Jesus - Whom do we serve?

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%202&version=NIV

John Chapter 2 provides some great insight into our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  We are able to see Him as a son as well as a Son.  We are able to see Him as Miracle Worker, and as a man who is in love with His Father, and the sacredness of the Temple.  I love the beginning where Mary asks Jesus to help with the wine shortage.  Jesus says, "'Woman, why do you involve me?' Jesus replied. 'My hour has not yet come.'"  The very next verse is His mother Mary simply providing instructions to the servants... ^"5 His mother said to the servants, 'Do whatever he tells you'."  I love this story!  Not only are we given insight into our Savior and His obedience to, and love and adoration for His mother, but also into His power to perform miraculous signs as Isaiah had prophesied.  As the story continues, Jesus enters the Temple gates and is enraged at the House of the Lord being turned into a market place where vendors were selling animals, cheating customers, and exchanging money.  Another prophesy fulfilled from Psalm 69:9, "for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me."  Also, from Isaiah 35, Jesus begins the fulfillment of the prophesies of His miraculous works. John provides us a well-rounded overview of our Savior as human and God, as He begins His journey to fulfill His mission.  When challenged to prove His authority to perform miracles, He alludes to His death on the cross followed by His triumphant resurrection, when He says, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days."  Only after the resurrection do the disciples understand the meaning of this, but it solidifies their belief in Jesus, and furthers their resolve to give their all in building His church.  I am so grateful to serve the one and only Savior, who loves us, provides for us, and cares for us completely.  I am committing to full surrender, and will only "Trust and Obey."

My prayer,

Lord, thank you for your faithfulness, love, and salvation.  Thank you for providing us victory over sin, Satan, and death through your glorious death and resurrection.  Please help me to live in complete surrender to Your calling on my life, and to lead my family in the way we should go.  Proverbs 3:5-6 says, ⁵"Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight" (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=proverbs+3&version=NIV).
This is my desire, and I look forward to walking hand in hand, and sometimes in Your arms, as I go all in with You and Your plan from me and my family.  I love You Lord, and pray all this in Jesus' Name, Amen. 

The Messiah - John 1:29-51

John has the honor of baptizing Jesus, and as he does, the Holy Spirit comes to rest on Him, and He is proclaimed as the Messiah, our Savior.  Jesus continues His ministry as He begins calling His disciples.  I find it very interesting that Jesus called such a variety, and that each one had their human issues that needed work, but Jesus knew that they would continue the work of building His church.  Pastor John discussed a very simple, yet profound truth today that applied then as well as it does today, and that is to simply "Trust and Obey."  Jesus is looking for followers who are willing to surrender all, and take up their cross daily to trust and obey His leading through the Holy Spirit.  I have been challenged lately to seek God and His direction for our lives, and in this process have committed to sharing the thoughts God provides through this venue, yet I have been under attack, and even as I am sharing this, I feel the oppressive spirit of the enemy trying to hinder me from sharing these thoughts.  I pray for each person reading this, and for myself that each of us will simply trust God and obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit.  Satan and all his forces will be defeated by and through the power of the Name and Blood of Jesus.  I claim the promises of His Word, and the Power of His Name, Blood, and Presence to defeat Satan, and that we will see revival individually as well as in our church, community, and around the world.  These words are spoken in prayer, while believing it to come to pass.  In Jesus Name, Amen.