In The Word
Read: John 3:22-36
23 Now John also was baptizing in Aenon, near Salim, because there was an abundance of water there; and people were coming and being baptized— 24 for John had not yet been thrown into prison.
25 Then a matter of dispute developed on the part of John’s disciples with a Jew about purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing and all the people are coming to Him.” 27 John replied, “A person can receive not even one thing unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’29 He who has the bride is the groom; but the friend of the groom, who stands and listens to him, rejoices greatly because of the groom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
31 “He who comes from above is above all; the one who is only from the earth is of the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.32 What He has seen and heard, of this He testifies; and no one accepts His testimony. 33 The one who has accepted His testimony has certified that God is true. 34 For He whom God sent speaks the words of God; for He does not give the Spirit sparingly. 35 The Father loves the Son and has entrusted all things to His hand. 36 The one who believes in the Son has eternal life; but the one who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
One of the things John testified here is that Yeshua is from heaven, is above all things, and speaks the very words from heaven. All who believe in the Son of the Father have eternal life. Those who do not obey the Son will not see life. The wrath of God will dwell on them. John brought forth an important truth that our obedience to the Son determines if we really believe in Him.
Before I was saved, I would proclaim that I was a Christian and that I believed in Christ, but my disobedience to all He asked of me proved that I really was not. My actions did not back up my words. Maybe you say out of your mouth that you love God and know that you will go to heaven one day, but have you truly made Him your Lord? Once we are born again, God will continue to speak to us and convict us of sin in our life. Then, if we truly love Him, we will choose to repent and turn from that sin.
Since I have been saved, God has continued to put His finger on different areas in my life. Once He highlights an area, it is up to me to be obedient. I encourage you today to continue to be obedient and show your love to Him. In life, you will never regret a day of obedience to anything He asks of you, but you will regret a day of disobedience. Remember, He works for the good of those that love Him!