I’ve been posting about the discussion Jesus had with the crowd in John chapter 6. Having told them that He understood their motives; Jesus goes on to explain further.
“Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”
John 6:27
The Lord is about to tell them that He’s the Bread of Life and He has the Words of truth. He goes on to explain that if they’ll come to Him in faith, they’ll never lack for life. The point is that you can’t spend all your time and energy chasing the things of this world. There’s a more important issue at stake here.
Too many believers spend their prayer time with the Lord running through their lists of needs and wants. While there is a place for petitioning the Lord in prayer, that should not be the major part. Prayer is where we get to know Christ in relationship. It’s give and take.
Yes, it is talking, but it’s also listening. If we’re going to be prepared for the last days, then we must get past this mentality that chases God around simply for what we think we can get from Him.
The crowd made their motives very plain to Jesus. Even in their answer, they show Him that His assessment of their true character was correct.
“Sir,” they said, “from now on give us this bread.”
John 6:34
Their thoughts are, “You’ve got the bread from heaven. Give us this bread.” Again, they’re thinking in a material way. If His earthly bread was good, the heavenly must be even better tasting!
It reminds me of the woman at the well. Jesus said that He could give her living water so that she would never thirst again. Her reply was, “Great, then I won’t have to come to this well every day to draw water.”
Why are we all so foolish? Jesus longs to give us eternal, abundant life, yet we are content to simply ask Him for things. I know that in His Word He’s promised to take care of our needs. The problem is that we seem to major on the physical.
My true needs are so much deeper than that. He wants to satisfy the longing of our souls, but this will require that we spend time in His presence. We fail to enter the abundance that He has for us because we’d rather have the “quick fix” of more money or more stuff so that we can then get on with our plans. The better solution would be for us to bow our knee to the Lord and take up His plan for our lives.
Question: Why do the temporary issues of life seem so important sometimes?
© Nick Zaccardi 2013
Tags: abundant life, bread of life, Christ, eternal, faith, Jesus, listening, needs, petition, prayer, relationship, temporary, temporary versus eternal, the Lord, things, things of this world, wants, word of truth
There were times in His ministry that Christ taught some things that the crowd didn’t like, mostly because they didn’t understand it. As a result, a lot of people left Him, even some of His disciples. These are some of the Lord’s most important teachings.
I want to take a few posts to look at one such section. Here’s some background to help you understand what’s happening in this passage of Scripture. Jesus had just miraculously fed 5000 people.
They were all on a hillside listening to Jesus and hadn’t eaten all day. The disciples found someone with five loaves of bread and two fish. They took this meager provision to the Lord. Jesus then broke the fish and bread and fed the whole crowd with what started out as just a little bit.
He then sent the disciples out on a boat to cross the lake and meet Him on the other side. As they were in the middle of the crossing a huge storm came up and the disciples feared for their very lives. In the midst of the storm, Jesus comes to them walking on the water and gets them safely to the other side.
Now, on the far end of the lake, the crowd catches up to the Lord on foot. They were surprised at how fast He got there. Of course, He went straight across. He didn’t have to go the long way around!
When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”
Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.”
John 6:25-26
Here we see Jesus going right to the heart of the matter. “Why do you care where I go and how I get there? The reason you’re following Me is for what you can get materially. You only want a free lunch.”
The trouble with the crowd was that they didn’t want to hear and obey His teaching. Instead, they liked the spread He put on. They weren’t following Him because He had the words of eternal life.
It’s a sad truth, even in Christian circles today. If you throw a church dinner everybody comes. If, on the other hand, you call for a week of special fasting and prayer you get a lot fewer people involved. It’s easy to see that the desires of the flesh haven’t changed in 2000 years.
Question: Why does it seem so hard to deepen our spiritual walk?
© Nick Zaccardi 2013
Tags: Christ, church dinners, eternal life, fasting and prayer, hear and obey, Jesus, lazy, Lord, material blessings, teaching, the word
I’ve been talking about excellence for a few posts. I want to finish up this topic by showing that everything God has for us in His kingdom is excellent.
