Saying When I Get Around to It, Jesus

Jesus said unto her, I am the Resurrection, and the Life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die.  Believest thou this? She saith unto Him, Yea, Lord: I believe that Thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.  And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, the Master is come, and calleth for thee.  As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto Him.  John, Chapter 11, verses 25-29.

This passage reminds me of asking kids to come do something and you hear, “In a minute,” “During the commercial,” or “When I get around to it.”  Actually, I have been guilty of saying the exact same things myself.  As Christians, do we jump up and respond when we feel Jesus is calling us to do something or do we tell Him, “When I get around to it”?

Since this is how I apply this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.


This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 

I Could Have Been a Little Skeptical...

If I do not the works of My Father, believe Me not.  But if I do, though ye believe not Me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.  John, Chapter 10, verses 37-38.

It amazes me.  The Israelites were told for generations that there would be a Savior and they waited for Him all those years.  When Jesus, the Savior, did come, they didn’t believe Him.  Now, you might be able to understand why they might not believe Him just because He tells them that He is the Savior.  I guess I could have been a little skeptical at that point, as well.  Jesus knows they are doubtful and does major miracles like making people see who had been blind from birth, making the lame walk, bringing the dead back to life, taking water and making it into wine and taking a little bread and a few fish and making it feed thousands.
He did major miracles so people would realize He isn’t just any man who is saying that He is the Savior.  He really IS the Savior!!  His miracles and all His actions attested to this, but still people don’t believe Him.  We have record in the Bible of all the great things that Jesus did and said, but He gives us a choice.  Do you believe Him?  I hope for your sake you do!


This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 

They Work Slyly Trying to Deceive Christians...

Verily, Verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the Door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.  But he that entereth in by the Door is the Shepherd of the sheep.  To Him the porter openeth: and the sheep hear His Voice: and He calleth His own sheep by name, and leadeth them out, And when He putteth forth His own sheep, He goeth before them, and the sheep follow Him: for they know His Voice.  And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.  This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which He spake unto them.  Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the Door of the sheep.  All that ever came before Me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.  I am the Door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.  I am the Good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd giveth His Life for the sheep.  But he that is an hireling, and not the Shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.  The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.  I am the Good Shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine.  As the Father knoweth Me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down My Life for the sheep.  And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My Voice; and there shall be one fold, and One Shepherd.  Therefore doth My Father love Me, because I lay down My Life, that I might take it again.  No man taketh it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself.  I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.  This Commandment have I received of My Father.  John, Chapter 10, verses 1-18.
Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in My Father’s Name, they bear witness of Me.  But ye believe not, because ye are not of My sheep, as I said unto you.  My sheep hear My Voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.  My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s Hand.  I and My Father are One.  John, Chapter 10, verses 25-30.

Wow!  There are so many wonderful comparisons that Jesus makes in this passage that I’m afraid I might leave some out.  If I do, please forgive me.  This is what this passage means to me, although I realize others may interpret it differently.
Jesus is speaking of the sheep as Christians (His people.)  People who want to lead Christians (His people) astray aren’t going to do it in a forthright manner.  They aren’t going to come through the front door and say, “I’m here to deceive you and lead you astray.  Follow me and you are bound to lose your Salvation.”  If the Christians would know better than to follow them, they would stay with the rest of the sheep knowing that Jesus, their Shepherd, would always protect them and lead them to Salvation.
Instead, people who want to lead Christians astray, do it in a more subtle manner like the robber who sneaks in to steal the sheep.  They work slyly trying to deceive Christians by making them believe that they are doing the Will of God-so sad!
True Christians stay focused on Jesus and His will for us, as shown in the Bible.  That way we will know Jesus’ Voice and won’t be led astray by others who profess to be followers of His, but aren’t.  God the Father gave us to Jesus to be His sheep, and Jesus and God the Father are One.
Jesus is dedicated to protecting us like a Shepard who protects His sheep from wolves.  A Shepherd would give His life to save His sheep, just as Jesus gave His Life to save us from our sinful nature.  Those who deceive Christians are going to run for the hills when they see the wolves coming or when we stop giving them the money or the things they want from us.  As long as we listen to our Shepherd’s Voice, Jesus will keep us from being misled.
Here is a related passage:
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.  Matthew, Chapter 7, verse 15.

This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 

Hopefully, We Aren't Blind Christians...

