HE IS THE ONE — John 1:31-33

[John the Baptizer said,] "I did not recognize [Jesus] as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel."
Then John testified, "I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. I didn't know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, 'The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.'" — John 1:31-33

Isn't it interesting how hard it is for us to see some things because we are too familiar with them? Jesus' brothers and sisters didn't recognize him as God's Son until after his resurrection. The people in his village didn't expect anything of importance from him. They missed who Jesus was! But we are promised that if we seek after him, we will find him. If we look at his teaching, we can determine that he comes from God. If we open the door to him, he will come in and share our lives. If we obey him, he will come and make his home with us. If we receive him, we can be born into the Kingdom of God. So the test for each of us is pretty simple: Do I seek Jesus or am I seeking something else - a teaching, a doctrine, a religion? If we seek the latter things, we can know a lot about Jesus, but never really know HIM. So let's seek Jesus and his new way of life in the Spirit! As we continue to read the Gospel of John together this year, let's always ask God to reveal Jesus clearly to us.

Today's Prayer

Father, help me know Jesus more powerfully and more fully as I study his life and seek to reflect his character in my daily life. Please show yourself to me just as you promised. Open my eyes so that I can see your work clearly in my life and praise you fully with my heart and my actions. Jesus, please let me come to know you and not just know about you. In your precious name, I pray and thank you for being my Savior. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings
John 7:1-5, 16-17
John 1:10-13
John 5:39-40

THE LOED LIFTS UP HIS PEOPLE

The Lord gives sight to the blind. The Lord lifts up people who are in trouble. The Lord loves those who do right. The Lord protects the foreigners. He defends the orphans and widows, but he blocks the way of the wicked. The Lord will be King forever. Jerusalem, your God is everlasting. Praise the Lord! — Psalm 146:8-10 NCV

Today's Prayer

Lord, I praise You as the One who heals, the Great Physician. You help those in trouble, showing Your great love to those who follow Your ways. You protect, defend, and watch over the lonely and the helpless with a watchful eye on the orphans and widows. And though it may not seem so at the time, You block the plans of the wicked. Show me what to do and how to help promote Your plans. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Floods, landslides kill 56 in India and 14 in Nepal

Massive landslide hits Nepal as a huge mountain collapses into river

It sent rock and earth crashing toward the Marsyangdi River after days of torrential rain

THE GOOD, THE BEST AND MOST IMPORTANT NEWS.😌❤️

HE IS THE CHOSEN ONE OF GOD — John 1:33-34

[John the Baptizer said,] "I didn't know [Jesus] was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, 'The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God." — John 1:33-34 NLT

Our goal of spending a year in the Gospel of John is to reach this same point that John the Baptizer did! We want to know what Jesus did; so when we reach the end of this year, we can say something similar to John, "I have seen and know that Jesus is the Chosen One of God." When we realize that Jesus is a man, we also need to realize that he is more than a man: He is God with us, God's Son. Then, suddenly, everything is different! We realize we are valued by the Creator of the universe. We realize that we are not random sets of mutations, infinitesimal specks of dust in a great expanse of randomness. We are known and loved by God. He sent us his Son to be our Savior so we can be his children.

Today's Prayer

O God, my heavenly Father, help me understand what it means for Jesus to be your Son. Strengthen my grip on this conviction and deepen my faith so that I can hold onto the wonder and grace you have given me by sending your Son to be my Savior and Lord. In Jesus' saving name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings
Matthew 16:13-16
Romans 10:9-13
John 3:36, 20:30-31

"He will give grace and glory." — Psalms 84:11

Bounteous is Jehovah in his nature; to give is his delight. His gifts are beyond measure precious, and are as freely given as the light of the sun. He gives grace to his elect because he wills it, to his redeemed because of his covenant, to the called because of his promise, to believers because they seek it, to sinners because they need it. He gives grace abundantly, seasonably, constantly, readily, sovereignly; doubly enhancing the value of the boon by the manner of its bestowal. Grace in all its forms he freely renders to his people: comforting, preserving, sanctifying, directing, instructing, assisting grace, he generously pours into their souls without ceasing, and he always will do so, whatever may occur. Sickness may befall, but the Lord will give grace; poverty may happen to us, but grace will surely be afforded; death must come but grace will light a candle at the darkest hour. Reader, how blessed it is as years roll round, and the leaves begin again to fall, to enjoy such an unfading promise as this, "The Lord will give grace."
The little conjunction "and" in this verse is a diamond rivet binding the present with the future: grace and glory always go together. God has married them, and none can divorce them. The Lord will never deny a soul glory to whom he has freely given to live upon his grace; indeed, glory is nothing more than grace in its Sabbath dress, grace in full bloom, grace like autumn fruit, mellow and perfected. How soon we may have glory none can tell! It may be before this month of October has run out we shall see the Holy City; but be the interval longer or shorter, we shall be glorified ere long. Glory, the glory of heaven, the glory of eternity, the glory of Jesus, the glory of the Father, the Lord will surely give to his chosen. Oh, rare promise of a faithful God!

Two golden links of one celestial chain:
Who owneth grace shall surely glory gain.