Many who encountered Jesus, the light of the World, tried to ignore the truth through distractions - giving their attention to other things. In John 12:37-50, Jesus calls the crowds to believe in Him while there's still time. What is distracting you from Jesus? Believe in Him before the night falls.
Jesus explains his death is the most productive, worthwhile, and glorious thing he could do. Shockingly, he also teaches that Christians should follow his example. This passage calls us to consider why the glory of Jesus lifted up on the cross draws all people to believe and follow.
It's part of our culture to pursue feeling comfortable. When Jesus conquered death, He opened our eyes to the reality of eternity and taught that this life is for the next life. He taught that this present life on earth would be a challenge and that those who follow Him need to be prepared to be uncomfortable in this life, setting their hopes on the comfort promised in eternity.
If we aren't careful, we can begin to worship our expectations of God, rather than worshipping God for Who He is. We worship the blessings we expect, the joy He promised, or the forgiveness He offers. Consider what it means to worship the Savior-King for Who He is, and not based on our expectations of Him in John 12:12-19.
What if you were pulled in only one direction? As crazy as that sounds, that’s exactly how God designed us to live. When we understand that Jesus gave His life for us, it is the right response to live for Him - everything else in our lives flows from that and results in a life of extravagant worship.
We often live like Jesus died in order to make our lives more comfortable - and so we get upset with God when something uncomfortable happens. John 11 makes abundantly clear why Jesus died - to pay for our sins, and to offer us salvation by faith.
In the face of tragedy, Jesus is both loving and powerful. He is the Resurrection and the Life. As such, He is completely trustworthy through the tragedies of life and forevermore.
Jesus is asked whether He is truly the Savior the people are looking for and He answers that He is the only qualified Savior because He is God. We all need a hero. Trust in Jesus because His words and works declare His identity as Savior-God.
In John 10, Jesus makes it clear that abundant life can only be found in Him. He's the Good Shepherd, and we can only find abundant life in His flock.
When the pure light of the truth shines on our lives we must admit that we are wrong. In John 9, Jesus encounters two kinds of blindness. One man, willing to acknowledge his blindness, receives both physical and spiritual sight. Others, unwilling to admit their spiritual blindness, deny Jesus and remain in the dark. We must see we are blind in order to believe in Jesus the light.
Guilt is the great malady of the human race. It is the sickness that everyone is trying to cure whether they realize it or not. Many try to dampen it with substance abuse. Others try to placate it with the empty rituals of religion. And a vast majority try to outweigh it with good works. Psalm 51 calls us back to the only solution for our sin and guilt: forgiveness from God. Confess your sin to the merciful God for cleansing and restoration.
True worship isn't focused on me or my preferences, just going through the motions, or being hypocritical. In Psalm 50, God calls his people to consider their worship. He reminds them of his glory and instructs them about true worship and heartfelt obedience.
Many trust in wealth or power, but Psalm 49 teaches that these things are futile. They can't save a soul from death. But the psalmist also gives hope. There is One who can redeem your soul from the grave.
Psalm 48 lifts our eyes to an eternal city. A city unlike any other. In it dwells the Great King in all His might and majesty. Oh weary soul, lift your eyes to the eternal city, see the Great King in His city and praise Him!
Listen and be shaped by the character of God as seen in Psalm 47 - He is our great King whom we joyfully worship.
Trouble comes in all shapes and sizes. From minor inconveniences to major catastrophes, trouble is a persistent pest in this life. The question is not whether trouble will come - it will - but rather, "What will you do when trouble comes?" Listen to this rich psalm and see what it looks like to trust in God, our ever-present refuge, in the midst of trouble.
Psalm 45 turns our attention to the Hero-King! Entitled a love-song, it teaches us to adore the eternal King in all his beauty. Listen to learn how he impacts your life as you wait for his return.
In Psalm 44, we see how we can be faithful in affliction by coming to our faithful, sovereign God who cares for us. Listen to see how you can endure affliction when you come to God for help.
In these Psalms, God has given us words to pray when we are down. He has given us a path out of our darkness and toward the light. He has given us hope in our trouble. Listen to learn how to walk this path of hope when your soul is troubled.
See from Psalm 41 how we, as those who have been shown mercy, need to magnify the God who is merciful.