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Third Verse Devotion: Savior, Like A Shepherd Lead Us

 Thou hast promised to receive us, 
Poor and sinful though we be; 
Thou hast mercy to relieve us, 
Grace to cleanse, and pow’r to free: 
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus, 
Early let us turn to Thee; 
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus, 
Early let us turn to Thee 

 hymnary.org 

My husband and I moved to North Carolina for a while following college. I had never driven in big cities. I had a little experience with Shreveport, Louisianna, but that was it. On our way to North Carolina, I had managed somehow to drive through Atlanta, Georgia, but that’s another story for another time. After we arrived, we needed to return our U-haul to Raleigh. So, he drives the truck, and I drive our car. We get separated at a traffic light. I am driving around an unfamiliar town trying to find a U-haul truck. End of story, we are re-united by God’s grace, and everything is fine. The point is that one wrong turn, one traffic direction was all it took for us to become separated.  

How easy it is in our lives for us to become separated from our loving God because of one wrong turn. One wrong step. One bad choice. This is why this third stanza of this hymn is so beautiful. He has promised to receive us even though we are poor and sinful. Even though we have made a mess of our lives, he will still embrace the one sheep who wanders away.  Isaiah 53:6 says 

All of us, like sheep, have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the wrongdoing of us all To fall on Him. 

I don’t know what you are going through today or where you have been. I just know that he stands ready to bring you back into the fold. He is ready to receive you and wash you clean. Don’t wait until you think you can clean yourself up; it never works. We can’t clean ourselves enough. If you made that wrong turn and lost your way, the shepherd is searching for you. Just stop. Stop running from him. Run to the shepherd who loves you and gave himself for you. He has grace to cleanse and power to free.  

All for One 

Angela 

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Third Verse Devotion: Onward Christian Soldiers

I remember this hymn from when I was a kid in Vacation Bible School, back before the big production it is today. The song following the pledge to the Christian flag was almost always this hymn, Onward Christian Soldiers. We sang it from a small booklet that had all the pledges and the songs and a little about each of the missionaries for all five days. After, we marched out by classes, youngest to oldest for four hours of fun and crafts and lemon cookies and weak Kool-Aid. 

The first verse was all that was sung at that time. If you have ever tried to keep 75 to 100 or more kids contained during Onward Christian Soldiers played on an upright piano, then you understand why. So, I am the most familiar with the first verse. There have been times as an adult when we have sung the other verses but not often. I don’t know if it falls on many people’s list of favorite hymns. However, it is a good anthem to get the blood pumping and remind us that we are in a spiritual battle.   

Paul reminds us time and again that we are in a spiritual conflict. He tells Timothy to “fight the good fight.” I have been in churches where the fight became very verbal and very painful. It is easy to forget that our fight is not against flesh and blood. What we see is tangible. What we are fighting against is not. We cannot see it or touch it. We only see the effect of where it lingers or where it has been. We must remember that we are unified in the blood of Christ. Unity is the theme of the third stanza of our hymn.  

Like a might army moves the church of God 

Brothers we are treading where the saints have trod; 

We are not divided; all one body are we; 

One in hope and doctrine, one in charity. 

This verse reminds us that we are one body in Christ.  

There are examples of churches coming together for the good of the community. Working together for the needs of the people they serve. This is the church united. We are separated by denomination and doctrine and practice, so sometimes it is difficult to see what brings us together.  

Psalm 133:1 says, 

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to live together in unity! 

My husband and I had the privilege many years ago to be part of some prayer walks. I was the prayer coordinator at our church at the time and thought it would be a good idea to go to the other churches in our area and just stand in the parking lot and pray for the church. I wanted to be unobtrusive and not draw attention to what we were doing. So, we began to gather on Saturday mornings. Soon though a Methodist minister close to us caught wind of what we were doing and joined us every time we gathered. Our unobtrusive gatherings  culminated in a community wide prayer walk from the local convenience store to the school, about a two-and-a-half-mile walk praying for our community, our churches, our school, our state and our nation. It was a wonderful time of a community of churches. 

