November 20 – Receiving

"Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, 'HE WHO EATS MY BREAD HAS LIFTED UP HIS HEEL AGAINST ME.' From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me." John 13:16-20  

A slave or servant—that is us—is not greater than his Master—that is Jesus. Did Judas see himself as more important than Jesus? He was the one Jesus was referring to as lifting his heal against Him (Psalm 41:9). Judas was willing to betray Jesus—to be paid money to lead the Roman soldiers to take Him prisoner. Judas was greedy. Pure and simple greedy. Greed is an ugly thing. It is a selfish attitude. This is just the opposite of what Jesus had just spent almost three years teaching. Put others first; love your enemies; love your neighbor as yourself. None of those teachings of Jesus say to put yourself and your interests ahead of others. That would be selfish, greedy. 

So Jesus goes on to encourage His chosen ones, His disciples—as well as ministers and missionaries now—that those who receive, welcome or accept them, accept Jesus and thus the Heavenly Father, too. What a comforting thought for that means those people will have the eternal life that Jesus taught about earlier. Life forever with Jesus and His Father…our Father. Personally, I welcome even just the thought of that—eternity in Heaven. It is beyond what I can truly grasp—but I know that it will be a goodness beyond my imagination and I long to be in Heaven—forever—with other believers and with Jesus, feasting at His table. Revelation 7:16 tells us that…they (those who come to know Jesus during the Tribulation) will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore…. This tells us that some people are going to suffer with great hunger and thirst during the Tribulation—but once they get to Heaven, no more hunger and thirst. God will be generous and merciful—no one in Heaven will ever be hungry or thirsty. 

Jesus—Thank You that You provide food for everyone in Heaven. Since You have so generously provided for us, please provide for those who are hungry, spiritually and physically, during this holiday season.

 

Happy Birthday, Sylvia!

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB).