ABIDE IN MY LOVE

November, Wednesday 30th, 2016

John 15:9-17

Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. When we abide in Jesus, we bear much fruit. Today, Jesus speaks about how to abide in his love, because the main virtue of Jesus is love.

1. Abide in my love (9-13)

God's love is really immeasurable. We didn't love God but God so loved us that he gave his only Son. Then the Son loved us. Now we must only abide in his love, that is to say, to wholly receive it by faith and confidence. How concretely can we do that ? It's simple, it's keeping and obeying his commandments. That way if we abide in his love, we are loved by God (John 14:21). The commandment of Jesus is summed up by: love one another and greater love has no one thant that someone lays down his life for his friends, what Jesus has shown us. If we follow his example the joy of Jesus overcomes us soon and our joy will be full.

2. You are my friends (14-17)

Jesus calls us friends, not servants. What is the difference ? The servants didn't know the master's will whereas the friends know it. Jesus makes them know all.  We think often that we have chosen God. But it's not true. God has chosen and established us to go and bear fruit. When Jesus establishes us he knows our weakness, but he wholly wants us to pray what God the Master wants, in the name of Jesus and that God listens to our request. His greatest will is that we love one another.

Prayer: Lord, make me keep your commandments and abide in your love. Thank you for making me your friend. Make me discern your will and pray according to it.

Bottom line: abide in my love

I AM THE VINE, YOU ARE THE BRANCHES

Tues. Nov. 29th 2016

John 15:1-8

key verse: 5

Jesus speaks of the organic relationship between him and his people. He also talks about the mystery of bearing fruit.

1. He prunes the branches to have more fruit (1-5)

God is the vinedresser. He owns our life. He has given us a fertile slope and tub filled with grapes. Life is compared to a large vine composed of a main branch and smaller branches. Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. Let's look at this plant: the smaller branches constantly receive sap from the main branch and they bear much fruit. This is the vinedresser's goal. In order for us to bear fruit, two little things are needed: the vinedresser comes and trims the useless shoots from the vine. Thus, he purifies the world. Non-believers are thrown outside. Believers are also tested. They too have useless shoots. These also are trimmed so that they are not grouped with non-believers (6). From the beginning, they are pruned, since they receive the word, but they are also called to be purified day by day. 

2. Abide in me (6-8)

The word "abide" is often repeated. For man, abiding is important. A life outside of God is cursed; it dries up and dies. Such was Cain's life. But those who abide receive sap. It doesn't mean they stay in one place, but that they absorb the sap and grow. Jesus promises that if we abide in him and if the word abides in us, we can ask from God and we will receive. This means that if we follow his example and obey his word, he is pleased to listen to us. We will bear much fruit and he will be glorified. We are called his disciples.

Prayer: Lord, prune me and help me to abide in you in order to bear much fruit and glorify you.

Bottom line: the inseparable vine and branches

JESUS WASHES THE DISCIPLES' FEET

Thurs. Nov. 24th 2016 (Happy Thanksgiving)

John 13:1-17

key verse: 5

Starting from chapter 13, Jesus teaches in the upper room. During the week of the Passion, Jesus taught a lot of important lessons, which serve as his testament.

1. Jesus washed the disciples' feet (1-11)

Jesus' love did not alter in face of his atrocious upcoming death on the cross. Jesus loved his own to the end. Let's give thanks for his unchanging love, without which we couldn't be saved. Jesus knew that the time of his death had come and that Satan had tempted Judas. He also knew his origin and his destination. Jesus started washing the disciples' feet. Peter could not humanly accept this gesture, since a master should be washed by his subordinates. Peter doesn't want to wash others' feet. So, he refused Jesus' offer. Jesus replied that otherwise, he would have no part with him. We must let Jesus wash our dirty feet. We are washed by his blood, but daily dirt must be cleaned through repentance. Due to his evil motive, Judas was not pure. However, most are pure in their motives.

