Burunche’s Blog

“After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized. Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized. For John had not yet been thrown into prison.

Then there arose a dispute between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purification. And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!”

John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore, this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

The disciples of John the Baptist are enraged! Here they have been assisting John as huge crowds swarm to hear his teachings and to repent and be baptized. Frankly, John’s disciples have been enjoying the popularity and notoriety. Now suddenly Jesus appears on the scene, and he is BAPTIZING and crowds are swarming to hear HIM! What does John intend to do about this upstart? John’s answer is far from satisfying. “John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore, this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.” 

The problem for John’s disciples is that they have only been listening halfway. Messages of repentance? Sure! Baptism in water? Certainly! But all along, John has been announcing that he is only the forerunner and that his primary purpose is announcing the coming Messiah. That’s the point where John’s disciples have stopped listening. John’s disciples are outraged; meanwhile, John himself is relieved.  John has witnessed the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus in the form of a dove and he is reassured that Jesus is the Messiah.

What’s the basis for the reference to the bridegroom and the bride? Traditionally, the bridegroom’s father will suddenly announce when the marriage is to take place. At that point, the friend of the bridegroom helps the bridegroom fetch the bride from her parents’ house. The friend of the bridegroom must make sure that everything will be done properly. The bridegroom has to affirm that the girl he is accepting is truly his betrothed, and this is an important part of the ceremony. When the friend of the bridegroom hears the bridegroom’s voice, he knows that things are all right and that the marriage will proceed.

“He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

Here John is affirming that Jesus truly is the Son of God and that He has come from heaven and is speaking heavenly truths. John knows that God has given him the messages he has been preaching; however, John also knows that he is earthly and speaks of earthly things.

Just as a bridegroom takes first place in the marriage ceremony, so Jesus as the Son of God has come to take His place giving the messages His Heavenly Father wants Him to deliver.

What does this story have to say to us as we enter a new year? Nothing is constant but change, and no situation is ever permanent. Even as I am writing these words, I am preparing to take on new and different roles at the mission hospital where my husband and I serve. God is always doing new things, and we must be willing to follow His leading, knowing that God can lead us in wonderful new paths.

John’s story also contains a second important truth. “The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”  If we want everlasting life, we must believe in Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God. Why? Because Jesus has shed His blood as the ultimate blood sacrifice for our sins. Nothing we can do will pay for even a single sin, for we sin in small and big ways continually. But when we believe on the Name of Jesus, God accepts Jesus’ sacrifice and our sins are removed. Corrie Ten Boom used to say that God places our sins in the farthest sea and then puts up a “No Fishing” sign. Today, let’s choose to follow Jesus so that no matter what happens, we have that promise of everlasting life.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, we confess that we are sinners and that we cannot free ourselves from our sins. Thank You for dying for us and saving us from our sins so that we might have everlasting life. In Your mighty and precious Name, Lord Jesus. Amen.

John 3:16-21 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”  

Christmas, New Year’s Day, and Epiphany have passed. Although for many people, the Advent and Christmas season is a joyous one, there are also many people for whom this time of year brings disappointment, disillusionment, and despair. One more year has passed, one more year without love, one more round of failed goals. And now the new year has started-will things really be any better?

YES! ABSOLUTELY AND POSITIVELY YES! If you are feeling lower than a ditch digger’s boots and in complete despair, I have great news. Yes, there is hope and no, you are not stuck. God can move in your situation and in your heart and transform both you and your situation.

Let’s look back at Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus. Remember, Nicodemus is a revered teacher and a big-time religious and civic leader for the Jewish community in Jerusalem. But Nicodemus is also hungry for God; he knows something is missing in his life, and he comes to Jesus to see if he can get answers.

Now Jesus is explaining to Nicodemus that even though men are inherently sinful, they are not stuck in that sin. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” For centuries, observant Jews have been making regular sacrifices to make up for their sins. Now God has sent His Son Jesus into the world so that anybody believing in Jesus might have everlasting life and might not go around feeling perpetually condemned.

