Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today is Friday November 6, 2009 and we are continuing our studies in the book of John, please read chapters 13-16 in your Bible or Click Here to read them http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-november-6

Today's Message: Clean Your Feet
When you walk down this road of life in the flesh body you will get dirty, then Christ through your repentance will clean your feet.

Most of us have been taught by our parents/guardians that we are to respect our elders and those whom have authority over us. While this is a good thing, we must realize that no one has the right to belittle us or cause harm to us because we are in submission to their authority. It is one thing to show discipline, but another thing to be on a power trip. Jesus teaches us that even though we are to submit to authority, we are all to be there for one another. To show an example of this, Jesus begins washing His disciples feet. “Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. 6Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.” - John 13:3-10. Jesus is showing His disciples the position that they will have within the kingdom of heaven, and while serving Jesus Christ here on earth. When we see our Master serving us, we can not help, but realize that we are to be in submission to each other. Keep in mind that the people wore open sandals at this time, and the roads and paths were dirty and dusty. You could be bathed and go visit you neighbor, and your feet would be dirty again. Jesus is pointing out here that when your feet need to be washed, or bathed it doesn't mean that your whole body needed to be bathed also.

Whether we are in authority or a layman we are all servants of God and are to humble ourselves and serve one another. Jesus explains why He washed their feet, “So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.” - John 13:12-18. The point that Jesus is making here, is that if one is down, let the one standing wash the feet of the fallen brother. That is the time to clean him up, and help him. Anytime you walk in the flesh, you will fall short. It doesn't matter that you are bathed in the blood of Christ, you will still get dirty feet that needs cleansing, or repentance. The true believer is washed when he receives Christ for his salvation. See then what ought to be the daily care of those who through grace are in a justified state, and that is, to wash their feet, to cleanse themselves from daily guilt, and to watch against everything defiling. This should make us the more cautious. From yesterday's pardon, we should be strengthened against this day's temptation.

Some of the most comforting words of Jesus were spoken at the very moment that the religious leaders were planning how to kill Him and He knew it. “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know...........These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” - John 14:1-3, 25-27. No matter what situation we are in God is with us and will comfort us in our time of need, no matter how many times that is, and even if we submit to authority when we know morally it is wrong. God will give us a way out of every situation we are in, but it is up to us to ask Him for help. I was in a pretty bad relationship years ago, urged to live in sin by a man that was pretty charming and inviting. He got me into some things which were defiling to my mind, body, and soul. However, when I was at my worst and could not take it anymore I called on Jesus for help. He forgave me and washed my feet and now I live my life washing others feet. I thank God every day for taking me out of that situation and thank Jesus for saving me. In order for me to keep from being corrupted back into the world I daily cleanse myself with God's Word to cleanse myself from daily guilt, and to watch myself against everything defiling. He took me out of a corrupted world, He can take anyone who calls on Him. Never convince yourself or let anyone else convince you that your situation can not be changed. God will turn anyone's situation around. Praise God!

Today's Prayer:

Dear God,
Lord, as we experience Your amazing grace through Your forgiveness of our sins it compels us to also show compassion to others who have not yet applied Your grace to their lives. In reaching out to others who are still living in sin we must not lower our standards, nor do we want to appear more righteous then them.  So give us the words along with a compassionate heart to reach the lost without losing our soul or lowering our standards, as we choose to love the sinner and hate the sin. Cleanse us daily from any corruption that we are faced with. In Jesus' Name.........Amen.

Have a wonderful and blessed day/night
God Bless You,
Christina

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Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today is Thursday November 5, 2009 and we are continuing our studies in the book of John, please read chapters 10-11 in your Bible or Click Here to read them http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-november-5

Today's Message: Yield to His Word
We often have beautiful visions of what God has promised, and we may even quote them, but these alone do not measure our faith in the power of God's Word. It depends greatly upon our surrender to Him as Lord of our lives. If we truly desire God's best, we must truly yield to His Word.

The "occasion of grief" introduces us to one of the few homes where Jesus was lovingly received while He was on earth. But, at this time, its occupants were grieving as Lazarus' two sisters watched helplessly as their brother lay dying. Mary and Martha searched for Jesus and asked Him for help. “Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.” - John 11:1-4. Jesus is telling Mary and Martha that although Lazarus was dying he will not be taken away from them, his sickness has come to prove the glory to God and to show the miracle that the Son of God would perform so that He will be glorified as truly the Son of God. Often God will use a sickness or death to prove that He truly is God and still has the power to produce miracles.

Jesus heads toward Mary and Martha's house, but Lazarus has already died, knowing this, Jesus continues, but even His disciples question Him. They just did not understand when Jesus was talking about Lazarus sleeping, so Jesus spelled it out for them, Lazarus is dead. “These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.” - John 11:11-15. It was important that He arrived when Lazarus had died, if Jesus was there and touched Lazarus, he would have been healed, but then the lesson that Jesus would be teaching would not be given. Raising Lazarus from the dead would show once and for all that Jesus was the Son of God, and all power from God was given to Him. No one had ever been raised from the dead after they had been dead four days. The body would even be decomposing, and rotting by that time. There would be no way that anyone could accuse Christ of putting on a side show, or pulling a trick on the people by this miracle. It would be through this miracle of bringing Lazarus to life that Jesus would show Lazarus as well as Himself resurrected and doing fine.

Martha, meets Jesus as He was nearing the home and informs Him that he died. Although a little disappointed that Jesus had not gotten there sooner she inform Him that she still has faith in God. “Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this” - John 11:17-26. Jesus’ statement that “I am the resurrection and the life” was meant to convey the idea that eternal life is real to Jesus as God. It is not something He gives as if it were real to Him, rather it is a part of His essence that we partake when we are brought in union with Him through belief.

“Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.” - John 11:39-44. Jesus lifted up his eyes, not as if he applied to his Father for assistance. There is not the least show of this. He wrought the miracle with an air of absolute sovereignty, as the Lord of life and death. But it was as if he had said, I thank thee, that by the disposal of thy providence, thou hast granted my desire, in this remarkable opportunity of exerting my power, and showing forth thy praise. Jesus called him out of the tomb as easily as if he had been not only alive, but awake also. In order to strengthen their faith that He was the Resurrection and the Life, Jesus had delayed His arrival until four days after Lazarus' death. At Christ's Word, death set free its prisoner and Lazarus came forth from the grave. It is time to truly trust in the Lord and wait for Him!

Have a wonderful and blessed day/night
God Bless You,
Christina

Need More Inspiration?
Visit: I'm Following Jesus!
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Missed A Lesson?
Go to: Daily Bible Study
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Go to: I'm Ready to Get Saved
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