Apicontent

Today’s Reading: John 8:48-59

Hearing God’s Voice for Today:

“‘Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.’ So the Jews said to him, ‘You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.’ So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.”

* * * * *

These words are among the most significant Jesus ever spoke. He told the Jews that Abraham rejoiced to see his day. The Father had promised Abraham that, through his son Isaac, all the nations would be blessed. Abraham had a joyful confidence that promise would come true.

Christ’s death and resurrection unleashed the blessing of salvation upon all the nations, thus fulfilling the promise. During his life, Abraham looked forward to the day when this promise would be fulfilled. In heaven, he finally saw it fully realized.

The Jews still didn’t understand. They objected loudly to this teaching, saying Jesus was not yet fifty years old and Abraham had lived a thousand-plus years earlier. How could Jesus have known him?

That’s when Jesus made his clear claim to deity. There was no mistake about what he was saying. He claimed to have lived before Abraham. He existed in eternity before Abraham was ever conceived. He claimed transcendence over time—something only God could claim.

In Exodus 3:14, God gave Moses his name: “I am who I am.” By saying, “Before Abraham existed, I am,” Jesus was claiming not only to be eternal, but the very God who appeared to Moses and told him his name.

The Jews had no doubt about what Jesus was saying. They “picked up stones” to kill him for blasphemy—the prescribed Old Testament punishment for false teaching. But he escaped, for his time for death had not yet come.

How will you respond to Jesus’ claim to deity? The Jews understood his claim and wanted him eliminated. Is this your response? Not to make a decision about him is to make a decision. You are either on his side or against him. There is no neutrality when it comes to following him.

When you believe in Jesus and decide to follow him, you acknowledge he is the great I am. He is not the great I was. Your past has been forgiven. He is not the great I will be—though he perfectly oversees your future. He is the great I am.

Whatever you are facing today is where he will be. He is your present help in all times of trouble. He is your sufficiency this moment. He is with you today—and all days. He asks that you have faith in him for today’s worries alone. Tomorrow has enough worries of its own. He knows the price of five sparrows—two copper coins. Yet he doesn’t forget a single one of them when they fall to the ground. You are more valuable than sparrows. He knows the number of hairs on your head. He knows you intimately as well.

Believe it’s true.

Because it is.

[from “Hearing the Voice of God” by Pastor David Chadwick, Moments of Hope Church, Charlotte, NC]

Today’s Reading: John 9:1-7

Hearing God’s Voice for Today:

“As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ Jesus answered, ‘It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.’”

* * * * *

As Jesus and his disciples passed by a man born blind, they asked the Lord a question based on a popular assumption of that day. They wondered if the man was blind because of his sin or his parents’ sin. They believed wrongly that all human suffering is somehow connected to a person’s sin.

Their question was well-intentioned. They didn’t want to connect the Father with being the source of evil. They wanted to blame human suffering on sin, not the Father in heaven.

But Jesus needed to correct their thinking. His life is an example that shows that not all suffering is connected to sin. He was perfect and sinless in every way, yet he experienced excruciating pain, rejection, grief, and agony during his life on earth and on the cross.

Jesus told the disciples this man wasn’t born blind because of his sin or his parents’ sin. Rather, the Father in heaven had permitted this so his power and glory might be displayed through him.

What does this mean? Sometimes, God, in his mysterious providence, permits suffering that has no relation to sin. He does this so people can experience and see the Father’s extraordinary grace, mercy, and power delivering them from evil.

Yes, some suffering is caused by your sin. You may be paying the consequences for some bad choices you’ve made. Perhaps you broke the Father’s moral law. There are consequences when we live life against his will.

Or perhaps someone else hurt you by no fault of your own. We live connected to one another. There is a necessary interdependence in this world. Consequently, someone else’s bad choices can hurt us. Or maybe you just made a foolish mistake and are paying for it.

