Are You Spiritually Thirsty?

John 4:1-26

But those who drink the water that I will give them will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give them will become in them a spring which will provide them with life-giving water and give them eternal life. (Verses 13- 14)

Have you ever wanted something very badly, but after you got it, it did not really satisfy you or give you happiness? Why do you think Jesus brought up the “husband issue” before he gave the Samaritan woman living water?  What issue do you need to take care of before you receive the life-giving water from Jesus?

Spiritual satisfaction begins with having an ear to hear.

Just as a drink of cool, fresh water refreshes and revitalizes the body on a hot, dry day, the spiritual refreshing one receives when he/she comes to the Lord to receive spiritual water is revitalizing and gloriously satisfying to the dry, thirsty soul.

Once you have stopped the madness of your superficial pursuits of God, He then speaks to the one that thirst.   ‘Waters’ speaks of spiritual refreshing.

The spiritual refreshing God desires that you receive and experience continually, is FREE!  

Spiritual thirst can be satisfied; but not by superficial earthly means.

Satisfying one’s spiritual thirst requires coming to the spiritual waters that only Jesus can give; and simply receiving freely, that which cannot be purchased or earned. We can only receive spiritual refreshment at Jesus’ hand; meaning it only comes through personal relating and interacting with Jesus in a one on one spiritual interchange.

Are you spiritually thirsty?

Then stop trying; and just come to Jesus for FREE living, spiritual water.

Talk with Him; yield to Him; allow Him to freely fill you with the spiritual satisfaction that alone, can satisfy your deep spiritual yearning for fulfillment.

It is God’s pleasure to lavish His spiritual luxuries upon you; for you to eat to the full, and to delight yourself in His presence. You don’t have to feel guilty for enjoying yourself; for reveling in the overwhelming, overflowing joy and pleasure that is experienced in personal interaction with Him! 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, you are the source of living waters. Thank you for your wisdom and love, help us to focus our eyes, hearts, and minds on you daily. May your living water flow like a river forever in our hearts.  Amen. 

Rev. Brenda D. Ford

New York, New York

Putting Things in Perspective

John 3: 22-36

22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he spent some time there with them and baptized. 23John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim because water was abundant there; and people kept coming and were being baptized— 24John, of course, had not yet been thrown into prison.

25 Now a discussion about purification arose between John’s disciples and a Jew. 26They came to John and said to him, ‘Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing, and all are going to him.’ 27John answered, ‘No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. 28You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, “I am not the Messiah, but I have been sent ahead of him.” 29He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled. 30He must increase, but I must decrease.’

31 The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32He testifies to what he has seen and heard, yet no one accepts his testimony. 33Whoever has accepted his testimony has certified this, that God is true. 34He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 35The Father loves the Son and has place

Devotion 

It is interesting how as humans we are wired to be emotional beings—some more stoic, some happy-go-lucky…most of us at some point in between.  Still, we do not live in this world by ourselves and all it takes is one bad word, look or action to set us off at times, to suddenly change our moods and attitudes for the worse…and unnecessarily.  Yes, our bright, open attitudes can change to gray quick fast and in a hurry…particularly if we are not careful. 

 

John 3:22-36 offers an interesting lesson on responses to those mood shifting situations of life through the actions of both John’s disciples and John himself.  John’s attitude in the situation serves as a good model for us when faced with possible mood shifting situations.   

 

In vss. 25-26, John’s disciples, fresh out of a dispute or argument try to instigate against Jesus.  An argument would surely be a mood shifting situation.  And the disciples are so upset that they lose perspective, can’t even call Jesus by name (“the one who was with you”).  They allowed the dispute to get the best of them and then they turn around and try to incite John to act (physically, emotionally, whatever, just reactionary) against Jesus. 

 

It is a potentially mood shifting scenario, but John is able to keep perspective.  John is able to keep perspective and because of it, doesn’t cause unnecessary strife to himself or others.  John replies (I paraphrase) in vss. 27 and 28, I am not Christ and no one can receive anything unless it has been given to him from Heaven.  He diffuses the situation through his level head and his recognition of who he is in Christ.

