace mean to you?
  1. There will never be peace between nations.
  2. We can’t even have peace within nations as evidenced by our most recent elections here.
  3. We often can’t achieve peace in our own households as evidenced by divorce rates climbing toward 60%
  4. So what is peace?
2. Definition of peace: 1. freedom from disturbance; quiet and tranquility. 2.freedom from or the cessation of war or violence.
  1. Is this what Jesus promised His disciples and us?
  2. Freedom from disturbance; quiet and tranquility?
  3. Slander; persecution; martyrdom
  4. Where is the peace He promised?
3. If looking for peace in regard to our relation to the world, it will never happen
  1. The world hated Him and will hate us
  2. Promised trouble in this world and all who follow Him have found trouble if they share His message or live the life He demands of us
  3. The world opposes us and tries to turn us to their ways
  4. When we don’t they do everything they can to destroy us
4. So what kind of peace did Jesus leave?
  1. Inner peace
  2. Peace with ourselves and with God
  3. Freedom from the guilt that plagues us because of estrangement from God in our wickedness
  4. Doesn’t mean we’re murderers or robbers
    1. Although, Jesus says hate means murder
    2. Coveting, means robbery
    3. Robbing God with our tithes and offerings
  5. All have sinned against God
  6. Failed to honor Him and live the life He wants us to live
  7. We know we need His forgiveness
  8. He gives assurance of forgiveness and peace
5. What can you give in exchange for that peace?
  1. Nothing
  2. Nothing in all the world is worth the peace you can have in knowing your sins are forgiven
  3. Every follower of Jesus who is really all in for Him knows that
  4. His legacy is peace
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.

We all need mentors, peers, and students? (John 20:17-18), April 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.
Who do you have in your life helping you along the path? We all need certain kinds of people. Jesus’ words today reminded me of that.
Scripture
1. John 20:17
2. Jesus: Mary!

Mary Magdalene (turning to Jesus and speaking in Hebrew): Rabboni, my Teacher!

Jesus: Mary, you cannot hold Me. I must rise above this world to be with My Father, who is also your Father; My God, who is also your God. Go tell this to all My brothers

Devotional
1. We all need three kinds of people in our lives.
  1. Mentors
  2. Peers
  3. People we are mentoring
2. We often try to journey through life on our own
  1. God made us with the need for relationships
  2. All have different gifts
  3. None have enough gifts and talents to make it through life alone
  4. God created us with the need to reach out to others
3. Mary came looking for Jesus’ body
  1. Came with others to carry out the funerary rituals
  2. Knew she couldn’t do it alone
  3. When Jesus met her in the garden and she recognized Him for who He was, she called Him teacher
  4. He was her mentor, learned from Him
  5. We need someone to pull us along – a teacher
4. Go tell this to all My brothers
  1. Mary ran to tell the story
  2. These brothers were Jesus’ friends while He walked with us
  3. His inner circle gave Him strength
  4. They were His confidants
  5. He knew He was God’s son, but considered them His brothers
5. Reached out to all who came to Him to teach, heal, share the message
  1. God’s kingdom is at hand
  2. Believe in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins
  3. Jesus is the true son of God
  4. He gives freely of His grace and mercy for the asking
  5. He just asks us to follow His ways in return
6. So who is your mentor? Who challenges you along your Christian walk? Who are you helping progressing along the journey as a mentor to them? We all need those three kinds of people in our lives. Take inventory and see how you’re doing.
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.”

