Category Archives: to know him and make him known

Hard heartedness

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Today let’s read John 11:45-57.

“Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. “What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.””

‭‭John‬ ‭11‬:‭47‬-‭48‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I am always amazed at the hard heartedness of the religious leaders of Jesus’s time. Jesus simply did not fit into their agenda. They wanted things the way they wanted them, when and how they wanted it… They pursued their ways so much that they had drifted further and further from the very God they claimed to serve. They could see Jesus doing miracles that were beyond explanation, but they chose to pursue their ways instead of following Him. They stood there in the very presence of Jesus and they were not moved by His words, His miracles, His love… I would like to point my finger, but there have been times in my life that I chose to go my way instead of pursuing Him. There have been times I’ve heard His voice, saw His miracles, and yet turned away. 

Lifehouse recorded a song in the year 2000 thats lyrics have been rolling around in my head this morning as I have thought of this section of scripture. 

“You are the life to my soul

You are my purpose, you’re everything

… And how can I stand here with you

And not be moved by you?

Would you tell me how could it be

Any better than this?” 

You and I were created with a purpose — to Know God! A hard heart will keep us from realizing this purpose. Sin hardens our hearts. What is it that stands between you and God? Are you able to stand in the very presence of Jesus and not be moved by Him? 

This video illustrates the things that get in between us and God. Let’s ask  these questions: “How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?” 

Is there an area of sin in my heart that has caused me to have a heart that is hardened towards God? 

Am I living my life wanting only what I want when and how I want it? Or is knowing Jesus my one true purpose, my everything? 

You Will See God’s Glory If You Believe

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Today let’s read John 11:17-44.

There is a perceived finality in death. More than once I have attended the graveside committal of someone I love. The separation we feel here on earth becomes so real. But Jesus!

These words of Jesus are often read at such an occasion where we stand next to the casket of someone we love moments before they are lowered into the ground: 

 “…“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”” 
John‬ ‭11‬:‭25‬-‭26‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus experienced the things we do when He walked this earth. He stood outside the tomb of His friend as well. He saw the heartache of those left behind. He felt compassion for those who could only see the finality of the situation. Verse 35 says, “Jesus wept.” But that was not the end. Jesus ordered that the stone covering the entrance to the tomb be rolled back, and then He spoke. “Lazarus, come out!” Lazarus walked out of that tomb fully alive! 

This section of Scripture stirs up questions as well as comfort within me. Sometimes I don’t understand why things go the way they do.  I find comfort knowing that Jesus has stood graveside and wept. Not because it was the end, but simply because He loved the ones who thought it was. 

Then there have been the times I have seen Jesus do miracles that I could not explain and completely turned impossible situations around. 

I have often thought how convenient it would be to be able to say, “Do x,y,and z and this will result.” 

“Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”” (Verse 40) The glory of God is His manifest presence and power. Simply put, I believe and God will do more than I could ask, think, or imagine within impossible situations. Martha could not conceive that opening a tomb with a dead body would ever be a good idea. BUT with Jesus, what is dead becomes alive. 

Do I understand that Jesus truly cares about the things that I am weeping about? Do I believe that no matter what I am up against Jesus is bigger? His Words He spoke to Martha are a promise to me as well. If I believe, I will see His Glory! (Verse 40) I will see He is with me and He is acting in His power on my behalf. He will do miracles. And “even though” I die. I will live! I always win when I believe (trust in and rely on) Jesus, who is Victor over everything including sickness and death! 

God’s Delays

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(I’ve been writing a lot on the Gospel of John lately. I felt like I should share today’s thoughts on the account of Lazarus’s death:)

Good morning! Let’s read John 11:1-16 today!

“So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days,”
‭‭John‬ ‭11‬:‭3‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Being sick is a horrible thing. Especially a major illness. In sickness, there is pain and discomfort. Jesus heard His friend, the one He loved, was sick. BUT Jesus delayed going to His friend for two days…

I have been thinking this morning about God’s delays. Jesus knew all things. He was and He is God. He also knew the end of Lazarus’s story, “…This sickness will not END in death. No, it is for God’s Glory…” God always had a plan. Jesus’s delay was a part of it.

