A little longer than I use to post but on the other hand I have had 4 months to write it. My thanks to the few that have written to me in this absence and welcome to the new subscribers that receive this electronically now. When I first began these posts on the Gospel of John 3 years ago it was much for myself and to fellowship with others. Though I pray that my message has and will not change I pray also after recent convictions that I return now more humbled and it pleases Him to use these words for His glory and to comforter ye His people.
Extra credit: “Do not take comfort in comfort, take true comfort in Christ alone.” This is easy to say but without the grace of God we find it much harder to do. This is a line from todays extra suggested reading from Gleanings of Grace. a post entitled Trails and Comfort by Brian DuFour.
Jhn 16:1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
Jhn 16:2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
Jhn 16:3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
Who are these words to?
It is so easy to make reference to current events or preach against radical Islamic cultures. Oh these scriptures should be timeless and personal. People kill, people die, and many have been persecuted for ages past and be assured ages to come for beliefs and ideas. Oh but these and all scriptures are timeless and personal. There are wars today raging in places many people do not even know truly where on the globe they exist. They fight for, on both sides, false doctrine and beliefs they frame in ignorance as a holy war. There are killings and tragic events that occur closer to home, but not speaking for you, I have been blessed that even these truly do not change my life or have impacted me directly. Oh but these scriptures today are timeless and personal. There are some that may read this that my ramblings may not apply. There may be some that read this that may be called by Gods providence to face physical persecution or even fear or revelation of death for His glory. God shall give you grace and comfort to deal with this at your greatest moment of need. But I weak in faith or blessed by the Spirit have not had to face such trails as that. But these words are timeless and personal for all. These words He has spoken are so that we should not be offended. I have been personally asked to leave or not attend a Bible study before. I have been verbally persecuted and rejected by those I thought to be friends. And all of this done because what I believed and me holding by the grace of God to those beliefs for His glory. So could I compare these petty incidents to wars, physical persecution, or even facing death in His name, YES. God gives to each of us according to the measure of faith and grace in which He has provided. The same grace that sends a man to certain death in His name is the same exact grace that provides for us daily. Any ability and faith is not of me but of God and it is Him that sees us through. As we are in this world these challenges are timeless and endless and we should know that any offense or persecution no matter how insignificant we try to make them they are completely insurmountable without the grace of God. More still and I most likely I am negligent for not stating this point forth write, this is not about me and though this and all scripture should resonate personally to all this they do unto His Sheep because they know not Him. ALL scripture points to Christ and Christ alone. These scriptures preach boldly the nature of man, you included, and the mercy and grace of God. This does not preach against anyone or anything but humbles men and glorifies Christ and the Father. And oh I pray that these and all scripture are timeless and personal to your heart.
