reflect on God’s word

John 6:44 – God Moves

“For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up.” (John 6:44)

Not only is this a great memory verse, but it is also packed with truths we don’t often reflect on. What did Jesus mean when he said it? Who was he talking to? Those are the kinds of questions that get answered when we look at the context or bigger picture. Always ask, “what can I learn from where this single verse got plucked?”

Context: In this case, there is a lot going on in Chapter 6 of John’s gospel. So many stories of Jesus, including the feeding of the 5,000 with a few fish and loaves of bread, and the memorable episode of Jesus walking on the water. By verse 44, Jesus is responding to a group of people in the crowd who were questioning his reference to himself and eternal life. How could just a “normal” person make such claims? Jesus’ statement to them is bold and very direct. We can glean truth from these words. Continue reading “John 6:44 – God Moves”

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 – The Right Time

Read Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Time is a precious commodity. Once we spend it, we can’t get it back. This passage suggests there is a right and wrong time for doing things. Was Solomon’s wisdom causing him to overthink again? For the most part, I think he’s “spot on.” The problem is, we may not always know what the “right” time is for doing these things.

Thankfully, God’s timing is always perfect. I’ve heard that my whole life, and I’m sure I’ve said it dozens of times to help someone patiently wait. As we read through Solomon’s list of time sensitive aspects of life, I found myself nodding my head in agreement, remembering those times in my own life.

Lamentations 3:25-39 – Hope in Despair

Read Lamentations 3:25-39

This section of the third lament begins with hope rather than despair. The author wants the people to understand the hope that comes from depending on God. Clearly, living through the destruction of Jerusalem and watching loved ones die or be taken away was a brutal reality. Hard times are so much more devastating when we don’t rely on God.

This passage speaks of submitting to the “yoke of his discipline.” That is, we are to come willingly to God, accepting his discipline as a way of teaching us something. Have you ever thought that everything that happens to us in life has a purpose? The author encourages readers to accept what was happening and learn from it.