Friday, November 19, 2010

25. He Didn't Tell Me Everything Up Front

John 16:12


Two and a half years ago, we sold our house and part of the process was telling our realtor every single thing about it, good or bad, right up front so that we could fix the stuff that needed fixing and not be surprised by the home inspection. Same goes for buying a car: you want the whole story right now, because you have a right to know what you're getting in to. It doesn't really work that way in your spiritual life. Since I've been walking with Christ, He has dragged me through some absolute junk. I've had to go through things, endure things and do things I never would have chosen in a million years that I would have avoided in a life without Him, and He never told me about a single one of them up front. I've watched people I love live through incessant heartbreak and tragedy they never knew they would face before coming to know Christ, and He never told them it would happen. I love Jesus because He lets us in on what He's doing when we're ready for it and not before. On the night He was betrayed, Jesus told His disciples they would be hated, hunted and killed. He said He didn't tell them at first because He was with them. If Jesus had told me up front all the crap I would go through in waking with Him, I may not have followed, and I would have missed out on so much, including life itself.

Friday, November 12, 2010

24. He Knows Me Better Than I Do

John 13:38


The coolest thing Peter ever said was more than he should have said. Don't get me wrong; I'm sure he meant every word of it. It was totally sincere, it just wasn't true. On the night Jesus was betrayed, He told His disciples that He was going away and that they couldn't go with Him. He had been warning them of His death and resurrection for months, but now it was time. The disciples were confused and afraid. Peter said, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you." I love Jesus because He knew Peter better than Peter knew himself, and still loved him. Jesus looked into Peter's eyes and told him the truth about himself. "You'll die for me? Really? I know you feel that way now, but before the sun comes up, you're going to betray me." It must have been a shock to hear those words, but Jesus sweetly followed them up by saying, "Don't let your hearts be troubled. I'm going to come back for you and take you to be with me forever." He knows the depths of our troubled hearts more than we do and he loves us and wants us more than we do.

Monday, November 1, 2010

23. He Toasted His Betrayer

John 13:26


Jesus did a strange thing on the night He was betrayed. He toasted His betrayer. Now, it didn’t look like a toast in our culture; but it was. Jesus told His friends one of them would betray Him, and when asked who it would be, He said it would be the one to whom He would give the bread once He had dipped it in the dish. Most folks read right over that little statement, but it’s a big deal. You see, in those days and in that culture, this gesture was a high honor. It was like standing, raising a glass and proposing a toast. So, why would Jesus toast Judas? Jesus was reaching out to him one last time, pleading with him to change his mind. But wait... Jesus knows everything, right? He knew Judas would betray Him, right? It was even prophesied, right? Yes, Jesus knew what Judas was going to do, but still His love reached out to Judas, begging him not to. I love Jesus because His love even pleads with a mind made up for betrayal. Even now, Jesus reaches out to me when He knows the many ways I will turn my back on Him. Still His love pleads with me and appeals to me, knowing that one day I’ll choose Him instead.