Let me encourage you today not to let anything distract you from the common faith we have. The apostles and writers of the New Testament faced this as much as we do today. Two thousand years have not solved the things that divide us. Believers still squabble over doctrine and Jesus’s words. Yet unity for believers is the very thing Jesus prayed for in John 17. 

I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and You loved them, just as You loved Me. John 17:23 

Jesus prayed for us to be unified not divided. It is Christ that unifies us and in heaven we are all one in Him. We are reminded by Paul that we are one in Christ when he writes in Ephesians, 

Ephesians 4:4-6 

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you also were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. 

Brothers and sisters, we are one in Christ. So let us pray for our world, our individual nation, our community, our church, our family. We are soldiers in battle. If you have opportunity in the coming weeks to join with other Bible believing, Christ redeemed churches take advantage of the opportunity. Let us fight the good fight as soldiers and remain united to the end.  

Onward Christian Soldiers! 

Angela 

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3 Ways to begin the Holidays with Psalm 118:1

We are officially in the holiday season. Maybe not the holiday spirit but the season. I love this time of year from September through December. The temperatures start to cool, and the leaves start to turn, and a renewal takes place within me. Maybe it has something to do with my birth having taken place in November. I think each of us has a time for renewal. This thinking about renewal and cooler temperatures and the like brought me to the first real holiday of the season.

My thoughts turned to Thanksgiving. It is an American holiday and kicks off the Christmas rush.   While the Thanksgiving holiday is unique to America; thanksgiving is not. As we enter the holidays, I want to look at ways we can enter the end of the year with a spirit of thankfulness. There are three ways we can approach the holidays with thankfulness based on Psalm 118: 1

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His Mercy is everlasting.

The first of these is simply “give thanks to the Lord.” The world today has so many distracting views. I want to be clear that our worship and thanks are to the Lord Creator of Heaven and Earth. There is no other. He is the God who created the Garden of Eden, who made man in His image, who made them male and female, who told Noah to build the Ark, who called Abram out of Ur of the Chaldees and changed his name to Abraham. He is the God who promised to build Abraham into a great nation, who called a man Moses to lead his people out of Egypt with signs and wonders.  He is God and He alone is God. He sent his only Son to be born of a virgin to live among men as a man to die on a cross for our sins and rise from the grave three days later that we might have eternal life. We have much to give thanks for if this is all we have. Yet it is not.

Look into your life and the life of your family to see where you are and where he brought you from. Life is not perfect. There are trials and hard times. You may be in a trial or hard place now. Give thanks to the Lord. Yes, even in the middle of that trial. It will not make the trial or hardship disappear but might make it easier to bear. Maybe it is time to surrender yourself to the Lord. Maybe he has been calling you and you have been resistant. Now is the time to surrender to Him. He is good. Give thanks to the Lord.

The second part we can meditate on this holiday season is: “For he is good.”  Last week in “He Leadeth Me” I referenced Paul and how he learned contentment. We may not always have the best of everything. Our clothes may not have designer tags; we don’t dine in 5-star restaurants or live in a mansion. Yet most of us have food to eat, clothes to wear and some sort of roof over our heads. We can say he is good. We have breath in our lungs. We can see where he has brought us from and where we are now, and we know he is good. We can see the times he has spared our lives. We know the times he kept us from danger. We are aware of the ways he has led us. We know he has called us from darkness to light. We know he is good. His deeds proclaim his goodness. His acts throughout history declare that he is a good God. He does not treat us as our sins deserve.

Consider the planet. It spins at just the correct speed to keep us alive and flourishing. Any faster or slower and we would be dead. The earth and moon are in gravity pull. The moon’s pull affects the tide of the ocean. God holds all these things in balance and reveals his goodness.

