Tag Archives: words of Jesus

Search for what is right and just (John 7:21-24), February 12, 2017

Today’s Podcast

Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
The man walking across the street toward his Harley with the wild looking beard, is wearing leather pants and jacket with metal studs. He has black boots and a red, white and blue rag wrapped around his head. He looks a little rumpled and dirty like he just climbed out from a trash heap. He’s wearing dark wrap around glasses so you can’t see his eyes. What’s your first reaction?
Scripture
1. John 7:21-24
2. Jesus: Listen, all it took was for Me to do one thing, heal a crippled man, and you all were astonished. Don’t you remember how Moses passed down circumcision as a tradition of our ancestors? When you pick up a knife to circumcise on the Sabbath, isn’t that work? If a male is circumcised on the Sabbath to keep the law of Moses intact, how can making one man whole on the Sabbath be a cause for your violent rage? You should not judge by outward appearance. When you judge, search for what is right and just.
Devotional
1. The man I described earlier is a friend of mine. He’s a pastor and the scene comes from a picture one of the members of his Christian motorcyclist club took of him when they stopped for a break on a cross country trip one day. They travelled a lot of dusty roads that day and with twenty or so bikes churning up the dust on those back roads, everyone looked like they just came out of a trash heap.
  1. Great time riding
  2. Worshiping
  3. Fellowshipping
2. We have a tendency to stereotype
  1. Part of our DNA
  2. Quick judgments originally to protect us
  3. Lion or rock
  4. Friend or foe
  5. Welcomed or attacked
3. Carried those early survival requirements into modern society
  1. Clothes
  2. Hair and makeup
  3. Color of skin
  4. Religion
  5. Nationality
  6. Political views
  7. Whatever is different causes us to mark others as enemies and resort to fight or flight because of Satan’s lies
4. Jesus warns, “You should not judge by outward appearance. When you judge, search for what is right and just.”
  1. How do we do that?
  2. First, ask for discernment
  3. Second, recognize God made us all
  4. Third, recognize Satan has blinded most and they will not judge according to God’s rules but by the world’s
  5. Fourth, don’t let others judgment and attitudes keep you from demonstrating God’s love and grace toward 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.”

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.

God’s word and the Krebs Cycle (John 7:16-19), February 11, 2017

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
When I was in school, the Krebs Cycle was a lot more theory than fact. Things have changed over the years in science, but not in God’s word. So what does the Krebs Cycle have to do with God’s word? Stay and find out.
Scripture
1. John 7:16-19
2. Jesus: I do not claim ownership of My words; they are a gift from the One who sent Me. If anyone is willing to act according to His purposes and is open to hearing truth, he will know the source of My teaching. Does it come from God or from Me? If a man speaks his own words, constantly quoting himself, he is after adulation. But I chase only after glory for the One who sent Me. My intention is authentic and true. You’ll find no wrong motives in Me.

Moses gave you the law, didn’t he? Then how can you blatantly ignore the law and look for an opportunity to murder Me?

Devotional
1. When I took biology in Vanderbilt more than 40 years ago, scientists were just beginning to uncover the secrets of how cells transformed matter into energy to run the various processes of the body. They knew there was this thing called the mitochondrion that took in oxygen and released carbon dioxide and energy enriched adenosine triphosphate but didn’t understand how. My professor at the time had worked with Hans Krebs and would win his own Nobel Prize in Physiology Now, the mechanism has been changed from a theory to a fairly well accepted biochemical process fact among biologists worldwide.
  1. Many theories proposed previously
  2. All missed some important part in their explanation
  3. Brilliant people, but holes in their argument
  4. Krebs cycle explained the process and verified by improved electron microscopes
2. Why did the theory become accepted as fact when all the others failed
  1. Questions were answered
  2. Things fit into place
  3. Theory proven by independent sources
  4. Has stood the test of time for over 50 years now
3. Curious that we will accept Krebs Cycle as truth which we’ve only recognized for 50 years but don’t recognize God’s truth which has been here since time began
  1. Stories handed down since God created Adam and Eve
  2. Moses given the law on Mt Sinai and scholars believe gave the Israelites the five books of the law, Genesis through Deuteronomy
  3. Centuries of testimony from Israelites and Christian community
  4. Evidence all around us
  5. Still we won’t believe the truth
  6. We won’t listen to those sharing God’s word, but instead listen to those who tell us what we want to hear
4. Time to be convicted by God’s law. Time to hear what He has to say instead of what the world has to say. Time to let the truth guide our lives instead of the lies Satan lays before us. Time to follow the Son, the One God says is the only way to salvation, freedom, and 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.”

