Ophelia Rose was my daughter’s cat. Crating her was always tricky but she traveled well. She went on many vacations with our family, but she did not love the vet. When I opened the door to the veterinary office, her weight shifted to the rear of her crate and she would start hissing. They managed her gently but it was never pleasant and she stayed mad at me for days. Still, every time she needed shots, I took her.
My daughter had pretty much the same reaction to the pediatrician. She was fine in the waiting room, but once we were ushered back, she was wary of everything and everyone. Even when she was old enough to understand that the doctors and nurses were only there to help, she made her distaste for the entire business quite clear! She never managed to convince us that she no longer needed to go, but it wasn’t for lack of trying!
Pets at the vet or a child at the doctor’s office, especially one old enough to remember shots or finger pricks, pulls back at sight or smell of recognition. Parents push on, however, because we recognize that although what’s ahead may be painful, it is necessary and helpful. A responsible parent would never shrug and say, “whatever you want.” Walking away is not a choice. We may try to explain or cajole, bargain or bribe, and we certainly remain present, but because we recognize that sometimes hard things are for our good, we insist and move forward.
The same is true of our Heavenly Father who is always working all things together for good for those who love Him. (Romans 8:28) God’s Holy Spirit, fanned into flame, teaches and reminds, corrects and rebukes, guides, directs, comforts, and advocates for all who call Jesus Lord. (II Timothy 1:6, John 14:17, 26, 15:26, 16:7)
“What should we say then? Since God is on our side, who can be against us?
God did not spare his own Son. He gave him up for us all. Then won’t he also freely give us everything else?”
Romans 8:31-32 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/rom.8.31-32.NIRV
Jesus instructed us to ask for God’s “everything else” when He taught us to pray for our daily bread. (Matthew 6:11) God alone knows the height and depth, length and breadth of my need each day. I awake in the morning to new mercies perfectly suited to my need, but like manna I must gather- not hoarding for days or lazing along carelessly- what He has already supplied. God’s Word is a continual feast, nourishing my soul, guarding my heart and mind, guiding my steps, and bringing me peace.
“Jesus does for us everything the holy law requires.
The power of sin should no longer control the way we live.
The Holy Spirit should control the way we live.
So don’t live under the control of sin. If you do, you will think about what sin wants.
Live under the control of the Holy Spirit. If you do, you will think about what the Spirit wants.
The thoughts of a person ruled by sin bring death.
But the mind ruled by the Spirit brings life and peace.
The mind ruled by the power of sin is at war with God. It does not obey God’s law. It can’t. Those who are under the power of sin can’t please God.
But you are not ruled by the power of sin. Instead, the Holy Spirit rules over you. This is true if the Spirit of God lives in you.
Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Christ.”
Romans 8:4-9 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/rom.8.4-9.NIRV
“A huge cloud of witnesses is all around us. So let us throw off everything that stands in our way.
Let us throw off any sin that holds on to us so tightly. And let us keep on running the race marked out for us.
Let us keep looking to Jesus.
He is the one who started this journey of faith. And he is the one who completes the journey of faith.
He paid no attention to the shame of the cross. He suffered there because of the joy he was looking forward to. Then he sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
He made it through these attacks by sinners. So think about him. Then you won’t get tired. You won’t lose hope.
You struggle against sin. But you have not yet fought to the point of spilling your blood.
Have you completely forgotten this word of hope? It speaks to you as a father to his children.
It says, “My son, think of the Lord’s training as important.
Do not lose hope when he corrects you. The Lord trains the one he loves. He corrects everyone he accepts as his son.” (Proverbs 3:11,12)
Put up with hard times. God uses them to train you. He is treating you as his children.
What children are not trained by their parents? God trains all his children. But what if he doesn’t train you? Then you are not really his children. You are not God’s true sons and daughters at all.
Besides, we have all had human fathers who trained us. We respected them for it.
How much more should we be trained by the Father of spirits and live!
Our parents trained us for a little while. They did what they thought was best.
But God trains us for our good. He does this so we may share in his holiness.
No training seems pleasant at the time. In fact, it seems painful. But later on it produces a harvest of godliness and peace. It does this for those who have been trained by it.
So put your hands to work. Strengthen your legs for the journey.”
Hebrews 12:1-12 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/heb.12.1-12.NIRV
The next time your conscience is pricked, rather than drawing back or shying away, press into the presence of your Heavenly Father, confident that what He allows for you, His child, is for your good. Choose not to shy away. Choose to press through, knowing that He walks with you, overshadowing you with his outstretched arms, guarding as well as guiding you in the way of truth.
When Jesus stopped to rest at Jacob’s well outside the town of Sychar in Samaria, a lone woman approached Him and He asked her for a drink. She was not shocked that a man had spoken to her for she had known many men. Jews don’t associate with Samaritans. Neither do Samaritans associate with Jews. Surely he understood. It was bad enough to be out in the heat of the day on this menial errand but to be made sport of was beyond reason.
“Jesus answered her, “You do not know what God’s gift is.
And you do not know who is asking you for a drink.
If you did, you would have asked him. He would have given you living water.””
John 4:10 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/jhn.4.10.NIRV
Two can play at that game.
““Sir,” the woman said, “you don’t have anything to get water with. The well is deep.
