Don't Get in Jesus' Way

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30

How long does it take to achieve greatness? Writers, actors, musicians, and artists often slave away in obscurity longing for that break that will make them famous and rich. The core of man craves importance. Satan tempted Eve with being like God; really important and powerful. We imagine what we would do if we suddenly had “it all”. That is what we get up for and work for and seek. Who really wants to be the “nobody”? Nobody does. We want to be the prom king and queen and take that high school glory the rest of the way through our lives.

 John the Baptist saw it differently. He said that Jesus must increase and he must decrease. If we want to let Jesus shine in our lives we must do the same. In John 12 there were some Greeks in Jerusalem who came to the disciples and asked to see Jesus. They didn’t want to see the disciples; they wanted to see God manifest in the flesh. People all around us need to see Jesus. The question for each of us is, “Do they?” Or do we keep getting in the way. We must decrease and He must increase. If we do then He will and the world will truly see Him.

Dear Father, Help me each day to stand behind my Savior and not in front of Him. Let other people see Jesus and not me. Amen.  

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For God so Loved the World - That Means You

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten so, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

We all know somebody who likes to tell the same stories over and over again. Sometimes we smile as we hear them. Sometimes we groan because we have to hear them again. And sometimes we avoid those people so that we don’t have to hear them again. But today’s verse is a story so wonderful that the repeat telling of it only becomes better each time. Some very great preachers have spent months just preaching on this one verse.

What makes it so great? Well, it is a love story; God’s love. It is also a mystery; why would He give His Son to die for us? It has a happy ending for those who believe it. It has universal appeal; it is for the whole world. Everyone everywhere can love it. They can find hope and joy in it. They can hear the greatest promise by the Great God of creation and know it is for them and not someone else. Who wouldn’t want to hear this story over and over again? Who wouldn’t want to retell this story as often as they could?

Dear Father, Thank You for the greatest true story ever told and for the hope and joy and promise that that story gives to us all. Amen.

You can contact me and find inspiring Christian books at my website: www.davidccraig.net. If you don’t already subscribe to this blog, you can do so and receive it each day M-F by choosing the Abundant Grace section on my website and signing up for free delivery every day. 

You Must Be Born Again

“Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say unto you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God’.” John 3:3

When Jesus began His answer to Nicodemus it may seem that He wasn’t concerned with Nicodemus’ question. That would be incorrect. He was concerned with the question that was about to be asked, “How can I know God like You do?” Nicodemus knew the Scriptures very well. He was a teacher of the Jews. He had memorized all five books of the Law, all of the Psalms, and all of Isaiah at the very least. He knew all about God; but he didn’t know God. What he had come to Jesus to find was how to know God.

The answer Jesus gave has never changed. To know God we must be born again. We come into this world tainted by sin. We are damaged goods by being descendants of Adam and equally guilty of his sin. That birth is good enough to live on this earth; but it is not good enough to get us to heaven. To know God we must be born again. We must be born by the Holy Spirit through faith in God’s Son Jesus Christ and in His perfect sacrifice on the cross for our sins. Jesus included all that in His answer to Nicodemus. (John 3:3-21) Jesus said, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again’.” That is the unchanging truth of God.

Dear Father, Thank You for sending Your Son to die for my sins so that through faith in Him I may be forgiven and born again into Your family. Amen.

You can contact me and find inspiring Christian books at my website: www.davidccraig.net

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Jesus is God, not Just a Teacher or Prophet

“Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with Him.” John 3:2

Lots of people come to Christ with the same attitude of Nicodemus. He was a good religious fellow, an esteemed teacher among the Jews. They recognize that Jesus isn’t any ordinary man; but that He was very special. Today there are religious teachers that believe and teach that Jesus was an extraordinary man, a true example to live by, a great teacher, even a prophet. Even the Muslim world venerates Jesus as a prophet. Nicodemus wasn’t alone in his esteem for the man Jesus. But Jesus wanted Nicodemus to understand the full truth.

