Book of John
This is what I usually do when I'm reading the word, I'll journal down the thoughts in my mind. The follow journey was done earlier this year while reading the book of John. I hope this entry will stir your hunger to read God's word.
Chapter 15
Verse 9-17
Jesus loves me a lot, just as the father has loved Jesus. This is the agape love, the unconditional love. Jesus commands us to love each other and remain in His love.
How do we remain in His love?
Sometimes is really hard to stay in God’s love, when people tell me something bad about me how do I love that person? I get so frustrated when facing words of correction sometimes. How can I love such a person, God and remain in your sweet presence and love? Jesus answered in verse 10 – if you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. How do we obey God’s commands? If we don’t know the commands we will definitely not obey it. I must constantly meditating thinking about God’s word, until it completely overtakes my mind. God’s command must become my passion. I must study the word, pray the word myself, also be around with people that love the word and do the same, as 2 Timothy says, pursue faith, hope, love along with those who calls on the Lord out of a pure heart. I must leave anything that has nothing to do with God’s commands behind. We can never leave this world, but I must avoid as much worldly activity as possible, such as surfing the Internet, watching television, going to movies, hanging out with people that loves the ways of the world. I must soak myself in the word—then I’ll remain in the love of Jesus.
Jesus then gives a huge promise. It’s mind blowing. He says “if” I do what God commands, Jesus will call me His friend. I am not the friend of God when I am not obeying God’s word, but if I can do the will of God, I am God’s friend. If I’ll hate this world, walk in love, humility, meekness, kindness, mercy, joy, if I walk in God’s truth, I am the friend of God.
What do friends do?
They share their hearts to each other. They talk intimate things. They share secrets. Friends understand each other, and help each other out in difficulties. Friends enjoy their times together in trials, in joy, in tears, in pain. When friends are together they don’t feel lonely.
If God calls me His friend, why don’t I feel like being God’s friend most of the time?
Am I obeying His word? am I keeping His commands? Do I love Him with all of my heart? Am I still abiding in the vine? in constant fellowship with God? I must believe I am the friend of God, and start acting like I am the best friend of Jesus. Telling Him everything on my heart, and depend on Him. When I experience great joy, I must not share it with anyone else before sharing with Jesus. I must learn to be a friend of God. I must learn the ways of God. Even when I don’t think I’m hearing from Him, I can understand the ways of God from His word and walk according to these principles. I must be found faithful/steady and strong in the eyes of God. Then I will be called the friends of God.
To have a good friend means, I know my friend very well, and I know what turns Him on or not. For example, I have a friend, who’s always active, likes to dance around, and love certain drinks, and jokes around a lot. Who hates when people reject her invitation which will make her really sad. I had studied my friend for a period of time to get to know her, her emotions, her characters, her looks, her heart, etc. In the same way, I must study the emotions of God as well, and everything about Him in order to become His friend. I mean we do this to our friends often times, but we never do it to God. In many ways, God is very human-like. He has emotions, and he likes surprises. But this friend is so Holy, and tender in heart, so meek, and loving, so undefiled, and pure, joyful, who's heart easily breaks. How can I draw near to Him, when my heart is deceitful and prideful and defiled? My heart is so different from His. How can we be friends, when we are so different? And because you never change, I must change and abolish the ways of this world, and become my friend's. And if this precious friend writes a letter to me about something important, I’ll be the first one to read every single word of it and tries understand it.
The song:
When I heard your voice, when you said my name, when I hear your voice my heart it yearns.
In the middle of the night, my heart it yearns.
I am yours! I am Yours!
I am yours! I am Yours!
I paid my vows no turning around
I’ve burned the bridges they can’t be found
Verse 18-25
Jesus introduces the concept of when one sees the manifest glory and power of God and is not moved towards God, the judgment of God has come upon him. Jesus came does not judge the world, but bring salvation, but His word is the judge, which will judge us in the end. When one sees the glory of God, the greater standard of Holiness is required of that person.
Why does Jesus introduce the concept of judgment while talking about the hatred from the world towards Jesus?
Chapter 16
Verse 12-15
Jesus promised the Spirit of Truth will come and teach us all things. He will tell us things to come. For we cannot bear all things at this point, but the Spirit of God will lead us by the hand and reveal the things of Jesus to us. Therefore, I must pay more attention to the Holy Spirit, I must pray in tongues more and communicate, fellowship with the Holy Spirit more often. Submitting myself to the greatest teacher—Holy Spirit.
Verse 31-32
Jesus predicts that he will face rejection from His most beloved disciples. Everyone he loves will leave him, but He says my father is with me. His confidence is in the Father. Father is always good, loving, kind, gentle, He will never leave us.
Chapter 17
Verse 13-19
The truth is the only means that we can be sanctified from the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and the boasting of what we have and do. Jesus says that God’s word is truth and this truth can sanctify us.
25-26
How do we have more love of Jesus in us? My heart is often filled with lust and jealousy, how can I walk in God’s love? Jesus promised that through the revelation of the father I will grow in His love, for He says I will continue to make the father known in order that the love of God has for Jesus may be in us and that Jesus may be in us. Interestingly, the more I know about the Father, the more Christ will be formed into my heart, and thus, the more love I’ll be walking in.
Chapter 19
Pilate learned that Jesus is the son of God when Jesus told him that he will not be where he is if God did not put him in place. Pilate was utterly afraid and seeks to set Jesus free. But the pressure was great from the Jews. Pilate’s decision is based on the fear of man, even his wife warned him about this man (remember the dream?). I must not be effected by the opinion of man, even when the pressure is great, and do the will of God
Chapter 15
Verse 9-17
Jesus loves me a lot, just as the father has loved Jesus. This is the agape love, the unconditional love. Jesus commands us to love each other and remain in His love.