Timing is everything (John 7:6-8), February 10, 2017

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
I don’t know anyone that doesn’t own a timepiece of some sort. We are bound by time and time is important to us. In fact, sometimes timing is everything. Jesus knew that, too.
Scripture
1. John 7:6-8
2. Jesus: My time has not yet arrived; but for you My brothers, by all means, it is always the right time. You have nothing to worry about because the world doesn’t hate you, but it despises Me because I am always exposing the dark evil in its works. Go on to the feast without Me; I am not going right now because My time is not yet at hand.
Devotional
1. Timing is important in almost every aspect of life, did you ever think of that?
  1. Planting
  2. Harvest
  3. Cooking
  4. Football plays
  5. Construction
  6. Training
  7. Project execution
2. God understands timing
  1. Genesis
  2. Separation of light and darkness comes first
  3. Separation of water and earth come next
  4. Life in the seas comes before life on land
  5. Plant life comes before animal life, food chain, herbivores before carnivores
  6. Perfect timing for creation and everything in it
3. Jesus’ task to save the world
  1. World already began to hate Him because of His message and His fight against evil
  2. Satan knew who He was
  3. Began working against Him at His birth with no place for Mary to give birth to Him
  4. Temptation in the wilderness before He started His ministry
  5. Scribes, Pharisees and Sanhedrin for His message
4. Jesus task was not yet complete
  1. Needed to train the twelve
  2. Needed to ensure the remembered the message
  3. Needed to make sure they saw and remembered the evidence of who He was
  4. Time wasn’t right for the completion of His task
5. Sometimes we will ask God to come alongside us for something we want to do. Something we even think He has asked us to do, and it will seem like He is absent from the scene. He’s not. If He gives us something to do, He will be in it, but His timing is perfect. Like the secret play or the secret weapon pulled out at just the right moment to win the game. God comes on the scene at just the right time.
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.”

Follow the leader and Simon Says (John 6:65-70), February 9, 2017

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Today’s Podcast

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Jesus’ words today remind me of a couple of children’s games I’m sure you played as a kid. I hope you played the game well, because it’s important to what you do now. What games are they? You’ll find out in just a minute.
Scripture
1. John 6:65-70
2. Jesus: This is why I have been telling you that no one comes to Me without the Father’s blessing and guidance.

After hearing these teachings, many of His disciples walked away and no longer followed Jesus.

Jesus (to the twelve): Do you want to walk away too?

Simon Peter: Lord, if we were to go, whom would we follow? You speak the words that give everlasting life. We believe and recognize that You are the Holy One sent by God.

Jesus: I chose each one of you, the twelve, Myself. But one of you is a devil.

Devotional
1. Have you ever played Follow the Leader or Simon Says
  1. Follow the leader is a children’s game. First a leader or “head of the line” is chosen, then the children all line up behind the leader. The leader then moves around and all the children have to mimic the leader’s actions. Any players who fail to follow or do what the leader does are out of the game. When only one person other than the leader remains, that player becomes the leader, and the game begins again with all players joining the line once again.
  2. Simon Says (or Simple Simon Says) is a child’s game where 1 player takes the role of “Simon” and issues instructions to the other players, which should only be followed if prefaced with the phrase “Simon says”, for example, “Simon says, jump in the air”. Players are eliminated from the game by either following instructions that are not immediately preceded by the phrase, or by failing to follow an instruction which does include the phrase “Simon says”. It is the ability to distinguish between genuine and fake commands that usually matters in the game.
2. Jesus calls us to His side just as He chose the twelve while He walked among us.
  1. Certainly following Him is much more important and complex than playing follow the leader or Simon Says
  2. Calls us to follow Him
  3. Peter says it best, who else would we follow?
  4. Anyone else leads us toward death and destruction
  5. We can’t follow our own path because if we really look deep inside, we have to admit we don’t know where we’re headed
  6. Like the children’s games when we don’t follow Him we find ourselves out of the game of life
3. Spiritual warfare is not a game
  1. We don’t have a choice about playing
  2. We can follow Jesus and have life
  3. We can choose not to follow Jesus and find death and destruction
  4. Still our choice, which will you choose
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.”

