Janji- Janji bagi Orang yang memilih untuk mengikuti Yesus

 

YESUS

Alkitab dikemas dengan janji-janji Tuhan.  Janji-janji ini sangat penting bagi kita karena membantu kita tetap membumi dan memberi kita harapan di masa-masa sulit.  Sebenarnya, kita harus membangun hidup kita di atas janji-janji Tuhan yang dapat dipercaya.

Berikut adalah janji bagi mereka yang memilih untuk mengikuti Yesus:

[HIDUP]

"Lalu Yesus berkata kepada murid-murid-Nya: "Setiap orang yang mau mengikut Aku, ia harus menyangkal dirinya, memikul salibnya dan mengikut Aku. Karena barangsiapa mau menyelamatkan nyawanya, ia akan kehilangan nyawanya; tetapi barangsiapa kehilangan nyawanya karena Aku, ia akan memperolehnya."  (Matius 16:24-25)

Kelihatannya seperti kontradiksi yang luar biasa, tetapi kita hanya akan menemukan kehidupan ketika kita berhenti mengejarnya. Ketika kita berhenti mengejar hal-hal yang kita yakini akan membawa kehidupan bagi kita dan sebaliknya, mengejar pencipta kehidupan,  kita menemukan kehidupan sebagaimana adanya, seperti yang disabdakan di Yohanes 10:10  "Pencuri datang hanya untuk mencuri dan membunuh dan membinasakan; Aku datang, supaya mereka mempunyai hidup, dan mempunyainya dalam segala kelimpahan."

[PENERIMAAN]

Semua yang diberikan Bapa kepada-Ku akan datang kepada-Ku, dan barangsiapa datang kepada-Ku, ia tidak akan Kubuang." (Yohanes 6:37)

Charles Spurgeon pernah menyebut ini sebagai salah satu ayat favoritnya. Dalam perikop ini, kita menemukan jaminan Kristus bahwa Ia tidak akan mengusir orang-orang yang datang kepada-Nya. Kita melihat penerimaan ini dibumbui di seluruh interaksinya dalam Injil. Jika kita datang kepadanya, kita akan menemukannya menunggu dengan tangan terbuka. Undangan Kristus meluas ke semua orang, dan dia menerima semua orang yang mengikutinya.

 [HADIAH]

“Jawab Yesus: "Aku berkata kepadamu, sesungguhnya setiap orang yang karena Aku dan karena Injil meninggalkan rumahnya, saudaranya laki-laki atau saudaranya perempuan, ibunya atau bapanya, anak-anaknya atau ladangnya, orang itu sekarang pada masa ini juga akan menerima kembali seratus kali lipat: rumah, saudara laki-laki, saudara perempuan, ibu, anak dan ladang, sekalipun disertai berbagai penganiayaan, dan pada zaman yang akan datang ia akan menerima hidup yang kekal. Tetapi banyak orang yang terdahulu akan menjadi yang terakhir dan yang terakhir akan menjadi yang terdahulu." (Markus 10:29-31)

Mengikuti Yesus membutuhkan pengorbanan. Ada kalanya manfaat langsung dari menempuh jalan kita sendiri mungkin tampak lebih besar daripada potensi keuntungan dari ketaatan. Yesus ingin kita tahu bahwa pengorbanan kita tidak sia-sia dan tidak ada yang bisa kita serahkan yang melebihi apa yang dicapai dalam mengikuti-Nya.

 [WAHYU]

Barangsiapa memegang perintah-Ku dan melakukannya, dialah yang mengasihi Aku. Dan barangsiapa mengasihi Aku, ia akan dikasihi oleh Bapa-Ku dan Aku pun akan mengasihi dia dan akan menyatakan diri-Ku kepadanya." (Yohanes 14:21) 

Ketika Anda memahaminya, ada unsur kebenaran Tuhan yang hanya bisa dipahami dari dalam. Semua argumen dan bukti keberadaan Tuhan tidak ada artinya dibandingkan dengan benar-benar mengalami hubungan dengan Tuhan melalui Kristus. Yesus berjanji kepada kita bahwa, ketika kita menaati-Nya, Dia akan menyatakan diri-Nya kepada kita.

 [PERSAHABATAN DENGAN TUHAN]

“Kamu adalah sahabat-Ku, jikalau kamu berbuat apa yang Kuperintahkan kepadamu.