In the book of Isaiah God tells us something that is very important to consider:

““For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭55‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus knew the reason that Lazarus had to SUFFER and DIE. He knew that He would raise Lazarus from the dead in order to display the glory of God to the people. It was an opportunity for Him to make Himself known in a way the people had not known Him as before. “I am the resurrection and the life.” (Verse 25) Jesus was going to display HIs power over death itself.

There are circumstances of life that we simply will not understand. Sometimes it seems that God is delaying doing what is best for us. We suffer. BUT God wants us to know that His thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are not our ways either. What we think is best may not be what is the best in His Heavenly perspective. We must trust in Him!

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Is there a circumstance in my life that I am suffering in? Am I trying to make sense out of it? Does it feel like Jesus has delayed?
Can I believe and trust that Jesus is always working in every circumstance for my good? (Romans 8:28)

Leaving 2025 Behind — All Things New!

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““Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭18‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus always makes all things new! What was dead always comes to life at the sound of His beautiful voice!

Today marks the last day of 2025. A New Year is a time of eager expectation of a new beginning. However, we do not have to experience newness just once a year! We can live our lives with each new morning as a new beginning as we pursue a relationship with God!

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV

In Jesus, our past is complete. Whatever happened there can be forgiven, restored, and healed. In Jesus, our present is full and alive. He never leaves us alone or forsakes us. He fills each moment with Himself— the true and abundant LIFE. In Jesus, our future is secure! We have nothing to fear of what is to come!

In Jesus, we can forget the troubling, former things of 2025. We don’t have to dwell in the could have’s, should have’s, would have’s… God is more than willing to do a new thing when we surrender our lives to Him! He has a way of turning things around. What was a dry deserted land inside of our spiritual hearts becomes a beautiful oasis with His living water flowing strong! Whatever was a wasteland and a total loss becomes NEW!

Walk with Jesus every moment of 2026 in the present! Spend time with Him in His Word and in prayer. Then on December 31, 2026 you will be amazed to see all the transformation (making all things new) He has done!

Leave 2025 in the past! Jesus is ever present in our now, and the hope (confident expectation) of what is to come!

A Happy New Year is found in Jesus alone!

The Romans Challenge: Established!

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“Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past…to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭16‬:‭25,27‬ ‭NIV‬‬
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Life can feel like a whirlwind. Spiritual, emotional and even physical storms blow and shake us. They try to cause our lives to fall into shambles.

BUT there is one who establishes us, Jesus! As we come to Him and dwell connected to Him, we do not need to fear the storms! Jesus is the Rock upon which we build our lives. He is our Firm Foundation.

Paul finishes his letter to the Romans giving glory to the One who establishes us. 

“to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭16‬:‭27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

God’s wisdom, His perfectly applied knowledge, in our lives keeps us secure. His Word will establish us, strengthening us. He will give us victory in our daily struggles!

Praise Him and give Him glory! He is all that we need to live secure and established!

The Romans Challenge: Wise About What is Good

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“Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭16‬:‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

To be wise is to be learned, cultivated, and skilled…(Webster’s 1828)

Paul commended the Roman believers for their obedience, or their heartfelt submission to the teachings of Jesus. Obedience is very important to our lives as followers of Jesus. What He says we need to listen to / take to heart, and do. Jesus told us that if we love Him we will obey Him. AND our obedience is always for our own good! Because everything that God commands us to do is good.

This is why it is so important to “be wise about what is good” We need to learn about what is good, cultivate it, and be skilled in it. Everything God says is good! Let’s be students of what He says in His Word!

As we study God’s Word and truly take it to heart, we will come to know God better. We will love Him more. We will act according to His Word. Sin will be defeated in our lives. This is what it means to be “innocent about what is evil.” Or another word for innocent is “blameless.”

God has given us everything we need to live as He wants us to. As we obey Him, study His Word so we can be wise about what is good, and live blamelessly when it comes to evil, we will live lives of freedom. 

“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭16‬:‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The Romans Challenge: Watch Out!

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“I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭16‬:‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

It is easy to be deceived. Especially if we are not fully aware of the truth. We need to “watch out!”