Where can you get this living water?
Our father Jacob gave us the well. He drank from it himself. So did his sons and his livestock.
Are you more important than he is?””
John 4:11-12 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/jhn.4.11-12.NIRV
“Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again. But anyone who drinks the water I give them will never be thirsty. In fact, the water I give them will become a spring of water in them. It will flow up into eternal life.”
The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water. Then I will never be thirsty. And I won’t have to keep coming here to get water.”
He told her, “Go. Get your husband and come back.”
“I have no husband,” she replied.
Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands. And the man you live with now is not your husband. What you have just said is very true.”
“Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet.
Our people have always worshiped on this mountain. But you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”
Jesus said, “Woman, believe me. A time is coming when you will not worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem.
But a new time is coming. In fact, it is already here. True worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth. They are the kind of worshipers the Father is looking for.
The woman said, “I know that Messiah is coming.” Messiah means Christ. “When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
Then Jesus said, “The one you’re talking about is the one speaking to you. I am he.”
The woman left her water jar and went back to the town. She said to the people, “Come. See a man who told me everything I’ve ever done. Could this be the Messiah?”
The people came out of the town and made their way toward Jesus.”
John 4:13-21, 23, 25-26, 28-30 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/jhn.4.13-30.NIRV
I am the Samaritan woman and so are you. She first responded to Jesus’s request for a drink with a challenge of her own. “Are you greater than our ancestor, Jacob, who gave us this well and drank from it himself?” Jacob is my ancestor too so get off your high horse and get your own water if you can. I’m the one with the means to get water here, not you. When God speaks by His Word and I prickle, little warning lights should be going off in my mind. Defensiveness and self-sufficiency inhibit the Spirit-filled life. The woman briefly let her guard down when she longingly sighed, “give me this living water so I won’t have to keep coming here to draw water,” but when Jesus addressed her lifestyle choices, she quickly changed the subject.
“I can see that you are a prophet,” she mused aloud before turning the conversation toward religion. All of a sudden, Jesus, Living Water, was reduced to “you Jews” with your religious ideas, but Jesus would not be deterred. When He looked at this woman, He saw a soul for whom He would willingly lay down His life and take it up again. He saw a potential worshipper. He saw someone worth dying for- exactly what He sees when He looks at me and you.
“Messiah, the Christ, is coming. He will explain it all, just you wait and see.”
“I am.”
She ran and told everyone, “Come meet a man who told me everything I ever did. Could He be the Messiah?”
“Many of the Samaritans from the town of Sychar believed in Jesus.
They believed because of what the woman had said about him. She said, “He told me everything I’ve ever done.”
Then the Samaritans came to him and tried to get him to stay with them. So he stayed two days.
Because of what he said, many more people became believers.
They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said. We have now heard for ourselves.
We know that this man really is the Savior of the world.””
John 4:39-42 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/jhn.4.39-42.NIRV
“I do live in the world. But I don’t fight my battles the way the people of the world do.
The weapons I fight with are not the weapons the world uses. In fact, it is just the opposite.
My weapons have the power of God to destroy the camps of the enemy.
I destroy every claim and every reason that keeps people from knowing God.
I keep every thought under control in order to make it obey Christ.”
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/2co.10.3-5.NIRV
“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed their sinful desires to his cross.
They don’t want these things anymore.”
Galatians 5:24 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/gal.5.24.NIRV
“I have been crucified with Christ.
I don’t live any longer, but Christ lives in me.
Now I live my life in my body by faith in the Son of God.
He loved me and gave himself for me.”
Galatians 2:20 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/gal.2.20.NIRV
Who needs to see you to surrender to the hand of your Creator and truly live? Who is waiting for your testimony to come to Jesus? Next time someone rubs you the wrong way, remember who the real enemy is- yours and theirs. They need Jesus. You do too. Own it.
“We know what love is because Jesus Christ gave his life for us. So we should give our lives for our brothers and sisters.
Suppose someone sees a brother or sister in need and is able to help them. And suppose that person doesn’t take pity on these needy people. Then how can the love of God be in that person?
Dear children, don’t just talk about love. Put your love into action. Then it will truly be love.
Here’s how we know that we hold to the truth. And here’s how we put our hearts at rest, knowing that God is watching.
God has commanded us to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ.
He has also commanded us to love one another.
The one who obeys God’s commands remains joined to him. And he remains joined to them.
Here is how we know that God lives in us.
We know it because of the Holy Spirit he gave us.”
1 John 3:16-19, 23-24 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/1jn.3.16-24.NIRV
“My brothers and sisters, you were chosen to be free. But don’t use your freedom as an excuse to live under the power of sin.
Instead, serve one another in love. The whole law is fulfilled by obeying this one command. “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” (Leviticus 19:18)
If you say or do things that harm one another, watch out! You could end up destroying one another.
So I say, live by the Holy Spirit’s power. Then you will not do what your desires controlled by sin want you to do.
The desires controlled by sin do not want what the Spirit delights in. And the Spirit does not want what the desires controlled by sin delight in. The two are at war with each other.
That’s why you are not supposed to do whatever you want.
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed their sinful desires to his cross.
They don’t want these things anymore.
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”
Galatians 5:13-17, 24-25 NIRV
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