Perfectionists never get to perfect, but Jesus did (John 19:30), April 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.
Perfectionists have a hard time determining when they are done with a project. Something always needs a little more work before it’s ready to go public. Not so with the perfect man.
Scripture
1. John 19:30
2. Jesus: It is finished!
Devotional
1. I’m not a terrible artist, but I don’t haven’t painted in a while and when I pick up the hobby, I don’t do it very long at a time.
  1. I have a problem
  2. I start working on a painting and don’t know when to stop
  3. Always one more thing I can do better
  4. Make one more correction
  5. Finally end up with a hodge-podge of corrections that make the whole thing a mess
2. Same with some other hobbies and projects
  1. Want everything to be perfect but can never get there
  2. Never know when to stop and say this is right, this is done
  3. Need it to be just a little better
  4. Need one more thing to make it right
  5. Want things to be a exactly right but in our flawed state we don’t really know what perfect looks like because we’re not perfect
3. Jesus had a job to do
  1. Share the message of God’s love
  2. Tell of the reconciliation He wanted with His highest creation
  3. Came to pay the penalty for the sins we committed
  4. God told us the penalty for sin was blood spilled; death
4. Moses gave the Israelites the laws concerning blood sacrifices to atone for sins
  1. Every year sacrifices made
  2. Scapegoat took on the sins of the community as representation of their repentance
  3. Blood spilled and sacrifice made
5. Jesus came
  1. He became the scapegoat for us
  2. Penalty for sins committed still death; sacrifice; spilling of blood
  3. But the scapegoat was imperfect; had to return every year and do it again
  4. Jesus didn’t sin; His was the blood of man, but a perfect, sinless man
  5. He intervened as man to God and God to man and sacrificed Himself for our sin
  6. The perfect sacrifice spilled His blood to atone for our sins
6. Jesus knew what He came to do
  1. He knew what the outcome was to be
  2. He took all the punishment and abuse we could dish out
  3. With His last breath He lifted His brush from the canvas of humanity’s future
  4. It is finish – a perfect plan of salvation
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.”

Wills are important (John 19:26-27), April 25, 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.
Wills are really important. Jesus made a will during His last moments on the cross. Listen to what He said.
Scripture
1. John 19:26-27
2. Jesus (to Mary, His mother): Dear woman, this is your son (motioning to the beloved disciple)! (to John, His disciple) This is now your mother.
Devotional
1. At age 22, I made my first will. My wife had the original and my parents and in-laws both received copies.
  1. Parents and in-laws were a little shocked
  2. Why was I making a will at such a young age
  3. Army wanted every soldier to have a will because we deploy to a conflict at a moment’s notice
  4. Important to let someone know your wishes before you pass away
  5. Avoids family fights over the things you leave behind
  6. Didn’t have much, but told where all of it went
  7. Subsequent wills determined what happened to minor children should both my wife and I die simultaneously or should she precede me in death
  8. I wanted to know who was raising my children and that the values they held were similar to mine
2. Jesus didn’t have much that we know of in terms of earthly belongings
  1. Mary’s son, but not Joseph’s son
  2. May not have been heir to Joseph’s inheritance since he was not his son
  3. May not have owned anything more than the clothes on His back
  4. Don’t hear of material things Jesus possessed
  5. Talks about teaching and preaching accepting what is offered and staying in homes opened to them. Expect that was His practice as well
3. In the room where He at the Passover with His disciples gave them His last will and testament
  1. My peace I give you
  2. I leave my legacy of peace with you
  3. I’m preparing a place for you and I’m coming back
4. On the cross, looks down and sees His mother
  1. May have seen her following at the edge of the crowd as He carried His cross
  2. May have seen her agony and grief
  3. Could not comfort her while the soldiers pushed Him toward Golgotha
  4. Did not want to depart without giving Mary what He had for her
  5. Gave His last will and testament to her
  6. All He could give at that point to keep her from being destitute as a widow in a land that didn’t recognize the importance of women
  7. Mary, treat John as your son. John, treat Mary as your mother. Comfort each other in my absence. Draw strength from each other and care for each other
5. Wills are important, even to Jesus. They are about taking care of the ones you love.
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 happens when you give in to the mob? (John 19:11), April 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.
Mob rule is a scary thing. It’s easy to get trapped in it. But dangerous when you let it rule you.
Scripture
1. John 19:11
2. Jesus: Any authority you have over Me comes from above, not from your political position. Because of this, the one who handed Me to you is guilty of the greater sin.
Devotional
1. I have to admit, on more than one occasion, I’ve just given in to the crowd.
  1. I was in charge
  2. I knew in my heart what should be done
  3. I knew the consequences that would take place if I let the crowd rule and gave in to their demands
  4. The crowd was small, my platoon or my staff or the section I was leading at the time
  5. They were tired or hungry or wanted to stop or do something I knew wouldn’t have the outcome we needed
  6. I gave in to their demand
  7. It didn’t turn out well
  8. Mission wasn’t accomplished
  9. Results were poor
  10. All of us embarrassed
2. Pilate was the governor
  1. Had the authority to release Jesus
  2. Knew what was right
  3. Knew the consequences of giving Jesus over to this mob
  4. An innocent man would die because of his failure to stand up for what was right
  5. Wife even warned him of the failure in justice
  6. Pilate listened to the crowd instead of his conscience
  7. Gave a glimmer of hope when he offered Barabas in place of Jesus
3. It’s easy to follow the crowd
  1. Jesus told us broad the way that leads to destruction, though
  2. Easy to follow the crowd that leads to nowhere
  3. Harder to follow the narrow path that leads to righteousness
  4. Harder to stand for what is right and just and holy
  5. Like salmon swimming upstream against the current
  6. Everyone else will push against you trying to turn you around
  7. But when you know what is right it is worth maintaining the course
  8. In the end you will hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
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 truth? (John 18:33-37)

