“Joy Completed” ( John 16: 23 – 24, Wycliffe ) by Carley Evans

^“23And in that day ye shall not ask Me any thing; truly, truly, I say to you, if ye ask the Father any thing in My Name, He shall give [it] to you. ²⁴ Till now ye asked nothing in My Name; ask ye, and ye shall take, that your joy be full.”

Jesus says His disciples do not ask Him for any thing in that day — the day of His resurrection, a day in which their joy is complete. They have no need of any thing. From that point forward, Jesus tells us, we are to ask God the Father directly for whatever we need to be joyful. And we are to take whatever it is we need directly from God, who gives us all good things for the sake of His Son, Jesus.

Jesus reminds us God loves us because we love and believe in His Son. We believe the Son comes from the Father; and we know to listen to and follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who emanates from the Son and the Father.

Jesus implies what we ask for should complete our joy.

“Judge Not-2nd Edition” ( Matthew 7: 1, KJV ) by Carley Evans

Jesus warns us not to judge others. The measure we use to judge another is the measure used to judge us. Jesus warns us not to seek out the mote in the eye of another while ignoring the beam in our own eye. Besides, the beam in our eye naturally prevents a clear view of the mote we think we see in the other person’s eye.

The hypocrite, says Jesus, believes he is without fault and so qualified to remove the mote from the sight of his brother. Jesus says to the hypocrite, “You’ve got to remove that beam from your own eye before you can possibly recognize much less remove the mote from your brother’s eye!”

And what is that beam in your eye? Perhaps self-righteousness – also known as spiritual pride – is the biggest, most destructive beam that can lodge itself in our eye. Removing it is a task best left to God, the Holy Spirit. Ask Him; He is fully capable and willing to remove that big plank that gets in His way!

“Running After Things” ( Matthew 6: 32, NIV ) by Carley Evans

God the Father, says Jesus, knows exactly what you need and exactly when you need it. Each day has evil enough of its own for you to be concerned about tomorrow. Live today, and stop worrying about yesterday and tomorrow!

Jesus isn’t saying not to prepare for your future in that He speaks elsewhere of assessing the needs of a project before you put your hand to do it. Make sure you are able to see it through to completion, or don’t bother to start. But, Jesus is saying not to put things above God. He is saying not to be anxious about what you eat, what you wear, where you sleep, what you own or don’t own. “For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.”

Running after things — isn’t that a common practice!

Walking up Columbus Avenue, Upper West Side, New York, New York — so many beautiful T-H-I-N-G-S for sale in swank shops on both sides of the street; so many quaint sidewalk cafes with delectable menus of scrumptious, high-priced dishes. Life is so short. Solomon says, “So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany [you] in [your] toil all the days of the life God has given [you] under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 8:15)

Jesus is not saying not to enjoy your life. He is saying your life is enjoyable because God knows what you need, when you need it; and He generously gives to you all things. So, “seek His kingdom and His righteousness first.” (Matthew 6:33)

“Being Full Of, Is Led By” ( Luke 4: 1, KJV ) by Carley Evans

God, the Holy Spirit, descends upon Mary to produce the infant God, Jesus in her womb — so, does God the Holy Spirit enter Mary? Or does He plant His seed within her? Is this one and the same? Does it matter? Luke, the physician, records the event. The angel tells Mary, “thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call His Name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father, David. The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee; therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:31-32,35)

Elizabeth’s child, John — while still in her womb — leaps with joy when Mary comes close, literally recognizing Jesus, the Son of God who resides in Mary.

Much later, God the Holy Spirit descends from the clouds on the day Jesus is baptized by John in the river Jordan. God the Father speaks, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I Am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17) “And Jesus, being full of the Holy Spirit, returns from the Jordan, and is led by the Spirit into the wilderness.” (Luke 4:1) Here Jesus is tested by the devil for forty days and nights.

No time exists in Jesus’ earthly life when He is separate from God the Holy Spirit. Being full of God the Holy Spirit, He is led by God the Holy Spirit.

“To Speak Evil Of No Man” ( Titus 3: 2, KJV ) by Carley Evans

Paul tells Titus “to obey magistrates” and to “be ready to every good work.” (Titus 3:1) He also tells him “to speak evil of no man.” Instead Paul calls Titus to “show all meekness unto all men.”

Therefore, authority must be respected. Work must be completed with excellence. Gentleness and humility must be the standard of each day, and we must not speak evil of anyone. Paul encourages these behaviors by reminding Titus and us that “we ourselves also were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.” (Titus 3:3) But — and this is a huge ‘however’ –  due to “the kindness and love of God” we are washed by “regeneration” and renewed “of the Holy Spirit.” (Titus 3:5) We are “justified by His grace,” and “made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:7)

Because we are regenerated, justified, renewed and heirs of eternal life — we are called to be merciful and gentle. How can we be anything but kind to others? We ourselves are the recipients of the undeserved and incredible kindness of God Himself. How can we behave in any other manner than the one Paul commends to us?

“Dropping The First Stone” ( John 8: 7, KJV ) by Carley Evans

Jesus says to the woman — rightfully accused by men — of adultery, “Neither do I condemn you.” Jesus is not saying she is not guilty of her crime, just that she is not going to die for it. We get this wrong so often in our daily walk with ourselves and with others. We think somehow persons who sin, including ourselves, need punishment. Let’s lock them away; let’s keep them from practicing their sins; let’s keep them out of our government, our schools, our churches, our neighborhoods, our families. Or, if it is ourselves we blame, we decide we must wallow in our guilt, practice asceticism or even self-flagellation.