2. Do the same (12-17)

Jesus performed this act so that others would immitate him. He set the standard, and since he is our master, we must immitate him and wash each others' feet. We must love and serve each other, just like Jesus. The servant is not greater than his master. Knowing this, if we follow his example and continue to learn, we are happy. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to let Jesus wash my feet and also to wash others' feet by God's love.

Bottom line: Wash each others' feet, like Jesus washed our feet.

THE CONFORTER AND LOVE

November, Monday 28th, 2016

John 14: 15-31

Jesus promises the arrival of the Holy Spirit. It's closely linked to love. If we love God and his word, we receive the Holy Spirit. He gives peace.

1. Another Conforter (15-26)

Jesus repeates several times that if anyone loves him, he will keep his word. Then he receive many blessings. Above all, Jesus promises that he will receive the Holy Spirit called the Conforter. He is the Spirit of truth whom the world can't see. He makes himself seen only to theim who love God's word and obey it. He conforts them by the word, even in the situation where they seems abandoned like orphans. During the crucifixion they will be abandoned, but after the resurrection, Jesus will visit them again and he will remain eternally in their heart. God gave his word until now by his Son Jesus. After his departure, the Holy Spirit will come to remind us of all words of Jesus and teach it. Those who love God's word will be loved by God.

2. My peace I give you (27-31)

The disciples were troubled, but Jesus promises to give peace to them. This peace is different from the peace of the world. Real peace comes from the cross and the resurrection of God. Jesus will come to them. Jesus wanted the disciples to understand and accept God's work by Jesus. They must rejoice of his departure, because the Father is greatest and Jesus needs to be conforted close to God allmighty, after having accomplished his mission. Satan comes and Jesus will be put to death. But this happened so that the world may know that Jesus loves the Father and does as the Father commands him.

Prayer: Lord, make me love your word and be taught by it. The Spirit of truth will come to me. Make me be an apostle of peace, being reconciled by him.

Bottom line: The Conforter comes, because we love Him and his word.

A NEW COMMAND

November, Friday 25th, 2016

John 13:18-38

1. One of you will betray me (18-30)

Satan attacked unity using someone who was weak. Judas became an easy prey to him because of his selfishness and his cupidity. Jesus talked about his treason in advance in order to protect his community from the hand of Satan (19). Jesus also talked about it in advance in order to give traitorous Judas his chance to repent and come back to the right way. But once submitted to Satan, Judas couldn't recover. When he left from the place, Judas still had a morsel of bread in his hand. "It was night". This short sentence represents the heart of Judas. Submitted to Satan, his heart was terribly dark. The life vanquished by sin is terribly dark.

2. Love one another (31-38)

After the departure of Judas, Jesus needed to restore unity of his band. First, Jesus says to the disciples as he said to the Pharisees, that they will not see him again. So, as testament, Jesus renewed his words: "Love one another". It was a new commandment. The commandment to love his fellow man existed, but Jesus renewed it so that it has a new sense. In Jesus, love has a new sense. Because true love is expressed by Jesus. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends, says Jesus. Jesus' love is sacrificial and unconditional. No human's love can equal it. We can love one another when we have Jesus' love. Peter thought that he had love, but it was human - in effet, he avoided washing dirty feet of others. Yet it didn't augur well. It was a sign that his love will be about to faint sooner or later.

Prayer: Lord, have mercy on me so that I not betray your mercy and not become victim of Satan. Help me to love another with Jesus' love.

Bottom line: the new commandment of Jesus

WHOEVER BELIEVES IN ME...

John 12:37-50                    

John speaks about unbelief of the crowd. From where does unbelief come ? Three facts can be stressed as reasons: the prophecy (sovereignty), their fear (or timidity) and the darkness because of disobedience.