There are many philosophies, doctrines, and thought patterns in our world. It is popular to say, “discover your truth” or “that may be true for you, but it is not true for me.” Tolerance of and embracing others views is encouraged. Truth is relevant in our society.

This was true in Paul’s time. One of the favorite pass times of the Roman world was to debate philosophy. This was in an effort to discover what the “real truth” was. The followers of Jesus had the Truth — Jesus Himself. The early church had a problem. There were those who wanted to mix Jesus’s teachings with the thought of that day. This caused division. It was an obstacle that kept people from truly knowing Jesus. Paul said to “Keep away from them.”

Our world is no different than Paul’s. We are to be VERY careful about what we accept as truth. There are many who want to take today’s modern thought and combine it with Scripture. Twisting God’s Word to say what they want it to say. This is called Christian syncretism. It simply will not work. Truth cannot be combined with lies to create “new truths” for us to believe. “My truth” and “your truth” and anyone else’s truth cannot exist. There is only ONE Truth… Jesus! His Word is truth! It stands alone.

If people want us to accept anything short of the pure and unchanging Word of God, we are to “watch out!” We are to “Keep away from them.”

How do we know? How do we “watch out?” We must be students of the Word of God — The Bible. The best way to be on guard against deception is to know the TRUTH! Daily time studying the Word of God will help us! Paul said that he urged the Roman Christians to “watch out.” They were to compare what they heard to the “teaching {they} had learned.” May that be said of us as well.

Let’s get into the Word, our Bibles, and know the Truth. So we are able to guard our hearts from the deceptive lies of our enemy!

The Romans Challenge: Brothers and Sisters, Co-workers, and Friends — The Church

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“I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me. Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭16‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Romans 16:1-16 has a list of greetings that Paul sends to the ones his letter will reach. Over and over again, Paul talks about the various people in his life, who were a part of the Church of his time. Phoebe was dear to him, a sister, deaconess — servant leader. Priscilla and Aquila were “co-workers in Christ.” They opened their home for the church to meet. Some of the people listed Paul speaks of as working hard for the people in the Church and for the Lord. The early Church had a family relationship and a mission. They desired to know God and make Him known!

When we receive Jesus, we become a part of God’s family His church. His church is no different today than it was back in Paul’s time. It is where we experience relationships with each other. We are brothers and sisters, coworkers in our effort to make God known, and we are friends. It is a wonderful thing to live in relationship with one another.

Each of us has a role to play as we focus on our mission. Together we encourage each other to know God better and to make Him known!

Paul took the time to greet the ones who were dear to him in the early church. He appreciated the gift each of them was to his life. He was thankful for them.

Let’s take the time to appreciate those God has placed around us to “do life with.” God has given us the gift of family with the believers He has given us relationship with. Together, we share our laughter, our heartache, our needs and our abundance. What a gift He has given us to be a part of His family— His Church!

The Romans Challenge: Prayer

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“I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭30‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“All we can do now is pray…” I don’t know how many times I have heard this said. What a sad reflection of the unbelief in a person’s heart. It’s as if we say, “I’ve tried everything on my own to fix it… now I’ll ask God to help.” How we undervalue our greatest privilege! How we doubt the God who not only listens to us when we pray, but answers us!

Paul was fighting a spiritual battle. He urged the Romans to join him in his battle. He didn’t ask them to battle by talking to each other about how big the problems were. He didn’t ask them to send positive thoughts towards him. He URGED them to join him in his struggle by praying!

Prayer is not our “all we can do now…” options. Prayer is our “we get to” option. WE GET TO talk to the God who holds all power, is in control, has our best interest in His heart towards us, complete in love, complete in wisdom, etc… the list goes on and on. We get to come to Him and tell Him about the struggle and the battle. We get to ask Him to help us in time of need. We get to ask Him to provide our every need. We get to do that for ourselves. We get to pray for each other.

Do you and I value our connection to God in prayer? It is my prayer that we do! The truth is we cannot do anything on our own. Our very breath is a gift from God. Why would we think that we should turn to Him only at a moment of desperate need? We need Him every moment of every day!

The people God has surrounded us with, who we are doing life with need us to join them in their battles with our prayer! God hears us when we pray to Him. He loves to answer us when we pray!

“Join me in my struggle by praying to God for me!”