Weekend Wrap-up
Theme of the Week: Beyond Book Learning
Saturday, October 9, 2004
 1 of 1
John 5 records a tense encounter between Jesus and the religious leaders. These leaders knew what the Bible said but failed to apply its words to their lives. They knew the teachings of Scripture but failed to see the Messiah to whom Scriptures pointed. They knew the rules but missed the Savior. Entrenched in their own religious system, they refused to let the Son of God change their lives. What can we learn from them? Interact with God's Word
John 5:37–47
- Do you imagine that Jesus said the words of vv. 39–40 in anger or with a sigh of sadness?
- Do you suspect today's conservative Christians may have blind spots similar to those of the Pharisees? Why or why not?
- In vv. 41–44, Jesus asserted that how the religious leaders rated with their peers was more important to them than responding to the Messiah they should have been expecting. How can you avoid becoming so involved in "religion" that you miss Christ?
- How can you be confident that you have God's message in your heart(vv. 37–38)?
Spend Time in Prayer
Ask God's Spirit to allow you to "hear" His Word in a fresh way, accept it free of mental "loopholes," and allow it to penetrate your heart and will.
John 5:37–47
37And the Father himself has also testified about me. You have never heard his voice or seen him face to face, 38and you do not have his message in your hearts, because you do not believe me—the one he sent to you.
39"You search the Scriptures because you believe they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! 40Yet you refuse to come to me so that I can give you this eternal life.
41"Your approval or disapproval means nothing to me, 42because I know you don't have God's love within you. 43For I have come to you representing my Father, and you refuse to welcome me, even though you readily accept others who represent only themselves. 44No wonder you can't believe! For you gladly honor each other, but you don't care about the honor that comes from God alone.
45"Yet it is not I who will accuse you of this before the Father. Moses will accuse you! Yes, Moses, on whom you set your hopes. 46But if you had believed Moses, you would have believed me because he wrote about me. 47And since you don't believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?"
Copyright © 2004 Christianity Today. Click
for reprint information.
1 of 1
 share this page
Lord, help my time in Your Word move beyond a head exercise to a true heart encounter.
Men of Integrity
Connect with God | Transform my Mind | Live by His Power
Relate Better | Make an Impact
Home | Archives | Contact Us
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Try an Issue of Men of Integrity
Free!
|
 |
|
No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. Click here for International orders.
If you decide you want to keep Men of Integrity coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive five more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issue is yours to keep, regardless.
Give Men of Integrity as a gift
Buy 1 gift subscription, get 1 FREE!
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
| |
|
RSS Feed