Whatever you may be going through today, trust Jesus. Know that he is a deliverer. He loves to show his power to people who are weak. He enjoys giving strength to weak hands and buckling knees. He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds. He has compassion on your suffering. He comforts you in all your troubles. There’s purpose in the pain.

If you believe this, you have the privilege of seeing him use evil for good. It gives you an opportunity to glorify him with greater gusto and zeal.

Jesus promised that he will share in your sufferings. His humanity allowed him to know what you are experiencing, feel what you are feeling. He mourns and cries with you. As you hurt, he hurts.

But he will never forsake you. His death and resurrection conquered all sin, suffering, and death.

Draw near to him today. He promises he will draw near to you.

[from “Hearing the Voice of God” by Pastor David Chadwick, Moments of Hope Church, Charlotte, NC]

Today’s Reading: John 9:8-12

Hearing God’s Voice for Today:

“He answered, ‘The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, “Go to Siloam and wash.” So I went and washed and received my sight.’”

* * * * *

After Jesus gave sight to the blind man, the man’s neighbors didn’t recognize him. Some said it was the blind man, now with sight. Others said it looked like him, but it was not him. But the blind man said repeatedly, “I am the man.”

They asked, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He told his story. He shared how Jesus made mud and anointed his eyes. Then Jesus told him to go to the pool at Siloam and wash his eyes, and his sight would be restored. He did what he had been told to do, and his eyes were opened.

The blind man’s testimony spoke loudly. Jesus came to change lives. All he asks is that you go share your changed life with others. They may want to argue doctrine, orthodoxy, or trivial Bible perspectives. But they cannot argue your testimony or your changed life. The blind man now saw. He shared this truth. That’s all Jesus asks of you as well. Just share what happened to you. It’s your best witness for him.

Please note as well that there is great power in simple obedience. The blind man obeyed what Jesus asked him to do, and the Lord used him mightily. It’s a profound part of faithfully following him. You don’t have to understand every fine point of theology to obey him. Just do what he tells you to do. Simply obey him—in all things great and small. And incredible results can follow when you do so.

Jesus’ heart yearns for you to know his supernatural, unconditional, and healing love. He longs for you to know his life-changing eternal grace, mercy, and compassion. When you know these things inside you, there is no problem or obstacle you can’t face in your life.

If you love the Lord, you will desire to obey all that he has commanded you to do.

There may be some days you don’t feel like it. Obey him anyway. There may be some times your circumstances are daunting and you’re tempted to take the easy way out. Obey him anyway. There may be times when peer pressure tempts you to follow the crowd and not him. Obey him anyway.

Simple obedience. It will tell others how he has changed your life. Don’t be ashamed of what he has done for you. Do every small thing he asks you to do—even if it seems as silly as putting mud in your eyes and washing it off in a pool. Faith and obedience are undeniably connected.

And remember that the Lord withholds no good thing from those who do what is right. Joyful are those who obey his will and search for him with all their hearts. Desire that your actions consistently reflect God’s will. There should be no shame when you compare your life with his commands.

If you want to increase your faith, obey Jesus. When you do, your faith will grow. Miracles will increase.

And he will be glorified.

[from “Hearing the Voice of God” by Pastor David Chadwick, Moments of Hope Church, Charlotte, NC]

Today’s Reading: John 9:13-17

Hearing God’s Voice for Today:

“Some of the Pharisees said, ‘This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.’”

* * * * *

The blind man Jesus had healed was taken to the Pharisees. They were the leaders and watchdogs over Jewish propriety regarding the Law. They were exceedingly upset that Jesus had given sight to him on the Sabbath.

When the Lord used saliva to make the mud to put on the blind man’s eyes, the Jewish leaders made an association with one of their 39 classes of work forbidden on the Sabbath. This was in accordance with the Mishnah—what the Jewish leaders used to interpret the Law. They continued to carefully quiz the man—looking for any reason to condemn Jesus.