Later, the Apostle Paul will emphasize this fact in his letter to the Christians in Rome. Romans 8:1-2 “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”

When Nicodemus asks Jesus for more details, Jesus continues, “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”  

Notice that we get free from condemnation not because we are so good or so perfect, but because we believe in the name of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Sometimes we do wrong things without realizing they are wrong; yet, if we will confess those wrong things to God, He will forgive us. But when we insist on pursuing evil and being as evil as possible and being BAAAAD!!! , we are turning further and further away from the light of God’s holiness. We are choosing darkness rather than light.

“But,” you say, “I have made a mess of my life. Is there hope for me?” Absolutely! The first step in turning to the light is realizing you are in a mess and that you need God’s help to get out of it. The next step is looking at your situation and seeing what small positive actions you might take. Perhaps you will hold a door open for someone, or help an older person across the street, or share some of your possessions with someone who needs them. Perhaps you might simply smile at someone who looks discouraged-after all, you would love it if someone would smile at you! Each time you help, you are turning away from darkness toward light.

There’s a children’s song that says, “We are walking in the light of God.” Today can be the day you begin walking in that light. Let’s pray.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving me and caring for me. Lord, I am discouraged and feel like a failure. But I do want to walk in Your light. Please forgive me of my sins and help me to follow You whole-heartedly. In Your mighty and precious Name, Lord Jesus. Amen.

John 3:10-21 “Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 

No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

it is likely that John 3:16 is the most widely quoted verse in the Bible; however, we rarely think about the context in which Jesus first spoke these words. Nicodemus, a religious leader and teacher and a true seeker after God, has come to Jesus because he recognizes that Jesus may be the promised Messiah. Jesus is imparting complicated and timeless truths because he in turn recognizes Nicodemus to be someone who can understand and appreciate these truths.

First, Jesus speaks of the need for a new spiritual birth by water (baptism) and the Holy Spirit. Next, Jesus challenges Nicodemus to follow as Jesus explains heavenly things to him. The reference to Moses lifting up the serpent in the wilderness comes from a story recounted in Numbers 21:4-8. “Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread.” So the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died.

Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord that He take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.”

There have been many speculations as to the nature of these “fiery serpents,” including the possibility of guinea worm, venomous snakes, etc. Personally, I suggest venomous snakes because people with guinea worm don’t die swiftly, and the people bitten by the fiery serpents did so. Sadly, the Israelites turned that bronze serpent into a fetish and worshiped it right up until righteous King Hezekiah destroyed it. (2 Kings 18:4) But the most interesting part of the original story of the bronze serpent is this: anyone who LOOKED on the bronze serpent would live, presumably because they believed enough to look. We don’t know the number of people who refused to look at the bronze serpent and died; however, there must have been traditions regarding those people as well.

Jesus is now telling Nicodemus that He, the Son of Man, will be lifted up (on a cross) and that whoever believes in him will have eternal life. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

Evidently, there must have been those who refused to look at the bronze serpent and who died, because Jesus continues, ““He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

While Nicodemus might have been a little confused when Jesus was speaking about new spiritual births, now Jesus is describing good and evil, something with which Nicodemus is intimately acquainted. Notice that the words Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus mirror the words of John 1:11-13 “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

What happened to Nicodemus? We know from John 19:39-40 that when Jesus died, Nicodemus came with Joseph of Arimathea to collect the body and to anoint it with spices. From the night during which Jesus imparted glorious truths, Nicodemus became a believer. But what about you? Nicodemus was willing to set aside his prejudices and his position as a Jewish religious leader to follow Jesus. Are you willing to set aside pride in possessions, training, profession, and anything else to accept God’s magnificent gift of eternal life? God so loved YOU that He gave His only begotten Son so that YOU would have eternal life. Nothing you do by yourself can possibly earn that gift. If you have already accepted that gift, then continue throughout this year celebrating what God has done for you. But if you are wavering, why not look at Jesus and trust in what He’s done for you? Let’s pray.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner and that nothing I can do is good enough to make up for my sins. Please forgive my sins and clean up my heart. I do believe that You died on a cross so that all who accept You might have eternal life. Help me to live for You from this day forward. Thank You for giving me eternal life in heaven with You when I die. I pray in Your mighty and precious Name, Lord Jesus. Amen.

