Are You Serving Today?

 N.T.#759 "Are You Serving Today?"

March 20, 2026 

John 13

LET IT GLOW

Jesus moved from His public ministry to private ministry with those who had received Him-the disciples. the cross was only a day away. 

These last 5 chapters focus on Jesus' love for His own and His desire to communicate that love so that it would never be forgotten after His return to heaven. (David Jeremiah)

Jesus knew:

•  His hour of departure out of this world had come. He was making the best of His time left, instructing and showing the disciples about love. (verse 1a)
• He loved His own which were in the world. (verse 1b)
• He loved them unto the end. (verse 1c)
• Even though His beloved disciples would abandon Him, one of them would betray Him, Jesus loved them to the end.
• The Father had given all things into Jesus' hands. (verse 3a)
• He had come from God and went to God. (verse 3b)

Do we know those things as well?

LET IT GROW

With all of that in mind, we see the Lord's humility as He bent down and washed the disciples' feet at His Last Supper. (verse 4) It was custom that the servant do so, it they none present, so Jesus picked up the water bason and towel and proceeded to do it. This removed the dust from their feet. 

How do we serve others? Are we bending down and helping those who can't return or pay us back? Are we showing Jesus' love?

LET IT GO

Such humility and love, Jesus, you show to us.

May we serve You while serving others today.

Do You Believe inn Jesus?

N.T.#758 

March 19, 2026 "Do You Believe in Jesus?"

John 12-Part 9

LET IT GLOW 

Last year I taught a young children's class. It thrilled me when one of the boys quoted me John 3:16. Have you had that experience? Ever wonder what God is like? How can we know an invisible Creator? Jesus made it clear that those who saw Him saw God, because He is God. We can find out what God is like by studying His Word. Jesus is the only way to heaven, for He is The Way, The Truth, and The Life. (John 14:6)

Why did Jesus come into the world?

What are some teachings Jesus which He gave in the rest of this chapter?

• Believe on Jesus means we are believing on God who sent Him. (verse 44, 46)
• Jesus came as a light into the world. (verse 46)
• Jesus came to save the world, not judge it. (verse 47)
• By rejecting Jesus and His sayings has god to judge him. (verse 48)
• God told Jesus what to say, to speak, and His commandment. (verse 49)
• God's commandment is eternal life/life everlasting. (verse 50)
• 
  

We can't live any way we please, in sin, without being accountable to Jesus.

Jesus fulfilled His mission on earth by showing and providing the way to salvation and eternal life.

 

LET IT GROW

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

Are we teaching this verse to our children and grandchildren? We should for they can have heaven forever by believing in Jesus. Who else will tell them?

LET IT GO 

Thank You God our Father and Jesus our Savior for providing eternal life with You.

Such amazing love that You would die an horrible death for us.

Who is the Son of Man?

N.T.#757 "Who is the Son of Man?"

March 18, 2026 

John 12-Part 8 

LET IT GLOW

Who is this Son of man? He must be lifted up?

The Jews thought:

•  surely their Messiah would not die on a cross.
• They were expecting the Christ to reign forever.(verse 34) (Eventually He would, but not right now.) 
• They were walking in darkness spiritually. 

What about us?

LET IT GROW 

Jesus told the Jews to believe in the light, receive the light, walk in the light, for the Light would soon be removed. Although Jesus had done so many miracles before them, the Jews did not believe Him to be the Messiah. They rejected the Lord Jesus in spite of what they heard and saw. Their eyes became blind to the truth and their heart hardened because of their unbelief. (verse 40)

Many leaders believed on Jesus but were unwilling to confess Him for fear of the Pharisees putting them out of the synagogue. They loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.  (verses 42-43)

LET IT GO 

May all who read this believe You are the Christ, the Son of God and Son of man, the Messiah.

Glory to God in the Highest!

Lifted Up

N.T.#757 "Lifted Up"

March 17, 2026 

John 12-Part 7 

LET IT GLOW 

The Father answered from heaven that His name had been glorified (through the obedient ministry of His Son), and it will be glorified again (through the death, burial and resurrection of the Son). (verse 28) (Falwell)

The people thought it was an angel that spoke to Jesus. They were to recognize that Christ was God. It was for the people to recognize Christ as God. Christ is referring to His judgement of sin through His death, and His defeat of Satan. (verse 30-31)

LET IT GROW

Christ will draw people to Himself through the cross. He would die on a cross lifted up. 

Are we lifting up Jesus in our life? 

LET IT GO

Praise be to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. 

Are You Troubled?

N.T.#755  "Are You Troubled?"

March 16, 2026 

John 12-Part 6 

Now is My soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. (verse 27)

LET IT GLOW 

Friend, are you troubled today? Take courage, Jesus was, also. 