Why do people try to reduce God’s love and compassion to rules and regulations? The Father in heaven’s relationship with the Israelites began in intimacy with their deliverance from Egyptian slavery. The Law, given at Mount Sinai, was given after the relationship with him was established. Grace came first. Then came the Law.

But instead of the Law being a means to an end, it became the end itself. Making sure no work was done on the Sabbath became more important than giving sight to a man born blind. The Jewish leaders failed to understand that the Sabbath was made for man—to help him worship God and rest—not man for the Sabbath. It was a gift from the Father.

How easy it is for this to happen to Jesus’ followers! He desires to enter into a personal, living, and dynamic relationship with you. He wants you to know him intimately and experience his great grace. Obedience to his Law flows from this relationship.

But some people continue to reduce his grace to rules and regulations. They form a spiritual checklist—Bible study, prayer, fasting, service, church attendance—check, check, check, check, check. Then they think they’ve been faithful.

How sad! A living relationship is reduced to a list of do’s and don’ts. Eventually your heart will harden. Your love will vanish like a vapor before the morning sun. A scowl will replace a smile. Your shoulders will become heavy and your heart weary. You will always wonder if you are ever doing enough to please the Lord.

Come to him today. Know how much he cares for you. Believe that his most important priority is a personal relationship with you. He is your friend. Know how much he loves you. In response, love him with all your heart, soul, mind, and might. Then love your neighbor as you love yourself.

Loving God and your neighbor is the encapsulation of all the Law. As you do these two things, you’ll discover a lifetime’s worth of work to do.

And your life will have meaning like never before.

[from “Hearing the Voice of God” by Pastor David Chadwick, Moments of Hope Church, Charlotte, NC]

Today’s Reading: John 9:18-23

Hearing God’s Voice for Today:

“The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man and asked them, ‘Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?’”

* * * * *

Why is it so difficult for people to believe in Jesus? Why do they try to find every possible excuse to deny he can accomplish the impossible? Why do they keep seeking human reasons to explain away his miraculous power?

That’s what happened here after he healed the man born blind. The Jewish leaders wouldn’t accept the miracle. They went to the parents of the man to find out if he really had been born blind. They couldn’t accept that Jesus had given sight to a man born blind, a man who possessed a simple and obedient faith. That’s because they had no faith.

What is faith?

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. By faith, people believe that the Father in heaven created the world with a word. He made it from things not visible. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. Whoever wants to have a deep faith must not only believe that he exists, but that he rewards those who diligently seek him.

Faith never looks at the size of the mountain in one’s path, but the size of the God who rules over all. And it’s not the size of your faith that’s important. If you have faith even the size of a mustard seed, you can say to a mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move.

Faith believes that all things are possible with God. It believes that the God who miraculously created the world can still do the miraculous to achieve his divine purposes.

Faith believes that the Father in heaven can create a dry path through a large sea, make the sun stand still, feed thousands with five loaves and two fish, calm a storm with a word, heal the blind and the lame, and raise someone from the dead.

Do you have this kind of faith? Diligently seek the Father in heaven. Believe in him. Believe also in Jesus.

Believe that the Father wants to give you good gifts. If earthly fathers, who are inherently evil, love to give good gifts to their children, how much more does the heavenly Father love to give good gifts to his children who totally trust him?

Speak to the mountains that hinder you about the greatness of your God. Tell them to dissolve into the heart of the sea. Stop permitting the size of life’s mountains to determine your life’s destination. Dismiss destructive doubt. Trust in the Lord’s miraculous power and realize that life’s most beautiful vistas are found at the top of the highest mountains.

He will keep in perfect peace all those who trust in him, all those whose thoughts are fixed on him.¹

Today, believe that Jesus is able to do more than you could ever think or imagine.

All things are possible with God.