As long as I am in the world, I am the Light of the World.  When He had thus spoken, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.)  He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.  The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?  Some said, this is he: others said, he is like him: but he said, I am he.  Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?  He answered and said, A Man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.  Then said they unto him, Where is He?  He said, I know not.  They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.  And it was the Sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.  Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight.  He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.  Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because He keepeth not the Sabbath day.  Others said, How can a Man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.  They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of Him, that He hath opened thine eyes?  He said, He is a prophet.  But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.  And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind?  how then doth he now see?  His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.  These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that He was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.  Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.  Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise, we know that this Man is a sinner.  He answered and said, Whether He be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.  Then said they to him again, What did He to thee? how opened He thine eyes?  He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again?  will ye also be His disciples?  Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art His disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples.  We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this Fellow, we know not from whence He is.  The man answered and said unto them.  Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence He is, and yet He hath opened mine eyes.  Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth His will, him He heareth.  Since the world began it was not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.  If this Man were not of God, He could do nothing.  They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us?  And they cast him out.  Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?  He answered and said, Who is He, Lord, that I might believe on Him?  And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen Him, and it is He that talketh with thee.  And he said, Lord, I believe.  And he worshipped Him.  John, Chapter 9, 5-38.

If you ask me, it wasn’t the person who was healed that was blind.  Those men investigating the miracle Jesus performed on this man seemed to be blind.  They still could not acknowledge that Jesus is their Savior, even after the miracle.  Hopefully, we aren’t “Blind Christians” who ignore the things that Jesus shows us in our lives.

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn’t necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.


This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 

Isn't It Amazing?

Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep My saying, he shall never see death.  John, Chapter 8, verse 51.

Isn’t it amazing?  If we try to live our lives in a manner that reflects the positive impact that Jesus has on us, we will have everlasting life with Him in heaven!

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn’t necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.


This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 

Focusing on that Meat Which Endureth Unto Everlasting Life...

And when they had found Him on the other side of the sea, they said unto Him, Rabbi, when camest Thou hither?  Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek Me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.  Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that Meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of Man shall give unto you for Him hath God the Father sealed.  Then said they unto Him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent.  They said therefore unto Him, What sign showest Thou then, that we may see, and believe Thee? what dost Thou work?  Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.  Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but My Father giveth you the True Bread from heaven.  For the Bread of God is He which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.  Then said they unto Him, Lord, evermore give us this Bread.  And Jesus said unto them, I am The Bread of Life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst.  But I said unto you, That ye also have seen Me, and believe not.  All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.  For I came down from heaven, not to do Mine Own will, but the will of Him that sent Me.  And this is the Father’s will which hath sent Me, that of all which He hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the Last Day.  And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the Last Day.  John, Chapter 6, verses 25-40.
With having a focus on eating most of my life, this passage gives me a whole different perspective.  I need to focus on, Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that Meat which endureth unto everlasting life.”  It makes me realize how I tend to get sidetracked by worldly things, like eating, etc. when my focus should always be on Jesus who will really satisfy all my needs.

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn’t necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.





This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 

Are We Making Choices We Want Our Children to Emulate?

And when even was now come, His disciples went down unto the sea, And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum.  And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.  And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.  So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid.  But He saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.  Then they willingly received Him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at land whither they went.  John, Chapter 6, verses 16-21.

I recently talked with my daughter and told her that I say the Lord’s Prayer or sing I Surrender All, when I’m feeling scared, stressed or like Satan is trying to pervade my thoughts to lead me astray.  She told me that she says: Be Not Afraid when she is experiencing similar things.  So, this passage has special significance for me for that reason.
I was thinking about the influence we have on our children’s lifestyle choices and their relationship with God, through the modeling we do.  My daughter has picked up some similar strategies to connect with God when she is feeling stressed, concerned, etc.  It’s much better that she picks up positive strategies like this, than seeing me turn to alcohol or worse, as situations arise.  You don’t realize the impact you have on your children by the choices you make.  Are you making choices you want your children to emulate?  If not, it’s not too late to change the way you turn to God in time of need, joy, etc.  It may have a positive impact on your child’s life, regardless of their age.
Here is a related passage:
*And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the Name of the Lord shall be saved.  Acts, Chapter 2, verse 21.

Because this an example of how I’ve applied these Bible passages to my life, it doesn’t necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passages.



This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 

Are We Selective-Listening Christians?

Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.  Verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the Voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.  John, Chapter 5, verses 24-25.

I had a hearing problem when I was growing up.  My mother took me to a specialist to check my hearing to make sure that there weren’t any major problems.  The doctor told my mother that I had selective-listening.  This meant I tuned out the things that I didn’t want to hear and only listened to the things that I wanted to hear.  Are we “Selective-listening Christians,” listening only to what we want to hear when it comes to God?  Are we only open to doing the Christian acts that are comfortable for us and don’t really require us to make any changes to grow as Christians?
You will notice that it talks about he that heareth My Word and believeth on Him that sent Me, not he that heareth only what he wants to hear and only believes when it’s convenient.  Hopefully, we aren’t using selective-listening in our Christian lives.

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn’t necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.



This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections.