John 8:24

“For if you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins.”

Jesus invites us to go deeper than a superficial understanding. Jesus is the great I AM…”the way, the truth and the life.” He said that if we know Him…we know God. Our Creator is always in the NOW…and we can always find Him when we let go of our attachments to the things of this world…all the things we think will bring us lasting happiness…but are actually distractions that will all fizzle out. The only peace, contentment and lasting happiness is found in each moment…the NOW…by following Jesus…the great I AM.

John 8:7

“Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”

When the woman was caught in adultery 2000 years ago the law said the people could rightfully stone her to death. But Jesus said there is a higher law….one that says that before we pass judgment on another we need to examine our own hearts and make sure they are clean first…and since we are human and will never be perfect…they will never be clean. Jesus said love and forgiveness is always the answer…even when it’s not easy. Drop your stone…pick up your cross…and follow Jesus. Even in the midst of the most unjust persecution…Jesus responded with love and forgiveness.

Psalm 34:19

The Lord is close to the broken-hearted, saves those whose spirit is crushed.

Jesus knows what it is like to be “broken-hearted” and to have your “spirit crushed.” His message of God’s unconditional love, mercy and forgiveness was rejected and He became the victim of the cruelest injustice. But He remained faithful to God and responded to His persecutors with love and forgiveness. Resurrection and New Life awaited. Such transformation is possible for each broken-heart and each injustice in the here and now…when we call on Jesus…and follow His example.

John 5:44

“How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God?”

Who are we trying to please in the way we live our lives? Our parents? Friends? Teachers? Our egos? Jesus says if we want to find our “true selves” and real life…we should not seek the praise of human beings…but instead open ourselves to the unconditional love of God. You are loved UNCONDITIONALLY! For most of us…that just doesn’t make sense…but it is the message brought to us by the One who was willing to die…so we would believe!

Luke 1:38

Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”

The perfect answer to God…that is what Mary showed us. When the angel told her that she would become pregnant by the Holy Spirit and that she would give birth to the Son of God…do you think that news rocked her world a bit? She gave us the perfect example of letting go of her plans…and saying yes to God’s plans. What is God whispering to you in your heart? Say “yes” and watch God’s love work through you! Then you will be able to proclaim Psalm 40 verse 11: “Your deed I did not hide within my heart; your loyal deliverance I have proclaimed. I made no secret of your enduring kindness to a great assembly.”

John 5:15-16

The man went and told the Jews that Jesus was the one who had made him well. Therefore, the Jews began to persecute Jesus because he did this on a sabbath.

Love always trumps the rules and the law. Jesus seemed to delight in breaking a religious rule in the name of love. Here…Jesus heals a man who had been sick for 38 years…but He does it on a sabbath day breaking the rule against working on a day designated for rest and prayer. This is a great example of our dualistic minds that are always quick to judge and believe the answer is “either/or”…when Jesus says it’s sometimes “both/and.” Follow rules and be loving when the rules aren’t. Love is always the answer.

Matthew 5:17-18

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place.”

This is not meant to be threatening but comforting. It is only threatening if you falsely believe in a “punishing” God. Jesus says this so we know that we cannot possibly accomplish fulfilling the “smallest letter” of the law on our own. That’s where a “loving God” is there to extend mercy to us. The very place where we come up short is exactly where our Loving God is all too willing to save us. Allow God’s mercy to lift you…and then extend it to someone else

Matthew 18:21-22

Then Peter approaching asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.”

Peter thought he was being very noble to extend forgiveness as many as seven times. Jesus counters by telling Peter that you must forgive an infinite number of times. Is that not what our Loving Creator does with us? Forgiveness changes hearts and brings God’s kingdom alive in the very present. Let go of any past transgression against you and bask in God’s unconditional love.

Psalm 42:2-3

As the deer longs for streams of water, so my soul longs for you, O God. My being thirsts for God, the living God.

This is one of those profound truths that most of the world is completely missing…which is the source of much unhappiness. While many try to satisfy that deep yearning inside with all kinds of material and physical things…they will never find satisfaction. The solution is spiritual. Seek God…follow Jesus…find peace.

Matthew 21:43

“Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.”

The chief priests and the Pharisees were again the object of Jesus’ lesson. They were so engrossed in following the letter of the law that their hearts were hardened. There was no “fruit” being produced. The kingdom of God is present when we are living a life of love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion. May we open our hearts to the kingdom so that we might produce much fruit.