[from “Hearing the Voice of God” by Pastor David Chadwick, Moments of Hope Church, Charlotte, NC]

Today’s Reading: John 8:12-20

Hearing God’s Voice for Today:

“Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’”

* * * * *

Here is the second of Jesus’ “I am” statements in John’s Gospel. He is sharing his true identity—God in human flesh, sent from heaven as the light of salvation. He came to give light to all human darkness.

Jesus shines his light into the darkness of your soul, revealing how dark it truly is. This light also reveals the steps to escaping your darkened condition and moving into the light. He shows you the answers to the questions that haunt your heart.

You wonder if there is life after this one? Jesus shines his light toward heaven’s gates to show you your way home. You wonder if that wound left in darkness will ever heal? He shines his light into your hurting heart to begin your healing. You wonder if there’s any future for you? He shines his light into your despairing heart to give you hope. You wonder if it’s safe to keep moving forward in life? He shines his light on your life’s path so you will know the next step you should take.

Jesus is the light of the world. More importantly, he is your light in the world. When you know him and trust him with every area of your life, you have the source of all light living inside you.

His light is stronger than any darkness. Light a single match in a dark room, and it overpowers the darkness. Likewise, all darkness must flee before the overpowering strength of Jesus’ light—no matter how small it may be.

The sun, moon, and stars prove this reality. They overcome all darkness. And the brighter the light, the less darkness there is. Think about the sun at high noon on a cloudless day. There is no darkness. There is only clarity.

But think about this reality as well: In heaven there will be no need for a sun, moon, or stars. Jesus’ very presence will light up the New Jerusalem and all of heaven. His light will dominate every part of the new heaven and new earth.

He is the light of all other lights. He is the light of the world. He is your light today as you walk in this world. He is a lamp to your feet, showing you your next step as you move toward your eternal destiny.

Believe in Jesus today. Trust him with your next step. Believe what he says about himself. Call on him in your time of trouble. He wants to rescue you.

Jesus has not forgotten about you. He helps the fallen and lifts them up beneath their loads. Though you may trip, you will never fall. He holds you by your hand and listens to your cries for help. He is the strength of your heart. You belong to him. He is yours forever. He is your light.

In him, all your places of darkness can be overcome.

He is stronger than any dark place in your life.

[from “Hearing the Voice of God” by Pastor David Chadwick, Moments of Hope Church, Charlotte, NC]

Today’s Reading: John 8:1-11

Hearing God’s Voice for Today:

“He stood up and said to them, ‘Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.’ And even more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.”

* * * * *

A woman had been caught in the act of adultery. The religious leaders badgered Jesus to have her stoned to death in accordance with the Law of Moses. They tried relentlessly to entrap him. If he had agreed she should be stoned to death, he would have been accused of having a hard heart and no compassion. If he hadn’t agreed, they would have accused him of not obeying the Law of Moses.

In anger and arrogance, the crowd clutched their stones. Jesus’ slightest nod of approval would have triggered the first stone to be hurled. His response was different than anticipated. He asked for the person who had never sinned to throw the first stone.

Then Jesus continued to write in the sand. What did he write? Some believe he scribbled down the sins of those ready to jettison rocks— their lack of compassion, their hypocrisy, pride, arrogance, and self-righteousness. Perhaps he wrote the name of the woman—whose life he lovingly clutched in his hands.

Then the Holy Spirit began to prick the hearts of those in the crowd. Slowly but surely, he convicted them of their own sins. As the defenseless woman quivered in fear, each person began dropping the stones they were clutching—beginning with the oldest.

This is how it should be. All have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. But the older a person becomes, the more aware he is of his wicked, selfish, and deceitful heart. The longer people live, the more opportunities they’ve had to realize their selfish motives and actions.

People love Jesus in direct proportion to how great a sinner they know themselves to be. If you don’t think you’ve sinned much, you won’t love him much. But if you know you are a great sinner, you will love him greatly.