So often we stand at the edge of the crowd looking on at other people who we’ve judged as sinful, and we ready ourselves to cast the first stone.

And, if we listen at all to the Lord, we hear Jesus’ soft voice saying, “Let he that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” And, if we understand the Lord, we feel that stone drop from our hand.

Jesus says to the woman and to us, “Go, and sin no more.”

“For You Alone Know Every Human Heart” ( 1 Kings 8:39, HCSB ) by Carley Evans

Solomon prays “before the altar of the Lord in front of the entire congregation of Israel” (1 Kings 8:22) He asks, rhetorically, “Will God indeed live on earth? Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built.”

Solomon asks God for mercy when the people of Israel “sin against You, and they return to You and praise Your Name, and they pray and plead with You.” (1 Kings 8:33) Solomon asks God to “hear in heaven and forgive the sin of Your people Israel.” (1 Kings 8:34) He begs God to “teach them the good way they should walk in.” (1 Kings 8:36) “May You hear in heaven, Your dwelling place, and may You forgive, act, and repay the man, according to all his ways, since You know his heart, for You alone know every human heart.”

Solomon adds, “When they sin against You — for there is no one who does not sin — and You are angry with them and hand them over to the enemy, and when they come to their senses and repent and petition You: ‘We have sinned and done wrong; we have been wicked,’ and when they return to You with their whole mind and heart and when they pray to You, may You hear in heaven, Your dwelling place, their prayer and petition and uphold their cause. May You forgive Your people who sinned against You, and may You give them compassion. For they are Your people and Your inheritance. For You, Lord God, have set them apart as Your inheritance.” (1 Kings 8:46-53 selected)

God alone knows every human heart. And every human heart has sinned.

Thank You, heavenly Father, for Your willingness to show mercy. Thank You that the Lord Jesus Christ makes it possible for us to approach the throne of grace, despite our sinfulness and unworthiness. Thank You that You give us Your own holiness through the shedding of Your Son’s blood and the gift of Your Holy Spirit. Let us forever be grateful, showing our love for You in praise. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

“We’re Going To Die!” ( Luke 8: 24, HCSB ) by Carley Evans

Jesus sleeps through a windstorm, even one in which the waves threaten to swamp the boat. Both Jesus and His disciples are in real danger of drowning in the lake. In panic, Jesus’ disciples wake Him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to die!” (Luke 8:24, HCSB)

Jesus stands up, “rebukes the wind and the raging waves” so that a calm falls over the lake. (Luke 8:24) Jesus turns, looking at the disciples, wet and sheepish I am certain. He says to them, “Where is your faith?” They don’t know who He is which is why “they are fearful and amazed.” (Luke 8:25)

Jesus, in complete trust in His Father, sleeps during the storm. The disciples, not recognizing the Son of God who sleeps in the boat with them, are terrified, certain of their impending deaths. Jesus is simply resting after a long day with the crowds; He is crossing to the other side of the lake. The disciples are simply afraid. “We’re going to die!” they say to the Son of God. And He asks, “Where is your faith?”

Our faith, even faith as tiny as a mustard seed, is enough that we also can rest through the windstorm and the raging waves; even enough that we can calm them with a word.

“The Grace Of One Man” ( Romans 5: 15, HCSB ) by Carley Evans

“How much more do those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ,” writes Paul to the church at Rome. (Romans 5:17) “How much more does the grace of God and the gift overflow to the many by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:15) “Through one righteous act there is life-giving justification for everyone.” (Romans 5:18) “Through one man’s obedience the many are made righteous.” (Romans 5:19) “Grace is multiplied even more.” (Romans 5:20) “Grace reigns through righteousness, resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5:21)

Whose obedience does Paul highlight? Certainly not Adam’s or Eve’s. Certainly not mine or yours. Rather, Paul writes of one man’s obedience, of the one man, Jesus Christ who obeyed God the Father completely. Through Jesus’ obedience is “life-giving justification.” Through Jesus’ grace, “the many are made righteous.” Jesus’ grace overflows to us as does the gift of His own righteousness.

“What shall we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? Absolutely not!” (Romans 6:1) “What then? Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Absolutely not!” (Romans 6:15) “What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He does not even spare His own Son but offers Him up for us all; how does He not grant also with Him us everything? Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the One who justifies.” (Romans 8:31-33)

“Joy” ( Romans 5: 1, ESV ) by Carley Evans

Have you not heard? Do you not know? — We’ve been “justified by faith.” And what’s more — because “we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God.” How has this justification occurred? Our justification and therefore our peace with God has been secured “through our Lord Jesus Christ.” We stand in this grace. And in this grace which we have obtained through faith, “we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” (Romans 5:2)

Therefore, we stand in faith, in grace — justified fully before God the Father — in total peace with Him. We stand in joy because we have this hope of glory within us.

Sometimes, I believe we underestimate the state of joy in which we stand. Either we do not recognize it, or we fail to grasp its fullness. Now someone might say, ‘well, then how is that being in a state of joy?’ Of course it’s not. Joy comes with first knowing the weight of our sin and then recognizing the lifting of that weight. And joy is sustained by refusing to allow that weight of guilt to return to us, knowing that Christ carried that weight on the tree at Calvary. Like a garment, He has taken our sin from us and literally nailed it to the cross.

Taking it down, putting it back onto ourselves is the ultimate betrayal of grace. Have you not heard? Do you not know? “The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength. They who wait for the Lord renew their strength; they mount up with wings like eagles; they run and are not weary; they walk and do not faint.” (Isaiah 40:28-29,31)