In fact, Jesus has to initiate further conversation to move these arrest forward. He helps remind them why they are there and again that He is who they are seeking.

I believe these men were struck by the majesty of our Lord. When He said “I Am”, I think they were having an “every knee shall bow and every tongue confess” moment. He is the great I AM.

A couple of quick observations:

Jesus was obeying the Father perfectly and fulfilling every prophecy spoken of Him previously that all these events may be done perfectly in truth.

Jesus’ life was not taken from Him, but was freely given by Him. He has the authority to lay it down and take it up again. These events were not outside His control or the Father’s plan.

Jesus went to great lengths for your salvation including enduring mockery, being beaten beyond recognition, death on a cross, and even separation from His Father.

Who else in this life loves you that much to endure all that for you? Who else has a solution to your problem with sin? Who else is always with you and will never leave or forsake you? Who else gives you true meaning and purpose that brings joy?

Spend time today praising our God and thanking Him for the gift of salvation. Thank the Son for His willingness to endure all that He did for us, and the Spirit for the gifts He has given and taking up residence in us to guide us.

#MPWarrior

#TheyDrewBackAndFell

#HeIsLord

I had been trying to hold my life’s pieces together by myself and it seems that I had reached my limit in that moment. More importantly, through the truth shared from God’s word, I had entered into the presence of Jesus Christ. 

I have to admit I was a little caught off guard.  Perhaps that was because, like Paul said, Jesus is light and there is no darkness in Him at all.  Being in the presence of Jesus’ pure holiness causes our darkness to be see clearly.  That night, for the first time, I clearly saw the darkness of my soul; my blatant disregard for my loving Father in heaven, my willful disobedience and self-centeredness.  I felt worthy to be in His presence.  

As Simon (Peter) was cleaning his nets from the unproductive attempts , he likewise had an encounter with Jesus.  Our Lord requested that he put out into deep water and let down the nets again.   I’m sure Peter was tired, frustrated and there may have been a hint of sarcasticastic tone as he speaks to Jesus but obeys.  The nets end up getting filled to full measure so much so that it takes two boats to haul in the catch.  Peter falls at Jesus feet and says “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!”  

There are three things that stand out to me in this passage about the presence of Jesus. 

HUMBLED- Jesus is light and therefore exposes our darkness.  Peter was humbled. Jesus didn’t comment on Peter’s sin.  He didn’t have to. The powerful presence of His holiness and light revealed that Peter was not worthy to be in His presence. 

DEPENDENT- With God all things are possible. Peter had worked hard all night without any success.  I’m sure he had used years of experience and every trick he knew and yet his hands were empty.  Peter was taught a simple lesson that he would need reminding of later.  We need to be dependent on the Lord, not our own hands, to provide. 

PREPARED – Jesus prepares us for our mission.  Later in the text we see Jesus tell Peter that he will be a fisher of men.  To do this it was necessary that he be humbled and dependent.  As they arrive at shore, a new journey in life began for Peter as he leftbehind everything and followed Jesus. 

Reflection

I believe those of us who sincerely profess Jesus as Lord must remain humble and dependent as we walk out our mission as fishers of men.  One of the biggest dangers in the Christian life is forgetting the holiness of God and thereby our need of Him. 

Take some time to remember back to when you first understood your sinful nature and your need of Jesus. 

Are you still operating in that humility and dependence?

Prayer

Father, let us never discount your holiness and think that we are good enough.  May our hearts ever desire to be more obedient and dependent on You.  Hide Your word in our heart that we might not sin against you.  Fuel us by every word that proceeds out of Your mouth as we fish for the men and women You have set in our path.  We lift all this in the powerful and holy name of Jesus, Amen!

(Matthew 22:37-40 NASB)

So we find the whole law and prophets depends on love. 

We also know from God’s truth that Jesus said:

 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.”