The Greek word usually translated excellent in the New Testament is hyperballo. Hyperballo, literally means, to throw beyond. The word picture being used is of an Olympic sport such as throwing the javelin.
Everyone else has thrown it to a certain, average point. You, however, get up and throw it beyond all the others. That’s a picture of the concept of excellence. When you throw beyond the normal or what’s expected, then you’ve entered the realm of the excellent.
Here are some examples of how the word hyperballo is used of the Lord in the New Testament:
I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
Ephesians 1:18-19a
The word that was translated incomparably great is hyperballo. Many people have a measure of strength, but God desires to work His power in us. This is a power that goes beyond the normal, the average or the expected. His power working in us is excellent.
In order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:7
Not only does He desire to show us His excellent power, but He also wants to work His excellent grace in us. Most of us know that the grace of God is His unmerited favor. The favor of the Lord goes beyond what’s deserved or expected.
And to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:19
He also wants to show us His love that throws beyond knowledge. This love is greater than anything we have ever experienced before in our lives. His love goes further than we could ever ask, think, or imagine.
If you have ever received teaching on the book of Hebrews, you have probably heard that the theme of the book is “Better.” How much better the ministry of Christ is than any other! It incorporates a better sacrifice, a better priesthood, and better promises.
Why would anyone settle for mediocrity? Knowing who the Lord is should spur us on to excellence. His excellent power, excellent grace, and excellent love are the treasures that He is ready to bestow upon us. We only need to be willing to walk the high road of excellence.
Question: How have you experienced the excellence of God’s kingdom?
© Nick Zaccardi 2013
Tags: average, better, beyond, excellence, expected, God, God's excellent kingdom, God's grace, God's love, God's strength, hyperballo, javelin, kingdom, kingdom of God, mediocrity, normal, Olympics, throw beyond
Finally, brothers…if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.
Philippians 4:8
Excellence. It’s a word we hear all the time in the church. Everyone talks about wanting an excellent ministry. Sad to say, most of it is just talk. We need to strive for excellence.
What is a spirit of excellence? I’ve found that many Christians have no clue. If you can’t define it, then you have no basis upon which to judge yourself.
To excel is defined as to do or be better than; to surpass; to show superiority; to surpass others. Some synonyms of this word are to surpass, exceed, transcend, and outdo. These verbs mean to be or to go beyond a limit or standard.
It should be very obvious by now that this word excel is a word of comparison. You only use it when you’re relating to the norm, the average, or the expected.
Excellence, therefore, means that you’re going beyond what’s expected or what others are doing. We tend to get caught up in what people do or how they do it. Excellence is more than that.
It’s something you are. You’re either ahead of the pack or you’re not. There’s no partly excellent, halfway excellent or almost excellent. You’re either living in the realm of the excellent or you’re not.
A word with a similar root is accelerate. To accelerate means that you’re in a state of continually increasing speed. Your speed now is higher than that of a moment ago.
When purchasing a new car, one of the considerations is how well it accelerates. Acceleration is important when passing another car on the highway. In the same way, on the highway of life, if you intend to surpass the normal or that which is expected, then you need the power of excellence operating in your life and ministry.
We know how a great car should act. When we pull out into another lane to pass the car in front of us, we expect an immediate response when we step on the “accelerator.” If the car hesitates, if the engine sputters and coughs, then we know there’s a problem that needs to be addressed.
In the same way, if the Lord speaks to your heart to do something above and beyond what you’re doing now, or what’s expected for your type of ministry, He expects immediate agreement to His Word.
Hesitation in ministry is a sign that we lack excellence. When God instructs you to “pull out and pass” the normal or the expected, He’s looking for obedience. Responses such as “We’ve never done it that way before,” “No one else does it like that,” or “I can’t possibly handle that” are indications that you must move on to new levels of excellence.