Our body is another example of his goodness. Our body is an amazing organism. We have a responsibility to take care of the body we have. This means trying to eat right and getting some exercise. We need to take a hard look at the things we put into our bodies. We give thanks to the Lord by the way we treat what He has given us; this includes our body. When we put good food and water in our bodies, we are nourished and healthy.  We could not exist without God who created us in His image and gave us our body and life and food to sustain us and keep us healthy. He is good indeed. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.

The last of the three for us to meditate on as we enter the holidays is to remember that his mercy is everlasting. Praise be to the Lord that his mercy is everlasting. Were it not for his mercy, we would be consumed in our guilt. Because of his mercy, he does not treat us as our sins deserve. He has redeemed us and given us a hope and a future. He is patient with us, not wanting us to perish. He has delayed the return of Jesus these 2000 years to give us a chance to know him as God and to accept him as Savior. He is merciful when we do not deserve mercy.  And his mercy is not just for today or tomorrow or for those who lived in the past. His mercy is everlasting. His mercy is forever. It is eternal. This thought gives us reason to rejoice and abound with thankfulness.  Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his mercy is everlasting,

As we get further into the holiday season and the busyness grows, may we take a few moments here at the beginning to remember and reflect on these three ways to be thankful this year. After all, the reason we even have Thanksgiving and Christmas is because of Him. It is more than Pilgrims and Indians; it is more than turkey and all the trimmings. It is about him and his goodness, and his mercy. Let’s be sure to celebrate our Savior this season. When we do, we will find many reasons to…

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His Mercy is everlasting.

Angela

I would love to hear from you. Be sure to leave a comment below and let me know what you are thankful for this season. Also be sure to like and subscribe so you won’t miss new content when it drops.

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Third Verse Devotion: Are You Washed

The greatest anticipation of Christians is the return of Jesus. We have been expecting his return since his ascension 2, 000 years ago. I know some might say he is slow in his return, yet Peter already had an answer for that very argument.

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.

His delay is for those who have yet to believe. The Lord will keep all his promises, including his promise to return. He doesn’t want any to perish in an eternity away from him, so he waits. He gives ample opportunity for unbelievers to come to him in repentance for salvation. One day the clock will run out and he will return. As sure as I type these words, he will return. Our hymn today asks the question, Are you ready?

When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Will your soul be ready for the mansions bright,
and be washed in the blood of the Lamb?

When he comes have you done what you needed to in preparation? Jesus told a parable in Matthew 25 of the second coming in relation to ten virgins five had extra oil and five did not. When the bridegroom came the hour was late and five virgins trimmed their lamps with their extra oil and went out to meet him. The remainder did not have enough oil. They tried to borrow some from the other five but there would not have been enough for all of them. They were told to go to the market and purchase more. While they were out, the bridegroom came, and the party went in and shut and locked the door. Finally, they came and knocked on the door begging to be let in but were refused. They weren’t prepared, they weren’t ready in advance of his coming.

The second part of the line is “will your robes be white” and harkens to Revelation and perhaps Isaiah. In Revelation chapter 7, John looked and saw a great multitude. Look at Revelation 7:9

…I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all the tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands…

John was asked by one of the elders with him if he knew who they were, he answered he did not. The elder responded with,

“These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:14)

There is a time coming when a great tribulation will fall on the earth. A man of lawlessness will reign for a short time. Any who profess to believe in Jesus during that time will suffer for their belief like never before. These martyrs for the name of Jesus are the ones who are referred to here. Earlier in chapter 6, John had witnessed those who had been martyred crying for justice. At this time, they were also given a white robe. (Revelation 6:11)

This idea can also be found in Isaiah 1:18,

Though your sins are as scarlet,
They shall become as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They shall be like wool.


When we are covered in the blood of Jesus, we are made new again and made white as snow. Our sins are no more. We will be ready for the bridegroom and our robes will be white. Then we will be ready for the mansion bright. Jesus talks about that mansion in John chapter 14. He has been talking to his disciples about going away to prepare a place for them and he says this,

John 14:2

In My Father’s house are many rooms; if that were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you.