Does God’s word offend you or convict you? (John 6:61-64), February 8, 2017

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
There is an interesting test to see where you might be spiritually. In just a moment, I’ll share that test with you. Stick around.
Scripture
1. John 6:61-64
2. Jesus: Has My teaching offended you? What if you were to see the Son of Man ascend to return to where He came from? The Spirit brings life. The flesh has nothing to offer. The words I have been teaching you are spirit and life, but some of you do not believe.
Devotional
1. I don’t think Jesus would have to even ask that question today. He would make headline news blasted through every media available. Jesus offends another group. They don’t like His message because He says they shouldn’t do something else they want to do.
  1. He says we should take care of orphans and widows and elderly and the infirm. How are we doing on that account? Not so well. They are the throwaways of society
  2. He says we should help the poor, not seek after great wealth just for the purpose of seeking wealth, we should use our assets to help others. How are we doing on those? Not so well. We believe in getting all we can get for ourselves
  3. He says love your neighbor as you love yourself. How are we doing on that? Not so well. We don’t tolerate anyone that doesn’t think, look, or act the way we do.
2. Has my teaching offended you?
  1. Difference between being offended and convicted
  2. To offend: cause to feel upset, annoyed, or resentful.
  3. To convict: to find or prove to be guilty; to convince of error or sinfulness
  4. Which do you feel when you hear God’s word?
  5. Says a lot about who you want to be in charge of your life, God or you
3. When we realize we can’t do anything about the guilt we carry around because of our disobedience and the depth of our depravity, we are convicted and ready to face the truth of our sinful condition before God. He can do something about it, we can use that conviction and come to Him repentantly and be cleansed from our sin and our guilt can melt away. We can enjoy real life eternally.
4. When we think we can live without God and make our own way through life, we feel upset by God’s word, annoyed that anyone would try to tell us we are wrong, resentful that someone, even God, would try to dictate our behavior or our thoughts. We remain aloof, snub our nose at God, remain unrepentant, and face death, eternal separation from the only one who can give us life.
5. So the question remains, when God speaks are you offended or convicted? You control your emotions. You decide what you will believe. You determine whether you will allow God into your life. Choose the right path. Choose the Spirit and 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.”

The advantage of living now (John 6:53-58), February 7, 2017

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
We sometimes forget the advantage we have living on this side of the cross when we read the words of Jesus. We think it would be so easy to believe if we could have seen Him in person and listened to Him speak while He walked the earth. But was it so easy then?
Scripture
1. John 6:53-58
2. Jesus: I tell you the truth; unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you will not know life. If you eat My flesh and drink My blood, then you will have eternal life and I will raise you up at the end of time. My flesh and blood provide true nourishment. If you eat My flesh and drink My blood, you will abide in Me and I will abide in you. The Father of life who sent Me has given life to Me; and as you eat My flesh, I will give life to you. This is bread that came down from heaven; I am not like the manna that your fathers ate and then died! If you eat this bread, your life will never end.
Devotional
1. The words Jesus shares with the crowd that day were hard words for them to accept.
  1. The last Passover supper was a long time away.
  2. Covenant with His disciples had not yet been announced
  3. Death on the cross that explained His sacrifice and symbolism of His flesh and blood was still in the future and unseen by all those around Him
  4. How could they understand
2. Why would Jesus give these words that would drive people away from His message of love and forgiveness?
  1. Christianity is not an easy life
  2. Must count the cost to serve Him
  3. More will hate your message than like your message
  4. No watered down, easy road, do as you please religion
  5. Prepare us for what is to come
3. Message He gives the crowd that day
  1. If you consume what the world offers, you die
  2. If you consume what He offers, you live
  3. Hard to understand sometimes, but that is the mystery of God
  4. Beyond our knowing because He is God and we are not
4. In a battle for our lives
  1. Satan lies and is the father of lies
  2. Listen to God’s truth
  3. Trust His word and follow His direction
  4. Obey and live
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.”