1.       They still did not believe in him (37-40)

Unbelief of the crowd isn't surprising, but humanly it's very surprising, because they don't believe ,in spite of many miracles. Yet, this unbelief was prophesied for a long time. Isaiah moaned about unbelief of his people twice, when they did not believe in spite of the message of God's glory in the temple (Is 6:9). The message of the suffering servant was particularly difficult to believe (Is 53:1). But it was the true divine message, because through it, the word will be saved.

2. They seek the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God (41-43)

Unbelief also comes from timidity of the people. They look at the mood of the others with fear of being excluded. They seek the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God. Their hand and their net are always empty.

3.    Jesus is the light of the word (44-50)

Jesus says that whoever believes in him, believes in Him who sent him. His role is to light up the world by God's light. For he did not come to judge the world but to save the world. Jesus is always full of mercy, he saves and makes people walk in the light. But whose who are disbelieving and who didn't practice what they heard will be judged by God by the word pronouced by Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, help me to not be unbelieving as the wavering crowd. Make me seek your glory and walk in the Jesus' light.

Bottom line: let's be neither unbelieving nor a seeker of human's glory, but someone who obeys.

JESUS ENTERS JERUSALEM

November, Monday 21th, 2016

John 12: 12-19

After being anointed for his death, Jesus triumphantly enters Jerusalem. Once Jesus is entered in our lifes, Jesus make us triumph everyday. "Christ in you..."

1. Hosanna ! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord (12-16)

Hosanna means save us, we beg you. It also means a joy's and victory's song. Many people was in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. The jews celebrate it to deliverance. The crowd cried to be saved after seing all miracles that Jesus made. They were overcame by the roman ennemy. But above all they were overcame by the ennemy Satan. They really wanted that Jesus save us from the ennemy's hand. When we are under the powerful ennemy's hand, we must came to meet Jesus. But was this welcome of the crowd truthful ? It will be try soon. Anyway, Jesus is who comes in the name of the Lord to save his people from their sins. The disciples recognized this sense after the death and resurection of Jesus. Only death and resurection can open the eyes, and only by it a soul will be delivered.

2. You are gaining nothing (17-19)

The Pharisees was dazed because all people has gone after him, whereas their camp empties more and more. The crowd listened the testimony of Lazarus' resurection and their heart was more and more attached to Jesus. The Pharisees were jealous of Jesus. In the other gospels, they demand to Jesus make them keep quiet. They should be delight with the crowd who delight, but they can't do that because they were blinded by jealousy. The heart of the jealous was like an paralysing anaesthetic.

Prayer: My Lord Jesus, by your death and resurection you saved me. By your death and resurection save us again and save the other. Help us to overcome the paralysing jealousy.

Bottom line: Hosanna, come and save us

THEY LIE DOWN ALIKE

Monday, November 14th, 2016

Job 21:1-34

key verse: 26

Job answers Zophar. There is a gap between the principle of judgement of the wicked and the reality, which is that they enjoy life. Life is filled with paradoxes.

1. The paradoxal reality (1-26)

Job truly wants to be comforted. Yet, no consolation came from his friends. Their anwsers were falsehood and in vain (34). Job told his friends to turn, look at him and be astonished. A man who was for a long time upright is now suffering an inexplicable calamity. The lot of evildoers is contrasted with his own. The wicked are tranquil and very happy. The reality is that the punishment of the wicked is an exceptional phenomenon. In principle, evildoers should be punished, contemplate their misery and be filled with God's fury. But the principle doesn't hold true. Reality is quite different. One dies content, while the other dies in bitterness, though both return to dust.

2. Comfort in vain (27-34)

The friends want to comfort their suffering friend Job. But Job calls it comfort in vain. Why? Because evildoers are spared any misery. No one reproaches them and at death, they are buried peacefully. People just like them come before and after. So, if Job was wicked, it wasn't worth consoling him, since he will enjoy life like most evildoers. Neither is it worth consoling him if he is righteous, since the righteous ironically have an unhappy lot. But his friends think Job is a sinner and condemn him. Yet, they also console him saying that if he is righteous, he will be blessed on the earth. It's only nonsense. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to understand that the lot of the wicked is not always unhappiness. Help me to give up my self-righteousness.

