Think On These

Luke 11:¹⁰ “For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”

We start today’s devotional with the concluding thought from yesterday which is, “Lay hands suddenly on no man…” (1 Tim. 5:22, KJV). John provides us with the missing link regarding Jesus choosing the disciples. We see from John’s account that Jesus already knew these men before He engaged them. Jesus hung out with each of the disciples in their natural state. He knew what they could do. For example, He knew that when Peter gets angry, he can break someone’s head. Jesus took His time before He engaged them and that is instructive. How does this apply to us? Before you bring people into your business and into your life, before you yoke with people, be slow. I struggle to trust people that I cannot locate their scars. I am always very suspicious of people who are squeaky clean because no human being is squeaky clean. We all have flaws.

I want to see you make mistakes and I want to see you recover. I want to see your integrity in standing up and being accountable. But if you are all smooth, too smooth, it will be difficult to trust you. Sadly, what is being put forward in the church these days is that you have to be smooth, squeaky clean. That is why so many people are hypocritical because they trying to appear smooth just to gain people’s trust. So, do not be surprised that there are hypocrites in the church. I would rather know that ‘person A’ can lie under certain conditions and pressures. It is not that I am okay with the lying but I know it is a character flaw that needs to be dealt with. By the grace of God, I know all my Pastors and what they can do. John let us know that Jesus had spent time together with His disciples before their call. You need to know the people you choose to do life or business with before you yoke with them.

John 1:³⁸ “Jesus looked around and saw them following. “What do you want?” he asked them…” (NSRV, emphasis added). This is the first time Jesus speaks in the Book of John and the first thing He says to people is, “What do you want?” Is that nice? But, pause and imagine Jesus is standing before you even right now asking, “What do you want?” How would you respond? Pause and think; stop, put down the devotional, and think about it. If you want to close your eyes, please close your eyes and think. Jesus is in front of you right now and He is asking you, “What do you want?” What would be your response? Go ahead, write down what you want in this space: _________________________________________________________________________________________.

I pray, in the Mighty Name of Jesus, that the same way He granted the request of the two disciples in John 1:38, He will grant your request. Take note of this day so that when He grants the request, you can refer to it and say, on this day I asked Jesus for this and He has given me what I asked for. Do you believe? “What do you want? he asked them…”

Prayer: Father, I ask for the wisdom to see as I ought to see, hear as I ought to hear, so that I can ask aright and not amiss, in Jesus Name. Amen!