Daily Readings at Southeast

Day 12 John 11. Jesus consistently confirmed His identity by His actions. Jesus said earlier that He was listening to the Father and observing the Father in order to know what He was supposed to do and what He was supposed to say.   In this chapter, Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, and then makes His next “I am” statement: Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.  Do you believe this?" (John 11:25 NIV) What is the Father saying to you about your identity? Do your actions confirm who you say you are? Is there something in your life that you need the Lord to ‘breathe life’ into? Scripture: John 11

Day 11 John 10. In John 10, Jesus makes two “I Am” statements. First , “I am the Door ”. Jesus makes it clear that He is the only entrance to eternal life. Only by Him will we be saved. Secondly, “ I am the Good Shepherd .” He lays down His life for the sheep. The sheep hear His voice and He calls His own sheep by name. John 10:10 NIV  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. Jesus says the sheep listen to His voice.   How do you hear His voice? How obedient are you to His voice?   What might hold you back? Is there something He is currently speaking to you about? Scripture: John 10

Day 10 John 9. Jesus heals a man who had been blind from birth. It causes a variety of responses from the people.  Jesus’ ministry was characterized by many healings. Towards the end of John 9, Jesus also speaks to the Pharisees about their spiritual blindness.  In Luke 4 Jesus says this about His  mission :  “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19 NIV) Is there an area of your life that needs healing?   Physical sickness, spiritual blindness, oppression? Will you ask Jesus for His healing? Scripture: John 9

  Day 9 John 8. A woman caught in adultery is brought to Jesus.  We see a story of grace, but also of Truth.  Jesus showed mercy to this woman, but at the same time called her to repentance from sin. … “neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” (John 8:11 NIV) Is there perhaps something in your life that you need to leave behind, like the woman had to leave her life of sin? “Then Jesus spoke again to the people he said, “I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”” (John 8:12 NIV) “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” (Matthew 5:14 NIV) As Christ followers we should be light bearers to the world, but to do that we must first understand it and live it ourselves.  We must understand that our association with Christ affects how we engage life. What do you think it means to be a light bearer to the world? What would living like a l...

  Day 8 John 7. This entire chapter is about the controversy surrounding the identity of Jesus. Some believed He was the son of God, but most did not. In John 7:5 we read the following statement about Jesus’ brothers: “For not even his brothers believed in him.” God the Father made a proclamation over Jesus’s life that He was a son; a dearly beloved Son. Jesus functioned from that conviction and security. The Father gives you your name and identity.  He gives you safety and protection.  He gives you provision and security.  He gives you purpose and direction. How secure are you in your identity as child of God? How do you draw from God the Father’s protection, provision, and security?   How do you rely on Him for purpose and direction? Scripture: John 7

Day 7 John 6:22-71. Seven times in the book of John Jesus uses the words “I AM…” to reveal his identity.  The first of these is in chapter 6, when He states “I Am the Bread of Life”.  “Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”” (John 6:35 NIV) After Jesus taught on what it meant to eat from the bread of life, some disciples found it 'too hard to believe' and no longer followed him. When do you find it difficult to trust or believe Jesus? What does it mean to you that Jesus is the “Bread of Life”? Is Jesus Christ your sustenance, as bread is sustenance to the body? Scripture: John 6:22-71

Day 6 John 6:1-21. In this portion, we read about two remarkable miracles.   Notice in the miraculous feeding of the 5000,  that there was a strategy, divine intervention and human contribution.  Jesus multiplied the food that the boy brought and it became enough to feed everyone.  We are to be obedient and bring what God asks us to bring. It might be either a very  familiar  portion of scripture to you, or completely  new  to you. Whatever the case – read this story prayerfully and allow God to speak to you in it. Are you perhaps trusting God for a miracle?  What is God asking you to do?   How can you increase your level of faith and expectation? Scripture: John 6:1-21

  Day 5 John 5. In chapter 5 we read the following statements: The Father loves the Son and shows him all He does. (v. 20) The Son is not able to do anything on His own, but only what He sees the Father doing.  (v. 19) …for I seek not to please myself but Him who sent me (v. 30) Clearly, Jesus was operating out of a close, intimate relationship with the Father.  The words He spoke, the miracles He performed, and the places He went were not random, but came by the instruction of His Heavenly Father.  What is clear is that Jesus was listening to the Father and observing the Father in order to know what He was supposed to do and what He was supposed to say.   This close, intimate relationship between Jesus and the Father also provides a model for our own relationship with the Father.  We can speak to our Heavenly Father and receive instruction for our journeys, our conversations, our ministries, and our lives. How would you describe your current relationship w...

Day 4 John 4. In chapter 4, Jesus talks with a Samaritan woman. This is significant in so many respects: Jesus crossed social boundaries and restrictions to bring the Good News of the Gospel to this Samaritan woman.  Eventually the whole village came out to hear Jesus speak, because of this woman's testimony. Many Christians are unsure about how to approach people and talk about Jesus. But beginning to share your faith, is as simple as starting a conversation.  The rest of this chapter tells the story of Jesus healing a royal official’s son, and subsequently the entire family became believers. We read in verse 53 “ So he and all his household believed .” Every time Jesus performed a miracle, people had to  choose  whether they would believe or not; whether they would put their faith in Jesus or not. Think of someone you know with whom you need to start a conversation regarding your faith.   What is your point of contact to start the conversation? Is there a situ...

Day 3 John 3. Chapter 3 contains one of the most well-known statements in the Bible:  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17 NIV) This is Jesus’ mission statement:  He came to save the world .  John the Baptist also testifies to this in verse 36: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life…” (John 3:36 NIV) Have you been born again? (see John 3:3-8)   If yes, how did your life change?  If no, what is holding you back? Scripture: John 3

Day 2 John 1:35-2:25. In the last part of chapter 1, Jesus calls His first disciples.  They left everything and followed Him. Chapter 2 contains Jesus’ first miracle – turning water into wine. His mother told the servants at the banquet to do whatever Jesus told them to do.  How often do you do whatever Jesus tells you to do? Even when it doesn’t quite make sense to you?   After Jesus performed his first miraculous sign, His disciples put their faith in Him. How much do you trust or “put your faith” in Jesus? Scripture: John 1:35-51 John 2

  The book of John is one of the four Gospels. Although many theories exist as to the authorship of this book, it is widely accepted that the disciple John was the author. John was a Galilean fisherman until Jesus called him as a disciple. The Gospel of John was written at the end of the first century.  Towards the end of the book, John reveals the purpose of writing Jesus’ story: “ that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name ”.  (John 20:31 NIV) Day 1 John 1:1-34. Chapter 1 serves as an introduction to the book and starts off by introducing Jesus as the WORD:  "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning."  (John 1:1-2 NIV) In the rest of chapter 1, John confirms Jesus’ identity as the eternal and beloved son of God, His presence from the beginning of Creation, and tells us what Jesus came to do on earth.  In th...

Day 21: A Lifetime of Fullness  I want to thank you for joining me over the last twenty-one days. Our journey to healthy eating started by realizing how Eve, the first woman, gave in to temptation with food. We also read in the Bible how the Israelites, God’s people, struggled with food, which led to them wandering in the desert for forty years. Additionally, we read rich truths in the Psalms and New Testament which gave us a healthier perspective of food and of fullness in Christ.  So, we shouldn’t be surprised when the Bible ends with another pivotal verse about food. For me, this verse might be the one that elicits the greatest excitement in my heart. Revelation 2:7 says:  To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.  Aren’t you encouraged to see that overcoming is possible? We can be more than just women who hide our struggles or deal with them just enough to survive. This verse in Revelation says “the...