Bottom line: they lie down alike

MY REDEEMER IS LIVING

November, Friday 11th, 2016

Job 18-19

The accusation of Job's friends continues. But Job is defending of his case. Finally he expectes his redeemer, because he knows that only in him he will be in security. 

                                                                                                       

1. The light of the wicked will blow out (18)

Bildad scoffes at Job and stupidity of his words. Bildad insinuated always that Job has somewhere a fault. It's really a logical of black or white and very legalistic. In the house of the wicked nothing is good.  There are darkness, corruption, encroachment, terrors, dread, excommunication, devastation, hardenong, forgetting, sterility, stupefaction. It's the wicked's fate which not change with each successive generations. 

2. My redeemer is living (19)

Job scoffes at his friends because they look for confuse him ten times. But Job knows that he is right and it's because of God. He is isolated by mankind. But it's God who isoles him, deprives him, drages him out of his hope, make him his adversary, takes him aways from his close circle, and it's God who make even his servants ignore him. Moreover, God sends him skin's illness. He calls out for help but because of it's God who hits him, noone hear his cry and the others continually cast a stone at him. Job wants that his words be written as witness, but it's in vain. So Job takes refuge in his redeemer. He knows that his redeemer is living and proctects all the innocents. Job has faith of resurrection (26). During the resurrection, he will see his redeemer. This redeemer also is the formidable judge (29)

Prayer: Lord, thank you for gave me Jesus the redeemer who saved me of all sin. You also are the judge who judges the wicked. 

Bottom line: my redeemer is living

MY WITNESS IN HEAVEN

November 10th 2016

Job 16-17

key verse: 19b

In "Waiting for Godot", the characters vaguely wait for their redeemer, but he never comes. They fuss here and there, but they are disappointed. Job's wait for his redeemer is unending. He is desperate.

1. Waiting for my witness (16)

Job is discouraged by the "good" words of his friends and claims that he could also say such things. Now Job speaks with God. It is he who permitted such suffering. He left Job in the hand of evildoers. Job was at peace, but God shook him such that his bile fell to the ground. He dragged his pride in the dust. Job didn't understand that all this came from Satan. Since he was innocent, he cried night and day as though he was shedding his blood. Bitterness filled him as he searched for his witness in heaven. He will be the arbitor between God and the son of man, he himself will plead, since there is no violence in his hands and his prayers are pure (17). In his troubled heart, Job is waiting for Jesus.

2. My hope is swallowed up (17)

Job knows that the Eternal Lord will triumph and protect him. His friends are so ignorant, but God has closed their hearts to discernment (4:22; Romains 1:18) However, truth lives, the righteous remains firm, the innocent rise and the pure strengthen themselves. For the moment, their insults are intolerable. In face of suffering and insults from his friends, Job wishes to go down to the pit in the company of worms, in the place of the dead. Where is his hope? His hope is fading.

Prayer: Lord, I believe there is a witness in heaven. He will reveal the motive behind my actions before God, even if others do not understand. Thank you.

Bottom line: Jesus is my witness, the arbitor between God and I. 

ELIPHAZ CONDEMNES JOB

November, Wednesday 9th, 2016

Job 15:1-35

It's the second Eliphaz's speech. There is no evolution in his thought. He only wanted to criticize and accuse suffering Job. 

1. The Eliphaz's speech toward Job (1-16)

Eliphaz implies that the Job's word os lacking in wisdom. He accuses Job of his foolish words which lead to eternal condamnation. He was arrogant, because of the fact that he was his oldest thinking that his advice was the best and was full of gentleness and kindliness. In fact, he was stupid and merciless. His philosophy was that mankind is naturally guilty, corrupted and incorrigibly. 