(Matthew 5:17 NASB)

So in essence Jesus loved the law into completion. His love in action did something that our performance never never do. It perfectly satisfied every requirements of the law and reconciled our relationship with our Father in heaven.

#truthtalk4life #knowlivespeaktruthinlove

Make sure to share and add these hashtags above to encourage others with God’s word!
@brianfriedl 
Note: All Bible quotes are taken from the New American Standard Bible offered by youversion.com unless otherwise stated.

This I know: Our Father in heaven has not abandoned us, left us or forsaken us just because things are not working according to our plan. He will perfect the work He started in each one of us.  Sometimes it might just be that we are having a hard time learning a particular lesson so we get stuck in a place for a while.  God’s plan is patiently unfolding even in our stumbling.  He is sovereign over all and uses every experience:

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”  ~ Romans‬ ‭8:28‬ ‭NASB‬‬

He is developing our character and is concerned about heart; forever training us in righteousness, grace and love. 

What is He teaching you today?   What is He asking from you?  Is there something you have not surrendered? 

Whatever it may be I am likewise confident that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus!

@brianfriedl

#truthtalk4life

When we truly grasp the promises of God, we desire to be holy and He is holy. What are those promises mentioned here specifically? If you turn back a chapter we find these these:
1) We are the temple of the living God

2) He will dwell with us

3) He will be our God

4) We will be His people

5) He will be a Father to us

6) We will be sons and daughters to Him

If you are a believer, the one true living and sovereign God over all the universe has taken up residence in you. Furthermore He has chosen this place as His temple.  

Let that soak in for a minute. Much more, He has chosen us as His sons and daughters. 

This truth should, through His Spirit and grace, cause us to desire for that temple to be clean and undefiled. There should be no corner left unexamined. As I write this, I am convicted and encouraged by what the Lord is showing me. I am renewed even more that I must defend the testimony that He has given me and clean the Lord’s temple (my flesh and spirit)

May we meditate on these promises today and examine our lives honestly. May we also confess and turn from any sin that is defiling us, placing our complete trust in Christ and His finished work at the cross. 

@brianfriedl

#truthtalk4life

1) A chosen race

2) A royal priesthood

3) A holy nation

4) A people for His own possession

It’s important that we are not distracted and miss one little word that ties his plan together. What comes after the word so? All of these titles given to us are so that we can proclaim the excellencies of our marvelous father in heaven!

Personal Reflection

We were once not a people but now we are His. Are you aware of who God has made you to be and why?  Take time to reflect on the love you have been given to receive the 4 names above.  We deserve nothing and yet He has given us everything!

Are you proclaiming the excellencies of your Heavenly Father with every part of your being?  That means your mind, your heart, your mouth and your body.  

Make today a day when all of you is in line with Him and your praise overflows!

Prayer Focus

Heavenly Father, we praise You for calling us out of darkness and into the light;for saving us from the bondage of sin and death; for making us who we are and giving us a vessel to proclaim Your excellencies!  We pray all of this in the precious name of Jesus, Amen!

“But God”; two words that interrupt this cycle of sin and provide hope.  But God, in His great faithfulness and mercy, hears us when we see the mess we’ve made and turn back to Him and cry out.  He has made a provision for every stumbling, for every transgression.  For the blood of Jesus has washed every stain you have ever caused to be white as the purest untouched snow in the most beautiful of places.  He has the power to redeem every situation no matter its complexity.

You are declared clean when you put your faith in God’s provision of Jesus and His finished work at the cross.  When God looks at you He sees the righteousness of His Son. You are no longer held captive, but instead are free to live a life in the Lord. Will you stumble again?  Most likely. Don’t waste your time beating yourself up. Acknowledge your weakness, mourn your sin, turn and cry out. For He will hear your cry.

Personal Reflection

By all means learn from your mistakes but remember:  Every moment spent beating yourself up over your bad choices is a moment you miss gazing at our beautiful LORD and sharing Him with others.  Your eyes can only be fixed in one place.  Make sure they are on Him!