The many rooms translated in the New American Standard is often translated mansions in other versions. It means he is preparing a place for us. Whether it is a room or a mansion, he has us in mind, and it will be magnificent. It will be a place beyond our wildest dreams. So, if he has gone to prepare a place for his believers, doesn’t it stand to reason he will come back for them? Yes, he will.

 I don’t know when but someday Jesus will come back for his church until then let me encourage you to be ready. Be washed in the blood of the Lamb. Let your robe be white and be ready for the mansions bright. O be washed in the blood of the Lamb.

Angela

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My “To Be Read” List

I am a list maker. I can’t help it. I think in lists. I make a to do list, content list, book list, reading list, a list on lists. I probably should see someone about it, but I would need to make a list first. Oh well, the truth is that to some extent my lists help keep me on track.

This is especially true when it comes to my reading list.  I have a list of books I want to read, my TBR list.

I set up All for One into themes. The theme for August is Back to Basics. So, I wanted to include this theme into my reading. My reading list for August needed to reflect this. I haven’t chosen doctrinal books, but rather classical Christian literature. We are already into mid-August so even I realize I probably will not be able to read all of these before we get to September. But a goal is something to strive toward.

I wanted to share my August list with you. If you are looking for something to read this August, grab one of these classics and dive in.

  • Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis
  • The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan
  • The Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer
  • Crazy Love by Francis Chan
  • The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis
  • Miracles by C. S. Lewis
  • Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners by John Bunyan

So, you see the only modern book is by Francis Chan and even it is not that recent. It came out a few years ago. My husband loved the book, and I never read it, so now is a good time to get into it. If you have never read C. S. Lewis apart from the Chronicles of Narnia, his nonfiction reminds me a lot of the writing of the apostle Paul. Very intellectual, very deep, but worth the read. The Screwtape Letters is another of Lewis’s fiction. I have actually read this book, but many years ago and it is time for a new read. I remember reading some of The Pilgrim’s Progress when I was much younger so with this one also it is time for a fresh look. Tozer is a short book that shouldn’t take long to read. So, here they are the August book challenge for me and you if you don’t already have something on your TBR list for August.

I have a much longer list of books I would like to read but let’s not get into that craziness. What about you? What is on your TBR list for this month? Have you selected one or do you just read as the mood hits you?

Be sure to let me know in the comments what you are reading and if you are taking the August challenge or have one of your own. I would love to hear from you.

Don’t forget to like and subscribe so you don’t miss new content when it drops. I don’t fill your inbox with unwanted emails, and I don’t give away your address. I don’t like it done to me and I won’t do it to you.

Angela

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Third Verse Devotion: Battle Hymn of the Republic

The words of this patriotic song were written by Julia Howe at the start of the Civil War in November 1861.  This patriotic song can be found in many hymnals. There are five stanzas to the song and all of them are full of meaning, for the sake of time I will only focus on one.

Here is the third verse from the 1991 Baptist Hymnal. You can find the full song at www.hymnary.org.

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never sound retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat;
O be swift, my soul, to answer Him; be jubilant, my feet!
Our God is marching on. [Chorus]

Judgement is not something any of us like to think about. We choose to believe the characteristic of God as love, and He is love. Yet He is also judge. He cannot look on sin. He must judge sin. He is a righteous God and there is no unrighteousness in Him. So, the sin you and I carry must be judged.

There are two types of judgment mentioned in the New Testament. The first is found in Romans 14:10 and 2 Corinthians 5:10. This is a judgement for believers. Every person who has placed faith in Christ Jesus will stand before Him one day and give an account of the things they have done. Did you accept the gift of salvation that Jesus offers? What did you do with the gifts you have been given? How did you live your life? Did you share your faith with others? Did other people know you were a Christian? Did they know you believed in Jesus? What did you do good or bad after you became a follower of Jesus? This is what this judgement seat is all about. The second judgement is mentioned in Revelation and is called “the Great White Throne Judgement”. It is found in Revelation 20: 11-15 and is for all non-believers throughout history. Every individual who had the opportunity to accept God and refused will stand before Him and give an account of his deeds. All deeds were listed and then their name is checked against the book of Life. If their name was not listed there, they were thrown into the lake of fire.