Today, open your heart wide to the convictions of the Holy Spirit. Let him prick your heart of your pride. Let him make you aware of your arrogance. Let him confront your lack of compassion. Let him expose your hypocrisy. Let him reveal how far you have fallen short of the Father’s perfect will for your life.

Blessed are the poor in spirit. They alone know God’s kingdom. Blessed are those who mourn over the sinful condition of their soul. They alone receive the comfort of his forgiveness and grace. Blessed are the broken. They alone know the fullness of his love.

Are you broken today? Have you come to grips with your rebellion against God?

If so, you are ready to drop your stones of self-righteousness and receive Jesus’ full forgiveness, grace, mercy, love, and kindness. Your guilt is gone. You are made right with God. His love lives inside you.

You will go and sin no more. You will love the Lord more than you love your sin.

Realizing your sinfulness is the necessary first step in your relationship with him.

[from “Hearing the Voice of God” by Pastor David Chadwick, Moments of Hope Church, Charlotte, NC]

Today’s Reading: John 6:41-51

Hearing God’s Voice for Today:

“Jesus answered them, ‘Do not grumble among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.’”

* * * * *

The Jews grumbled because Jesus had said he was the bread that came down from heaven. They even hinted at the rumors of his purported illegitimate birth. It’s a classic strategy of debate. If you don’t like the argument, attack the person making the argument.

Be careful about grumbling. It caused the Israelites to wander in the wilderness for 40 years. It’s unbelief. It shows you don’t trust the Lord. It’s sin. If you complain, you remain in the wilderness. Do not grumble among yourselves—ever! Rather, believe. Trust Jesus in every facet of your life. The opposite of grumbling is trust.

And remember this truth: Anyone who believes in the Son does so solely because the Father in heaven draws him. That was why he sent Jesus.

There is nothing meritorious within you to earn Jesus’ favor. You were dead in your sins and trespasses. That means only a divine power outside of you can give you life. Before you chose Jesus, the Spirit was working on your heart to make you alive in him.

Why is this important? It means God alone receives the praise and glory. It makes him alone the one worthy of all honor, dominion, and power. He alone is the author and finisher of your faith. He alone demands all our life, soul, mind, and energy. In light of all that, he alone is worthy of your worship.

How does the Father’s perfect sovereignty and your will work together for your eternal salvation? Some people see these two truths as contradictory. But they are not. They are like two train tracks that run parallel with one another until they ostensibly come together on the distant horizon. They seem disparate here. But they do come together in the future. We may not understand this now, but we will in eternity.

Heavenly mysteries belong to God alone. Don’t let your puny, finite mind dwell on things too difficult and majestic for you to understand.

One day you will comprehend doctrinal difficulties. Questions that puzzled you will be answered. Now you look through a mirror dimly. Later, you will see the Lord face-to-face. And he will explain all to you.

That’s why the most-often-spoken word in heaven will be “Oh!” As Jesus explains to you all that you didn’t understand, your eternal eyes will widen with amazement as you grasp why he was doing what he did in your life. “Oh! Oh! Oh!” you will continually exclaim.

There is eternal purpose in everything. God has reasons for all that he allows to happen in your life. In eternity, it will all make sense to you.

Until then, continue to trust him. He drew you to the Father. He will raise you up on the last day.

[from “Hearing the Voice of God” by Pastor David Chadwick, Moments of Hope Church, Charlotte, NC]

Today’s Reading: John 6:52-59

Hearing God’s Voice for Today:

“The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’ So Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.’”

* * * * *

Is this teaching difficult for you to understand? Here, Jesus is teaching deep, internal, and eternal truths using a human illustration. So don’t take this literally.

What was he teaching? To “eat my flesh” and “drink my blood” means to ingest him totally in your life. It means trusting him completely— especially when it comes to his death on the cross and the forgiveness of your sins. You need to ingest and digest the reality of his grace, mercy, and kindness living in you every day. You need to chew on it like a cow does its cud, letting his grace and mercy nourish you throughout the day.