Aku tidak menyebut kamu lagi hamba, sebab hamba tidak tahu, apa yang diperbuat oleh tuannya, tetapi Aku menyebut kamu sahabat, karena Aku telah memberitahukan kepada kamu segala sesuatu yang telah Kudengar dari Bapa-Ku." (Yohanes 15:14-15)

Yesus datang untuk mendamaikan Allah dengan umat manusia.  Kejutannya bukan hanya jembatan yang akan dibangun antara Tuhan dan umat manusia; itu bahwa kita akan memasuki hubungan ini sebagai teman. Namun, inilah yang dijanjikan Yesus kepada kita.  Alkitab banyak berbicara tentang persahabatan, dan ini salah satunya.

 [KEGEMBIRAAN]

"Seperti Bapa telah mengasihi Aku, demikianlah juga Aku telah mengasihi kamu; tinggallah di dalam kasih-Ku itu. Jikalau kamu menuruti perintah-Ku, kamu akan tinggal di dalam kasih-Ku, seperti Aku menuruti perintah Bapa-Ku dan tinggal di dalam kasih-Nya. Semuanya itu Kukatakan kepadamu, supaya sukacita-Ku ada di dalam kamu dan sukacitamu menjadi penuh." (Yohanes 15:9-11)

Kita diperintahkan untuk terus hidup dalam kasih Tuhan, dan Dia memberi tahu kita bahwa kita dapat melakukannya dengan menaati perintah-Nya. Ketaatan kita menjaga hubungan tetap hidup dan aktif, memungkinkan kita untuk tetap berada dalam kasih-Nya.  Mengapa dia ingin tetap aman dalam hubungan ini?  Jadi sukacita kita akan tetap penuh.

Yesus berjanji kepada kita bahwa sukacita adalah hasil sampingan dari tetap berada dalam kasih Allah.

[PERCOBAAN]

“Memang setiap orang yang mau hidup beribadah di dalam Kristus Yesus akan menderita aniaya" (2 Timotius 3:12)

Ketika Anda memahaminya, mengikuti Yesus membuat Anda berselisih dengan dunia.  Penganiayaan ini dapat sangat bervariasi. Beberapa milik Yesus akan kehilangan teman, keluarga, pekerjaan, kesempatan, bahkan mungkin nyawa mereka. Kebenaran ini sebagian adalah mengapa janji-janji lain ini ada. Seolah-olah Tuhan berkata, "Mengikuti saya akan menjadi perjuangan, tetapi inilah hal-hal yang saya janjikan kepada mereka yang bertahan."

Yesus berkata demikian:“Berbahagialah orang yang dianiaya oleh sebab kebenaran, karena merekalah yang empunya Kerajaan Sorga. Berbahagialah kamu, jika karena Aku kamu dicela dan dianiaya kepadamu difitnahkan segala yang jahat." (Matius 5:10-11)

Arti Sebenarnya Dari Yesus Raja Damai Pdt.Dr.Stephen Tong

"Apakah Yesus membawa perdamaian ke dunia?" "Kontradiksi" dari "Raja Damai", tetapi juga pembawa pedang,  "membawa pedang" berarti bahwa Yesus datang ke dunia dan dibenci, diserang, Dia dihakimi dan Namun, ketika Yesus dipakukan di kayu salib, Dia menjadi "Raja Damai" dan pada saat yang sama menunjukkan pengampunan mutlak-Nya.

Penginjil besar Pdt.Dr.Stephen Tong tahu mengapa dunia menentang Kekristenan, dan bahkan menggunakan ayat alkitab "Aku datang ... membawa pedang di atas bumi ini" untuk membenci Kekristenan.

Karena mereka tidak mengerti Injil, dia mengatakan bahwa percaya kepada Yesus tidak hanya membawa damai dan berkat, tetapi juga membawa penderitaan: menyangkal diri dan memikul salib, mereka yang menentangnya adalah anggota keluarga mereka sendiri.  Namun, "pedang" dan "kebencian" Ini bukan kenegatifan atau destruktif, tetapi untuk membangun fondasi perdamaian "abadi" Sama seperti Tuhan di kayu salib "seperti seorang tahanan, tanpa hak asasi manusia, korban kebencian."

Dia menekankan bahwa Yesus tidak menyebabkan orang memiliki kebencian dan perselisihan, tetapi ketika orang-orang munafik terungkap, mereka membangkitkan kebencian mereka, kemudian membawa pedang. Tepat ketika orang-orang itu ingin membunuh Yesus, dia tenang, murah hati dan menyerahkan dirinya kepada para prajurit untuk dipakukan di kayu salib.

