John 12:21: “…Sir, we would see Jesus.”

These men came to Jesus’ followers for one reason; they wanted to see Jesus. Almost

2,000 years have passed and people are yet coming to Jesus’ followers for the same reason.

“Sir, or madam, we would see Jesus.”

Jesus Himself promised, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me” (ref. John 12:32).

When we as the people of God and followers of Jesus Christ exemplify Christ in a real way,

others are drawn to us. Not for our sake, not to glorify ourselves, but because they want to

see Christ. People in truth don't want to see huge buildings, large congregations, charitable

donations, or even pious living. They don't want to hear about good deeds or theological

rhetoric. They want to see Jesus.

Read Matthew 5:14. How are we the light of the world? Isn't Christ the light of the world

(ref. John 9:5)? We are the light of the world because Christ is in us, shining forth.

Jesus said, “Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house” (Matthew 5:15). When you get saved your candle is lit. It's not in your strength to light your own candle, but all you have to do is

keep it from going out. Remember the parable of the ten virgins. Five were wise and took

extra oil. Five were foolish and did not. We are the light in the sense of a light bulb, but it

is Christ who gives us the power to shine forth. A bulb can only shine when it’s plugged

into a power source. We can only shine if we are connected to Christ in a real way. A bulb

that doesn’t shine is no good in a dark room. We are likewise useless in this sin-benighted

world if we have not the light of Christ shining in us to lead men to the way of salvation.

Now, John the Baptist gave the formula by which we can become brighter lights for Christ

to shine through. “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).

Jesus made it more plain perhaps when He said, “…If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

When you become a follower of Jesus, you must deny yourself. You must put your own

best interest aside and follow Him. It's not about what's best or most advantageous for you

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Encouraging Articles

January 2013

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anymore. It's not about what would benefit or what would most bless your life, but as Paul

said, “… Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6)

So you deny yourself, but it also says take up your cross. What does the cross represent?

Jesus, when speaking in a vision to Ananias about Paul, said, “For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake” (Acts 9:16).

When Jesus took up His cross, it entailed suffering and shame. When we follow Jesus and

likewise take up our cross, it will be no different. Thus Peter wrote, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing hap-pened unto you” (ref. 1 Peter 4:12-19).

James went further and exhorted us to, “… count it all joy when ye fall into divers tempta-tions; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience” (James 1:2-3).

Why? Does God get delight in our suffering? Does He get glory out of our going through?

If you go through the right way, He does. 1 Peter 4:19 says, “Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.”

You suffer according to the will of God. It's God's will that you go through that trial. Why?

James 1:4 says, “But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

Some things God can only accomplish in us by our going through certain situations. Some

prayers will not be answered immediately because God wants us to persevere. He knows

what it will do for our faith or how much closer we'll get to Him as we go through our tri-

als. He also knows who will be watching and who will see us as we go through our trials and

our tests. He knows that if we want to remove the dross from gold, it has to be heated up.

The world wants to see Jesus in you and I, but we must go through some things and let God

purify us if we are to truly be able to reflect Jesus in a real way.

The World Wants to See Jesus The World Wants to See Jesus The World Wants to See Jesus The World Wants to See Jesus cont.cont.cont.cont.

“Why? Does God get “Why? Does God get “Why? Does God get “Why? Does God get delight in our suffering? delight in our suffering? delight in our suffering? delight in our suffering? Does He get glory out Does He get glory out Does He get glory out Does He get glory out of our going through?”of our going through?”of our going through?”of our going through?”

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whom James spoke.

James 1:8: “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”

We're double minded. Half of us is pulling one way and half is pulling the other.

We can't run when we're not sure where to go. We must lock up with God and get a

full assurance of what He's calling for us to do and do it with all that is within us.

Habakkuk 2:1-2: “I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will

watch to see what He will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.

And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables,

that he may run that readeth it.”

When God speaks to us plainly, we can run, we can move, or we can stand settled on

it as the vision dictates. Once God speaks plainly, we must commit ourselves to His

cause and do His will without wavering.

“A double minded

man is unstable in all

his ways.”

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John 2:24-25: “But Jesus did not commit himself unto them,

because He knew all men, and needed not that any should

testify of man: for He knew what was in man.”

Jesus knows what is in each of us. He knows when we've

committed ourselves to Him and to His service and when

we're just saying words. He knows when we're ready to sell

all we have and when we're not.

God knows when we're ready to give all and when there's

still something we're holding in reserve, but the thing is that

God will not commit Himself to us when we haven't commit-

ted ourselves to Him.

God has certain true and precious promises that He's pre-

pared to bestow on those He loves, but He can't do it if we

are not fully committed.

When we're not fully committed, we're like the man of

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