This truth is also expressed at the communion table the Lord gave to you. Whenever you receive the bread and wine, representing Jesus’ flesh and blood, you are reminded of and experience anew his spiritual presence in your life. You remember the meaning and significance of the cross. You know the Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to anger, and filled with unfailing grace. Your faith in him is renewed. Your life in him is mysteriously recharged.

You know you have eternal life. You know you will be raised up on the last day. There should be no doubt in your mind. It’s an absolute certainty. Death has lost its sting. The grave has been conquered.

This is pure, profound, and prolific unconditional love. It’s not that you first loved him, but that he first loved you. Before the foundations of the earth were ever formed, he first loved you. His love for you began before this world was ever made.

Jesus gave up his life as an atoning sacrifice for your sins. He took upon himself the punishment you deserved so he could give you the gift of eternal life. He went through the agony of his suffering so his grace could consume your heart.

Eat of his flesh. Drink of his blood. Be totally consumed with his grace. It’s inexhaustible.

Jesus is eager to relent and not punish. He loves to repay two blessings for each of your troubles. He loves you so very much!

This love is patient and kind. It doesn’t envy or boast. It isn’t arrogant or rude. It doesn’t need to be right. It isn’t irritable or resentful. It doesn’t rejoice with evil, but celebrates the truth. This love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. It never fails.

Nor will this love fail you today. It will be profusely powerful in your heart no matter what you may face. This love that sustains you today will one day carry you into Jesus’ presence.

Feed on this truth.

And you will be filled with the joy of his presence.

[from “Hearing the Voice of God” by Pastor David Chadwick, Moments of Hope Church, Charlotte, NC]

Today’s Reading: John 6:60-71

Hearing God’s Voice for Today:

“After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the Twelve, ‘Do you want to go as well?’ Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know that you are the Holy One of God.’”

* * * * *

Many followed Jesus after he had fed them. But when he talked about eating his flesh and drinking his blood—being totally committed to him until death—the masses melted away. They followed him only as long as he met their needs.

Don’t misunderstand. He is concerned for your daily needs. You are to pray to the Father to give you your daily bread.

But following Jesus is not about him benefiting you. It’s about your willingness to do what he says no matter what the cost. The crowds weren’t willing to pay this price.

Is this you? Do you follow the Lord only for what he will give to you? Or do you follow him because you know that he alone holds the keys for a meaningful life? As he died for you, are you willing to die for him? That’s the cost of discipleship.

After the masses had left, Jesus asked the Twelve if they were going to leave him as well. Simon Peter answered correctly. He realized that only Jesus had the words of eternal life. He recognized Jesus was the Holy One of God. He realized there was no other person who held this truth. Peter had believed in him. His faith was settled.

Is your faith settled? Is there any room for doubt? There should not be. Your doubt will cause your faith to be tossed to and fro—like the tide erasing a truth you just etched in the sand. It forces a divided loyalty. That’s why your faith should not waver.

How will you know if you truly are one of Jesus’ disciples? You will be one of his disciples tomorrow. And the day after that. And the day after that. Your perseverance in faith until the end of your life proves you are one of his faithful followers.

Yes, you will still have much to learn about following Jesus. That’s okay. The Twelve had much to learn as well. Just keep learning. Keep obeying what he says—even if you don’t understand why. He has his reasons. Sometimes they are hidden in heaven. But there are reasons behind his principles. Trust and obey them—and him. Every time you do, your faith grows stronger.

He alone holds the words of eternal life. No one else does. Every other teaching pales in comparison to his.

Jesus is the Holy One, sent from his Father in heaven because of his great love for you. He is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Your eternity is in his hands.

Trust him today in everything that happens to you.

And remember this truth: Only Jesus holds the words to eternal life.

[from “Hearing the Voice of God” by Pastor David Chadwick, Moments of Hope Church, Charlotte, NC]