John 3:1-9 The New Birth

“There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”

Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?”

Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 

When we are considering the stories about Jesus, we might conclude that all the Jewish religious leaders in that time were supercilious hypocrites, but that would be far from the case. Throughout human history, God has always had those who are truly seeking and worshiping Him. There were many religious leaders in Jesus’ day who wanted to worship God and who passionately desired holiness. This lovely story illustrates that fact.

“There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” Nicodemus is one of those whole-hearted worshipers who are truly seeking God and who were longing for the coming of Messiah. Nicodemus knows holiness when he sees it and hungers to know more. Although there are those who have criticized Nicodemus for coming to Jesus at night, when else would he come? During the day, both Jesus and Nicodemus are busy. Only at night when things are quiet can Nicodemus possibly have a heart-to-heart talk with Jesus.

Jesus immediately recognizes Nicodemus as an honest searcher after God. In this discussion, Jesus gives Nicodemus timeless truths. “Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

“Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?”

Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?” While it might sound as if Jesus is mocking Nicodemus, in fact, Jesus is looking at Nicodemus with eyes full of eternal love.

“Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus might be pardoned for being confused by Jesus’ statements about being born by water and the Spirit. John the Baptist is immersing people in the Jordan River. At this juncture, Nicodemus might wonder if Jesus wants him to go be baptized by John. Does the Jordan have some mystical properties in its dirty water? And what does Jesus mean about “being born of the Spirit?” Certainly, Jesus must be referring to God’s Holy Spirit, but mere men have no power to summon God’s Spirit, let alone be born by it.

Then things become even more confusing. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Slowly Nicodemus is coming to realize that Jesus is speaking about a divine rebirth, not merely a physical one. Jesus wants Nicodemus to know the glorious truth that nobody controls the Holy Spirit apart from the One True Living God who sends the Spirit. While the Holy Spirit moves, we cannot dictate to it; neither can we predict what the Holy Spirit will do or where God will act. For men to attempt to control the Holy Spirit is as futile as trying to control the wind. But God sends His Holy Spirit on all those who truly worship Him and who follow Him. We cannot control the Holy Spirit, but we may attract Him by our worship and prayer.

Recently, I heard a great short sermon that pointed out the fact that we become what we worship. If we worship money, our emotions will rise and fall with the stock market. If currency loses value, we too will feel that we are losing our value as human beings. Only when we allow God to bring us to the point where we desire a spiritual rebirth will we find true holiness and happiness that will last. The question for us as we enter this new year is a simple one: Have we allowed God to work in our lives so that we are new creatures in Christ Jesus, or are we dragging all our old spiritual and emotional garbage into this bright new year?

God wants us to dump our spiritual and emotional burdens at the cross of Jesus and allow Him to work in our hearts so that we become new people. But many of us are clinging to the idea that we can fix ourselves with just a bit more work, and that we really don’t need God. Such thinking actually indicates just how much we really need God, for the paradox is that the less we think we need God, the more we really do need Him. Today, why not pray and ask God to cleanse your heart and mind so that you can really have a fresh start in the New Year?

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, we confess that we have dragged huge bags of stinking thinking into this new year. We surrender those bags and we surrender the idea that we can fix ourselves. Please take complete control of our lives and help us to be re-born. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.  

John 2:13-25 Jesus Cleanses the Temple

“Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.”

So the Jews answered and said to Him, “What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?”

Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?”

But He was speaking of the temple of His body. Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.

The Discerner of Hearts

Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.

