“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
John 10:14

Tonight, as it has every night past and as it will every night onward, my hope lives on.

Jesus, you are Hope.

In The Night
by Andrew Peterson

I am weary with the pain of Jacob’s wrestling,
In the darkness with the fear, in the darkness with the fear,
But he met the morning wounded with a blessing,
So, in the night, my hope lives on.

When Elisha woke surrounded by the forces
Of the enemies of God, the enemies of God,
He saw the hills aflame with angels on their horses,
So, in the night, my hope lives on.

I see the slave that toils beneath the yoke unyielding,
And I can hear the captive groan, hear the captive groan,
For some hand to stay the whip his foe is wielding.
Still, in the night, my hope lives on.

I see the armies of the enemy approaching,
And the people driven, trembling, to the shore,
But a doorway through the waters now is opening,
So, in the night, my hope lives on.

Like the son who thought he’d gone beyond forgiveness.
Too ashamed to lift his head, but if he could lift his head,
He would see his father running from a distance,
In the night, my hope lives on.

I can see the crowd of men retreating,
As he stands between the woman and their stones.
And if mercy in his holy heart is beating,
Then, in the night, my hope lives on.

I remember how they scorned the son of Mary.
He was gentle as a lamb, gentle as a lamb.
He was beaten, he was crucified, and buried,
And in the night, my hope was gone.

But the rulers of this earth could not control him,
No, they did not take his life; he laid it down.
All the chains of death could never hope to hold Him,
So, in the night, my hope lives on.

I can see the Son of Man descending
And the sword he swings is brighter than the dawn
And the gates of Hell will never stand against him,
So, in the night, my hope lives on.

So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.”
John 7:16-18

Yesterday, I was listening to Pastor Mark talk about John 7 and these three verses. He said something that stuck to me. He said that if our will is to do God’s will, that is, if we desire to do God’s will, spending time with him, seeking for him, reading his Word, we then see that God’s words are true. It is by faith that we first dive into this relationship with God and we grow and learn as we go along.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6

Over time, knowledge becomes knowing.

But where does that faith come from?

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:8-10

Even better. My faith would suck if it was from me. It is by grace alone that we have faith, which means we don’t earn it, we don’t deserve it, we just… get it. So Christian, know that God chose you, you did nothing to earn his good grace and his mercy. Therefore, because of this faith that he has given us, we strive and ask for obedience.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:16

It is in obedience that God’s glory is shown. This comes from the Spirit, too, as does the illumination of Scripture which informs obedience. All this work that must be done will be done by God.

We can’t do anything to make God more glorious. He’s already glorious! But, we ask that he use us to show that off and share his Flyness with the world.

When doubt creeps upon your face, ask that God would give you faith, shining brightly in all his glory to overwhelm despairing shadow with the faith that he has given to you, that you might know that he is true.

Only walk with him through the Gospel and you will see.

Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.
Romans 16:25-27

Amen, amen.

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
John 15:9-11

Forgive me, I’ve been moping sad depressed selfish and sinful as of late.

Jesus loves me!

That’s all I must know and with that simple truth, the Holy Spirit leads me to joy in the Word!

Now what is glorifying God, but a rejoicing at that glory he has displayed? An understanding of the perfections of God, merely, cannot be the end of the creation; for he had as good not understand it, as see it and not be at all moved with joy at the sight. Neither can the highest end of creation be the declaring God’s glory to others; for the declaring God’s glory is good for nothing otherwise than to raise joy in ourselves and others at what is declared.
Jonathan Edwards

My heart likes to think about itself in pity, but my heart is solely Jesus’ residence. There is no room for despair there.

Father, thank you for showing me what I already have for the millionth time. You make me happy when skies are grey, which is all the time in Seattle. Dad, I love you so much. What can sorrow do to me that I have you?

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”
John 21:15-17

I lie in saying this weekend wasn’t difficult. Sorrow exists only because of how sinful and broken we are. Sadness is not by design—it would not be so painful if it were.

This is compounded with the guilt of my own sin. Jesus, where have I not looked to you? Where have I stated myself as sufficient, my own strength as strong, my own love as loving?

Where do I deny you?

Peter wept bitterly after he fulfilled Jesus’ prophecy, denying him three times. I fail with Peter so often.

In these times, Jesus walks besides us and asks, “Do you love me?” He doesn’t do it for his own assurance, but for ours. In these times, when the guilt is heavy, we are prone to forget who Jesus is.

Charles Spurgeon writes on this:

Oh, might not the loving Savior, with pity in His languid eyes, have said to you, “Do you love Me?” I need not stop to mention the various sins of which you have been guilty. You have sinned, I am sure, enough to give good ground for self-suspicion, if you did not still hang on this—that His love to you, not your love to Him, is the seal of your discipleship.

Jesus! You carry me! I do not stand alone in carrying my burdens. I do not carry them at all.

When you ask me, “Do you love me?” I will reply to you, “Yes, because I know you loved me first.”

Father, my best days are no lighter than the mired black of my worst. In that, you came for me. In that, you died for me. In that, you loved me.

