Weekly Reflection and Scripture Tags

Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

I would like for you to imagine the worst thing you have ever done in your life.  Maybe nobody knows about it but you.  You feel ashamed and worthless.  You feel unforgiven or rejected by your own conscience.  Or maybe people know, and they are always ready to shame, reject, ridicule you or write you off as hopeless and remind you no redemption is available to set you free. 

Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Weekly Reflection John 8:10-11 NIV

I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out and find pasture.

This incredible promise from Jesus is one of the reasons for my zeal as a servant of the living God. Jesus is the gate that leads to a land filled with milk and honey. In life, I meet many people who are seeking happiness and peace. I was once one of these people. They are often frustrated because every time they think this is it, disappointments and setbacks overwhelm them. Jesus is offering a land that we can have access to that we truly seek.  He is calling us to a green land

I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out and find pasture.

Weekly Reflection John 10:9 NIV

Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, 'Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.'" (When he said, "living water," he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered his glory.)

What drink are you consuming? Jesus is inviting you to come drink from the “Rivers of living water”. This passage brought me back to one story that I have written about previously regarding the woman at the well (John chapter 4).  What burden are you carrying and feel

Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, 'Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.'" (When he said, "living water," he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered his glory.)

Weekly Reflection John 7:38 NLT

The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

How often do you find yourself fighting to repent/change something in your life that you know is not pleasing to God?  The more you fight, the more you feel defeated.  As I listened or read sermons from different teachers and preachers, I noticed very few taught repentance which simply means to change the course of your life toward God’s will not your own. I believe according to scriptures after becoming a follower of Jesus your life must transform from

The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

Weekly Reflection John 6:63 NLT

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

Jesus had been called many names as he proclaimed the good news as God’s ambassador while he was on earth.  The Lamb of God is one of the names. Have you ever taken time to meditate on Jesus as the ‘Lamb of God”? Jesus, the savior of the world, is frequently used to describe his ultimate purpose for mankind.  Jesus is indeed the Savior of the world! And he is also the sacrificial lamb who was murdered in our place and became the final sacrifice for us to be seen and

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

Weekly Reflection John 1:29 NIV

 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Weekly Reflection John 1:17 NIV

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

The law and Jesus Christ! As I continue to study the law and Jesus Christ, it is fascinating to learn how connected they are, yet different. I can see why certain religious groups teach doctrine that baptism, which is submersion in water as Jesus taught Nicodemus in John 3: 1-21 is viewed as human work. Nonetheless, as I study the Scriptures, I find that their doctrine is far from the true purpose of baptism. Yes, I do believe baptism alone doesn’t bring transformation and salvation.

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

I went for a prayer walk pouring my heart out to God regarding some fears that were heavily crunching my spirit. As I began to confess my worries to God, all these scriptures about his promises flooded my mind. I began to smile and cry as the Holy Spirit reminded me that I am covered by the blood of Jesus.  In that moment, I could only groan as the spirit interceded on my behalf for the remainder of the prayer walk.

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Weekly Reflection 1 John 4:18 NIV

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

I want to be like Jesus!  This statement sounds like a cliché as we often say it during our Christian walk. If you choose to be a student of Jesus, the desire to be like him ought to be our life until we stand for the final judgement.  What does it mean to be born again?  As I was working at my desk one morning pondering on a statement I read about Jesus, the Spirit prompted me to say out loud ‘I want to be like Jesus.’ I asked myself, what does that

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Weekly Reflection John 3:3 KJV

Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.

How does one cross over from death to life? According to Jesus, whoever hears the word of God and believe in God who sent Jesus has eternal life.  This passage is part of a bigger puzzle in understanding the process from death to eternal life. Many people read this passage and believe it's the entire picture of Salvation. Jesus later during his ministry explained what hearing and believing his words looks like in John

Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.

Weekly Reflection John 5:24- NIV

But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, 'Pick up your mat and walk.' ”  So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?”

As I listened and read this scripture at about 12:40 am, the Spirit prompted me to get up and write this devotion.  I can in many ways relate to this guy who was an invalid for 38 years.  I am very blessed that my deliverance in Jesus’ name did not come after so many years. I was 9 years old when Jesus brought me a Bible and called me out of the bondage of Satan. Moreover, I was 14 years old when Jesus again delivered me

But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, 'Pick up your mat and walk.' ”  So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?”

Weekly Reflection John 5:11-12 NIV