When your eyes are focused on Him you will want more of Him.  God speaks of loving Him and keeping His commands in that order.  Commandment keeping flows as a by product of loving Him.  Let the passion of your love grow by leaps and bounds!

Prayer Focus

Precious LORD, we confess to you that have have all stumbled and strayed and made messes in our lives.  Help us to turn from any wickedness that impedes our view of you.  Guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus that our love for you may overflow.  Thank you for hearing our cry, sustain us by your hand of grace that we may do Your will, In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

 My heart breaks for God’s church this morning. As I read through this list, I was reminded of story after story I’ve heard on the news confirming all these truths of misdirected affections of our times.  My mind attempted to remind me that those who don’t know God  would not be desiring holiness. 

Deep within me, my mind and heart desires to see God and His goodness triumph; for His church to rise up and stand for truth.  When we get to verse 5; however, Paul pointedly connects empty religion to these affections and so I weep.  For The body of Christ should be carrying with it the love and power of God not a form of godliness without power. 

This passage is powerful because it challenges me personally to Know,Live, and Speak this truth.  I must ensure that my own affections are properly placed in the One true living God.  

Painful memories also resurface as I recall seeing my former home church move toward  an empty religion environment.  I watched as the leadership subtly moved from a place of love and grace dependent on God, to a place of performance dependent on “attracting and assigning the right people”.  It became about doing our best instead of seeing God’s best.  I attempted at first to jump through hoops but though I would satisfy every point, it wasn’t enough.   Not long after it was “recommended” that I resign.  My heart still grieves over this.  I miss my brothers and sisters in Christ there that genuinely desired to Know, Live, and Speak the truth.  At the same time I am truly thankful that we are worshipping somewhere where Jesus is center stage; not just in Word but also in action. I am free to fully minister with affections properly placed. 

Personal Reflection

Where are your affections placed?  Are you abandoning everything that sets itself against God?  Are you subtly trusting in your power and strength rather than Jesus’ finished work at the cross?  If your affections are misplaced, confess and repent today!  For there is work to be done by His power!

Prayer Focus

Father, may we as Your church never show a form of godliness but deny Your power. Let us live only by the truth of Your Word. Help us to keep Jesus at the center of everything on the throne that He has righty earned!  May our affections be for You above all else, in Jesus Name, Anen!

Sin, filthiness, and wickedness zealously work against our pursuit of holiness.  We must lay down our egos that tell us we can manage this darkness, leave behind any trace of corruption, and receive His word implanted, unhindered, and undistorted.

We cannot stop there. Knowing the Word is great but by itself is not fully effective.  We must be doers of the Word and not hearers only.  Yes, we must actually live the it!   In so doing, we prepare ourselves for our mission.  The third part of the great commission says that we are to “teach them to observe all that I have commanded you”.  How can you teach people to observe if you haven’t done it yourself?

Personal Reflection

It’s time to examine your life and see if you are really living what you say you believe.  This is not a time to beat yourself up. Instead it’s a quick assessment so you can get pointed in the right direction and then run.  Have you been harboring any sin?  Now is the time to dump it.  It’s promising comfort and delivering guilt and shame.  The time has come to pursue holiness with everything you have.  This world needs change and God has chosen you as His hands and feet in this world to ignite it.  Get in His Word for yourself today and then live it out. You will NOT regret it!

Prayer Focus

Gracious God, you give us wisdom when we ask, in fact, every good thing and perfect gift is from you.  Father we ask for the perfect gift of humility, that we may not trust in our ability to manage sin, but instead trust in you and your Word which tells us to lay it all aside.  Today, may we cast off the darkness we have held onto too long and run into your marvelous light.  Conform us to the image of your son, that we might bring glory and honor to your Name, in Jesus we pray, Amen!

#knowlivespeakthetruth #dumpsinpursueholiness #truthtalk4life

@brianfriedl