Did Jesus condone cannibalism? (John 6:43-51), February 6, 2017

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Cannibalism is one of the most taboo practices throughout the civilized world. We revolt at even the thought of the action. What would you do if Jesus hinted at the practice when He talked to you? That’s just what some of those around Him were thinking one day.
Scripture
1. John 6:43-51
2. Jesus: Stop grumbling under your breaths. If the Father who sent Me does not draw you, then there’s no way you can come to Me. But I will resurrect everyone who does come on the last day. Among the prophets, it’s written, “Everyone will be taught of God.” So everyone who has heard and learned from the Father finds Me. No one has seen the Father, except the One sent from God. He has seen the Father. I am telling you the truth: the one who accepts these things has eternal life. I am the bread that gives life. Your fathers ate manna in the wilderness, and they died as you know. But there is another bread that comes from heaven; if you eat this bread, you will not die. I am the living bread that has come down from heaven to rescue those who eat it. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever. The bread that I will give breathes life into the cosmos. This bread is My flesh.
Devotional
1. If you studied much history about the settlement of the west, you’ve heard of the Donner Party. George Donner led 89 pioneers out of Springfield, Illinois in April 1846 on their way to California. They took a new, supposedly shorter route scouted by a guide that led them into some pretty treacherous terrain. The party became trapped in the high Sierra Mountains in late October due to heavy snowfall and the legends of the day continue that the party survived only by resorting to cannibalism. They finally arrived in California the next year.
2. Why bring up the Donner Party?
  1. We still remember their means of survival 160 years later.
  2. We view cannibalism as a most heinous crime
  3. Jeffrey Dahmer, Peter Bryan, Ed Gein (serial killer which inspired the character for Silence of the Lamb
  4. Wikipedia 50 reports between April 2000 and August 2016, 28 since 2010
  5. We’re revolted by the thought
3. Imagine the reaction when Jesus gave these words, “Anyone who eats this bread will live forever. The bread that I will give breathes life into the cosmos. This bread is my flesh.
  1. Sounded like cannibalism to those who heard His message on the surface
  2. Without listening to all He had to say and trusting Him, His message caused revolt
  3. The world hated His message when they thought He talked to eating His flesh
  4. How would you react?
4. We live on this side of the cross and understand the symbolism Jesus shared with those who heard His words that day. We understand He gave Himself for us and we partake in the remembrance of Jesus’ death through the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, Communion, the Eucharist, whatever name you choose to call that special remembrance of God’s sacrifice for us. Can you understand why the world, without faith, hates us? Can you begin to see why non-believers revolt at the mention of Jesus’ name?
  1. Never condoned the practice of cannibalism
  2. Must understand He wants us to consume Him, the word, God’s message, the reason for His coming, devour everything He brings to us
  3. Become a spiritual cannibal
5. Until we believe that Jesus’ words are true and draw close to Him in faith, we will not enjoy the life eternal He promises. Until we begin to consume Him in every part of our life, we cannot enjoy all He has in store for us.
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.”

Eternal life and Dr. Phil (John 6:32-40), February 5, 2017

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Today’s words from Jesus made me think of a bizarre episode from Dr. Phil. In just a minute I’ll tell you why.
Scripture
1. John 6:32-40
2. Jesus: I tell you the truth: Moses did not give you bread from heaven; it is My Father who offers you true bread from heaven. The bread of God comes down out of heaven and breathes life into the cosmos.

Crowd: Master, we want a boundless supply of this bread.

Jesus: I am the bread that gives life. If you come to My table and eat, you will never go hungry. Believe in Me, and you will never go thirsty. Here I am standing in front of you, and still you don’t believe. All that My Father gives to Me comes to Me. I will receive everyone; I will not send away anyone who comes to Me. And here’s the reason: I have come down from heaven not to pursue My own agenda but to do what He desires. I am here on behalf of the Father who sent Me. He sent Me to care for all He has given Me so that nothing and no one will perish. In the end, on the last day, He wants everything to be resurrected into new life. So if you want to know the will of the Father, know this: everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him will live eternally; and on the last day, I am the One who will resurrect him.

