Context, Context, Context - and John 14:1-6

Dear Jesus - Thank You for Your amazing WORD...

Perhaps I have mentioned this before?  Since June of last year, I have an amazing prayer partner.  We meet on the phone on M / W / F of each week.  First, we discuss our Bible reading for the day.  We are both on the same reading plan.  Then we move into prayer.  Total time?  About 30 minutes.  Experience?  Priceless.

Anyway - we got to discussing John 14:1-3 yesterday.  Once again the value of context popped up.  Below is the expanded text in the NASB which provides a more literal translation.  Consider the question:  Where is Jesus going?

Fruit or Fruits?

Dear Jesus - I praise You for the quality of life You long to give each of us.  Help us to really understand that truth in the deepest parts of our soul...

Galatians 5:22-23

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Have you ever noticed that verse 22 says 'fruit' not 'fruits'? 

How Old ?

The question periodically rattles around in my head as I read the Bible.  Because, I wonder what I would have done had I been there.  Was the character older or younger than me?

1 Verse Unlocks a Chapter

Huntingtower Castle, Perth

Dear Jesus - I just praise You for the literalness of the help You make available to me!  Thank You!

Ever just plain "had it" with the Pharisees?  Sometimes reading the Gospels can seem a bit hopeless as one gets a glimmer of the spiritual state of things.  Wooops - better check myself before I condemn myself!  Been attending a weekly study that is going through all 4 Gospels at one time in time sequence.  The latest study just blew me away as I sat there.  'Cause I saw myself - and well, the only good thing about that was the end of the story!

The Ark Finds a Home in Jerusalem

Linen Cloth from Qumran Probably Used to Cover Scrolls

Powerful reading this morning for me - hope I can share in a way that does justice to it!  So very many jump-off points.  Oh - to stay focused!  Pray with me?

Dear Jesus - You are truly worthy of all praise.  I praise You today that You invite all of us to get into the ark while there is time.  Help me see with Your eyes today and I claim the promise You have given that Your WORD will not return to You void.

Manna - What Is It?

Coriander Seeds

Dear Jesus – Help us to see the supernatural quality of the manna we read about in the Exodus experience.  Reveal to each of us the relevancy it has to our very specific lives.

What do we know about manna?  Possibly from childhood stories, we recall it was a rather mysterious food that fell from heaven providing sustenance for the Israelites during their days wandering in the wilderness.  Just that brief synopsis gives us much to think about.  Let’s do some comparisons:

What Exactly Does Jesus Do?

Dear Jesus - Open our eyes to the beauty of Your WORD today...

Sometime back I came upon this chunk of verses in Exodus.  And I continue to be struck by the pathos of the conversation between Moses and Jesus.  Try a couple of things here while doing a Literal Reading - which is just reading it as it is:

Praise in the Geneologies? Hmmmm....

Dear Jesus - My first blog post ever and it is only fitting it is on Praise!  I praise You from Whom all blessings truly flow...

1 Chronicles 5:2 -..yet Judah prevailed over his brothers, and from him came a ruler, although the birthright was Joseph’s— (NKJV)

Judah prevailed over his brothers in relation to the leadership of the family.  Reuben was biologically the firstborn and certain rights were implied him due to his place as firstborn.  However, his sin with Bilhah the concubine resulted in the forfeiture of those rights.  This specific verse details that the leadership of the family devolved onto Judah which is interesting in that you may recall Judah was actually the 4th born son of Jacob.   But is there something for me in this verse?  Does this verse show me Jesus?