December 22 - Set an Example

 Read today’s texts first: John 12-14

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Washing His disciples grimy feet was a fitting end
to a life of a King who was literally born in a barn! 

I love how the Holy Spirit inspired John to write the infallible Word of God through his own unique personality and perspective. John seemed especially sensitive to the love of Jesus. He refers to himself, not by “John,” but by his pen name, “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (13:23; 19:26; 21:7,20). Many of the stories and teachings in John’s gospel are not found in the other gospels (which we call “synoptic” because of their similarities) and most of them reinforce the recurring theme of God’s love.

One of those stories was Jesus stripping down to the loin cloth of a servant and washing the disgusting road grime off His disciples’ feet. The timing was particularly significant - it was their final lesson before His arrest and crucifixion. It was like a graduation message as their 3 year Bible college program came to an end. It may have lacked the pomp we tend to add to those occasions, but for a King who came to earth as a baby born in a barn, it was a fitting end to a selfless life. What a stark contrast with the pride-filled, judgmental hypocrisy of the religious rulers.

It was one of the few times Jesus did something as a deliberate example for His disciples to follow (13:14-17). It wasn’t His intent that we would physically wash each other’s feet (although I’ve seen many powerful foot-washing ceremonies, most recently at a wedding!). Jesus made it clear this was a physical illustration of a spiritual principle – a new command I give to you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (13:34,35).

“Lord, I want to learn how to truly strip away my pride and humbly serve others. When You selflessly and unconditionally love through me, others will know what it means to be a real Christian.”

December 21 - One Thing I Do Know

 Read today’s texts first: John 9-11

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

If you want to understand and apply the law,
see how the One who wrote the law lives it out.

As we learned from our reading today, there is nothing more compelling and convincing than a personal life-altering encounter with Jesus.

To set the context for the story, the religious rulers are mad at Jesus, again. On several occasions He has healed someone on the Sabbath and for some nitpicking reason the Jews would rather the sick stay sick than get healed on a Saturday. They complained about the lame man carrying his bed on the Sabbath and got this response: the man who healed me told me to pick up my bed and walk (5:10,11). They complained again after a beggar, blind from birth, was miraculously healed, because Jesus had made some mud and the beggar had rinsed it off in the pool, on a Saturday again – can you believe it?!

They were so focused on the law (not even God’s law but a man-written over-complicated version called the Mishnah), that they failed to recognize the Law Giver. If you want to understand and apply the law, it seems prudent to see how the One who wrote the law interprets it.

When the critics called Jesus a “sinner” in front of the healed beggar, his profound response illustrates the power of personal testimony: Whether He is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see! (9:25,26). You’ve got to love that answer. It’s irrefutable. My paraphrase: Who cares if we broke your arbitrary Sabbath rules - I can see! Too bad you can’t!

The best part of the story comes next. The religious leaders threw the beggar out, saying with their typical arrogance, you were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?  While they were casting him out, Jesus was searching for him (again, note the contrast between the heart of God and the hard-hearted religionist). When Jesus found the man, He revealed who He was and why He had come - so those who do not see may see and those who see may become blind (34-39).  A not-so-subtle reference to the religious leaders?

“Lord, this one thing I know, once I was blind but now I see. May I continue to see Your healing power in my own life and the lives of others. As I read Your Word each day, help me see beyond the letters of the law to the Spirit who inspired them!”

December 20 - Father of Lies

 Read today’s texts first: John 7,8

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Feelings of superiority, pride, judgmentalism and
self-sufficiency come from the Father of Lies.

There are so many surprises in the story of Jesus. His less than grand entrance, which we will be celebrating in a few days, was one of the first, but they kept coming. Most surprising to me were his fans and foes. We often talk about His motley crew of disciples and friends. Certainly it was a shock to see the King of Kings hanging with blue-collar ruffians, crooked tax collectors, prostitutes and unclean lepers. But I find it more surprising to see who opposed Jesus.