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.
Say it enough times and it must be true. That’s what some want you to believe. But what is truth?
Scripture
1. John 18:33-37
2. Pilate: Are You the King of the Jews?

Jesus: Are you asking Me because you believe this is true, or have others said this about Me?

Pilate: I’m not a Jew, am I? Your people, including the chief priests, have arrested You and placed You in my custody. What have You done?

Jesus: My kingdom is not recognized in this world. If this were My kingdom, My servants would be fighting for My freedom. But My kingdom is not in this physical realm.

Pilate: So You are a king?

Jesus: You say that I am king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the cosmos: to demonstrate the power of truth. Everyone who seeks truth hears My voice.

Devotional
1. I’m not a salesman for GEICO, but I love some of their commercials.
  1. Remember the one with the young lady that believes everything on the Internet must be true, just because it’s on the Internet?
  2. She argues with the man next to her and just doesn’t understand that everything on the Internet isn’t necessarily true
  3. And then the prince charming she meets on the Internet walks up for their first date
  4. He’s not what she expected, either
  5. What is truth?
2. Webster defines truth as:
  1. The real facts about something : the things that are true
  2. Truth is most often used to mean being in accord with fact or reality, or fidelity to an original or standard. Truth may also often be used in modern contexts to refer to an idea of “truth to self,” or authenticity.
  3. Humankind has been on a search for truth since Satan deceived Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden because at the moment they ate that forbidden fruit they discovered there was something in the world that was not true.
  4. Satan lied to them and we have been faced with this dilemma about what is reality and what is not ever since
3. Pilate wants to know the truth about Jesus
  1. We want to know the same thing
  2. We want to know about God, scriptures, heaven, and hell
  3. We want to know if there is an afterlife and a judgment
  4. We want to know if what scriptures say about the endtimes is true of if what the world says is true
  5. How do we know what is true and what is not?
4. Take a test drive
  1. Read God’s word with an open heart
  2. Let Him speak to you through His word
  3. Let Him reveal Himself to you
  4. His spirit will guide you into all truth and you will know what is real and what is not
  5. His truth will set you free
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.”