Make me to delight in the Gospel of Truth that proclaims your great love. Give me peace there, may my heart be joyful there.

Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish.
John 21:12-13

I don’t remember the Bible shaking my emotions as madly as it’s done with such frequency these past few days.

Tonight, my roommates went out to celebrate the birthday of one of their friends, so I had the apartment to myself and a halcyon evening ahead of me. I heated up a few leftovers and sat down with my Bible.

Before dinner, it had been a slow day. The day was good, but lethargic. I got to learn a new song on the guitar and I finished a few things for work, and I Skype’d briefly with an old friend of mine. A full day.

There’s a sharp realization that makes its way into your mind when you sit down at a table made for four and three of the seats are empty: “No, I’m not waiting for anyone.” I had yet to take a bite, but it only took a second for loneliness most unwelcome to silently make its way home.

When the disciples came to shore, they brought with them full nets, a successful trip, but Jesus still says to them, “Come and eat with me.” Jesus provided for them hot food, serving each of the seven and the the company of the one who loved them most.

Some days, when I step onto the beach after a long night at sea, my nets are still empty. In fact, for me, that’s most days. If the disciples needed for Jesus to give them strength when they had succeeded by all measures, then I’m going to need him even more.

Dinner was silent tonight. I tried to keep it that way, but sometimes my emotions wouldn’t let me. It’s so wonderful that Jesus spends time with me, but I feel so ashamed that everyday I’m like Thomas, doubting him, or like Peter, denying him, or like the others, who fled from him.

Even so, he gives me what I need, food for my body, comfort for my heart and rest for my soul.

He does all of this and already it overwhelms me, but then he tempers it with his motivation, making it impossibly more sweet: “I love you.”

“Do you love me?”

Jesus, you know everything; you know I do.

when Israel sought for rest,
the Lord appeared to him from far away.
I have loved you with an everlasting love;
therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.
Jeremiah 31:2-3

Father, I don’t deserve any of it, but still you love me and on that I have no doubts. Let the rest and strength that you give me be just the start of everything that you have in store for me. Keep me here with you until I’m ready; let me follow you when it’s time. Dad, I love you.

That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.
John 21:7

Are you like Peter, impulsive and cowardly? Are you like Peter, wrecked with sin? Are you like Peter, denying your Savior?

Are you like Peter, throwing yourself into the sea at the sight of Christ?

Gill writes of Peter’s desire:

Peter shows his great love and eagerness to be with him; and, as fearless of danger, risks all to be with Christ; his love being such, that many waters could not quench, nor floods drown.

The boat is safety, and there is the company of friends, too, but along the shore is Jesus and he is ready to bring you back Home.

I’ll throw myself into the sea, Jesus will get me to him.

Give me the widest ocean spanning the deepest of depths, even then will I dive in, because an ocean is still bounded. Jesus’ love for me is wider. His love for me is deeper.

Father, that’s one heck of an ocean. There’s so much danger. Lift my gaze from the waves to the shore, help me leave my boat behind.

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”
John 20:21

Jesus sends us out as he was sent out. It sounds simple enough, until the Spirit reminds you how Jesus was sent out.

So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them.
John 19:16-18

He gave up heaven and the angels worshipping him in all his glory to come down into history and creation, like a painter entering his painting, humbling himself to become an infant, doing all those infant things, growing up and living amongst the people that he loved so that in the end, he could die for them.

That’s how you’re sent: cross-culture, in complete humility to die for the Gospel of Peace.

That’s how I’m sent. No believer is exempt.

Every Christian is called to go make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching those to observe everything that Jesus has commanded because to him is given all authority.

What is stopping us? Fear of financial insecurity? Fear of what people will think?

Arthur Tappan Pierson writes:

Let all men face the fact that no outlay of men, money and means ever brought returns so rich and rapid as the mission enterprise; that even the seeming waste of precious lives has been but the breaking of the costly flask, filling the world with the odor of unselfish and heroic piety, and prompting to its imitation.

If you would only give your life away, imagine what God could do with it. Do you have that picture in your mind? He goes beyond that.

It may seem a waste to spend two of the best years of your life in India or Nepal, but there is nothing greater than to love and there is no greater love than to lay down your life for others.

John Piper shares this from a letter written by Francis Xavier:

The danger of all dangers would be to lose trust and confidence in the mercy of God… To distrust him would be a far more terrible thing than any physical evil which all the enemies of God put together could inflict on us, for without God’s permission neither the devils nor their human ministers could hinder us in the slightest degree.

Christian, do you trust God? Do you believe with your whole heart every single word in the Bible? If so, then you must know what to do.

Without him we are incapable of anything good. But he is always with us, and so we go.

Father, change our hearts to desire beautiful feet, bringing the Gospel to unreached places and unchurched peoples! Send your Holy Spirit to illumine the Bible for us that we would understand your commands and your promises, so that by the Spirit we could be obedient to what you have called us to do.

Dad, you are everything. Help me and all my brothers and sisters to live in Light of that.