You would expect that the keepers of the Mosaic law would be eagerly awaiting the coming Messiah. They knew the prophecies of Psalms 22 and Isaiah 53. They should have anticipated the suffering Saviour. Yet, not only did they miss him (with only a few exceptions, like Nicodemus), but they were responsible for orchestrating His death.

They illustrate the difference between the deadly and demonic source of religion and a real relationship with the Giver of Life. While they thought they were upholding God’s laws, they were interpreting these laws with demonic intent (8:43-47). The incredible story of the woman caught in adultery, wedged in the middle of ongoing conflict between Jesus and the religious rulers, beautifully illustrates the difference of intent. Jesus represents selfless love, mercy, forgiveness and restoration. Religionists represent self-righteous judgment, debasement and punishment.

If these attitudes showed up in God’s holy temple, could they make their way into our churches today? The answer is very clearly, yes. I’ve discovered these tainted traits in my own heart at times. Feelings of superiority, pride, judgmentalism and self-sufficiency come from the Father of Lies (8:44) and lead us away from the true Father of Light and Life.

“Lord, help me to recognize deceptive and destructive attitudes in my own heart before they are expressed. Instead, may I surprise others with Your unexpected grace and mercy!”

December 19 - To Whom Shall We Go?

 Read today’s texts first: John 5,6

MAXIMize YOUR DAY
When the Source of all life is in us,
what else do we really need.

Not only did Jesus confuse His followers with the things He did (some we mentioned yesterday), but what He said was even more confounding. In today’s reading He upset the hometown crowd by describing Himself as spiritual manna, the Bread of Life, sent from heaven to earth by God. The people were shocked – isn’t this Jesus, Joe and Mary’s kid, grew up in the back of their carpentry shop on Main Street. And if that wasn’t enough, after they responded in disbelief,  Jesus basically says “bite me:” if you don’t eat my flesh and drink my blood you have no life (6:53 – my paraphrase).

Much of what He taught the masses, even His disciples, they never fully understood. They tried to interpret everything through the physical, mental or emotional senses, with little comprehension on a spiritual level. They kept hoping Jesus was going to physically deliver them from the nasty Romans. But Jesus showed little interest in their outward oppression. He focused instead on the bondage they were experiencing inside.

He was inviting them and us to be changed from the inside out. When we receive the Bread of Life, every other need is met. When the Source of all life is in us, what else do we really need. That’s what Peter said so well for all of us. When asked by Jesus, you do not want to go away also, do you? (after many of the hangers-on decided to hang it up), Peter responded, Lord, to whom shall we go? You alone have the words of eternal life! (6:67,68).

“Lord, I’m saying to You what Peter said. I may not understand everything You’ve said in Your written Word or to me personally, but I’m going to trust that You know what You’re talking about. I’m not leaving – I’ve got nowhere else to go!”

December 18 - Do Whatever

 Read today’s texts first: John 2-4

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY

The Bible beat Nike by 2,000 years with:
“Whatever He says to you, just do it!” 

After reading through the letters written by James and Peter, we noticed the repeated theme of adding works to our faith, walking the talk, growing in grace. John was another disciple who understood how important it was to obey Jesus. He also brings out stories that illustrate how unusual His commands can sometimes be!

First of all, why would Jesus choose to perform His first miracle at a wedding? Wouldn’t a church service be more appropriate, a tent meeting, somewhere more spiritual? And why on earth would He want to kick off His public ministry with a stunt as controversial as turning water into wine?

When the Canadian Foursquare family first registered our church in Quebec, we had to re-address the question of permitting our pastors to drink alcohol. Drinking wine is customary in Quebec, as it is throughout Europe (and as it was in Bible times). After an unusually heated business meeting, the French Foursquare president, who was not aware of the previous meeting or its agenda, brought greetings in our evening plenary session. Among the gifts he gave to our Canadian president, who opened them in front of the entire convention gathering, was an expensive bottle of French Bordeaux. Some gasped, some laughed out loud, but, needless to say, we were all pushed well out of our comfort zones.