2. The wicked's fate (17-35)

In this part, Eliphaz talks about the wicked's fate who not will rise up their calamited. First, they are violents, they are attacked by ennemis and they are wandering. All misfortune comes from their abandon of God. They are apparently in portliness. But their house is uninhabited and go to ruin. Prosperity will not last. The Eliphaz's piece of gossip unfortunately looks like the Job's past life. He insunated that now Job is suffering and sick because he was wicked on a point. He has commited evil, that's why he is now in the misfortune. Eliphaz is fundamentally on the system of law.

Prayer: Lord, help me to not have my own justice. But help me to live humbly recognizing my transgression.

Bottom line: there are any rigteous, even one. But Jesus had justified us. 

AND WHERE IS HE?

Job 14:1-22

Life is too short, and the end seems tragic. However, Job wished to have resurrection faith, though it was difficult in view of the reality of life in the flesh.

1. A soul's rest asked for (1-6)

A man's life is like a cut flower. Its duration is fixed by God. After this, man seems to go to the place for the unclean (4). No one can bring a clean thing out of an unclean. Life is ephemeral and short, leading to eternal condemnation. Moreover, life seems to be an unending fight with the Creator. It seems man is the enemy of God. Job asks if a poor man does not deserve a little rest for his soul as the wages for his life's work. 

2. Job's hope for after death (7-22)

When spring arrives, new life comes after death. Yet, what is the destination of the man who disappears forever? Man is swallowed up by death; he goes to sleep and doesn't wake up. This is man's lot. However, Job did not give up hope. He kept some hope in resurrection and eternal life. But this kind of hope springs suddenly, then evaporates, as reality is harsh and cruel. Guilt from past sins is especially persistant (16,17). Therefore, new hope disappears. If the next generation comes to honor thanks to its hard work, or if it is brought low because of its cruelty, man does not perceive it. Thus, life seems to be tragic. At any rate, man suffers in the flesh and in his soul (21,22).

Prayer: Lord, I know that life is short. Help me to keep resurrection hope. 

Bottom line: Keep hope in the resurrection

A MAN NOT AS ME

November, Thursday 3rd, 2016

Job 9:1-35

God is mighty and he is invisible. All mouths must be closed. Job feels guilty, because he feels that he can't avoid the judgment. So he looks for a man who isn't like him. Who is it ?

1. Only by mercy (1-24)

Mighty God created all things in the universe. To him be wisdom and strength. He shakes the earth out of its place and the stars obey his word. Mankind can't give an answer to one-in-a-thousand questions asked by him. Mankind is too insignificant. God is invisible (11) and indisputable (12). Even if someone is rigtheous, it doesn't change things. A man can demand only God's mercy in front of him to subsist. Job suffers so much that he doubts his prayer is heard by God (16). He is not assured by his justice and his integrity. Anyway God is indifferent toward mankind's situation, whether he is righteous or wicked. He judges and destroys the righteous as he does the wicked.

2. A mediator between both (25-35)

Life flies without having time for happiness. Job is afraid of all that he did. He knows that God will not consider him as innocent. He is terrified by his errors. He cleansed his hands but he feels naked before God's eyes. He looked for someone who is able to be an intermediary between him and God. But he musn't be like him. He must be a perfect arbiter. They must come together to God in His court so that he protects him. It's God's mediator who takes his rod away from Job (1 Ti 2:5). So, Job would speak without fear (35).

Prayer: Lord, make me have fear before you who possesses wisdom and strength. Thank you for sending me who is guilty a mediator.

Bottom line: a man not as me, to plead for me

THE HOPE OF THE RIGHTEOUS

Nov. 2nd 2016

Job 8:1-22

key verse: 7

Bildad wants to give Job hope. But where does hope come from, if not from God alone? The problem is that Bildad doesn't know God as the true source of consolation.

