#wtsdevo jesus

[walkthesame]

Jesus is the Way (#wtsdevo Jesus)

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

I spend a lot of time on the road with my job and my children’s activities.  Many times my travels are to unfamiliar places which leaves me at the mercy of my navigational system in my car. I find myself looking ahead for road signs and exits.  I know that the only way to get from where I begin my trip to my final destination is to follow the directions being shown on the screen in front of me.  A wrong turn or a missed exit and my entire trip could be turned upside down!

 I love when I see the checkered flag on the screen of my GPS alerting me to the fact that I am almost to arrive at my predetermined stopping place, but even when I cannot see the flag on the screen, I am confident that I am heading the right way as long as I follow the path laid out before me. 

As a Christian, I believe Jesus is the only navigational system needed in order to reach Heaven.  He very clearly states in John 14:6 that He is the way- no one comes to the Father except through Him.  When I spend time studying about Jesus, following His commands, and loving others as He said I should, I can feel confident that I am on the right path.  I can relax and enjoy my journey through life because Jesus is leading me straight to the heart of God.

I’ve found that Jesus has a way of alerting to me unwanted exits and detours along the path if I will stay in His Word and learn to walk as close to Him as possible.  He is the way, and He is constantly leading.

My job is to simply follow Him.

In the New Testament, Jesus said very simple words to the disciples that changed everything about their lives.

He said, “Follow me.”

They then left everything behind to follow the One who claimed to be “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”

In our world today, there are so many types of social media offering countless people, organizations, and businesses to follow.  It’s easy to get distracted by faulty detours and unwanted exits as we journey toward the heart of God.  I think it is good to periodically do a review of the types of messages we are receiving in our newsfeeds of things like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.  Are the people you follow leading you toward Jesus or are they pulling you away?  If Jesus showed up today, would He know you as someone who purposely and passionately follows Him?

Jesus said He was the way.

He also said no one will reach Heaven except through Him.

If you feel you have taken the wrong exit or followed a misleading road sign, maybe today is the day to realign yourself with Jesus’ calling on your life and set your eyes on the final destination once again.  No matter who you may be following on social media be very sure you are following Jesus in your real life.  He is the only way to Heaven, and He wants to say two words to  you this morning, “Follow Me.” ____________________________________________ Devotional Series: Jesus is The Way (#wtsdevo Jesus) Posted by: Tammy Nischan \ Personal // Walk the Same

[walkthesame]

Jesus is Greatness (#wtsdevo Jesus)

It’s insane how you see so many people boast and flaunt about their greatness these days. It is mind blowing, (and getting old very fast). I am Australian, but I hear about the greatness of Donald Trump all the way across the world. Not because of anyone else, but just from him alone! Is this really greatness though? Well let’s find out, shall we?

Now forget Trump for just a bit (check out the telly if you want more of him) and let’s bring Jesus into the conversation here. We all know that God is beyond ourselves and anything we can imagine. He is greater and next to Him we are just tiny, tiny, tiny humans who are in constant need of Him everyday, just so we can live. The world was burning and just deteriorating in sin, and so God had a mission and that is to save the world. To lead this mission, God sent down His only Son - Jesus, to come down to us. To rescue us and to save us.

Jesus! This is not some guy a few blocks away from where you live. This isn’t some guy who happens to be my neighbor. This isn’t some great athlete in some world class football team. Jesus is no prince of Egypt or England, or a president in some powerful country. Jesus isn’t any of these. Jesus is God. He is all of us combined. He is all of the universe and beyond combined and His greatness and power can’t be measured or put into perspective. It’s madness to even try to measure or even quantify who Jesus is because He is Jesus. Jesus is God.

As John shares in the Bible, - “The Word became flesh…” and goes on to say that Jesus "… Made His dwelling among us.”  Some important words here if you caught on to this already. Jesus just didn’t stay or stick to one place. Not a throne. Not a place. Not a president’s office. Nope. He was so great, that it was among us that He chose to live. He didn’t stop there with defining what greatness was.

In the Bible, we meet the religious leaders and the pharisees who just about defined what greatness was to the people of the time. We have people no different from these even today. However Jesus turned heads around and left them spinning when He chose to demonstrate what greatness really was. It was all about reaching out to the helpless, healing the sick, comforting those who were in pain and even washing the feet of His own disciples. In other words - it was by serving others and in sacrifice that He demonstrated what true greatness was.

