Tag: Gospel

Fence Post Devotional “The Gospel of John Cowboy Style”

Joy

“I keep sayin’ these things to ya so y’all can know My blessin’ deep down inside and be mighty pleased to overflowin’.” John 15:11 (The Gospel of John Cowboy Style)

“The New American Standard Version” says it like this . . .

“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”

An informal survey was taken among a group of participants (a group of about 50) aged 25-65 and had all the basics covered, in terms of shelter, food and clothing. A single question was asked: What do you want “more of” in your life? The number one answer: “to be happy!”

We might let that go, with such a small group being surveyed. But in other similar surveys with essentially the same question, the exact number one answer kept popping up: “I want to be happy.” One survey listed the top ten, with happiness, again at the top of the list. Curiously at number 6 on the list was the wish for more “joy” in their life.

I find it interesting that on the night of His betrayal, when Jesus spoke these words (John 15:11) to His disciples, He didn’t talk to them about being happy, the number one greatest wish by most folks. Instead, Jesus desired for His followers that they would be “joyful.”

Why not happiness? Why didn’t Jesus say to His disciples as He was saying goodbye to them, “My wish for you is that you might be happy?” Well, it is likely because happiness is temporary; it is passing. You can be happy one moment and sad the next. Happiness is also dependent upon circumstances, situations, feelings, physical and emotional needs.

Whereas, joy comes from an entirely different source, at least the joy Jesus was speaking about to His disciples; a joy that is dependent not upon human resources and needs but upon the unwavering provisions and resources of God through the person of the Holy Spirit.

In fact, joy is one of those spiritual qualities listed in the “Fruit of the Spirit” that Paul says is inherited by those who “walk by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16, 22).  Here is a good Biblical definition of joy . . .

“Joy is a feeling of good pleasure and happiness that is dependent on who Jesus is rather than on who we are or what is happening around us. Joy comes from the Holy Spirit, abiding in God’s presence and from hope in His word.”                                                        – Avery Rimiller

You see, Jesus in the Upper Room that night knew what was coming. He knew what great tribulation and trouble the disciples would be facing. So, His prayer for them was that they would be filled up with the powerful presence of God’s joy so they would not lose hope in the following days.

Same is true for us. Just as the disciples, in this world we will go through troubling times. And in those times we may be tempted to give up hope. But Jesus’ promise, even and especially in trials and tribulations, says to us, “be of good cheer” (don’t give up hope) “I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

And with parting words as they left the Upper Room that fateful night, Jesus said to His disciples . . .

“Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.” (John 16:22)

“It is His joy that remains in us that makes our joy full.”     – A. B. Simpson

Fence Post Devotionals “The Gospel of John Cowboy Style”

Forever Kept in the Father’s Hand

“Those who belong to Me hear My voice, and I know ‘em, and they come along with Me; and I give them life everlastin’ so they will never die. And for sure, nobody’s gonna take ‘em from My hand, no-sir-ee! See, My Father has done given ‘em to Me. He’s greater than all; nobody can snatch His own from His hand” John 10:27-29 (“The Gospel of John Cowboy Style”).

One day, I playfully reached out and grabbed my 12-year-old daughter when she was walking by, pulled her up close to me and said, “I got you!” “Now what do you want me to do?” She said, “Don’t ever let me go!” I choked out the words, “I never will! I promise!”

That is very much what we hear our Lord saying. In our text, John describes  Jesus as the “Good Shepherd” who knows His sheep, those who belong to Him. And as the “Good Shepherd,” Jesus promises to watch over and keep His sheep safe now and throughout eternity, never to let go of those who belong to Him.

And to further emphasize His keeping strength, He tells us that it is His Continue reading “Fence Post Devotionals “The Gospel of John Cowboy Style””

Fence Post Devotionals “The Gospel of John Cowboy Style”

What Does God Look Like?

“Philip said to Him, ‘Lord, just show us the Father and that will plumb be all we need.’ Jesus told him, ‘Philip, I’ve been with you for quite a spell. How is it ya don’t recognize Me? Anyone who has laid eyes on Me has for sure seen the Father; so how can ya say, ‘show us the Father’?’” John 14:8-9 (“The Gospel of John Cowboy Style”).