Please hear me, if you think living a good life and performing good deeds will be enough to get you into heaven, Friend, you are wrong. You want your name in that book of Life. The only way to escape the Great White Throne Judgement is Jesus. You want to be at that first judgment.  The next line of the song is “…be swift, my soul, to answer Him…”. Let that be your response as well. When you know God is calling you to follow him, do not hesitate. Respond then. Ephesians 2: 8-9 reminds us:

For by grace you have been saved through faith;

and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 

not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (NASB)

You can never perform enough good works or be a good enough person to make your way to heaven and escape the second judgement. Good works will not get your name in the book of life. Only accepting the grace of Jesus will accomplish salvation and ensure judgment at Christ’s judgement seat.

Be assured God loves you. He does not want any at the second judgment. It is a fact that many will be there. Those who choose to reject Him. You don’t have to be among their number. If you are reading these words, you still have a choice. Make that choice today. Be swift to answer Him.  Since everyone one day will be judged, where will your judgement take place, at the foot of Jesus or at the Great White Throne of God. I hope to see you at the feet of Jesus.

Angela

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Meanwhile…

I am working on the next big post, but it is not coming together like I want. So, I have a challenge for you. Grab your Bible and take some time and read the book of Esther. If you don’t have a Bible at home that is not a problem, check out www.biblegateway.com or the bible app avaible on your phone.

A few odd facts. It was almost not included in the canon of scripture. It is the only book of the Bible where God is not mentioned at all. Yet, His presense and influence are everywhere. It is also the historical background for the Jewish holiday of Purim.

I will be back soon with the post for you. Until then, dive into this great book filled with intrigue and plot twists. I think you will like it.

See you soon!

Angela

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The Family Vacation

The family vacation is usually reserved for the summer months. Time for the beach, cookouts, homemade ice cream and travel. A time for families to get away to relax, enjoy life and celebrate how much fun it is spending time together cramped in a car with children or teenagers for a 6-to-8-hour drive to enjoy the wonders of God’s creation. Right.

I wonder how many of us come back from our vacation more tired than when we left. What we really need is rest. The staycation is becoming more popular as families realize that staying home can be as fun as traveling less expensive, safer, and more relaxing.

I am for families connecting, recharging and resting. I believe this is what the family vacation is about. It is taking time away with the people who live in our house for a retreat from daily life for a few days. This is good for relationships and good for the soul.

In the Bible, there are times where God built in times of rest for the people of Israel. Many of the festivals and solemn events they were to practice were to have no work involved and lasted several days. Times of rest built into their year, and they were frequent.

When Jesus was with the disciples, He saw the need for them to get away for a while. Mark 6:31 says that, “And He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a little while.” (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.)” (NASB) The disciples had been working hard with the people and they needed a break. They needed a vacation. Jesus made sure they got it. He also offers that to us as well.

Today, I think we have forgotten how to truly rest. We have gotten so accustomed to work that our brains do not know how to be still. We do not have a shut off or a reset. We are constantly on go. As a result, there is a high rate of burn out, depression, drug abuse, and even suicide. We need rest.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 11:28-29, “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will findrest for your souls.”

The vacation is intended to allow families to get away for a while, not one more item to check off the ever-growing checklist of things to accomplish. How many of us can say we truly relaxed on vacation without an itinerary of where we needed to go next or what time we needed to do this next. It is even worse if we take extended family along for the ride. No wonder we come back from out vacation more stressed than when we left.

Whether you stay home this vacation season or travel, look for ways to relax. Be intensional. I know you have to keep the kids engaged, but it wouldn’t hurt them to have some downtime also. Some quiet moments of solitude  walking in the woods, swinging in a hammock. Maybe laying on a blanket in the backyard watching the clouds go by or watching the stars come out. Maybe take a sketch pad and try to sketch or watercolor paint a sunset. You don’t have to be good just have fun and relax. The family vacation is about taking time with your family to enjoy a time to relax with your family. Turn off the electronics for the evening. Watch the stars, paint the sky, watch the birds. Feel the tension ease in the gentleness that nature brings.