Ultimately what Christ shared with us was the fact that greatness does not come from boasting, flaunting, wealth or from literally anything earthly. Power and greatness comes from within. From Christ dwelling within us. Greatness comes from those moments when we choose sacrifice over ourselves. When we choose to serve than to be served. Greatness comes when we accept that we can’t do everything on our own but that we are in need of Jesus to take lead over our lives so that we can be more like Him. Great like Him.

I urge you today to not let anyone tell you and dictate your greatness. Your greatness does not come from the world or by any formula, quantity or ability. Your greatness comes from Jesus Himself because Jesus is greatness! You and I are great in Him.

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Devotional Series: Jesus (#wtsdevo Jesus)

By: Elle \ Personal // Walk the Same // Color Movement

[walkthesame]

He Understands Us (#wtsdevo Jesus)

“For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.” 2 Corinthians 1:5

When you think of Jesus, what do you see? Do you see the Son of God, standing with an endlessly bright halo around Him? Do you see a Middle Eastern carpenter, pushing people back to God? Do you see a blameless, faultless peacemaker? Or maybe, do you see someone who was truly human?

If I were to guess your answer, I’d assume it wasn’t the last one. Many of us see Christ as a mythical creature- nothing tangible or real. The reasoning behind our current view of Jesus has a lot to do with images of Him being painted on walls, tiny statues of Him, etc. However, all of these examples are missing a few key things about Him.

Jesus was human. He was born of a virgin, yes, but he was fully human. He felt excitement and heartbreak. He scraped His knees, got tired, angry and sad at times. He was the human incarnation of God- truly God in the flesh.

We often get hung up on the idea that Jesus is God, and don’t spend enough time in awe of the fact that Jesus was also human. That He suffered greatly, as today’s verse insinuates. However, all this points to something that should comfort us greatly- Jesus knows how we feel.

The Living God, King of Kings, Alpha and Omega- understands us. He has felt our pain. Shared our joy and our weakness. He has eaten at our table. Yet, He still loves us, and endured horrific torture for our sake. Incredible, is it not?

Today, read through this passage a few times and take comfort  it the fact that our wonderful Jesus knows exactly what we are going through.

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Devotional Series: Jesus (#wtsdevo Jesus)

By: Autumn // Personal // Walk the Same

[walkthesame]

Jesus is My Rest (#wtsdevo Jesus)

There’s something about day-to-day life that can leave me feeling extremely tired. Not just physically, but emotionally. Responsibilities at work and home, combined with all the personalities of both environments, have a way of draining every part of my inner strength. Serving at church and in the community can easily become just another thing to do on a long checklist of “weekly commitments.”

I’m so glad Jesus knew life would be exhausting.

I’m so glad He added Matthew 11:28 to His choice of words while on the planet. “Come to me…. All who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” He didn’t say, “If you love me, you won’t get tired,” or “If you are My child, you will never feel burdened.” Instead He chose to say, “When you do feel overwhelmed with life, come to me.”

I’m there. I’m at the point of breaking as a mom… Where one more request, one more thoughtless comment, one more unappreciated act of service could send me spiraling to a place I do not want to go.

I could easily feel guilty as I realize I am frail. I could easily feel inadequate in this season of weakness. Yet Jesus changed everything for me when He acknowledged that sometimes I would feel this way. He made it clear that there would be times of weariness, and that’s okay. He freed me up from any kind of self-condemnation and gave me permission to feel tired. At the very same time, He told me exactly what to do when I realize I am slipping and that’s the clincher in this whole life journey.

Where do I turn when I reach a point of crumbling in my own strength?

Do I choose to walk in weariness with a burdened soul, becoming a victim of my circumstances? Or do I choose to obey the Son of God, coming to Him with my heavy load?

Jesus had no problem quietly slipping away from the crowds so He could spend time with His Father. He knew He could not face the demands of this earthly life without a direction connection to and constant communication with His Heavenly Father. How could I ever make it without that same kind of connection and communication?

Today, if you’re feeling weary or burdened, it’s okay.

Jesus said these kinds of days would be part of life, and He has your answer. He won’t force you to bring your struggles to Him, but He does invite you to find rest in Him with one simple word, “Come.”

Jesus is the rest I need. Is He the rest you need too?

Why not come to Him today?

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Devotional Series: Jesus  (#wtsdevo Jesus) Posted by: Tammy Nischan \ Personal // Walk the Same

[walkthesame]

Jesus is Freedom (#wtsdevo Jesus)

Nothing disappoints me greater than to hear someone say that Jesus didn't die for all, but rather just for those that He had appointed before time. The God I know and read in the Bible is so much different in the sense that He died for literally everyone, just so that everyone in this life and world would have a chance for salvation and freedom. What happens next is for us to grasp and accept.