How do we remain in His love?
Sometimes is really hard to stay in God’s love, when people tell me something bad about me how do I love that person? I get so frustrated when facing words of correction sometimes. How can I love such a person, God and remain in your sweet presence and love? Jesus answered in verse 10 – if you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. How do we obey God’s commands? If we don’t know the commands we will definitely not obey it. I must constantly meditating thinking about God’s word, until it completely overtakes my mind. God’s command must become my passion. I must study the word, pray the word myself, also be around with people that love the word and do the same, as 2 Timothy says, pursue faith, hope, love along with those who calls on the Lord out of a pure heart. I must leave anything that has nothing to do with God’s commands behind. We can never leave this world, but I must avoid as much worldly activity as possible, such as surfing the Internet, watching television, going to movies, hanging out with people that loves the ways of the world. I must soak myself in the word—then I’ll remain in the love of Jesus.
Jesus then gives a huge promise. It’s mind blowing. He says “if” I do what God commands, Jesus will call me His friend. I am not the friend of God when I am not obeying God’s word, but if I can do the will of God, I am God’s friend. If I’ll hate this world, walk in love, humility, meekness, kindness, mercy, joy, if I walk in God’s truth, I am the friend of God.
What do friends do?
They share their hearts to each other. They talk intimate things. They share secrets. Friends understand each other, and help each other out in difficulties. Friends enjoy their times together in trials, in joy, in tears, in pain. When friends are together they don’t feel lonely.
If God calls me His friend, why don’t I feel like being God’s friend most of the time?
Am I obeying His word? am I keeping His commands? Do I love Him with all of my heart? Am I still abiding in the vine? in constant fellowship with God? I must believe I am the friend of God, and start acting like I am the best friend of Jesus. Telling Him everything on my heart, and depend on Him. When I experience great joy, I must not share it with anyone else before sharing with Jesus. I must learn to be a friend of God. I must learn the ways of God. Even when I don’t think I’m hearing from Him, I can understand the ways of God from His word and walk according to these principles. I must be found faithful/steady and strong in the eyes of God. Then I will be called the friends of God.
To have a good friend means, I know my friend very well, and I know what turns Him on or not. For example, I have a friend, who’s always active, likes to dance around, and love certain drinks, and jokes around a lot. Who hates when people reject her invitation which will make her really sad. I had studied my friend for a period of time to get to know her, her emotions, her characters, her looks, her heart, etc. In the same way, I must study the emotions of God as well, and everything about Him in order to become His friend. I mean we do this to our friends often times, but we never do it to God. In many ways, God is very human-like. He has emotions, and he likes surprises. But this friend is so Holy, and tender in heart, so meek, and loving, so undefiled, and pure, joyful, who's heart easily breaks. How can I draw near to Him, when my heart is deceitful and prideful and defiled? My heart is so different from His. How can we be friends, when we are so different? And because you never change, I must change and abolish the ways of this world, and become my friend's. And if this precious friend writes a letter to me about something important, I’ll be the first one to read every single word of it and tries understand it.
The song:
When I heard your voice, when you said my name, when I hear your voice my heart it yearns.
In the middle of the night, my heart it yearns.
I am yours! I am Yours!
I am yours! I am Yours!
I paid my vows no turning around
I’ve burned the bridges they can’t be found
Verse 18-25
Jesus introduces the concept of when one sees the manifest glory and power of God and is not moved towards God, the judgment of God has come upon him. Jesus came does not judge the world, but bring salvation, but His word is the judge, which will judge us in the end. When one sees the glory of God, the greater standard of Holiness is required of that person.
Why does Jesus introduce the concept of judgment while talking about the hatred from the world towards Jesus?
Chapter 16
Verse 12-15
Jesus promised the Spirit of Truth will come and teach us all things. He will tell us things to come. For we cannot bear all things at this point, but the Spirit of God will lead us by the hand and reveal the things of Jesus to us. Therefore, I must pay more attention to the Holy Spirit, I must pray in tongues more and communicate, fellowship with the Holy Spirit more often. Submitting myself to the greatest teacher—Holy Spirit.
Verse 31-32
Jesus predicts that he will face rejection from His most beloved disciples. Everyone he loves will leave him, but He says my father is with me. His confidence is in the Father. Father is always good, loving, kind, gentle, He will never leave us.
Chapter 17
Verse 13-19
The truth is the only means that we can be sanctified from the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and the boasting of what we have and do. Jesus says that God’s word is truth and this truth can sanctify us.
25-26
How do we have more love of Jesus in us? My heart is often filled with lust and jealousy, how can I walk in God’s love? Jesus promised that through the revelation of the father I will grow in His love, for He says I will continue to make the father known in order that the love of God has for Jesus may be in us and that Jesus may be in us. Interestingly, the more I know about the Father, the more Christ will be formed into my heart, and thus, the more love I’ll be walking in.
Chapter 19
Pilate learned that Jesus is the son of God when Jesus told him that he will not be where he is if God did not put him in place. Pilate was utterly afraid and seeks to set Jesus free. But the pressure was great from the Jews. Pilate’s decision is based on the fear of man, even his wife warned him about this man (remember the dream?). I must not be effected by the opinion of man, even when the pressure is great, and do the will of God
Comments