by Pastor Cecil | Oct 5, 2020 | John
John 3:30-31
“He must increase, but I must decrease. He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.”
John the Baptist became a mighty man of God that brought a message of repentance to the people in Israel. People flocked out to hear him, responded to his message and were baptized. You might think that John would be jealous of his territory and his reputation. His entire life had been devoted to serving the Lord in unwavering obedience. Now Jesus had appeared to begin His earthly ministry.
How would John react? Would he jealously hold tight to his ministry and reject the ministry of Jesus? The answer was “No!” The words that John spoke in today’s Scripture should be our attitude as well: “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
Wow! That is so profound and unexpected. Later, the disciples of Jesus would argue about who would be the greatest in the Kingdom. But here is John turning his back on personal gain.
When John’s disciples reported that many of his followers were now following after Jesus, he did not express resentment or bitterness. He knew that it was essential for him to fade into the background and allow His Lord to increase and accomplish His task. Are you willing to surrender your pride and self-centeredness? I pray you are!
Blessings dear hearts. May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 17, 2020 | John
John 14:27
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
One of my most vivid memories growing up was of time spent at Payette Lakes in Idaho. Days may have temperatures in the 80’s, but you needed a cozy blanket or sleeping bag to keep warm at night. I am an early riser and even then I enjoyed waking early and walking down to the lake side and looking across to the opposite shore. Many times the water was so serene and calm that it clearly mirrored the scene from the far shore—a double blessing.
During the day there were waves of hectic activities—loud boats, water skiers, swimmers, and even a sudden storm that churned the waters and turned the calm lake into choppy waves. Life is very much like that. There are times of frantic activity that are fun and enjoyable, but nonetheless chaotic. There are also times when gales blow in and create stormy waters.
We long for peace! Is that possible in the midst of the storm? In today’s Scripture, Jesus promises peace for all of us. His peace is not the kind of peace the world knows. It is a peace that gives us serenity even when the world is howling like a hurricane around us.
He promises that when we come to Him, our hearts will not be troubled and we need not be afraid. That is sweet peace!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 10, 2020 | John
John 5:43
“I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.”
I once received a fictitious story that sadly describes how easy it is to escape personal responsibility to do the will of God.
“There were once four brothers: Every-one, Some-one, Any-one and No-one. They had a very important task to do. Every-one was sure that Some-one would do it. Any-one could have done it, but No-one did it in the end. Some-one was angry because it could have been Every-one’s job. Every-one thought that Any-one could have done it, but No-one realized that No-one will do it in the end. In the end, Every-one was angry at Some-one because No-one did what Any-one could’ve done.”
Does that sound familiar to you? I do not mean this humorous vignette, but the reality of the situation it describes. We are prone to expect others to do the job that the Lord calls us to do. Even when we accept responsibility for doing God’s work, we put off and put off, sometimes so long that we leave the job undone.
What is God putting in your heart to accomplish for Him? If you see a ministry that needs to be performed and wonder why someone is not doing it, it may well be that you are the one for the task. Are you faithful in doing God’s will for your life?
Blessings dear hearts! Walk with God today and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 13, 2020 | John
John 14:27
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
January 13th will always have a poignant meaning in my life. It was two years ago on this date that my precious wife left the trials and pain of this world to enter the place of eternal peace. It brought her wonderful peace, but I have been left to work my way through the remainder of my days without the one who had been part of my life since I was fourteen.
I have a wonderful peace in knowing that Joyce is experiencing a paradise that is beyond my wildest imagination. In bringing that picture to mind, I am given a peace that the world can never give and a peace that it cannot take away!
If you are facing a trial and tribulation of life, I urge you to seek the peace of God that is offered to all who call upon His name. Rather than focusing your attention on the storms of life, seek the precious haven that God gives that will assure you of His wonderful peace.
Wonderful Peace
Far away in the depths of my spirit tonight
Rolls a melody sweeter than psalm;
In celestial strains it unceasingly falls
O’er my soul like an infinite calm.
Refrain: Peace, peace, wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray
In fathomless billows of love!
I am resting tonight in this wonderful peace,
Resting sweetly in Jesus’ control;
For I’m kept from all danger by night and by day,
And His glory is flooding my soul!
Refrain: Peace, peace, wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray
In fathomless billows of love!
Ah, soul! are you here without comfort and rest,
Marching down the rough pathway of time?
Make Jesus your Friend ere the shadows grow dark;
O accept of this peace so sublime!
Refrain: Peace, peace, wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray
In fathomless billows of love!
To access the video devotioanl “Wonderful Peace” from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/wonderfulpeace/
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 9, 2020 | John
John 12:26
“If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.”
The call to commitment is always there before us. Jesus wants our total commitment (and He knows when we place conditions on our commitment). He wants words, but also action. It is not just saying it with our mouth, but living it with our actions. In Hebraic thought there is no obedience without action.
I am looking at the words of the old invitation hymn “Where He Leads Me.” You might think back when George Beverly Shea would sing it at a Billy Graham crusade: “I can hear my Savior calling, I can hear my Savior calling, I can hear my Savior calling, ‘Take thy cross and follow, follow Me.’ “
“I’ll go with Him thru the judgment, I’ll go with Him thru the judgment, I’ll go with Him thru the judgment, I’ll go with Him, with Him all the way.”
“He will give me grace and glory, He will give me grace and glory, He will give me grace and glory, And go with me, with me all the way.”
Chorus: “Where He leads me I will follow, where He leads me I will follow, where He leads me I will follow — I’ll go with Him, with Him all the way.”
May God richly bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