1. Your latter days will be great (1-10)

Bildad reproached Job for his useless eloquence. If he had been righteous and true, God would not have allowed calamities to fall. Thus was his reasoning. If we do well, God rewards us, and if we do badly, God punishes us. This is cause-and-effect reasoning. Bildad claims this is a universal spiritual principle that has been observed for generations. That's why he suggests asking the past generations. Why? What would their answer be? 

2. He will fill your mouth with laughter (11-22)

The hope of the unjust dies. Those who forget God will experience calamity without precedance, just like the reed without a marsh or the papyrus without water. Its assurance is broken. Its confidence too. When the unjust does not cling to God, his house collapses though it was built with much mortar. His house will be taken away. Yet God is with those who have integrity. Since Job has integrity, he could be rewarded by God. The Lord will fill his mouth with laughter. However, we don't really know if Job is exemplary. This is revealed by Job's words, "Am I blameless?" (9:21) So, he himself doesn't know. 

Prayer: Lord, make me have hope in you. The hope of the unjust is short. However, as I am your servant, help me to serve and adore.

Bottom line: hope of the just

WHAT IS MAN ?

November, Tuesday 1rst, 2016

Job 7:1-21

Job is pessimistic because of his painful life hasn't any more hope. But, surronded by these calamities, he has eyes to discern their sense in God (6:30). He is complaining about suffering but he has resigned himself to it, not attaining the limit of sin.

1. The fate of mankind on earth (1-10)

Job relates what is the fate of mankind. His body is covered in worms and he suffers in continual insomnia, the night seems be an eternal agony. On the other hand, days quickly pass, as clouds which evaporate. In fact physical life is very brief and ephemeral. As a hired hand who looks for his wages, as a slave who longs for the shadow, life is full of pain and suffering and it's a vanity. All those who have passed don't come back again.

2. I will complain in the bitterness of my soul (11-21)

Life is a breath as a vapour (Jc 4:14). Those who are here disappear and we don't find them. Mankind is as clouds which evaporate. Job is complaing about his unhappy fate. But it's not because he has something against God. He accepts the sovereignty of God. Moreover he finds a grateful heart toward God who trains him. He doesn't doubt God's love in spite of his insurmountable sufferings, rather he exalts God's love. What is man, he says, that you set your heart on him and visit him every morning ? (17). Even if mankind sins, against who does God attack ? Mankind has no value. But Gods takes interest in him.

Prayer: Lord, I know that life is as a breath. But during this life on earth, train me by your love, so that I become a useful person.

Bottom line: Job is complaining in bitterness but not in sin.

FOR I HAVE NOT DENIED THE WORDS OF THE HOLY ONE

Monday, October 31st

Job 6:1-30

key verse: 10

Job's suffering is unimaginable, yet he rejoices, since his soul rejoices in the word of God. This is one of the great mysteries of a man filled with the Spirit.

1. I will jump with joy (1-13)

If we weighed all his calamities, they would be like the sand of the sea. Job's suffering was his daily food. He prefered to be crushed. Yet in the midst of unending trouble, Job was sure of divine consolation. He even jumped for joy. Why? Because he did not deny the words of the Holy One (10). Job is tired, worn out from waiting and deprived of all help or ressource. Yet we see that even in the greatest trial we can have joy and consolation. 

2. Instruct me and I will be silent (14-30)

While suffering, Job watched his brethren distance themselves from him. Even if he abandons the Law, he has the right to receive human consolation. Yet no one really consoled him. His friends, without his asking, came and caused him greater distress. They are not much different from deserters. They are like caravanes that perish and torrential streams. Job wants them to justify their reproof and to teach him if he is stupid. They were people without pity who could cast lots over the fatherless and bargain over their friend (27). Their words were based on human wisdom and they continually hurt the innocent. Job spoke to their consciences so that they would recognize his righteousness, come back to him and abandon their own thinking and self-righteousness.

Prayer: Lord, whatever happens, don't let me deny your words. Keep me from self-righteousness and make me compassionate. 

Bottom line: joy comes from faithfulness to His word