Not only is the principle of death applicable to Jesus, but to His followers, also.  Are we willing to loose our life in service to Jesus, our Lord? Are we willing to loose whatever so we witness for Him? (John MacArthur) 

Then Jesus admitted something. What was it? His soul was troubled, which means to stir or agitate (roil or disturb water).

The term used here is strong and signifies horror, anxiety, and agitation Jesus' contemplation of taking on the wrath of God for the sins of everyone who would believe caused revulsion in the sinless Savior. (MacArthur)

Can you see Jesus in His full humanity? His soul was troubled, not because He wavered in His purpose but because He knew the suffering He would endure. In bearing the sins of the world, not only would He experience physical torture, but He would be separated from the Father. Nevertheless, Jesus was "obedient" to the point of death. (Phil. 2:8) (David Jeremiah)

Wow! That is deep, isn't it? Can we see the love dripping from the heart of Jesus, even before He went to the cross with nails in His hands and feet? How can we but love and serve Him!

LET IT GROW 

It's like a person who knows they have to have surgery, but dreads it, does not want to go through the pain of it. So it was with Christ. He knew what was ahead for Him as He carried out God's purpose for His life. Jesus knew the suffering that would be required in order to save His people for their sins. Yet, He asked to be saved from it. Jesus came to suffer and die for sinners is why Jesus came. (verse 27)

Let's take a closer look here:

• Jesus was committed to doing the will of God.
• He wanted to glorify God.
• God audibly told Jesus , I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. (verse 28)
• And God had been glorified when Jesus performed miraculous signs.
• The ultimate glorification was coming in the cross and resurrection. (Tony Evans)

How are we glorifying God in our life? Who are we serving-self or Jesus?

LET IT GO 

Glory, honor, praise be to God the Holy Father and Christ Jesus the Son!!

May we fulfill our purpose you have for each of our lives.

Who Are We Serving?

 N.T.#754 "Who Are We Serving?"

March 13, 2026 

John 12-Part 5 

If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me: and where I am, there shall My servant also be; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him. (verse 26)

LET IT GLOW

Are we pursuing the worldly and materialistic ways of this life? If so, then we will miss what God wants us to have in the spiritual realm. The natural outflow of a spiritual life is serving and following Christ. (David Jeremiah)

If your life is all about you and finding yourself, you will not find the "you" that you're looking for. To hate your life means not living in a self-centered way but being a servant of others. The one who lives a life of service in the name of the Lord Jesus will be rewarded in this life and in the life to come. To serve the King, we must follow the King. If He serves, we must serve. (Mark 10:45) 

The first responsibility of a follower of Christ is to His people. We are to love those whom He loves and gave Himself for. And if we love and serve sacrificially, the Father promises to honor us with a reward-some of which may come in this life, though most will come in eternity. (Tony Evans)

LET IT GROW 

Are we willing to die if doing so will glorify God?

LET IT GO

May we serve Jesus with a heart given to Him.

Die and Reap a Harvest

N.T.#753 "Die and Reap a Harvest" 

March 12, 2026 

John 12-Part 4

 LET IT GLOW 

When a grin of wheat dies (buried in the ground), it sprouts up nd produces many seeds, fruit. So it is with believers who die to a self-centered life, they experience joy and become fruitful for the kingdom of God. When we do so, we give Jesus control of our lives and we produce fruit from His Spirit. Is that you and me?

He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. (verse 25, KJV)

He who loves his life loses it; and he who hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal. (NAS)

These verses use two different words for life in the Greek language. The first two times it appears in this verse uses the word psuche, which refers to one's present existence in this world and exercise of the mind, desires, and will. The third use refers to spiritual life everlasting. 

He owh love his psuche (life now) will lose it, and he who hates his psucche will keep it for zoe. To pursue a psuche life with a materialistic philosophy will cause a person to miss what God wants him or her to have in the spiritual realm. The natural outflow of a zoe life is serving and following Christ.

[Resource: The Jeremiah Study Bible]

Do you want to miss out on what God has for your life by living in the flesh, worldly ways, focused on self? Or do you want to live the extraordinary Christian life with blessings overflowing? Ouch!

I'm not saying this is easy. It is a difficult thing to do, but what a harvest we can reap when we follow Jesus and obey His Word.

LET IT GROW 

What can we glean from those sown seeds?

Seeds which are not sown are alone. The seeds which are sown, die, and in so doing bring forth a harvest. Christ used this to illustrate His death, which will produce a rich spiritual harvest. ((Liberty Bible Commentary)

And Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. (Matthew 16:24)

There is our challenge for today, folks. When we die to self and our desires, surrender it all to Jesus, He will bring forth spiritual fruit in our life. Are we willing?

LET T GO 

Change our mind, desires, and will, Father God.

May we surrender our self as a living sacrifice. 

May it be acceptable in Your sight, Lord.