I’m not talking about extremes. Just beginning to practice times of rest. Walk on the beach rather than splash in the water. Collect shells, wade the surf, listen to the waves. Try something different. Take time to rest this family vacation. I mean really rest. Let the tension, stress, and worry go. Believe me it will be there waiting for you. For now find a secluded place and know He is gentle and humble in heart. Find rest for your soul.

Angela

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Nicodemus

John is unlike any of the other three gospels. He records events that may not be included in Matthew, Mark or Luke. The story of Nicodemus is one such story. We don’t know much about Nicodemus. We don’t know where he was born, who his parents were, how old he was, or if he had a wife or children. Yet what we do know is enough to make a big difference in our lives. He gives us an example to follow as we observe his interaction with Jesus.

NIGHTTIME VISITOR

The first time we see Nicodemus is at night. He comes to Jesus as a nighttime visitor. John 3:1-21 records the interaction between Jesus and Nicodemus. We learn the most about Nicodemus’s background here in the first two verses of the chapter.

“Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews;

this man came to Jesus at night and said to Him,

 “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher;

for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.””

 (John 3:1-2 NASB)

Question: What do you learn about Nicodemus from these two verses?

Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a ruler of the Jews. Nicodemus had gained some prominence. He was not only a Pharisee but also a ruler of the Jews. There is a difference in the two groups. Not all Pharisees were rulers of the Jews and not all rulers of the Jews were Pharisees.

Pharisees were a sect of Jews that became popular during the period between Malachi and Matthew. We know it as the intertestamental period. They held to strict adherence to the law both oral and written. Much of their influence is still felt in Jewish thought today. They were antagonistic to Jesus throughout His ministry.

He came to Jesus at night for a conversation. He recognized Jesus as a teacher, calling him Rabbi. He included the whole group of Pharisees in his beginning remarks saying, “we know…” Maybe this was a way for him to enter the conversation with less focus on himself.

Question: How do you enter awkward conversations? Do you try to deflect to a larger group, so the attention isn’t on you alone?

The fact that Nicodemus came at night could have much meaning or no meaning. Jesus and Nicodemus were busy men. So, maybe coming at night was a time when both of their schedules would have allowed intimate conversation without interruption. On the other hand, maybe he came at night because he didn’t want to be seen coming to Jesus. He wasn’t ready for his fellow Pharisees and rulers to know he was talking to Jesus at all.

Question: Do you think there was any significance to Nicodemus coming to Jesus at night? Why do you think he came at night?

The conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus is eternally significant. It is through this conversation that we learn,

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son,

so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish,

but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NASB)

Nicodemus did not have a lot of understanding but after verse nine he does not speak again. He comes to Jesus at night and questions and listens. His last question was, “How can these things be?” Haven’t we wondered this before? Haven’t we listened to the mystery of God and wondered “How can these things be?” We do not have all the answers. We are not expected to. God does not give us all the answers. He gives us what we need. He gives us, “for God so loved the world…”, and this is where faith begins, and it is enough.

VOICE OF REASON

The next time we see Nicodemus is in John chapter 7. The context is during the feast of booths. The feast of booths is established in Leviticus chapter 23. It is to be celebrated for seven days following grain and wine harvest.

The people were divided about who Jesus was. Some were convinced he was the Christ. Some thought he was the Prophet. Some believed in Him. Some wanted to arrest Him. The officers report to the Pharisees who wanted to know why they had not brought Jesus with them. They admitted their confusion. “No one has ever talked like this before.” (my paraphrase). So, the Pharisees took the offense and accused them of believing in him also and being led astray.

“We haven’t believed in him, have we?

This crowd they don’t know what they are doing.

 They are unlearned and accursed.”

(John 7:48-49 NASB)

It is in this raking over the coals that Nicodemus speaks up. In verse 51 we find his response.