 Boy, there’s nothing like the main temple at Jerusalem during Passover! In one part of the forecourt, there are men selling oxen and sheep for sacrifices, while in another area, others are selling doves for the very poor. The noise is incredible, and the stench from the manure assaults your nostrils. No matter how much incense the priests use, it’s never enough to overcome that smell. Then there are the money changers, for offerings must be paid in the temple money. Everyone knows these guys are cheats, but what can you do? The priests are condoning these things and may even be getting some of the profits. Those coming in from the country might be excused if they are bewildered about the kind of worship taking place here.

But this particular day, things are going to get shaken up. This upstart preacher from Galilee suddenly shows up with a whip made of cords and begins driving the animals and their sellers out of the temple. Once all the animals and doves have cleared out, this same guy begins turning over the tables of the money changers, whipping them, and driving them out as well. And the weirdest part of the whole thing is what he’s saying. “Get this stuff out of here! Don’t turn my Father’s house into a marketplace!” His Father’s house? Wait a minute! Isn’t this man the son of a Nazarene carpenter?

The religious authorities are outraged! The nerve of this man! Temple leaders move in to question this guy who has shaken things up, disrupting their profitable businesses in the process. “So the Jews answered and said to Him, “What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?”

Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?”

But He was speaking of the temple of His body. Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.”

The religious leaders are humiliated, confused, and outraged. In a few short moments this man has disrupted hundreds of businesses, demonstrating that all these activities might have been conducted outside the temple, not inside. By his actions, this fellow has accused THEM, the ultra-observant religious leaders, of apostasy by graphically demonstrating that they should never have allowed these activities within the temple in the first place. And then this guy proceeds to give a confusing answer when queried about his authority for these actions. Obviously, this man is a trouble-maker and must be watched closely.

Meanwhile, many of the common people are cheering as they see animals and money changers fleeing the temple. These people might be villagers, but that doesn’t mean they are stupid. Repeatedly, these folks and their relatives have come to Jerusalem to worship, only to be victimized within the temple. And many begin to believe in Jesus, even hoping that Jesus might actually be Messiah.

If Jesus were only interested in an earthly kingdom, it seems as if this would be a great time to start one, but Jesus knows better. “Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.” Jesus knows that people are fickle, cheering you today and jeering you tomorrow.

There’s a moral in this story for all of us: Be careful when committing yourself. People are not always what they seem. As the Son of God, Jesus can see into human hearts, and he realizes that some of the same Jewish religious leaders who were criticizing him will eventually follow him. At the same time, many of the villagers who appear to be supporting Jesus are simply gloating over the embarrassment of the haughty religious leaders. These same people are easily swayed and may later be in the crowds screaming, “Crucify him!”

There’s a story told about a high wire performer who was about to walk on a tight rope across Niagara Falls pushing a wheel barrow. The performer asked one of his friends, “John, do you believe I can make it across?” “Absolutely!” John answered.
“Fine,” replied the performer. “Then get in the wheel barrow!” That’s likely the point at which John disappeared.

As we enter a new year, we realize that we need God’s discernment to know whom we can trust. When we depend on our own understanding, we’re likely to wind up in a mess. We live in a small village where the rumor mill runs 24/7. If you don’t like the gossip you’re hearing right now, wait a few minutes, and you’ll hear the opposite. And don’t believe someone just because they call you in the middle of the night with a vivid report. This person might still be a rumor-mongerer who’s simply hoping you’ll believe them because of the time of day they have reported. Let God advise you on whom to listen to and whom to ignore. It’s much safer that way.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, we need Your guidance to know when someone is giving us good information and when they are lying or stretching the truth. Help us to listen to You and not to other humans. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

John 2:1-11 Water Turned to Wine

“On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.”

Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.”

His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”

Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it. When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!”

This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.”

In Jesus’ day, few things were more embarrassing at a wedding than running out of wine. Generally, the bridegroom would bring out the best wine first and later the wine of lesser quality, once the guests’ palates had been dulled by alcohol; however, there always had to be sufficient wine to last for the entire wedding feast.