We can speculate why Jesus would do what He did (I did in a sermon called Wine, Women, Weddings, Whatever), but sometimes the “why” is beyond us. In the next few chapters he turns over tables in the Temple, tells a Pharisee he must be born again, and asks a shady Samaritan woman for a drink. Because of our limited human perspective, the “whatever” is more important than the “why.” Mary, His mother, said it best (moms have a way of cutting to the chase): whatever He says to you, do it! (2:5).

“Lord, my adventure in ministry with You began when I first heard You say to me: forget the business program at UBC - enroll in LIFE (LIFE Bible College at the time). That began 50 plus year run of doing the “whatever,” completely outside my comfort zone. It’s been fun, so sign me up for whatever comes next!”

December 17 - Grow in Grace

 Read today’s texts first: 2 Peter 1-3; John 1

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Be warned - like a dog returns to his vomit or a pig
to his mud, believers can turn away from their faith! 

Peter has a similar emphasis to James. He knows from experience how it is possible to fall from grace. While some would teach that it is impossible to lose your salvation, they have to explain away much of what these two eye witnesses teach in their letters.

Peter was the disciple that bragged how he would die to defend Jesus (John 13:37,38) but when Jesus needed him most, he denied he even knew Him, on three separate occasions, complete with curses from the fisherman’s potty mouth he thought he had left far behind (Mark 14:66-72).

But Peter was deeply remorseful and Jesus restored him once again with three confessions of faith to match his three denials (John 21:15-19). Within 50 days of his denials and a few days after his restoration, Peter had become the key leader of the first church (Acts 2). Now as a seasoned leader, approaching the day he would in fact lay his life down defending Jesus (2 Peter 1:14,15), Peter is warning his fellow believers to supplement their faith and grow in grace (1:5-11; 3:17-18).

He starts by acknowledging that their standing is equal to his because of their common foundation of faith, the finished work of Jesus (1:1-4). When we ask Jesus to forgive our sins we all start from the same place, as fully redeemed children of God. But Peter is equally clear that if we don’t keep practicing our faith (1:10) we can fall, just like the apostate believers he lists in chapter 2. He is saying, out of his own experience, from the examples of others, and by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, it is possible to turn away from our faith, like a dog returns to his vomit or a pig to his mud!

“Lord, while I know Your grace is sufficient for my salvation I have a responsibility to continue working out my salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). Thank you that Your grace is sufficient to save me once and for all time. To You be the glory both now and to the day of eternity!  Amen. (3:18)”

December 16 - From Fisherman to Shepherd

 Read today’s texts first: 1 Peter 1-5

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY

The Great Commission is more about discipleship
than evangelism.  We wouldn’t bring a baby
into the world and then abandon it.

Every word in the Bible is inspired by the Holy Spirit, but I don’t believe it came to human authors through verbal dictation. God allowed the unique personalities and perspectives of each writer to show through in their writings, while still ensuring the words they wrote were infallible. That’s why it is helpful to understand the writer’s background as we read through their books.

For example, we know much about Peter from the gospels and we see his characteristics emerge through his writings, albeit much more refined after Pentecost and years of church leadership. Peter loved to fish and Jesus connected his passion for fishing into compassion for the lost: follow me and I will make you fishers of men (Matthew 4:19). But as Peter matured in his faith, learning through his failures, Jesus expanded His calling: feed My sheep (John 21:15-17).

This will happen to all of us. We must never lose our compassion for the lost and our commitment to evangelism. Your preChristian family, friends and neighbours need you to introduce them to Jesus. But that’s just the beginning. The Great Commission is more about discipleship than evangelism: Go into all the world and make disciples (Matthew 28:19). We wouldn’t bring a baby into the world and then leave the newborn on the streets to fend for himself.

Peter learned from the Great Shepherd how to care for the flock and, if need be, to lay down his life for the sheep (John 10:11). Everything he writes in his two letters to his fellow believers carries his deep love for Jesus and His church.

To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away (5:1-4).

“Lord, that’s what I want to do in the final phases of my life on earth – shepherd the flock You entrust to my care. Help me live today as a loving under-shepherd of the Great Shepherd and Overseer of my soul (2:25).”