 

Yes, we can be very emotional beings.  This is not to say that our passion or concern on certain personal or societal issues should not push us to be proactive—underachievement, homelessness, war, domestic violence, generational curses, poverty...   It certainly should.  However, some of the things that make us upset or angry over the course of a day or week are things that are avoidable, if we could like John quickly assess where we are in the moment.  John’s example teaches us how to avoid the pitfalls of being dragged into a bad attitude over something unnecessary and to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus in our responses.  John’s example encourages us to keep perspective, to keep our eyes on Jesus, even when suddenly and unexpectedly faced with a potentially mood shifting scenario. 

 

“God grant me the wisdom to recognize when I am faced with a potentially mood shifting scenario.  Allow me to keep my eyes fixed on you in my response.”

Jennifer Stokes

Brooklyn, New York

"The Gospel in a Nutshell"

JOHN 3:16-21

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. ‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.’* 

DEVOTION

I am so excited to have the opportunity to be writing about John 3:16 which has often been called, “The Gospel in Nutshell.” When I say the word Gospel, I am referring to the GOOD NEWS message! What is this message? I believe it is simple—God loves, God gave, God saves!

In this season of Lent, we take upon our brow a cross of ashes as a 

reminder that we came from the dust, and to the dust we will return. As we fast, pray, and give alms to the poor we are reminded of our own frailty and of our very real need for our Lord and Savior—Jesus--who is the Christ!

Isn’t it amazing that although we sin and fall short of the glory of God, God continues to pursue us, romancing our hearts, and calling us home?! I am so glad that God did not send Jesus into the world to condemn us; but rather, God sent Jesus that we might be saved! 

I don’t know about you, but it thrills me that the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Great I Am, has chosen to call me friend… 

As we look around with eyes of faith, we will notice that this friendship permeates every area of our lives.  It means that we don’t have to be ashamed, hiding our sin in the deepest recesses of our souls. Because God is El Shaddai, God is our all sufficiency. When we fall down, God picks us up! When we get lost, God leads us to safety. When we feel sad, God fills us with joy!

This is wonderful GOOD NEWS, my friends!  And it is so good that we cannot keep it to ourselves. Today, let us make it our business to make the name of Jesus famous everywhere we go! Let us go to the highways and byways of life and bid others to come. 

God has been good a good friend to us, let us introduce our best friend to others! For it is truly a matter of life and death…

With whom will you share GOOD NEWS today?

Loving and Compassionate God, I thank you that you sent Jesus to die on the cross in order to make provision for my sins to be forgiven and for me to enjoy an eternal love relationship with you. Please forgive me for failing to share our friendship with others. You are a good God and I want my life to declare your praise! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Rev. Yolanda Denson Lehman, M.Div.

Travelling Evangelist: AME Zion Church

Publisher: “Ain’ta That Good News?!”

A daily Christian devotional dedicated to making the GOOD NEWS easy to understand and easy to share! Monday-Saturday, I mediate on a Biblical scripture with an emphasis on evangelism. On Sunday, I post my sermon based on revised standard lectionary! Please read as you are able, and share as you are led!

http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/

Can We Be Trusted?

John 2:23-3:15

23 When he was in Jerusalem during the Passover festival, many believed in his name because they saw the signs that he was doing. 24But Jesus on his part would not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25and needed no one to testify about anyone; for he himself knew what was in everyone.

3:1 Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’ 3Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’ 4Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’ 5Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You must be born from above.” 8The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’ 9Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can these things be?’ 10Jesus answered him, ‘Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?

11 ‘Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. 12If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

Jesus wants to know, can we be trusted?

So many times we observe God in action all day long and are too busy to even notice.  God speaks through nature. God speaks through other people. God speaks through the melodic notes and sounds that fall on our ears.  God is always speaking.  God is always at work.  In the midst of all that we do, we pause during this Lenten Season to reflect on our relationship with Christ.  We have seen what God can do and what God is doing and we say we believe.  We say we trust God, but only when we can see how it will work out.  We say we love God, but only when it’s convenient and fits in our busy lives.  We say we will follow God wherever God may lead, but we question even the hint of change and something new.  Let us reflect during this time of less on how we can trust God more.  Jesus is asking: Can we be trusted?  What will our response be? 

Gracious and loving God, we thank You for knowing all about us and loving us just the same.  We thank You God for seeing the visible and the hidden parts, the open and closed parts, the strong and weak parts, the put together and broken parts, and loving us just the same.  We thank You God for providing a gospel that is for all of us; it knows no limits and is boundless in mercy – we thank You God.  We come seeking a time of renewal and rededication to YOU for we have entrusted YOU with our lives.  Regardless of our position or station in life, help us, dear God, to be found trustworthy in Your sight.  In Your name we pray.  Amen.

