The Joy of Glory

John 1:35-39 (click here)
The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. (John 1:35-37)

Reflection
John the Baptist had one message… Jesus is coming.

The entire point of his ministry was to point to Jesus. This is the point for all who proclaim the Gospel! People that use Jesus as a means to exalt themselves are being counterproductive. Our proclamation is not man-centered, but Christ-centered.

You can tell if proclamation is Christ centered based upon how it affects those who are listening.

John’s listeners left him. They walked away.

Why?

Because John had been pointing them toward Christ all along, so when Jesus came onto the scene it was the most natural thing in the world for them to follow after Christ. It would have actually been a contradiction to John’s preaching for them to remain with him!

Christ-centered proclamation produces Christ-centered disciples.

May our goal in word and deed be the exaltation of Jesus Christ so that all may see and follow him!

*All previous devotionals may be found at www.thejoyofglory.com
*The complete SVCC Lenten reading guide is available here.

Isaiah 55 (click here)
Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. (Isaiah 55:1-2)

Reflection
I went to the grocery store this morning. I don’t mind doing this…it has actually become a rather enjoyable task for me over the years. However…there is one part I don’t enjoy…paying.

Wouldn’t it be nice to simply gather what is needed to feed ourselves, our roommates, our families and just walk out the door to the tune of an employee saying, “Have a nice day!”

Free groceries. Free food. Free drink. That sounds fantastic.

But this is not reality…or is it?

We eat and drink out of necessity. Without food or water, we die…it is that simple. And nothing we eat or drink can ever permanently meet our nutritional needs. It provides temporary satisfaction as it fills our stomach, but in a matter of hours we will be in need all over again.

In both the Old and New Testaments, God draws upon food and drink as a parable for what we truly need and that which can truly satisfy…himself!

He is necessary for eternal life…without him, there is only eternal death…it is that simple. He is like our food and drink…he is the bread of life and the living water! And, miracle of miracles, he permanently satisfies. When we come to him for our satisfaction, there is no need to ever seek it out in another source. He permanently fills!

But still…it gets better.

This bread of life and living water which permanently satisfies is free. We could never afford him or deserve him, but we who have no money have been invited to eat and drink without price or payment! He is freely ours through faith!

Why do we spend our money for that which is not bread (the things of this world), and why do we labor for that which does not satisfy (all in this world will leave us empty)? Listen diligently to the LORD, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food…the bread of life…Jesus Christ!

*All previous devotionals may be found at www.thejoyofglory.com

*The complete SVCC Lenten reading guide is available here.

Malachi 3:1-5 (click here)
Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. (Malachi 3:1)

Reflection
The Old Testament closes with a promise… a promise that God himself will come to his people.

A messenger will appear, preparing the way for the Lord. Then, suddenly, surprisingly the Lord who has been sought will come seeking his own.

These promises were fulfilled in the coming of John the Baptist, who prepared the way for the Lord himself… Jesus Christ… God in the flesh.

Suddenly…there was Jesus.

Surprisingly…there was Jesus.

He came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). He came seeking those who would worship the Lord in spirit and in truth (John 4:23). He came seeking you. He came seeking me. He sought and he found.

If you love Jesus, it is not because you found him, but because he found you. It is not because you sought him, but he sought you. It is not because you first loved him, but because he first loved you (1 John 4:19).

You have been loved, sought, and found by God himself…by Jesus Christ!

What glorious, loving, wondrous grace is this?

*All previous devotionals may be found at www.thejoyofglory.com

*The complete SVCC Lenten reading guide is available here.