 "Di satu sisi, Dia  pembawa pedang; di satu sisi, Dia adalah Raja Damai; di sisi lain, Dia menjadi korban; di sisi lain, Dia adalah seorang imam, dan di sisi lain Dia menaklukkan dosa." Ini secara dangkal tidak dapat dipahami oleh manusia, tetapi ini adalah "kontradiksi" terbesar di alam semesta.

Raja Damai yang meski membawa pedang, tanpa membunuh musuh, dan bahkan meminta muridnya untuk "masukkan pedang ke sarungnya",  menggunakan Kasihnya yang terbesar untuk mengampuni mereka yang membunuhNya; karena Dia menumpahkan darahnya untuk kematian kita, Dia menjadi penebus rekonsiliasi dengan Tuhan.

True Friends Don't need sweet words, just be sincere; friendship, doesn't have to be all the time, just to remember; greeting, no need for beautiful sentences, quite sincere; love, no need to make it up, just warmth.

Making friends does not have to be friends with the rich and powerful, but with compassion and truth;  don't have to be friends with those who look pretty, but those who are kind;  do not have to be friends with those who know how to reciprocate, but who are wholeheartedly sincere;  do not have to be friends with those whose strength is multiplied, but those who are in the same boat together in joy and sorrow.

 Caring, no need for sweet words, just be sincere;  friendship, doesn't have to be all the time, just to remember;  greeting, no need for beautiful sentences, quite sincere;  love, no need to make it up, just warmth.

 A true friend is not about walking away from left and right, but about discreet attention, a wise greeting, and a strong word of encouragement.

 Can lend a helping hand in a timely manner without standing idly by, when you are in trouble;  not being cold, when you are frustrated, but enthusiastically able to enlighten and persuade you;  lonely moments, not far from the line of sight, can talk about everything to accompany you.

 Happy for you when you see you happy, maybe smile brighter than you;  worrying about you when you're sad, and hate can't take it for you;  When fragile, warm your heart, afraid you will swallow your tears.

 During your life, there are many people you can get to know, but few can strengthen friendships;  many can laugh with you, but few can cry with you;  many can meet face to face, and few can see the heart.

 The best friends are those who don't like to talk much, but will accompany you secretly and get to know you in detail

 A true friend, will remind you at the right time, so that you do not forget your form when you are proud, and you will not be discouraged when you are frustrated;  True friends don't need quantity, but quality!

 After walking for a while, I knew if it was deep or shallow;  True friends will never leave, they are more valuable than anything;  A sincere friend trusts and does not hesitate, and is more comfortable than anything else;  True friends are a gift in life.

 Lord!  You are my best friend, Lord!  You are my good Shepherd, My heart thinks of you, longs to see your face.

In every step of my life, in every little stop of my life, Your hands always hold me and carry me by Your side.

Tell me the proper way, that I may not slip on the line of death, how wide and long and high and deep is Your love My heart cries out, what more do I need if I have God?

Feast of Saint Andrew the Apostle. Simon, called Peter, was the first disciples of Jesus. Matthew, 4:18-22

Feast of Saint Andrew the Apostle.  He and his brother Simon who was called Peter were the first disciples of Jesus.  Andreas and Simon received the call as disciples when they were casting their nets on the lake.  Anderas and Simon answered the call by leaving their nets and following Jesus.

 Reflecting on Andreas' call, I remembered a story about a blind woman and a young man.  This blind woman works as a beggar.  One night, this woman as usual begging in front of a shop.  That night it rained heavily, and his son, who used to pick him up and drop off, did not come.

  The rain began to subside, he heard the sound of footsteps passing in front of him.  He called the passerby saying, Brother, please take me home.  The young man stopped and replied, did you ask me for help?  He, he answered.

 The young man approached, helped her up and led the blind woman back to her house.  "Mother, why did you call me earlier, weren't there before me there were already many people passing by?" asked the young man.  The woman replied, I have been there for years and sat in front of the shop begging.  I know all the footsteps of the passers-by.  They didn't listen to me, let alone provide assistance.  Your footsteps are different from theirs and you must be a different person from them.

 This story wants to tell us that the young man heard the call and he acted, as did Andreas and Simon.  They left their nets when Jesus called, come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men.

 Jesus called His disciples to proclaim God's love, we are also called to it.  But sometimes we hesitate if we experience difficulties and challenges because we feel weak and unfit for the mission.  Keep in mind, Jesus did not call with the size of the human eye, Jesus saw his heart.  Jesus who called us will not let us walk alone in His mission.  Jesus will help us in carrying out our daily mission.  What we need is to believe and obey Him as Andrew and Simon believed and obeyed Jesus.