Rev. Morgan E. Dixon, Church Administrator & Youth Minister

DuPage AME Church

Lisle, Illinois

Jesus and the Merchants and Moneychangers

John 2:13-22

13 The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money-changers seated at their tables. 15Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16He told those who were selling the doves, ‘Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a market-place!’ 17His disciples remembered that it was written, ‘Zeal for your house will consume me.’ 18The Jews then said to him, ‘What sign can you show us for doing this?’ 19Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ 20The Jews then said, ‘This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?’ 21But he was speaking of the temple of his body. 22After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

Why was Jesus so upset with the merchants at the temple? Some interpreters of scripture propose that that the merchants were cheating people by selling damaged merchandise. Some of the worshippers had come from such far distances that they could not bring a lamb or dove wit Others propose that the problem was not that the business practices were not fair, but that the entrance to the place where God was worshipped had been turned into a farmer’s market. Can you imagine the cries of the competing merchants trying to draw the customers to their market tables? With all of the noise and hubbub, it would be fairly easy to be distracted from the purpose of the day: to worship the Creator and to seek His face.  Too much distraction happening too often may turn a sacred ritual into an empty routine. 

What do we walk through today as we go into worship? As we get on our knees to pray today, or stop for a prayer break at work or at school, can we leave behind our priorities for the day and tune in to God?  Or do the distractions of our worldly business draw us away from our reasonable service? (Romans 12:1-2)  Let us examine our hearts to search to see if the joy of our worship has gradually become a monotonous routine. Are we meeting God there, or are we just there?

God, search us and try us, and restore to us the joy of our salvation.

Rev. Tonna Gibert Rose

Kairos Community AME Church

Nashville, Tennessee

The First Miracle

John 2:1-12

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ 4And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.’ 5His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ 6Now standing there were six stone water-jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim. 8He said to them, ‘Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.’ So they took it. 9When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom 10and said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.’ 11Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

Jesus’ turning of the water into wine is the first miracle that is recorded in John. There Jesus is, accompanied by some of his disciples when his mother comes to give him some news. The caterers have run out of wine! What a bad portent for the beginning of a marriage. Mary is not coming to Jesus to gossip but with a mission: to beseech her son to do something so that her friends or relatives would not be shamed forever. Even though Jesus tells his mother that it is not His time yet, note how she tells the servers with authority: “Do whatever He tells you.” And the rest is, as they say, history. 

 It is interesting to think about the framework of Jesus’ first miracle. It happened at a time of celebration, in a place where there were many witnesses. It was not done to cure some physical or spiritual malady, but to maintain the joy at a happy occasion. And this first miracle was done with compassion for some friends in obedience to His earthly mother. There may be miracles ready to happen around us, but we are unaware of them because they are arriving from unexpected places.  We may be accustomed to bonuses, overtime, and merit raises, and have counted on our employment to provide for us. But there may be miracles coming to us through unknown resources. Look up and live! The same God who turned the water into wine is the God that we serve today.  

God, teach us to turn our eyes toward You.

Rev. Tonna Gibert Rose

When Change Comes

Mark 2: 18-22

18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and people came and said to him, ‘Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?’ 19Jesus said to them, ‘The wedding-guests cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them, can they? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day.

21 ‘No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak; otherwise, the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. 22And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins.’

In  Today’s world it is hard not to be caught up in what is going on around us.  In these verses Jesus is  making it clear to the disciples that one day he will be crucified and they will be sorrowing over his loss. He is preparing them for his crucifixion. Like the disciples, we are in preparation for the Day when we will meet our Maker.  It is also clear, when we decide to fully submit to God, we cannot try to fit His commandments into our closely guarded traditions.  As we are not in the Lenten season, let us loose our grip on our traditions and embrace the new and fresh revelations God desires to give to us.  Let us embrace the change for, as Christians When Change Comes, we must be seen as NEW creatures.

Dear Lord, Create in us clean hearts. As we submit to your word, your will and your way help us to become more like you. Lord you know it is not easy to accept change, but we know with you all things are possible, and Lord I ask that we will be able to handle our change. Enlarge our territory and make us to be a blessing to someone who does not know YOU. Thank you Lord for giving us the courage to fast. Strengthen us daily, as we are faced with the temptations of this world.  In Jesus name I pray,  Amen.

Lady Cheryl P. Peters

New York