Jesus Calling: September 13th, 2024

Jesus Calling September 13th

Come to Me and rest. Give your mind a break from its habitual judging. You form judgments about this situation, that situation, this person, that person, yourself, even the weather—as if judging were your main function in life. But I created you first and foremost to know Me and to live in rich communication with Me. When you become preoccupied with passing judgment, you usurp My role.

Relate to Me as creature to Creator, sheep to Shepherd, subject to King, clay to Potter. Allow Me to have My way in your life. Rather than evaluating My ways with you, accept them thankfully. The intimacy I offer you is not an invitation to act as if you were My equal. Worship Me as King of kings while walking hand in hand with Me down the path of Life.

RELATED BIBLE VERSES:

Matthew 7:1 (NLT)
Do Not Judge Others
7 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.

Additional insight regarding Matthew 7:1: Jesus tells us to examine our own motives and conduct instead of judging others. The traits that bother us in others are often the habits we have ourselves. Our bad habits and behavior patterns are the very ones that we most want to change in others. Do you find it easy to magnify others' faults while excusing your own? If you are ready to criticize someone, check to see if you deserve the same criticism. Judge yourself first, and then lovingly forgive and help your neighbor. Jesus' statement, "Do not judge others," is against the kind of hypocritical, judgemental attitude that tears others down in order to build oneself up. It is not a blanket statement to overlook the wrong behaviors of others but a call to be discerning rather than negative. Paul taught that we should exercise church discipline (1st Corinthians 5:1-2) and trust God to be the final judge (1st Corinthians 4:3-5).

John 17:3 (NLT)
3 And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.

Additional insight regarding John 17:3: How do we get eternal life? Jesus tells us clearly here - by knowing God the Father himself through his Son, Jesus Christ. Eternal life requires entering into a personal relationship with God in Jesus Christ. When we admit our sin and turn away from it, Christ's love lives in us by the Holy Spirit.

Romans 9:20-21 (NLT)
20 No, don’t say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into?

Additional insight regarding Romans 9:21: With this illustration, Paul is not saying that some of us are worth more than others but that the Creator has control over the created object. The created object, therefore, has no right to demand anything from its creator - its very existence depends on him. Keeping this perspective removes any temptation to have pride in personal achievement.

1 Timothy 6:15 (NLT)
15 For, At just the right time Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of all kings and Lord of all lords.

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