by David Brenneman
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.” John 3:16-21.
Satan's tactics have not changed since Adam and Eve, if you look closely at their story and when Satan tried tempting Jesus.
His biggest fear he tries to instill is "Did God really say...".
A shred of doubt to start a fire.
People who have spent their lives turning away from Jesus, from receiving Christ Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior, have the judgment of God upon them.
Jesus said this...so take that to the bank.
You and I must choose the paths we walk each moment of each day.
We must choose at any given moment to believe God or to believe our perceptions as the world defines them.
Nicodemus had his spiritual eyes opened that night. To see that there was way more than head knowledge to be had in his relationship with the God of his fathers.
The truth set him free.
There's really only a level of ego separating Nicodemus's transformation and Saul's. Both likely went to similar schools, were taught the Scriptures. Both were knowledgeable of the ways of God.
Jesus met both at the point of their need. He will always meet people willing to listen to Him.
Are you one of those people?
Jesus is certainly more than we can imagine. It's mind boggling to me that in the rest of eternity He will be easily able to meet with me. Me among the trillions and trillions of other people.
You and I are that personally important to Jesus.
There's a song that was out with a line in it that says that while He was on the cross, I was on His mind.
To think that every single person who has ever lived, or would be conceived by God, was on His mind while suffering on the cross, blows my mind. Every single Believer, every single person history records as being evil in every way imaginable. All were the reason that He stayed on that cross.
All of humanity is why the Father sent Son. Born of a virgin, born under the Law. Lived a perfect life, having deserved nothing in which He was treated. Was cruelly beaten and crucified with sinners. All to save a wretch like me.
What little we give in return for this!
It's been something that's been on my heart and mind since the inception of this blog. In the years since it started I am blown away by how God's taken my weakness and used it how He has.
My God and Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, had taken someone like me to reach people all across the world and maybe into space as well.
What can He do with you, should you be willing to say with Isaiah "Here in I, send me!".
It's a commonly used phrase of some people that once someone says something or points something out that now they can't unsee that.
In my walk with Jesus, it's like He keeps turning up the lights as we go along. Getting my eyes used to His light before moving on to the next portion of sanctification.
Paul spoke in Romans 12 of transformation. We are supposed to have evidence of this in our lives.
Jesus taught of Him being the vine and we are the branches. He taught us to know people by their fruits. Fruits being the fruits of the Spirit.
It's pretty conclusive that Nicodemus gave his life to Christ. He, after the crucifixion, came to help prepare Jesus's body for burial. This certainly would have not gone over well with his compatriots. Most would probably have turned their backs to him.
I would really like to read what Nicodemus wrote of his life after coming to Christ for salvation.
I imagine he was taught to write much as Paul was.
What doubts and fears are trying to get a foothold in your life? I will easily say that I have many. From physical health to finance.
What I can also tell you is that while these show up in my life, my Savior and Lord has always already been there ahead of me.
My Dear Reader...in what ways is Jesus trying to talk to you, but you aren't listening? What are the things that you care about more than your relationship with Jesus?
These things, be it people or things, that are more important to you than Jesus are going to be sources of doubts and fears to you. Because you can't control any aspect of them. They will control you.
Do you believe that God speaks to you? You should because He does.
At the foot of the cross there's room for you. Not just to be saved for sure, but to rest. To find the peace of Jesus that passes all understanding. Our world is in chaos. But it's chaos that is serving a purpose. To open the eyes of the blind, to show people that Jesus is real and wants to save them.
Cast your fears and anxiety upon Him. He's more than willing, more than capable, of handling whatever you need or have in your life.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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