Oh, what a tangled web (John 18:23), April 22, 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.
Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive. It really is true. Best to never entangle yourself, just as Jesus taught us.
Scripture
1. John 18:23
2. Jesus: If I have spoken incorrectly, why don’t you point out the untruths that I speak? Why do you hit Me if what I have said is correct?
Devotional
1. Do you remember the game called gossip?
  1. As many as are in the crowd, usually a dozen or more, sit in a circle
  2. First person whispers something in the ear of the person next to them
  3. The message is passed along around the circle
  4. See just how accurate the story is at the end of the circle
  5. Usually not very accurate
2. Gossip is a game but it’s worse in real life
  1. Little fibs that are told to one person or another
  2. Can’t remember what’s been told when it isn’t the truth
  3. The fib changes from time to time because it was fabricated
  4. Get caught in the lie and then reputation suffers as integrity is damaged
3. Jesus faced the high priest in trial
  1. Teachings were public
  2. Many probably recorded His teachings and took them back to the priests to argue about what He taught
  3. Never could win the arguments against what He said
  4. Always based in scripture which He knew better than they
  5. Challenged their authority because of His knowledge and actions to back up His knowledge
4. Just look at My record
  1. Show me where I’ve misspoken
  2. Point out the untruths that I’ve told the crowds
  3. Give an example of something I’ve taught that is contradictory to the scriptures
  4. Give evidence that supports the need for punishment
5. None could be found
  1. Even witnesses paid to lie could not hold up to cross examination by the high priest
  2. Farce of a trial had to stand some scrutiny for Pilate to execute Jesus
  3. Had to have some evidence and some reasonable facsimile of fairness
  4. Nothing Jesus had said or taught could be used against Him
  5. Everything Jesus said was true and right
  6. Everything the prosecutors brought before the priests failed to meet the standards for any punishment, much less death
6. Jesus always shared truth
  1. Many didn’t like what He said, but He gave them the truth
  2. Today, many do not like what Christians say, but we must share the truth
  3. Only the truth can free us from the guilt of sin
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.”

No secret societies (John 18:20-21), April 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.
Secrets are something Jesus reached inside others and made known. He didn’t seem to have any Himself. Maybe we should follow suit.
Scripture
1. John 18:20-21
2. Jesus: I have spoken in public where the world can hear, always teaching in the synagogue and in the temple where the Jewish people gather. I have never spoken in secret. So why would you need to interrogate Me? Many have heard Me teach. Why don’t you question them? They know what I have taught.
Devotional
1. I’ve taken several oaths in my life.
  1. As an Army officer to support and defend the Constitution
  2. To my wife
  3. In court, to tell the truth
  4. In various legal situations attesting to my identity or the truth of some legal document
  5. All those oaths are public record or can be
2. I’ve never belonged to one of those secret societies. And I don’t want to.
  1. Oaths behind closed doors.
  2. Teachings that you must reach certain levels before you are allowed to hear what the next level knows
  3. Secrets about beliefs and activities
  4. Secrets about loyalties and how deep those loyalties extend
3. That’s what I like about Jesus’ testimony to the high priest
  1. Wasn’t trying to be flippant
  2. Wasn’t trying to be rude or arrogant
  3. Just stating fact
  4. Everything He did was in the open for all to see
  5. Even His prayers were open enough for His disciples to overhear and record them for us later in the gospels
4. Beware of those religions that hide behind secrets
  1. Jesus had no secrets
  2. Everything He did, He did in the open for all to hear
  3. I think He tells us to do the same
  4. We have nothing to hide when we follow His command and His example
  5. It’s true many have died because of His teaching, but so did He
5. What did He teach that cost His life?
  1. God wants a personal relationship with each of us
  2. Only one relationship never ends, think about it
  3. Everyone you enter into a relationship with will die or move or things change that change the relationship
  4. Every relationship with anything or anyone terrestrial will end
  5. Only a relationship with God can last
  6. Only He is immortal and relates with our immortal soul
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.”