Devotional
1. My wife is a Dr. Phil fan and the other day she was watching one of his programs she captured on our DVR and a young lady’s conversation with him captured my attention. I’m usually reading something whenever Carole listens to Dr. Phil, but when this you lady said she was pregnant and Jesus was the child, I perked up.
  1. Six home pregnancy tests
  2. Two clinic pregnancy tests
  3. Sonogram on television
  4. Still didn’t believe the results
  5. Knew she was pregnant with Jesus
  6. Mental illness causing her to think bloated belly meant pregnancy and could let go of delusion until her belly flattened one night in an institution Dr. Phil sent her to for help.
2. Jesus came to share the truth God wanted us to hear
  1. Many followed only for the miracles He performed
  2. Many followed out of curiosity to see what He would do next
  3. Many liked what He said but fell away when the pressure was on (including His closest disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane)
3. Jesus calls us to believe
  1. Not just because of the wonders He performed
  2. Not just because of the testimony of others
  3. Not just because of the evidence of scripture
  4. Exercise faith and allow His spirit to confirm who He is
4. When we exercise enough faith to believe Jesus is the Son of God who came to rescue us from the penalty of sin, death, He forgives our sins and grants us eternal life to be enjoyed with Him in heaven.
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 way to real riches (John 6:26-29), February 4, 2017

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Do you ever get junk mail asking you to double and triple and quadruple your money? All you have to do is invest in the sender’s guaranteed get rich investment scheme and you’re on your way to financial independence. It’s a shame it doesn’t work that way. But Jesus has a better idea.
Scripture
1. John 6:26-29
2. Jesus: I tell you the truth—you are tracking Me down because I fed you, not because you saw signs from God. Don’t spend your life chasing food that spoils and rots. Instead, seek the food that lasts into all the ages and comes from the Son of Man, the One on whom God the Father has placed His seal.

Crowd: What do we have to do to accomplish the Father’s works?

Jesus: If you want to do God’s work, then believe in the One He sent.

Devotional
1. I get these emails several times a day from some money management firms that I somehow managed to get on their list. I’ve tried to get off their list, but so far have been unsuccessful in getting rid of their advice.
  1. Best investments
  2. Multiply my money
  3. Stocks, bonds, commodities
  4. Changes every day
  5. If I had invested as they told me to I would be independently wealthy by now
2. Schemes remind me of Jesus’ words
  1. Get rich quick
  2. Chase after things that don’t last
  3. Try to satisfy life with the latest fad
  4. Doesn’t work
3. In Matthew, seek first the kingdom of God and all these other things will be given to you as well.
  1. Riches? Maybe, probably not earthly riches because it’s easy to get your eyes off God
  2. Friends? Absolutely, real friends
  3. Joy
  4. Peace
  5. Contentment
  6. Forgiveness
  7. Relationships that count and continue eternally
  8. Purpose in life, God’s purpose for which He created you
  9. Work worth doing, God’s work
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 calms our fears (John 6:20), February 3, 2017

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Today’s Podcast

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
My kids had a few nightmares when they were little. I would come to their rescue and calm their fears. Jesus calms our fears but in a much greater way. Today we hear one story of how he did it.
Scripture
1. John 6:20
2. Jesus (to the disciples): I am the One. Don’t be afraid.
Devotional
1. I remember when my kids were little, they would sometimes have nightmares in the middle of the night. I would hear them cry out and I would go to their room to see what was wrong. Sometimes they would see monsters in the shadows or they would just know that someone was peering in the window just waiting to come in and get them.
  1. My presence calmed them
  2. My voice let them know they were protected
  3. My assurance took away their fear
2. Grandkids spend the night and do the same
  1. Same thing happens
  2. Simple explanation and presence takes away fear
3. Disciples found themselves alone in a storm
  1. Real danger this time
  2. Not their imagination
  3. Expected to drown in the storm
4. Jesus comes walking calmly to their side
  1. His presence calms their fears
  2. His voice gives assurance that all will be okay
  3. He lets them know He will protect them from the storm
5. We face storms in life
  1. He will come and bring assurance to us the same way He did for His disciples
  2. We must listen above the wail of the storm
  3. We can trust Him to bring calm to the trouble waters in our lives
  4. We do not need to be afraid
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.”