That’s why He’s given us His Holy Spirit. He’ll work with us, bringing us to new heights in Christ, but only if we’re willing to submit to His leadership. You must desire this walk of excellence.
Question: Do you desire a walk of excellence with Christ?
Tags: above and beyond, accelerate, average, Christ, definition of excellence, excellence, expected, hesitation, Holy Spirit, Jesus, ministry, ministry of excellence, normal, power of excellence, spirit of excellence, surpass, walk of excellence
We live in a society where we have all but given up on understanding. In many schools we’re taught how we need to think. Don’t ask why, just agree.
We now have a generation of people who voice opinions, but don’t know why they have them. The media is constantly telling us what we need to wear, listen to, and watch. After all, “This is what everybody thinks.”
Scripture gives us a different perspective.
Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
Proverbs 4:7
As believers, we are told to seek wisdom and understanding. We don’t just blindly follow the crowd. There is a reason we are on the earth and it’s our job to find out why.
God has a plan for everyone’s life. We’re not just random. Life has meaning. The problem is that most people are afraid to find out the meaning of life. They would rather just “go with the flow.”
The issue is that wisdom and understanding will cost you something. They bring responsibility with them and that’s what we’re really afraid of.
If we don’t understand, then we are not responsible for what we do. That’s the key. Understanding and the resulting responsibility requires self-control.
That’s the reason that many people choose atheism. If there is a God, then I’m responsible to live under that understanding. My actions will have to be controlled.
But there’s even more to it than that.
Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.
2 Timothy 2:7
Paul literally tells Timothy to apply your mind to understand. Understanding takes initiative – it doesn’t just fall out of the sky.
The good news is that if we take this first step, then the Lord will give you the next level of understanding. The word insight that Paul uses is the Greek word suneisis. It means to put together.
The fact is that understanding puts truth together. We have to do this with many truths if we are to live a fulfilled life.
For instance – there is a God, He will judge the world, and I will live forever someplace. These are all truths that are important all by themselves. But when I put them together by wisdom and understanding they take on a whole new level of importance. Now my choices are more limited than when I thought there were no consequences.
That’s why understanding is the foundation of coming to Christ. We have to put together our need and His provision. Then I have to bring my actions – and faith – into line with my understanding.
Question: Do you actively seek wisdom and understanding from the Lord?
© Nick Zaccardi 2013
Tags: atheism, atheist, choosing to understand, Christ, coming to Christ, following the crowd, God's plan, Jesus, meaning of life, media, opinions, purpose, put together, responsibility, self-control, thinking, truth, understanding, wisdom
Yesterday was Resurrection Sunday. If you’re like most Christians, you went to church to celebrate this world-changing event. I hope you had a great time of praise and worship to our God.
My question is this: What happens the next day? How does the reality of the resurrection of Christ affect the rest of your walk with Him?
Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
John 21:2-3
This is a very interesting event in the lives of the disciples. What arrests my attention, is that this happened after the events of the first day of the week.
They decided to go fishing after Mary came running to them with the news that she had seen the risen Lord. It was also after Jesus came to them in their apartment. It was after Thomas was told to touch the wounds in Jesus’ hands, feet, and side.
I would understand it if they had not yet know about the resurrection. But at this point they were well acquainted with the risen Lord. Why did they go back to the same old routine? Especially since fishing is what they did before they had even met Jesus.
Where are we today? Are we stuck in the same old stuff we’ve always been doing? It’s funny just how like the disciples we seem to be.
It was in this setting that the disciples had another encounter with the risen Lord. This time He broke into their everyday world and turned it upside down. They realized that they couldn’t even go fishing without the help of the Lord.
This is the moment when Jesus told Peter, “Feed My sheep.”
Everything changed. There was no going back. Because of the resurrection, the very course of their lives was changed.
What about us? Yesterday, we celebrated the Risen Lord. How does it affect us today? How can we live a “normal” life knowing what Christ has accomplished?
Allow the truth of the resurrection to fill your thoughts. Don’t just consign it to one Sunday a year. Let it set you on a new course. A course that will turn the world upside down.