Don’t you love getting advice? (John 18:11), April 20, 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 get advice from other people about what God wants for my life, don’t you? Yeah, right. We do seem to try to meddle sometimes, don’t we. That’s exactly what Jesus called Peter on in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Scripture
1. John 18:11
2. Jesus (to Peter): Put down your sword, and return it to the sheath. Am I to turn away from the cup the Father has given Me to drink?
Devotional
1. I know what is best for my adult children, right? I need to give them advice on their career choices, the spouse they choose, the things they do with their money, the places they go…even when they don’t ask.
  1. Same with elderly parents
  2. Same with neighbors
  3. Same with everyone around me
  4. I don’t need to take advice from anyone else, but I sure need to give others my advice
  5. I even try to give God my advice sometimes
  6. In our flawed state, we think we are smarter than God
2. That’s what Peter does with Jesus
  1. Attacks Malcus, high priest’s servant
  2. Tries to help Jesus escape from the Pharisees and the death penalty they wish to impose
  3. Thinks he knows better than Jesus what His path should be
  4. Thinks the Messiah must not die, but reign as a military and political leader to free Israel
  5. Steps in front of Jesus to protect Him
3. How often do we step in front of God’s plan instead of doing what Jesus did and trust the Father with His perfect knowledge?
  1. Can’t mean what He says
  2. Can’t mean for us to face the trial He puts in front of us
  3. Can’t mean for us to suffer
  4. The path must be different
  5. So we try to change the path, we step in front of His plan and try to change it
4. Often we pick up implements to challenge the enemy
  1. Sword, spear, implements of war to fight
  2. He wants us to submit instead
  3. Trust that God knows what He’s doing
  4. Recognize that He is God and His plan will be ultimately completed the way He intends
  5. We can choose to be a part of those plans or not
  6. The smart choice is to let Him take the lead and then do what He says
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.”

Jesus repels the guards (John 18:4-8), April 19, 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 played with magnets? The picture of Jesus facing the guards in the garden remind me of those.
Scripture
1. John 18:4-8

Jesus: Whom are you looking for?

Judas’s Entourage: Jesus the Nazarene.

Jesus: I am the One.

Judas, the betrayer, stood with the military force. As Jesus spoke “I am the One,” the forces fell back on the ground. Jesus asked them a second time:

Jesus: Whom are you searching for?

Judas’s Entourage: Jesus the Nazarene.

Jesus: I have already said that I am the One. If you are looking for Me, then let these men go free.

Devotional
1. I’m sure you remember playing with magnets when you were a kid.
  1. In science we learned about the north and south poles of those magnetic fields and how the opposite ends attracted but like ends repelled each other.
  2. The stronger the magnet, the harder it was to try to push like ends together
  3. There are scientific principles that govern those magnetic fields and explain why they attract and repel each other.
  4. Explains why light bends near the earth
  5. Explains the aurora borealis
  6. Explains parts of electrical currents
  7. Explains a lot of what looks like mysteries around our world
  8. Might even explain the migration of animals at different seasons of the year or why they can sense dangers faster than we do or can find their way home from great distances
2. Picture that experiment you did with magnets as a kid as you tried to push the north pole of the magnet against its polar like north pair
  1. With some effort you might get them to touch
  2. As soon as you release pressure they push apart
  3. If strong enough, can’t push them together
3. Now picture the scene in the Garden of Gethsemane
  1. Guards come to take Jesus
  2. Armed with spears, swords, shields, armor
  3. Jesus dressed in His tunic and sash and bare hands
  4. As they try to approach they are repelled as easily as those magnets trying to approach each other
4. Jesus could not be taken by any force men could put against Him
  1. Satan tried His best throughout His life
  2. Herod killed all the boys in Bethlehem – Jesus escaped
  3. Pharisees plotted to kill Him throughout His whole ministry
    1. Tried to stone Him – slipped away
    2. Tried to throw Him from a cliff – slipped through the crowd
5. Jesus gave Himself up willingly to the guards that came into the garden
  1. Allowed Himself to be taken
  2. Allowed Himself to be beaten
  3. Allowed Himself to be crucified
  4. No one could touch Him unless He let them
  5. He loved us enough to let them
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.”