We don’t know anything about the couple being married-were they Jesus’ friends or relatives? We only know that the bridegroom was about to face supreme embarrassment. In a village setting, failing to provide sufficient wine might lead to an undeserved life-long reputation as a miser. The bridegroom’s family would also suffer extreme embarrassment and shame. Realizing all these things, Mary quietly informed Jesus of the problem. What did Mary expect? Up to that point, Jesus had never done any miracles. But Mary knew who Jesus was and she believed that Jesus could and would help alleviate this situation.

Jesus’ response to Mary’s request is interesting: “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.” Jesus knew that eventually he would work miracles; yet, he didn’t expect to begin so soon. But when Mary instructed the servants to take orders from Jesus, Jesus obliged, water became highest quality wine, and the situation was saved. Why did Jesus change his mind?

Jesus changed his mind because of Mary’s faith. Mary was filled with the Holy Spirit when God impregnated her, and that infilling never left. From childhood, Jesus maintained a continuing dialogue with his Heavenly Father. As Mary was advising the servants to follow Jesus’ instructions, Jesus was looking heavenward and received a simple release from God the Father. “Jesus, what can We do when your mother exhibits so much faith? Remember that commandment to honor your father and your mother? It’s all right. Go ahead. It’s time. Forever afterwards, what you are about to do will be known as your first miracle, and I, Elohim, approve.” You can practically hear God the Father chuckling and see Him shrugging His omnipotent shoulders as He gives Jesus permission to act.

Jesus did something so simple that at first, nobody realized they were witnessing a miracle. “Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it.” Suddenly, 180 gallons of water becomes 180 gallons of the best wine the master of the feast had ever tasted. Upon tasting the wine, the master of the feast accused the bridegroom of saving the best wine for last, rather than bringing it out at the beginning of the feast.

Jesus didn’t draw attention to himself or make a big display of waving his hands around while he muttered something; in fact, Jesus gave simple instructions to the servants and then withdrew back into the crowd of wedding guests. But ordinary water became extraordinary wine, saving the reputations of the families involved and blessing the guests.

What must it have been like to be one of those servants? “I’m telling you, Jacob, I know I filled those jars with water from the village well, but as soon as I dipped a container in to fetch some, I could see that it was wine and not water.” For the rest of their lives, those servants must have believed in Jesus because of witnessing that miracle.

Why is this story important for us? Most of us live quiet lives of obscurity. We go through daily routines, not expecting that anything marvelous will suddenly crop up. But when God enters our situations, the ordinary can become something far more. In this story, the servants are simply carrying out orders. When we are doing God’s will, we too are simply carrying out God’s orders, but it is that obedience that fits us for miracles.

During our first mission term, money was tight. We kept our funds in a briefcase locked in a wardrobe. In those days, wire transfers into Ghanaian banks took a long time and obtaining the money was an all-day affair. One day, a friend needed a small loan, and I gave him the last Ghanaian cash we had, emptying the briefcase. But a few days later, when my husband asked me about something, I checked the briefcase and found the equivalent of $100, enough to tide us over until the next transfer from our mission. Neither of us had prayed specifically for money; however, God knew that we were living by faith and that we were sharing our resources with others.  At other times, we have seen God multiply our foodstuffs, so that we have been able to share with needy patients and their families.

Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission, was fond of saying, “Where God guides, God provides.” From its inception, CIM ran totally on faith donations, with missionaries praying in the funds they needed to work. That principle still holds true. We have been in missions since 1987, and God has continued to provide for us in various ways. As I write these words, I continue to remind myself of God’s provision in the past. This past year was the second disastrous farming season in our area and we are gravely concerned about malnutrition for adults as well as for children. But we are trusting that God, who has seen us thus far, will continue to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary and will help us to help those around us.

May God help all of us, that we will continue to look to Him and not become discouraged or disheartened. God is still on the throne, and the One who turned water into wine is still working miracles.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to trust You, even when things are difficult, remembering that You are our Provider and that You can use anything to do a miracle. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

John 1:43-51 Philip and Nathanael

“The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”

Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!”

Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?”

Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”

Nathanael answered and said to Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”

Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” And He said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

All Nathanael’s life, he had been longing to see God’s Messiah. When Nathanael was a little boy, he dreamed of Messiah riding into Jerusalem on a white horse at the head of a conquering army of angels. But each day, Nathanael saw nothing but Roman soldiers swaggering through the streets, and when he entered the temple, he saw only the same pompous religious leaders with their supercilious attitudes. Nathanael loved God, but he wasn’t so sure that those claiming to represent God actually knew anything about Him.

When Nathanael’s friend Philip came dashing up to him, Nathanael was sitting under his fig tree, enjoying the cool breeze and the soft sounds the wind made as the leaves rustled. Philip was so excited that he was breathless and gasped, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

“Sure, Philip,” Nathanael replied, “how many false Messiahs have we heard about in the last few months?”

“No, Nathanael,” Philip answered, “you’ve got to meet this guy! Jesus of Nazareth is the real deal!”

“Nazareth?” Nathanael squinted at Philip. “Nazareth? Philip, you are kidding! Can anything good come out of Nazareth, that dingy insignificant little Galilean village? Nazareth? O.K., Philip, if you say so, I’ll come with you. But frankly, I think you’ve lost your mind.”

Philip led Nathanael to Jesus. Just one look at Nathanael and Jesus knew he was meeting a skeptic. Was Jesus worried? Of course not. As Nathanael was approaching, the Holy Spirit was speaking to Jesus’ heart, telling him all about Nathanael, how much Nathanael loved God, and how Nathanael had spent his whole life longing to see true holiness and to see Messiah. Jesus knew Nathanael was a good man who simply had become discouraged and frustrated.

“Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” As Nathanael approached, Jesus immediately took control of the situation by announcing the insights the Holy Spirit had given him regarding Nathanael’s character.

Nathanael’s response was short and to the point. “Say what? Man, how do you know me? I’ve never met you before!”

“Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”

Nathanael answered and said to Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”

Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” And He said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

Nathanael was completely convinced. Here was the Messiah for whom his heart had longed. How wonderful and glorious! What’s interesting is that when Jesus called his twelve disciples, he called Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Judas Iscariot, Matthew, Thomas, James, the son of Alpheus, Bartholomew, Judas Thaddeus, and Simon Zelotes. Nathanael was not among the twelve disciples. What happened to Nathanael? Did Nathanael have family obligations that kept him from becoming one of the twelve. Was Nathanael one of those who joined Jesus intermittently, helping when he could and then returning home to care for his family?

Although we never hear of Nathanael again, we do hear about Philip. Acts 8:26-40 tells of how the Holy Spirit ordered Philip to go to the desert road between Jerusalem and Gaza, where he witnessed to an important official from the Ethiopian court, leading him to faith in Jesus and baptizing him. As soon as the baptism was completed, the Holy Spirit picked up Philip, sending him to Azotus. Philip disappeared from the sight of the Ethiopian official, but the official went on his way rejoicing in his new faith.

Nathanael nearly missed meeting the Messiah, the object of his heart’s desire, because of his prejudices. We too can fall into the same mistake, longing and praying for something, only to nearly miss out when God answers our prayers in an unexpected fashion, perhaps from an unlikely source. Throughout Jesus’ ministry, many of the religious leaders refused to accept him as Messiah because they failed to investigate his origins to realize that he fulfilled all the prophecies. We want God to perform for us, to do signs and wonders so that we will have glorious testimonies for the rest of our lives. Meanwhile, God enters our lives softly, simply, and humbly. Look in your heart. Have you been praying for something for a long time, but you feel that God has not answered in any fashion? Is there anything small God has been asking you to do that you have ignored because you didn’t want to be bothered?