Since I mentioned freedom, let's talk about freedom shall we? It is a broad topic and to get into it would take me so much time to cover, but I want to share something specific today about freedom in Christ. This is related to something very common that I've come across, and something that most people believe in. In fact I believe that what I am going to share right now might cause steam to rise in some but this is the truth.

In introduction, let me share something about freedom just so that you understand what it really is. Freedom is to be in a position and place where you are not controlled. It is as simple as it gets. When you are controlled by something or someone, you are not free. You are confined within a space where you aren't able to do as you please, and to break the rules means there are consequences you'd have to face. Doesn't sound like much fun eh? However don't mistake freedom to be something that gives you permission to go overboard and out of control. That isn't freedom. That is being disruptive to the point where you are potentially harming and negatively affecting people around you. Freedom is a balance. A good balance. Freedom is blessed because Jesus is Freedom. Freedom is God made and God sent His Son Jesus for you and me, just so that we can be free. Free from evil. Free from the robotic, soulless law made by people. Free so that we can experience the greatness and goodness of God and everything that He blesses us with. Free so that we can be who we were created to be. Free so that we can be "Us".

Now again, freedom is a broad topic, and I am just going to touch on one aspect of it today because I come across so many people who feel so misunderstood about their days. Yes! Days! Days are what I am going to be sharing today. Just some time back I saw someone on-line, post that worship to Jesus should happen on Saturdays because Saturday's is truly the day of the Sabbath. Yet just as you suspected, this lead to a whole barrage of comments on that post with people arguing between Saturdays and Sundays being the Sabbath. Names were said, swearing occurred and soon it just turned ugly. Does this sound Christian to you? Not really. This isn't Christianity, and this isn't anything Godly. It is actually the complete opposite!

Before I move on further, I just want to share something from Paul. Here we go:

One person considers one day more sacred than another;another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.  Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.  For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone.  If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.  For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. - Romans 14:5-9 (NIV)

Now the same in the Message translation......

 Or, say, one person thinks that some days should be set aside as holy and another thinks that each day is pretty much like any other. There are good reasons either way. So, each person is free to follow the convictions of conscience.

What’s important in all this is that if you keep a holy day, keep it for God’s sake; if you eat meat, eat it to the glory of God and thank God for prime rib; if you’re a vegetarian, eat vegetables to the glory of God and thank God for broccoli. None of us are permitted to insist on our own way in these matters. It’s God we are answerable to—all the way from life to death and everything in between—not each other. That’s why Jesus lived and died and then lived again: so that he could be our Master across the entire range of life and death, and free us from the petty tyrannies of each other. - Romans 14:5-9 (MSG)

"Petty tyrannies"! Ouch. Sounds just like that social media post I just mentioned earlier, and just like the many arguments that people have with each other over topics like this. When God created the world, the one thing that He said at the end of all of it was that it was all good. He was pleased with what He had created, and that includes the seasons, times, days and just about everything else you can imagine. I hardly think that God created anything bad. So why these arguments? Why the argument that God should be worshipped on a Saturday or a Sunday when He should infact we worshipped and praised everyday in every moment of our lives? Why don't we realize that God made everyday and every moment equal and that every moment of everyday is a gift for which we have to thank and praise Him for? Did we forget who Jesus is? Did we forget that Jesus died on the cross so that we can be free? Free to worship Him everyday? If you as a Christian believe that you want to worship God on a Saturday - amazing! If you as a Christian believe that you want to worship God in the middle of a Sunday - terrific! If you as a Christian believe that you want to worship God on a Tuesday - fantastic! If you are doing what you are doing for God then surely you are blessed!

I want to take a moment today to urge us Christians, including myself, to not get caught up with the very thing that Jesus came to set us free from. Jesus didn't come down to us just so that we would just obey some laws just for the sake of it. He came down for us to free us from these very laws and to give us life and freedom so that we would be able to live for Him everyday of our lives. Not just a Saturday. Not just a Sunday. Everyday!!!

For those who are tempted to argue on the theology behind the Sabbath and the days and the weeks and so forth... Remember that there is someone bigger than all of this. His name is Jesus. He bought us our freedom and calls us to live for Him. Let us live a life where we don't contain Jesus to just a specific day, but rather live a life of freedom where we can and are able to worship, praise and live for Him everyday of our lives. This is Freedom, and Freedom is Jesus.

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Devotional Series: Jesus (#wtsdevo Jesus)

By: Elle // Personal // Walk the Same // Color Movement