“Our Law does not judge the person

 unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?”

Question: Have you ever stood up for something only to be attacked by friends and coworkers and maybe even family for your stance? How did you respond? What was the result of your stance?

Nicodemus is trying to bring some order and justice into the chaos. They needed to hear from Jesus himself. When Nicodemus went to Jesus that night, he listened to Him. He heard what he said. He heard his message. He may not have understood everything, but he heard him. Now he speaks out before this group of his peers based on their own law, and they refuse to listen to him. They turned on him accusing him of being one of His followers. They revealed their limited view of God with verse 52,

“Examine the scriptures and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee.”

Here their box-stuffed God is revealed. Just because a prophet had never come from Galilee didn’t mean God couldn’t call one from Galilee. He had never called one from inside a big fish either, yet we have Jonah. How about from a burning bush? Moses. God chooses where and when he calls his servants, not the expectations of people. He calls teachers, mechanics, bus drivers, firemen, police officers, businessmen and women, postal workers, and truck drivers. He calls people from America, England, Poland, China, Russia, Switzerland, Taiwan, North Korea, Ghana, and Chile. He calls men and women from all walks of life from across the globe. He might even be calling you to spread his gospel.  

Question: Is there a work God is calling you to do? Are you unwilling to accept that calling? Why? What is holding you back?

Nicodemus has moved from a nighttime visitor to a daylight voice of reason. He has been attacked for it. Sometimes when we move to do the right thing it might not always go the way we’d hoped. We may have to go through difficult places and have difficult conversations. We may lose relationships and positions we once enjoyed. We have one more look at Nicodemus. Let’s look at this steadfast giver of time and resources.

GIVER OF TIME AND RESOURCES

This last look of Nicodemus takes place in John chapter 19. Jesus has been crucified and Joseph of Arimathea has asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Pilate granted him this request and so Joseph took Jesus’s body. Here Nicodemus comes in. In both John 7 and John 13 Nicodemus is recognized as the one “who had first come to Him by night.” Here he comes, “bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes.” He and Joseph were preparing the body of Jesus for burial. Nicodemus brought about 100 pounds of the spices to cover His body as they wrapped it in the linen according to their custom.  This was an expensive mixture which Nicodemus brought. He was no longer a nighttime visitor. This was a public display of his belief in Jesus. Word would have traveled that Nicodemus had paid such a price for Jesus’s burial preparation. He, and Joseph of Arimathea, could no longer conceal under cover of darkness this deed brought them front and center as disciples of Jesus.

END OF THE STORY

We do not see Nicodemus again in the biblical record. Yet, his impact on believers and non-believers is tremendous. It is through a conversation with Jesus at night we get John 3:16. The verse which has been used to bring countless numbers to faith in Jesus. Nicodemus and Joseph give us an account of the burial of Jesus, which leads us to the tomb on Easter morning.

Where are you in this story? Are you talking to Jesus at night? Wondering how can these things be? Maybe you have moved to being a voice of reason. Have you tried to bring fairness to an unjust situation and been mocked because of it? Or have you opened your heart and resources to the garden tomb? No longer in the shadows, you are out in the open about your faith in Christ and it is precious to you, and you are walking daily with your Savior? It is not too late to begin the journey. Take a step today, won’t you?

Angela

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Posted on by Angela

Welcome to All for One

All for One is a place where I host my writing, book reviews, Bible studies, and other interests in one place and ask you to come along. I call it All for One for two reasons. One,because it is all of my interests all rolled into one place, and two because I want everything I do to be for an audience of One.

In the pages here you will find Angela’s Bookshelf, my book reviews and news page. I enjoy reading and there may be books from all genres, from Christian and non-Christian. Times like These is my Bible Study page. I will post what I am learning from God’s word. Third Verse Devotions is where I bring to life the old hymns and meditate on what the writer might have been trying to say about his or her belief in God, the Bible and life.

I hope you will join me in these pages. I am just getting started. There is more to come.