Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6.
The anointing that you received from Him abides in you, and so you do not need anyone to teach you. But as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, abide in Him. 1 John 2:27.
I say to you, he who believes in Me…greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. John 14:12.
Hope in the LORD; for with the LORD there is unfailing love. His redemption overflows. Psalm 130:7.
And continuing our 351 Old Testament prophecies, promises of God, fulfilled in Jesus Christ, we come to number 172: Called Emmanuel. Isaiah 8:8: Then it will sweep on into Judah, it will overflow and pass through, it will reach even to the neck; and the spread of its wings will fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel. And, Matthew 28:20: “Teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
This from Hearing God by Dallas Willard was so beautiful: “The apostle John learned about God’s voice from experience and wrote with authority about it: “The shepherd…calls His own sheep by name and leads them out…The sheep follow Him because they know His voice” (John 10:2-4 NRSV). These words were not merely a record of what Jesus said. They also describe John’s experience with Christ, his LORD and friend. John’s emphasis on having seen, heard and touched the Word of Life is startling (1 John 1:1-3 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life – and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us – what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.) In the presence of the visible, touchable Jesus, John learned to recognize when God was speaking. In later experience John became so confident of the inner teacher that he told his children in the faith, as he warned them about deceit, that they did not need anyone other than the inner teacher, the Holy Spirit (1 John 2:27 As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.) Meditate: Imagine the apostle John writing the words recorded in John 10:2-4. What do you see on his face – radiance? tears of joy? – as he remembers the voice of Christ, his LORD and friend?”
That is the kind of closeness we find with Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit; and through them, with one another as He leads us. This world we live in imposes the opposite as it seeks to divide and conquer through politics, religion, class systems, worldly intelligence, cultural differences, racial divide, the haves (wealth) and the have not (poverty). There is such a better way. Have the systems of this world brought any relief that is lasting? Uplifting? Maybe it’s time to turn to God and trust Him. Turning to Him is turning away from the hate and seeing our own part in that hatred and asking God for forgiveness and help to follow Him as He leads us. His anointing teaches you about all things – and is true and is not a lie – and just as it has taught you – abide in Him! How do we do that, truly? This from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young was helpful today: “Anxiety is a result of envisioning the future without Me. So the best defense against worry is staying in communication with Me. When you turn your thoughts toward Me, you can think much more positively. Remember to listen as well as to speak, making your thoughts a dialogue with Me. If you must consider upcoming events, follow these rules: 1) Do not linger in the future, because anxieties sprout up like mushrooms when you wander there. 2) Remember the promise of My continual Presence; include Me in any imagery that comes to mind. This mental discipline does not come easily because you are accustomed to being god in your fantasies. However, the reality of My Presence with you, now and forevermore, outshines any fantasy you could ever imagine.”
***WYCLIFFE’S PRAYER – LORD, give me grace to hold righteousness in all things that I may lead a clean and blessed life and prudently flee evil and that I may understand the treacherous and deceitful falseness of the devil. Make me mild, peaceable, courteous, and temperate. And make me steadfast and strong. Also, LORD, give Thou to me that I be quiet in words and that I speak what is appropriate. John Wycliffe (c. 1328-1384).***