 Come, listen to the voice of Jesus calling by reading and meditating on His words.  And may God's grace enable us to hear clearly what is our calling, so that we can be faithful and obedient disciples in proclaiming God's love in our daily lives.  God be glorified now and forever.

The more we know God, the more we should trust Him, even in the most difficult conditions. Matthew, 8:5-11

Are we in the habit of checking the strength of a chair before we sit on it, just to make sure it's safe?  It seems impossible for us to do that.  How do we make sure that the chair is strong enough to support our weight?

 Starting from this illustration, there is one question that we need to ponder.  If we believe in the power of a chair, why don't we sometimes have the same faith in God, especially in difficult times?

 Of course, it is different in the conditions of life's struggle that requires faith compared to the case of sitting on a chair.

 This story teaches us that faith is not something complicated to practice because we can receive the results of that faith.  This officer in Capernaum understood that Jesus' authority and power were different from those of other persons, thus giving rise to faith in him.

 This officer's faith not only amazed Jesus but also brought healing to his servant.  Be to you as you believe, is the key in this story, which leads to the quality of the centurion's faith that Jesus will surely heal his servant.

 Faith is closely related to our knowledge of God.  The more we know God, the more we should trust Him, even in the most difficult conditions.  What are we worried about right now?  Call upon the Lord in faith and receive His answer.

Watching While Praying Luke, 21:34-46

 The Lord Jesus will surely come again and no one will escape judgment on the day the Lord comes.  Therefore, Jesus exhorted and encouraged His disciples to keep watch in waiting for Him.  Disciples must guard against the temptations of worldly pleasures and desires.  So that when the Day of the Lord comes, they will not be victims of judgment.  Jesus warned to watch while praying.  Only then do Christ's disciples gain strength.  Prayer helps us to stand firm before God.

 As disciples of Christ, we too are waiting for His coming.  Thus, Jesus' advice to His former disciples also applies to us today.  We also have to be on guard and not be carried away by worldly currents.  Don't let us fall into sin and be punished when the day of judgment comes.

 But in reality, aren't we often tempted and lulled by the comforts the world has to offer?  We are easily swept away by the changing times.  God's Word today reminds us to stay on the alert.  Open our eyes, ears, hearts and minds to stand firm in faith in Jesus Christ.

 In the liturgical celebration of Advent, the Church revives the wait for the Messiah, thus the faithful take part in the long preparations for the first coming of the Redeemer and renew in them the longing for His second coming.  By celebrating the birth and martyrdom of the pioneer, the Church unites herself with her longing, He must increase and I must decrease.

 From the stump of Jesse a shoot will grow and become a great and mighty tree.  The Nativity scene with the great star of Bethlehem, shows us the reason for the seasons and whether in this celebration of the birth of Jesus or in preparation for His second coming, we do so with joyful hopes for the fulfillment of promises and promises to be kept.

My Word is Lasting And Sturdy Since It Was Spoken. The word Blessing actually consists of two syllables, namely bene (good, noble) and dicere (words, or words). Luke, 21:29-33

beautiful sunrise city jerusalem

The word blessing comes from the Latin word benedict.  This word actually consists of two syllables, namely bene (good, noble) and dicere (words, or words).  Thus benedict (blessing) means good words or words.  One who blesses means to say kind words, noble words.

 Words can bring blessings to others or they can be curses.  Depends on what comes out of the mouth, good or bad.

 If we had to choose, I'm sure we would choose to speak well.  We will be happy to hear people say good words from others, so other people will certainly prefer to hear good words from us, not swear words or words of reproach.

 Jesus reminds us that the heavens and the earth will pass away but His words will not pass away.  We believe and believe that the words of Jesus are living words, words that lead us to salvation.  His words are words that bring us to the blessing of goodness and of course, saving goodness.

 Facing the end of time, no one knows when the time will be, so Jesus invites us to have a firm guide and grip, namely His own word.  The words of Jesus we find mainly in the Scriptures.

 My question is, how close are we to the Bible?  Knowing the words of Jesus presupposes that we often read the Scriptures.  How can we possibly understand His word if we have never come into contact with the Scriptures?

 Heaven and earth will pass away, the Scriptures will pass away but the word in them will never pass away.  The love of Jesus is a guarantee and proof.  His word is eternal, still firmly in effect just as it was since it was first spoken.

 Jesus is now invisible, but His Word lives and works in those of us who desire and believe in Him.  Therefore, blessed are those who listen to the word of God and are diligent in carrying it out.