Author: BTP

“Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on Him: but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” (John 12:42-43).

Here in our verses today we see something else that is very sad. Many of the leaders of the Jews actually did believe, but would not confess it openly because the Pharisees had said that anyone who admitted that Jesus was truly the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. These rulers who believed loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

It is important for you and me not only to believe on Christ, but to confess Him openly to others. We should not be ashamed of Him, for He loved us enough to die for us. Yes, others may make fun of us, but surely God’s approval is much more important than the approval of men.

“But though He had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on Him” (John 12:37).

Throughout the time of the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus, the Jews kept asking for signs and miracles from Him. But here we see that it is not signs and miracles that cause us to believe. If our hearts are hardened, no number of miracles will convince us. There must be a work of God in our souls in order for us to accept the Lord Jesus.

However, that does not mean that the miracles were of no value. Because of those miracles, the Jews should have been convinced that Jesus was indeed the Messiah—the One whom they had been expecting. They were responsible for not recognizing Him as their Messiah, and they were responsible for rejecting Him. Have you recognized who the Lord Jesus is, and accepted Him as your Savior?

“And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years” (Genesis 1:14).

Here we are at the beginning of another year, and it seems quite normal to us to go from one year into the next. But have you ever realized that before God arranged what we have in our verse today, there was no time, and there were no years? God lives and moves in eternity, but He created time in order to form this earth for man, and to enable man to live in a world governed by time. It was God who created time, and at a point in the future there will cease to be time. Eternity will take over again.

This is hard for us to understand, for we are made to live our lives on this earth in time. However, we are created for eternity, and each of us will exist forever. Where will you spend eternity? Will it be with the Lord Jesus Christ, or will it be under the judgment of God? Today God is still offering salvation to those who will come to Him.

“Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: Thou greatly enrichest it…Thou crownest the year with Thy goodness; and Thy paths drop fatness” (Psalm 65:9,11).

In their exact interpretation, our verses today look forward to what we often call the millennium—the time in the future when the Lord Jesus will set up His earthly kingdom for 1000 years. However, I am sure that as this year draws to a close, most of us can look back and say that the Lord does indeed crown the year with His goodness. Yes, some things that are not pleasant have probably happened to us during the year, but the Lord continues to bless this world, and provide for mankind. We should be thankful for all that God has provided.

As we look forward, we do not know what another year may bring. But our hope is not for a glorious millennium on earth; if we know the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, our hope is for the Lord to come and take us home to be with Him. Our home is in heaven, not on earth. However, while we are still here, we can be very thankful for all the good things God has given us.

“John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true. And many believed on Him there” (John 10:41-42).

Our verse for today speaks of John the Baptist, and what he said about the Lord Jesus. He did not do any miracles, but he faithfully preached about the Lord Jesus. When the Lord Jesus began His earthly ministry, the people recognized that everything that John had said about Him was true. The result was that many believed on the Lord Jesus.

It should be the same in our lives. Today some people want to see miracles done—something really out of the ordinary. But you and I ought to be content to speak about the Lord Jesus—His love, His death, blood-shedding, and His resurrection. If we faithfully present the Lord Jesus to others, it will result in blessing to them.

“He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed” (Prov. 13:20).

When we are young, it feels important to us to be accepted and “part of the group.” Because of this, some young people seek out the company of fools—those who lead them in the wrong way. That is the way most gangs start; a group of people want to be accepted. When they do not fit in with respectable people, they form a gang. However, this lifestyle always gets them into trouble eventually. The gangs lead to violence and often crime. Many young people who started out well have ended up in serious trouble because of their wish to be accepted.

It is far better to seek the company of wise people—those who will lead you in the right way. Those people may not be so popular in this world, but you will learn from them. You will not only stay out of trouble, but you will be wise yourself.

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand” (John 10:27-28).

 When the Lord Jesus saves us, He saves us for all eternity. If we are once truly saved, then we can never be lost again. Sadly, there are many true Christians today who live in fear that they may do something that will cause them to lose their salvation. Of course, if we sin, then we lose the joy of our salvation. Then we need to confess that sin and be restored to happy fellowship with the Lord. However, this is not the same as losing our salvation.

In our verses for today, the Lord Jesus says, “They shall never perish.” He holds onto us, and no one can take us out of His hand.

“Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom” (Prov. 13:10).

If you think about this verse for a minute, you will realize that it is true. When a fight begins, someone’s pride has been wounded, and they are upset. Also, the one with whom he or she begins to fight is usually also proud, and then, as my mother used to tell me, “It takes two to make a fight.”

The rest of the verse is most helpful, for sometimes people disagree with one another. This is all right, and a pleasant disagreement can often be helpful to both sides. If pride is not involved, then wisdom can be used to discuss the matter, and perhaps solve the problem. Sometimes both sides can learn something, if each is willing to listen to the other. But let us remember that pride is a sin, and can only lead to contention.

“And as He passed by, He [Jesus] saw a man which was blind from his birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him” (John 9:1-3).

If they obeyed the law of Moses, God had promised Israel freedom from diseases, and the disciples were accustomed to thinking that sickness or disability was the result of sin in the person’s life. But the Lord Jesus introduces a new thought here: it was not sin that caused the man to be blind, it was rather to make an opportunity for a work of God to take place. Yes, the man had to live as a blind man for some years, but then he came to know the Lord Jesus. Not only was he healed of his blindness, but he was saved too.

Was it worth it? Indeed it was, for he came to know and worship the Lord Jesus. Are you and I willing to have something happen to us, just so that God can be glorified? It is a wonderful thing to be used for God’s glory like that, and the Lord will reward us in a coming day. Quite a few believers have glorified God through long illnesses, serious accidents, and other difficult circumstances. It is a privilege to be able to do this.

“Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away” (Prov. 4:14-15).

The coyote was frightened, very frightened, I’m sure. A couple of weeks ago we were sitting on a plane about to depart from the Toronto airport. The plane had taxied out onto the runway ready for take-off. But we didn’t take off. After a few minutes the captain came on the intercom system and told us why. He said, “I wish you could see what I’m seeing out in front of the plane right now. A coyote has gotten onto the runway, and two ATVs are trying to corner him and get him out of our way.”

The runways at the Toronto airport are highly fenced on every side, and how an animal that size could get inside is a mystery. But this coyote had found a way, and now he was sorry. Our verse today warns us of going onto wrong paths. We are told to stay far away from them and avoid them. Don’t even pass that way! The Lord knows how easily we can be tempted and He is gives us many warnings, especially in the book of Proverbs. We do well to listen!

After a few more minutes our flight took off. If the coyote has a good memory, I don’t think he’ll pass that way again!