John 14:21-23 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it then that thou will manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Oh Friends, what encouraging and reassuring words from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! He made these statements while preparing the disciples for His tragic crucifixion, joyous resurrection and glorious ascension. Poor disciples, they must have been one confused group, for Jesus had talked about going to prepare a place for them. ‘And where I go, you know, and the way you know.’ Vs.4. But Thomas disputed that. So Jesus told them, ‘I am the way the truth, and the life..’ Vs.6, the only way to the Father, whom they had now seen. But Phillip asked Him to show them the Father. This led to a lecture on His relationship to the Father and talk about not leaving them orphans; the Holy Spirit coming to dwell in them; how shortly they wouldn’t see Him, then they would, but not the world. Then He laid the first half of Today’s Bit on them. If you hear and obey my rules then I’ll consider it LOVE. And anyone who LOVES me, both the Father and I will LOVE him, and I’ll make myself known to them. By then they must have been thoroughly ‘confuffled.’ No wonder, Judas, not the one who betrayed Him, had to ask how He was going to manifest Himself to them alone. Guess they were suffering from information overload. What with their limited education, and Jesus waxing philosophical on a spiritual plane far above their comprehension. But the good news Friends, is that we don’t have that problem. Everything has been straightened out for us, and we understand the spiritual principles Jesus is talking about, and it makes us jump for joy, because we know that once we keep His commandments, it will count for LOVE, and both the Father and the Son will return that LOVE, by sending the Holy Spirit to dwell in us and act as a guide and help-mate.Therefore we can rest assured in the Saviour’s promise. And what a glorious promise it is people! It means that we may be sad and lonely, but never alone, for He’s always with us, lending hope and comfort; scared and confused, but never in real danger cause we’re always surrounded by His powerful, protecting arms; tired and stumbling, but never quite falling, for we’re always within reach of His uplifting hand and He catches us before we fall; and even if we do hit rock bottom, it’s not the end, for He’ll always pick us up, and bear us on His strong shoulders, until we find ourselves again. That’s the kind of God we worship and adore Friends. There’s none better. So let’s keep obeying and LOVING him, and receiving His LOVE in return. It’s the only way to find success in this life. Much LOVE!…if you don’t LOVE Jesus…then you don’t know true LOVE…
Oh Friends, what encouraging and reassuring words from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! He made these statements while preparing the disciples for His tragic crucifixion, joyous resurrection and glorious ascension. Poor disciples, they must have been one confused group, for Jesus had talked about going to prepare a place for them. ‘And where I go, you know, and the way you know.’ Vs.4. But Thomas disputed that. So Jesus told them, ‘I am the way the truth, and the life..’ Vs.6, the only way to the Father, whom they had now seen. But Phillip asked Him to show them the Father. This led to a lecture on His relationship to the Father and talk about not leaving them orphans; the Holy Spirit coming to dwell in them; how shortly they wouldn’t see Him, then they would, but not the world. Then He laid the first half of Today’s Bit on them. If you hear and obey my rules then I’ll consider it LOVE. And anyone who LOVES me, both the Father and I will LOVE him, and I’ll make myself known to them. By then they must have been thoroughly ‘confuffled.’ No wonder, Judas, not the one who betrayed Him, had to ask how He was going to manifest Himself to them alone. Guess they were suffering from information overload. What with their limited education, and Jesus waxing philosophical on a spiritual plane far above their comprehension. But the good news Friends, is that we don’t have that problem. Everything has been straightened out for us, and we understand the spiritual principles Jesus is talking about, and it makes us jump for joy, because we know that once we keep His commandments, it will count for LOVE, and both the Father and the Son will return that LOVE, by sending the Holy Spirit to dwell in us and act as a guide and help-mate.Therefore we can rest assured in the Saviour’s promise. And what a glorious promise it is people! It means that we may be sad and lonely, but never alone, for He’s always with us, lending hope and comfort; scared and confused, but never in real danger cause we’re always surrounded by His powerful, protecting arms; tired and stumbling, but never quite falling, for we’re always within reach of His uplifting hand and He catches us before we fall; and even if we do hit rock bottom, it’s not the end, for He’ll always pick us up, and bear us on His strong shoulders, until we find ourselves again. That’s the kind of God we worship and adore Friends. There’s none better. So let’s keep obeying and LOVING him, and receiving His LOVE in return. It’s the only way to find success in this life. Much LOVE!…if you don’t LOVE Jesus…then you don’t know true LOVE…
SCRIP-BITS 