Jesus isn’t just a good man or a great man. He isn’t just a teacher, example, or prophet. Jesus is God in the flesh, fully God and fully man. When Nicodemus tried to protest that such faith in Jesus was beyond reason; Jesus appealed to Scripture. The Old Testament taught about the coming Messiah. “For unto us a Child is born, a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His Name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.” Jesus reminded Nicodemus that it taught that the Messiah would have to be lifted up as Moses had lifted up the serpent in the wilderness. Nicodemus understood the story and its meaning right away. Jesus was the Son of God who came into the world to offer forgiveness for sins and everlasting life. Don’t let anyone sell you short on who Jesus is. He is the only begotten Son of God, our Savior.

Dear Father, Thank You for making it so clear who Jesus is that anyone who looks at Your word may know Him. Amen. 

The Friday Benediction

Until Monday, my friends, may the good God envelop you with His grace; may you prove the common confession of faith, “I believe in the holy Christian church and in the fellowship of the saints”, and may you be enriched with joy and hope as you exercise that confession this weekend.  Amen

You can contact me and find inspiring Christian books at my website: www.davidccraig.net

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Depraved but Forgiven

“For He knew what was in man.” John 2:25

What is hidden from God? Nothing! And still we live our lives as if we can and do successfully hide things from Him. If we really think about how thoroughly Jesus knows us, we begin to realize the depth of our human depravity. We don’t like to think about that and so we falsely assume that we can hide things from God. We can’t. But that truth is related to man and God’s law. We break it and break it and we try to hide it from Jesus like Adam and Eve did in the Garden. That is our depravity.

But thanks be to God, there is more. There is the Gospel. Jesus Christ has died on the cross because of what is in man. He died for our sins, which in even the best of men, are too many for anyone to come on their own into the presence of God. Jesus knew what was in man and He knew the need that created. We have need of a Savior, and He willingly gave Himself to be that for us. We can come to Him for forgiveness of what is wrong in us each day. He knew what was in us but He loved us and died for us anyway. Thanks be to God.

Dear Father, Thank You that You have provided not only the law to expose our sins, but also the Gospel to give us forgiveness and hope. Amen.

You can contact me and find inspiring Christian books at my website: www.davidccraig.net

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Jesus Makes the Ordinary Extraordinary

“Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the waterpots with water,’ and they filled them.” John 2:7

Filling the waterpots was the daily duty of servants. They had done it many times before and would do it many times afterward. What made this time different? This time Jesus told them to do it. He didn’t ask them to do something they couldn’t do or didn’t know how to do; He asked them to do what they did each day. Now, though, they were doing it for Jesus.

Jesus is the love of God manifest to man. He loves us. He died and proved on the cross how much He loves us. Still, people fear Him. They fear that He will make them do something they find impossible. They fear to simply trust Him. The servants were wiser. He asked them to do what they could do and they did it for Him. In obedience to His command they were part of a great miracle. We needn’t fear Jesus. He knows us and calls us to do what we do for Him. He will make of it something great for Himself.     

Dear Father, Thank You for the Gentle Shepherd, Jesus, who loves us and asks of us simplicity of service that can be used for Him. Amen.

You can contact me and find inspiring Christian books at my website: www.davidccraig.net

If you don’t already subscribe to this blog, you can do so and receive it each day M-F by choosing the Abundant Grace section on my website and signing up for free delivery every day. 

Come and See

“Come and see.” John 1:46

Do you ever fear that you will get tongue-tied when you try to tell others about Jesus? Are you afraid that you can’t memorize a long evangelistic message to give to others? Fear not! Today’s verse sums up what we must say. “Come and see.” That is the shortest witnessing verse in the Bible and still the most effective.

Philip had found his friend and told him that he had found the Messiah. That was just relating good news. There was nothing traumatizing in relating a short bit of good news. We do it every day. But his friend was in doubt. Philip didn’t rush into a long spiel. He didn’t try to make perfect oratory of biblical truth. He simply said, “Come and see”. Philip’s friend came and saw and believed. The invitation is simple; the truth is solid; the salvation is real. Come and see.

Dear Father, Thank You for making it so simple that even I can come and understand and be saved. Amen. 

You can contact me and find inspiring Christian books at my website: www.davidccraig.net

If you don’t already subscribe to this blog, you can do so and receive it each day M-F by choosing the Abundant Grace section on my website and signing up for free delivery every day.