2 Kings 5 tells the story of Naaman, an important Syrian army commander with leprosy who nearly missed his healing because the prophet Elisha told him to dip in the Jordan River seven times. Unimpressed by the Jordan, Naaman was ready to go home when his servants advised him to try following Elisha’s instructions. Grumbling as he did so, Naaman dipped himself seven times in the Jordan and was healed. Today, search your heart. Are you behaving like Nathanael and Naaman? God is in small things as well as big ones. Obey whatever God has told you to do and see what happens. You might be stunned with the results.  

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to remember that You are in small details as well as big ones. Help us to obey, even when Your instructions don’t line up with our prejudices. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

John 1:35-41 The First Disciples

“Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!”

The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?”

They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), “where are You staying?”

He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour).

One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.

Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, “A Stone”).

Before Jesus ever came on the scene, John the Baptist already had attracted disciples, men who were hungry for a real encounter with God. These men had been following John for some time, listening to him, repenting, and being baptized, and then continuing to watch and learn. But things were about to change.

“Again, the next day, (the day after Jesus had been baptized), John stood with two of his disciples. And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!”

The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?”

They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), “where are You staying?”

He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour).” One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.

Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, “A Stone”).

What’s interesting is John’s reaction to his disciples leaving him for Jesus. At no point do we ever hear that John became offended at the desertion of some disciples, nor did John restrain his disciples from following Jesus. Why? The key to John’s acceptance of Jesus is found in John1:26-27 “John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.”

John already knew that Jesus’ ministry would supersede his. Many of John’s disciples remained with him; however, John himself pointed out Jesus as the Lamb of God. Later, John would further instruct his disciples. John 3:26-30 “And they (John’s disciples) came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!”

John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore, this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.” 

The chorus to Kenny Rogers’ famous country song “The Gambler,” advises us, “You got to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em.”  Even at the beginning of ministry, John the Baptist knew that eventually, his work would be completed. Some of John’s disciples weren’t so certain; after all, hundreds of thousands of people had been flocking to hear John and to be baptized. John was incredibly popular, so why couldn’t John keep pursuing his ministry indefinitely? But John knew better, and he advised his disciples that “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Read more of John the Baptist’s story, and you realize that eventually John is slaughtered to satisfy a wicked vengeful woman. There’s no happy ending to this story…or so it seems. But looking at John the Baptist from an eternal viewpoint, John was an unqualified success. John did exactly what God had called him to do and when it was time to hand over to Jesus, John did it humbly, simply, and graciously. May God help each of us, so that when the time comes for us to hand over to others, we will behave as well.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to remember that You call us to tasks but that You also change Your calling with time. Help us, that when the time comes, we will be able to hand over humbly, simply, and graciously as did John the Baptist. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

John 1:29-34 The Lamb of God

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.”

And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”

Matthew 3:13-17 John Baptizes Jesus

“Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.

When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Consider John the Baptist: John was born to an upper-class priestly family, presumably gaining an excellent education, and then moved to the wilderness, where he might have lived with the Essenes. Somewhere along the line, God called John to begin preaching a message of the need for repentance and baptizing those who repented in the Jordan River. Such acts were unheard of until John began his ministry. God told John that John was to prepare the way for the Lamb of God, God’s Son, who would come to deliver the world from its sins. As John was following God’s leading, he was waiting, waiting for a Man to appear. God had told John that John was preparing the way for Messiah, and that John would know when Messiah arrived because John would see the Holy Spirit descending and remaining on Him.  

So, every day John continued to preach and to baptize, scanning the crowds. How was John to know when the Holy Spirit would descend? Would Messiah come wearing a halo or would His face blaze with a holy light? Would Messiah be unusually handsome or homely? Night after night, John prayed, begging God for more information, but God wasn’t answering.

Then came the day when Jesus, John’s cousin, approached. Suddenly, the Holy Spirit in the guise of a dove fluttered down, landing on Jesus’ shoulder. John tried to argue with Jesus that Jesus should be baptizing John and not the other way around, but Jesus insisted John baptize him. Then God the Father spoke from heaven with a voice like thunder, saying, “This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

One of the hardest things John had to do after baptizing Jesus might have been continuing to preach and baptize the rest of the crowd, not only that day, but for the rest of his ministry until he was thrown into jail by Herod. Now John knew the identity of God’s Son, and he knew he had been called to prepare the way for Jesus. But now that Jesus was on the scene, was John’s work finished? What was John to do about all these other people who were coming to hear him and be baptized?

