Hugh's News & Commentary

Recently as I was reading through the Book of John for my own devotions and meditations, I ran across a verse I had apparently never seen before. However, I was reading in a different Bible, The Living Bible, one that was presented to me by the administrator, the Rev. Mr. Mark Bristow, of the late Rev. Dr. Jerry B. Walker's estate.

The chapter and verse is John 3:27, "God in heaven appoints each man's work."

The blessed Holy Spirit had John to insert this passage for the benefit and teaching of everyone. It was Matthew in his Gospel that we get a close up shot of John the Baptist from the lips of Jesus,

Matthew 11:11

"I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist."
NIV

When you look at the life and ministry of John the Baptist you cannot fail to see that his life was one of consistent faithfulness in his constant witness to Jesus Christ, the Messiah. He never deviates or falters in his God-appointed and ordained mission even though some of his disciples had left him to follow Jesus. Isaiah the prophet prophesied about John the Baptist and his mission in life:

Luke 3:4-6

"A voice of one calling in the desert,
'Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.
5 Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
the rough ways smooth.
6 And all mankind will see God's salvation.'"
NIV

In this passage we read of Jesus baptizing. We know that Jesus, Himself, never baptized anyone in water. The Scripture makes that perfectly clear in John 4:1-3:

4:1 When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,

2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)

3 He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.
KJV

The reason that Jesus delegated the ministry of baptizing followers in water to His disciples is that He did not want to spoil his mission or office when He arrived back in heaven to baptize believers with the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the Baptizer with or in the Holy Spirit.

It appears that the disciples of John the Baptist were jealous for him and wanted to know how he felt about losing some of his disciples to Jesus. John's disciples report that "He (Jesus) is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!" In other words they were telling John that Jesus was getting into his neighborhood and taking over what God called him to do.

How easy it would have been for John the Baptist to be envious and jealous of what Jesus was now doing. But no such emotion can be stirred up in John. He is a spiritually mature and balanced man of God and knows down deep inside that he can only be and do what God has given him to do in life. He dare not take by force or any political means to achieve what God has not given for him.

This is a timely message for all of us today that God would have us to be content and faithful in the mission God has granted for us to accomplish in life. John emphatically says, "I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before Him" (v. 28).

Jesus told His disciples in Samaria . . .

John 4:34

34 "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work."
NIV

This is a clarion call to seek first God's Kingdom and His righteousness. When we do, every thing we need will be added or given to us. Jesus said it and I believe it:

Matthew 6:33-34

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
NIV

In closing, let me share with you what my good friend, Malcolm Burton of Spring, Texas, wrote today in his daily devotional via e-mail:

"When I do not know how life will work out I still know Who will work it out" -- Malcolm Burton. I'm confident that statement is based on Romans 8:28.

I like what Robert Schuller wrote in one of his books, "Tough times never last, tough people do."  In fact, that is the name of his book, Tough Times Never Last, Tough People Do.

I don't know about you, but many of my readers are facing difficult times and some may be facing the possibility losing their jobs. I am praying for you today that God will either save your job or position, or give you an equal or better one. Your times are in God's hands.

God holds the minds and hearts as well as the decisions of men in the palm of His mighty hand. Proverbs 21:1 tell us that:

Proverbs 21:1

The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD;
He directs it like a watercourse wherever He pleases.
NIV

God has the final Word on everything. Listen to what the Bible says:

Ephesians 1:20-23

20 All this energy issues from Christ: God raised Him from death and set Him on a throne in deep heaven, 21 in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from His rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. 22 He is in charge of it all, has the final Word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. 23 The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ's body, in which He speaks and acts, by which He fills everything with His presence.
(from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

May I offer a prayer for you just now?

Dear Heavenly Father, we come to you in the Name of Your Son Jesus Christ on behalf of those who are facing tough times and troubling situations.

Some are thinking they they will be losing their employment and careers. We ask for Your favor--the Holy Spirit's intervention in the lives of these dear ones who love and honor You. Protect their jobs and career fields. Cause men and women who make drastic cuts by letting people go to think long and hard before they dismiss any of your people who are reading this prayer of mine on their behalf. Keep, preserve, and sustain my readers who are facing uncertain decisions and ramifications about the future of these your people. Give them joy and peace in the midst of it all.

In the Mighty Name of Jesus, our Savior and Lord, we pray. Amen, and Amen!

Your friend in all seasons,

Hugh Holmes Morgan

The Reverend Dr. Hugh H. Morgan
Chaplain, Lieutenant Colonel, USAF Retired
Director of Chaplains Ministries, IPHC
Vice Chairman, NAE Commission on Chaplains
CEO, Founder, President, Editor of Hugh's News & Commentary
President, Hugh Holmes Morgan Education Scholarship Fund, Inc.
Member, Board of Trustees, Holmes Bible College
Pastor Emeritus, Christian Life Worship Center (formerly Tarkenton Memorial Church in Athens, GA)

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