A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. – Ecclesiastes 4:12
In the post, “Combined Strength of the Whole”, one thought was that together each individual provides something to the cause. The Holy Spirt provides a means to work together as ONE in Christ and the application of our faith then becomes combined excellence for God’s glory.
The journey can be a struggle but if we fall, we can be picked up by another. Take inspiration from the song Together by King & Country which points out that we are bound by the triple-braided cord of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirt. We stand together bolder, braver, and stronger.
Jesus had the ability to know things before they even happened. In Mark 14:14-31 we are told that Jesus and the disciples were gathered together on a Friday evening eating the Passover. During the meal which we know today as the Lord’s Supper, Jesus lets the disciples know that the man who will betray him is eating with them.
Judas Iscariot the betrayer would eventually identify Jesus to the soldiers at the Garden of Gethsemane and the purpose of Jesus’ death on the cross would be fulfilled as the new covenant between God and His people. In the Jewish law, blood had to be shed as atonement for sins and Jesus was introducing a new covenant not based on blood sacrifice of animals but the shedding of His own blood on the cross.
Today, we share in this new covenant of Christ since all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We were once weak but now are strong because of acceptance of Christ as Savior. The Holy Spirit provides a means whereby each individual provides something to the cause of Christ. In return, each member receives the combined strength of the whole.
The photo below was taken at the end of October in my back yard. It was right before the first strong cold front. Geese form a V-shaped formation to help conserve their energy as they fly because the birds in front reduce wind resistance. After flying in front for a while, the next in line will take the front and the one in front will go to the back to rest.
Apart we are weak but together we are strong. Like geese flying south for the winter, we help each other along the journey. In return, each member receives the combined strength of the whole. Together as ONE in Christ, the application of our faith then becomes combined excellence and God’s glory is the ultimate outcome.
This day, we work together as ONE in Christ to be shaped for victory. We help and encourage each other along the journey. The Gospel message is about team formation as we become an ever-growing community of believers willing to give our part for the cause of Christ. Amen.
Through Him we … have access by one Spirit to the Father. – Ephesians 2:18
As explained in the post “God Speed”, Jesus had the ability to know things before they even happened. As believers, we have the advantage if this same power through the Holy Spirit and things will fall into place faster than imagined along this journey.
Receive inspiration from the song Thrive by Casting Crowns and believe you are made for more than what the world has to offer. You are made for more than just surviving but you are made for thriving.
As we continue along the journey, today we read Mark 14:10-16 as Jesus demonstrates the ability to know things before they even happened. As believers, we have the advantage of this same power through the Holy Spirit and can broaden our own potential to make the impossible possible. By accepting Jesus, we receive spiritual resources that are worth much more than money or status.
The first occurrence of Jesus knowing about things before they happened was when Judas Iscariot was in the process of betraying Him. Judas Iscariot arranged for the betrayal with the chief priests for thirty pieces of silver. He would identify Jesus to the soldiers at the Garden of Gethsemane. Even though Jesus knew that Judas would betray Him, he let it happen because He also knew that this would ultimately lead to fulfilling His purpose.
The second occurrence was on the first day of the feast of unleavened bread as Jesus gives instructions as they prepare to eat the Passover. Peter and John were told to go into the city and they would meet a man carrying a jar of water. Then they were to follow the man as he entered a house and then ask the owner of the house where they may eat the Passover. The owner of the house would show them a large room upstairs where they could make preparations.
The take away for us from today’s passage is that everything is possible with God. Sometimes work stacks up and it’s hard to know what to do first. We can pray about it, plan out details, and gain momentum as each detail of the plan is completed. If we are worried so much about what we need to do and not aware of what God can do, our true potential will not be realized. Worry takes away our freedom but confidence in His way gives us the ability to journey through life with God speed.
This day will be amazing because with the power of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, there will be no limits to how fast we can get to where we need to go. Let us start by doing what is necessary; then we will do what’s amazing and suddenly, the impossible becomes possible.
In Germany, there is the autobahn highway system which allows a driver to go as fast as they want. When we are in God’s will, it is similar to being on the autobahn with no limits to where we can go and how fast we can get there. The photo below was taken while on the autobahn in 1986 as I traveled through Europe with a high school buddy. We had just graduated from college and took the opportunity to travel through Europe for a few weeks.
This day we seek out the treasure that provides more than ever imagined. It’s not gold or silver but a power that has no speed limit as we journey to where we need to go. By accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we have God speed with access to the Holy Spirit and this broadens our potential to thrive as we step ahead on this path to an amazing future. Amen
This Day With God - A Spiritual Journey 