Question: How does the resurrection of Christ affect what you do today?
© Nick Zaccardi 2013
Tags: affect, Christ, day after the resurrection, disciples, effect, everything changed, fishing, Jesus, new course, next day, no going back, normal, reality, resurrection, resurrection of Christ, risen Lord, turn the world upside down
This will be my last post in my series about the Last Day’s weeding that the Lord will perform in His Kingdom. Jesus went on to underscore this message by telling another parable.
“Once again the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into a lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 13:47-50
The Lord tells us that the kingdom is like a net let down into a lake. This net has been dredging the lake for 2000 years now. It has caught a variety of fish. Some of the fish are good and some are bad.
There are people who claim to be Christians yet know nothing of the Biblical means of salvation. They’re relying on their own good works or their church membership instead of the blood of the crucified, buried, and risen Lord.
There are many that have heard and rejected the Good News because they like their own version better. They say things like, “It doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you believe in something.” The church universal is full of good fish and bad fish.
So what’s new about that? It’s been like this for hundreds of years. It will not go on like this forever. God is starting a separation process.
When the net is full, or literally, complete and finished, something new is going to happen. Angels are going to be dispatched to separate out of the kingdom of God those who really don’t want to be there on God’s terms. The word separate means to set off by a boundary.
In the last days God is going to perform a supernatural work that makes a clear distinction between His people and the world. Right now the church and the world look very much alike. Divorce, abuse, crime, and substance abuse levels are almost equal.
The end of the age is the time set by the Lord to cleanse His Temple. He’s going to show that there’s a difference between His kingdom and the world. It will soon become impossible to straddle the fence.
If you’re wise, you’ll make your decision now to serve Christ wholeheartedly. Don’t wait until the weeding forces you to make up your mind. Don’t miss out on a single thing that the Lord has planned for you.
We live in exciting times. If you go all out for the Lord, then I can promise you that you’ll be a part of the greatest adventure the world has ever known.
Question: How different should we be from the world?
© Nick Zaccardi 2013
Tags: angels, Biblical salvation, Christ, cleansing the temple, devotion, distinction, end of the age, Jesus, kingdom of God, parable, separating fish, separation, separation process, serving Christ, straddle the fence, the last days, the world, wholeheartedly, works
2012 is over. We’re now in new territory! What does this new year hold for us? There is a way to safely navigate the unknown that lies before us.
Society is taking a dim view of the future. With talk of fiscal cliffs and higher taxes, many are worried. There are those who fear an increase in violence and unpredictable weather patterns. Where can we turn to for answers? The same place the truth has always been…
The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
Isaiah 58:11
Our God didn’t get stuck in 2012! He is with us today. He knows all about the latest technology – before it’s even invented. He is well able to bring though to a victorious new year.
It’s a blessing to know that God will never leave us nor forsake us. According to this verse, He’s the Guide that never fails. He can find water in the driest desert. He gives strength in the time of trouble. If we rely on Him, we will be just like a spring whose source never fails.
Many times people look at us and wonder what’s the secret of our strength. There seems to be nothing special about us. On the outside we’re as weak and mortal as everyone else.
What they don’t know is that our strength comes from far below the surface – deep within – where we have tapped into the presence of an Almighty God. This is the secret to the abundant life. We must learn to remain in the presence of the Lord.
Because of the hand of God upon our lives, we seem to have an ability to move forward in ways that others cannot comprehend. This only happens when we take a spiritual drink from the springs of living water that come directly from the Lord. This is the road to victorious living.
Spend time with your Guide today. Let Him empower you for the year ahead. Become that “well-watered garden” in His presence. That is the only way to assure an outcome of fulfillment and joy throughout 2013.
I pray God’s richest blessing upon you in the coming year!
© Nicolas Zaccardi 2013
Tags: 2013, blessing of God, fear, fiscal cliff, God, guidance, guidance for the new year, guide, living water, new year, presence of God, strength, taxes, the Lord, victorious, victory, violence, weather, wisdom of God, worry
“I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.”