According to the Gospels, John continued to preach and baptize until Herod arrested him after John confronted Herod for his adultery. Matthew 4;12-17 tells us, “Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.” From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

What can we learn from John’s actions? Only God can say when we have completely fulfilled His purposes. Sometimes, we must continue to be faithful, even after we think we have fulfilled our purpose. John faithfully persisted in ministry until he was forced to stop by being imprisoned. Who knows how many more people repented and came close to God between the time John baptized Jesus and the time Herod arrested John? Only in heaven will we know how many more souls came to God during that time.

What has God called you to do? Sometimes we feel that certain callings are holier than others and therefore more praiseworthy. But to a Holy God, all callings are equally important; therefore, we should do everything to the glory of God. I grew up on a Midwestern farm at a time when most of the farm work was done by hand. I am well-acquainted with the use of a pitchfork to clean manure from cow stalls, and I know what it feels like to scoop half-frozen mud out of a hog water tank. Although those duties were humble and stinky, I was working just as much to the glory of God then as I am now as a medical missionary.

One question I receive frequently is the question of when I plan to retire. I answer that I will continue to do as much as I can for as long as I can to help as many people as I can. I trust that when God wants me to work in a different area, He will indicate that new direction clearly. As we enter this new year, it’s fine to ask God if He wants you to go in a new direction, but it’s just as important to be willing to continue in your same assignment until God gives you new orders.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to listen to You and trust You to guide us in the directions You want us to go. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

John 1:19-28 “Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”

Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” He said: “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the Lord,”’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees. And they asked him, saying, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose (untie).” These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.”

Have you ever wished that God would simply speak to you, making His way so plain that you couldn’t possibly mistake it for anything else? Well, in this part of the Book of John, some Jewish religious leaders are about to get that wish fulfilled, whether they like it or not. Unfortunately, many of them will not like it because God is using a guy who fails to meet their approval.

Just look at John the Baptist, out there in the wilderness. Matthew describes John this way in Matthew 3:1-12: “In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make His paths straight.’”

Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore, bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

The Jewish religious leaders assume that if God is sending a prophet, certainly He should inform THEM ahead of everybody else. After all, THEY have been observing the entire Law, not like this rabble who are flocking out there to hear John. Zachariah’s son is out there in the desert preaching to anyone coming to him. But really, how can this man possibly be the prophet foretold of by Isaiah? Just look at the guy! Wild hair, an unkempt beard, and simple ragged clothing. John is out there living on carob pods (from locust trees-not locusts as in insects) and honey. To this day, carob in Israel is known as “Saint John’s bread.”)

The Pharisees and Sadducees go out to watch John, but they aren’t about to join the uncouth mob flocking to repent and be baptized. Why should important religious leaders repent-they have nothing for which to be remorseful…or do they?

So common people make it to Bethabara where John is baptizing in the Jordan River and repent and come up out of the water rejoicing. All the time, the supercilious religious leaders are standing back observing and sneering. Little do these men realize what they are seeing; their prejudices have blinded them and deafened them so that they cannot possibly hear what God is saying.

Nothing feels quite as good as smugly looking down on others. Reading this story, we are tempted to fall into the same trap as the Pharisees and Sadducees. But do we do any better in our own lives? Are we really open to God’s leading, or are we so certain that we know the fashion in which God will speak to us that if God uses a different method or an odd messenger, we spurn God’s message? May God help us and keep us humble, so that no matter how He chooses to speak to us, we will remain open to His Word. May this new year be the year when you hear God speak to you as never before! But remember, hearing without obedience is worthless, so be prepared to obey God’s leading as well.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, open our ears, our minds, and our hearts, so that we will constantly listen for Your still small voice and obey. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.