Day 105 Following Him

4/15/2025

 Today is the second day after the historic celebration of Passover and Palm Sunday on the same day. All eyes are on Jesus as this was a very busy week, and increasingly dramatic and stressful one, as Jesus had the cross before Him. After chasing out the money changers out of the temple area and turning over the money changers' tables, He leaves Jerusalem on His way to Bethany where He would spend the night with His friends. The next morning, as He left Bethany to return to the city, Jesus saw a fig tree, and being hungry, He went to get figs to nourish Himself. Although the tree had leaves, there was no fruit on the tree, as it was not time, as the scriptures explain elsewhere. This angered Jesus, and He cursed the tree saying "Let no fruit grow on you ever again." The fig tree withered, so the next time they passed it, the disciples were astonished that it had died and dried up so quickly, even though they heard Jesus curse it. Of course the disciples questioned Jesus about how it withered so soon, and Jesus told them that if they did not doubt and believed in their hearts, they could tell the mountain to be removed and cast into the sea. It has been suggested that the meaning may also have to do with His disciples bearing fruit in their lives as a result of trusting in Him and believing in His words, knowing that He came from God, that He indeed was God. Yesterday I spoke about the leaven of the religious leaders. Jesus' parables were always about things people could relate to, and He always taught those who had an ear to hear and heart to believe. 

Jesus is always calling us, as believers, to go deeper with Him, in our personal relationship with the Father. God wants to spend intimate time with us and be our friend, and Jesus is our guide, because He never did anything without first asking His Father. Now this may seems strange or not clear when Jesus Himself was and is God, but Jesus is demonstrating the relationship between God the Father and God the Son. The parables and the miracles are certainly proof of this truth. Jesus came to do the work of His Father. 

After crossing the Red Sea, the enemy being destroyed, Moses and the children of Israel sang a song to the Lord:

"I will sing unto the LORD, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and rider thrown into the sea!

The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; He is my God and I praise Him. 

My Father's God, and I will exalt Him." Exodus 15:1-3 NKJV 

The children of Israel were called to follow the commandments of the Lord that were given to Moses on Mount Sinai. Jesus was sent to make a new covenant with Israel, and it involved Gentiles and Jews being part of one new man, living and growing in the wisdom and knowledge of God through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus said He did not come to destroy the Law but to fulfill it, and He did. As a follower of Christ in this modern age, and hopefully a student of His inspired Word, we can see the integrity of His teachings and His life, such a passionate life. The Bible provides all that is needed for life and godliness according to 2 Peter 1:3. The question I have for my life is "Am I yielding fruit, being productive for God's Kingdom?"  I want to be a fruitful vine. The fifteenth chapter of John explains the unique relationship of Father and Son and how we, as His disciples, are intertwined in that love and relationship. 

Without Jesus we do not realize the depravity of our sinful nature. I lament the days of my youth and the things I did not fully understand. With all that was within me I cried out for a holy life, even as a child. Reading the portion of scripture found in Romans 3:9-18 and considering how we have all sinned and fallen so short of God's glory brings tears to my eyes and sadness to my heart. It demonstrates to me how even "churched" people can be so hopelessly lost in sin and self, because all sin is is selfishness, arrogance, and hubris (excessive pride). Before Christ we were liars and had no fear of God, no true fear, because fear is reverence and holy awe of who He is and all of what He has done and continues to do in and through us. There is no peace in a person's heart apart from God. I cry out for the youth of today who are so desperately in need of a Savior, and who are crying out for love and acceptance that can only be found in Him. Just as it has always been and was for each of us. How I pray that the eyes of our understanding are enlightening to the richness of our calling through Christ Jesus.

Before Christ we were dead to sin, lost in our own selfish worlds, deprived of the love He so desperately desired to show us. But now, we are alive in Christ, seated with Him in heavenly places, transformed by the renewing of our minds. We see more clearly now, and yet, dimly, as scripture tells us we see in part and know in part until the day we see Him face to face. Seeing for the first time who He truly is, glorified and beautiful, lost in the wonder of His love. I can only imagine the beauty of a life in His presence for an eternity. When I sit with Him, as I am now, in this early morning when the day is dawning, and I look into His face, I realize the gift of His grace, love, and mercy. I want to stay here, never leave Him. If I can feel that way now, how much greater will it be when we are together for eternity?! 

We are God's workmanship, created - knit together, each uniquely crafted - by God for His good works through us. This was before the world was created, He knew us and gave us His purpose for our lives. It is by grace, His grace, through faith in Jesus Christ, our acceptance of Him as God, as God's Son, totally God and yet totally Man, that we are saved. There is nothing we can do to earn this position. It is a gift, a huge, beautiful gift to be treasured for all of eternity. He saved me so that we could tell others about the riches of our inheritance in Christ Jesus, so we can spread His love into a world so dismal and lost in sin and depravity. So we can bare witness to Him. Everyone seeks love and acceptance, and in Him we can have this worth. It is the greatest gift, because through it, we can attain an unimaginable life, using gifts and talents to benefit others. There would be no poverty and homelessness or intense despair. Think of the world it could be if all loved Him and truly shared and walked in the wealth and depth of His love.

He has given me the gift of intercession, and each day it is a struggle, because there are others who place themselves so much high up because of it. But for me, I know who I am without Him, even on my best days, and I can do nothing without Him. I am trying to help everyone understand the truth of who He is. I thought I had done such a good job teaching my children, helping them and other children, even adults, understand how alive the word is and all we can achieve living in His mercy and grace, following His commands. Living and breathing His words and life into all. I was so passionate, yet now I see my children in varying degrees of service, and one lost in his anger, and I feel that I failed them. But then I am reminded that we are instructed to train them up in the way they should go, and I am trusting that as the word says, they will return. Even Jesus whispered those words to me not so long ago. But it breaks my heart to see and hear some things, especially from my own. Sadly this is the testimony of many who have accepted the call to pray.

I'm not certain of all the whys of my return home in this season of my life, especially with my daughter remaining in New Mexico, so very ill, but I trust in God's timing and purpose for my life. It took me ten years to fully avail myself of this insistence to return. I had to make sure it was His voice, and I had grown comfortable in my life in the beautiful mountains of Northern New Mexico, so rich in culture and the warmth of the people. I miss them, but they are forever in my heart. All I know is that I want to do the will of my Father, just as Jesus, regardless of where that may lead.