Sing for joy, O heavens, for the LORD has done this; shout aloud, O earth beneath. Burst into song, you mountains, you forests and all your trees, for the LORD has redeemed Jacob, he displays his glory in Israel.
Isaiah 44:22-23
On Christmas Day – at least in my part of the world – I woke up to snow in the air. It was a beautiful sight to see a new blanket of white on the frozen ground. I was then blessed to spend the morning opening presents with my wife and children. God is so good!
Sometimes it just seems like everything is right with the world. “The hills are alive with the sound of music.” We look around, and all of nature seems to be singing God’s praise. Actually, this is a product of our attitude. It happens when we start the day meditating on what God has done for us.
At least for believers, that should be an easy thing this time of year. We are reminded of all the Lord has done for us. Taking on our humanity and living among us was truly a special gift. Then, bearing our sins to the cross and rising for our salvation was something we couldn’t have even imagined that God would be willing to accomplish for us.
What an incredible thing! To have your sins forgiven. To know that the blood of Christ washes you clean. To be able to approach His holy presence without fear of condemnation. It’s no wonder that Isaiah felt like all creation was bursting into song before him.
The privilege is ours now to run into His majestic presence. Don’t start the day without spending time with Him. Commit the day ahead to His care. Let Him establish and maintain you. Bring praise and worship before Him. Don’t you dare let the forests and mountains outdo you in the praise of His glorious name!
Question: Is there something you would like to praise God for right now?
© Nick Zaccardi 2012
Tags: better than a tree, blessing, blood of Christ, creation, forests, forgiveness, gifts, mountains, nature, praise, presence of God, redeemed, salvation, singing, sins forgiven, snow, thanks, thanksgiving, the Lord, trees, worship
It’s Christmas Eve. Our thoughts turn to the Child born in a stable in Bethlehem.
This is the day everything changed. Christ was born. God made flesh.
And yet, many people miss the significance of the events that occurred that day. Sometimes the smallest detail can make a world of difference.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Luke 2:8-12
At night in Bethlehem, everyone was asleep in their beds. Well, not everyone. There was a group of people who couldn’t sleep. They had a job to accomplish. They were shepherds watching over a flock of sheep.
Suddenly the unexpected occurred. They had a supernatural encounter. An angel showed up with an important message for them. The Christ was born.
But more than that – there was a sign. That means there was a special thing they were to look for to prove they were in the right place. A baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.
This sign to the shepherds was more than just proof for them. It was a sign of things to come. This baby was placed in a manger – not a crib or cradle. A manger is a fancy way of saying a feeding trough for livestock. It’s a place for animal food, not babies.
Yet this was the “Bread of Heaven” who came down to give us life. So for Christ, this was an appropriate resting place for Him. The Bread of Life lying in a feeding trough.
The strips of cloth were another sign. It wasn’t the normal kind of baby clothes of that day. Strips of cloth were used to clothe the dead, not the living. This baby was dressed as a corpse. Again – it was a sign of things to come.
Here was the Lamb of God. He has come to take our place on the cross. Even as a baby, His calling was revealed. Death, burial, resurrection and ascension – all for our sakes.
On this great day, amid all the activities and excitement you may find around you, don’t lose sight of the signs. This child we celebrate is no longer a baby. He is King of kings and Lord of lords. He is our Life and Light. This season is all about Him.
Have a Blessed and Wondrous Christmas!
© Nick Zaccardi 2012
Tags: angel, baby Jesus, Bethlehem, birth of Christ, bread of heaven, bread of life, Christ, Christmas, God made flesh, Lamb of God, manger, shepherds, sign, sign of things to come, stable, strips of cloth, swaddling clothes
I’ve been posting about the discussion Jesus had with the crowd in John chapter 6. Having told them that He understood their motives; Jesus goes on to explain further.
The Spirit and the Word 