“A kindergarten teacher told everyone to draw a picture of what was important to them. In the back of the room Johnny began to labor over his drawing. Everybody else finished and handed in their picture but he didn’t. He was still drawing. The teacher graciously walked back and put her arm around Johnny’s shoulder and said, ‘Johnny, what are you drawing?’ He didn’t look up; he just kept on working feverishly at his picture. He said, ‘God.’ ‘but Johnny,’ she said gently, ‘no one knows what God looks like.’ He answered, ‘They will when I’m through.’” (The Tale of the Tardy Oxcart, Charles R. Swindoll, p. 231)

Have you ever wondered what God looks like? I mean, if you tried to put a physical image to God’s appearance, how would you picture Him? I suppose some would describe Him as looking very old with a long white beard, bushy Continue reading “Fence Post Devotionals “The Gospel of John Cowboy Style””

Fence Post Devotionals “The Gospel of John Cowboy Style”

Betrayal

“Judas Iscariot was out doin’ his dirty work. He figured Jesus would be headed to one of His favorite spots to pray after supper . . . So here come Judas with a posse of Roman soldiers and their cohorts. Along with ’em was some religious so-called officers sent by the chief priests and for sure some of them hottentot Pharisees with their lanterns and torches . . . Jesus knew all along what was takin’ place so He went out to meet ’em face to face and asked, ‘Who are y’all lookin’ for?’ ‘Jesus the Nazarene’ . . . Jesus done spoke up sayin’. ‘I am He.’ For sure that no good Judas was standin’ right up in the front with ’em'”—John 18:2-5 (“The Gospel of John Cowboy Style”).

Have you ever been betrayed? Yeah, I reckon most of us at some time or another have been or at least have felt betrayed. It’s bad enough to be betrayed by a company or cooperation, on social media, in the workplace or at school. But to be betrayed by a friend or close acquaintance; well, that likely hurts most of all.

That’s what happened in the best-known betrayal scenes of all time. Even folks that are not well acquainted with the Bible know about Judas’ betrayal of Jesus.

It was in the dark of night. Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane kneeling upon a rock with droplets of blood cascading from His brow. And there in that place and at that hour He once and for all settled the matter of the Continue reading “Fence Post Devotionals “The Gospel of John Cowboy Style””

Fence Post Devotionals “The Gospel of John Cowboy Style”

Living Water

“When the last and biggest day of the feast came around, Jesus spoke out to the crowd so they could all hear Him, yes-sir-ee! He hollered out, ‘If any one of y’all is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink! Any fellow or gal that believes in Me like the Good Book says will come to have rivers of living water gushin’ forth from deep inside”— John 7:37-38 (“The Gospel of John Cowboy Style”).

One of the best-loved country and western songs of all times is “Cool Water.” Written by Bob Nolen, it was first recorded on March 27, 1941 by the Sons of the Pioneers. Others who recorded the song were such artists as Hank Williams, Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters, Frankie Laine, Marty Robbins and Burl Ives.

“Cool Water” is about a prospector and his mule named Dan. Parched from thirst, they are crossing a barren desert, and are tormented by mirages of water dancing across the burning sands. Following are some of the lyrics . . .

“All day I face the barren waste, without the taste of water, cool water. Old Dan and I with throats burned dry, And souls that cry for water, cool, clear, water.”

Chorus:

“Keep a-movin’ Dan don’t ya listen to him Dan, He’s a devil of a man and he spreads the burning sand with water. Dan, can you see that big green tree, where the water’s running free, And it’s waiting there for you and me?”

It almost makes you thirsty just to read the lyrics. And, of course for the prospector and his mule, it was real thirst that they were dealing with.

Perhaps you have been thirsty. Maybe there has been a situation in your life that you, like the prospector, experienced a life-threatening need for water; you knew what it was to be truly thirsty.

At times when I have been thirsty, and it may be true for you as well, that the only thing that really and truly slacked my thirst was water. Nothing else, no other beverage really satisfied my thirst like a good long drink of “cool water.”

Well, that’s all about physical thirst. But, there is another kind of thirst. There is also a spiritual thirst that can be just as real and tangible a need as physical thirst.

That’s what Jesus is talking about in our text. He is in Jerusalem and it is the last day of the Feast of the Booths that celebrates God’s provision of water for the Children of Israel during their 40-years of wilderness wanderings. On that 7th and last day, the Jewish priests carried clay pots filled to the brim with water up the temple steps.

And Jesus cries out to the crowd, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.” He wasn’t talking about physical water and He wasn’t talking about a physical thirst. He was talking about the soul of man. He was speaking about salvation. He was talking about a deeper and greater thirst, and that is to know God in a saving relationship. You see, He is the only One who can satisfy the deep needs, the deep cravings and thirst of all mankind.

It is the same that Jesus said to the Samaritan woman at the well . . .

“Jesus . . . said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life” (John 4:13-14).