March 4, 2021
John 16:21, "A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the word."
In John 16, as we see Jesus preparing His disciples for His soon departure to the Father, He described things of the spiritual realm with physical examples in order to help them better understand. They didn’t want Jesus to go, especially to suffer and die, but what an example He gave to think about, and how relatable for the mothers that have experienced this, or fathers who've witnessed the birth of their child.
As I sit here in the hospital room with my beautiful wife enjoying the birth of our new son Levi, everything up to this point within the last 24 hours wasn’t so peaceful and pleasant. Having to see my wife in discomfort and pain during childbirth is never easy for me, but it is just as Jesus described. For Mo, once the baby is born, there is this moment of relief, peace, and joy. The sting of the pain is there but diminishing. There is something far better to focus on now than what was there before, God’s gift of new life.
That’s what Jesus was trying to teach His disciples. That although they were about to experience pain and sorrow from Him being crucified, the fruit of His act of love will surpass the thoughts of the painful process.
Imagine not having a propitiation for our sins? Imagine not having a Mediator/High Priest between us and the Father? Imagine not having the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth? Imagine not having salvation and not being able to have a personal relationship with God? The picture of childbirth was the same mindset Jesus used to focus on the future beauty, in the present pain (Hebrews 12:2). Let that be our prayer, that we follow and apply that same example in our seasons of “labor.”
Stay blessed, bold, and encouraged fam.
Your brother in Christ,
- Anthony
In John 16, as we see Jesus preparing His disciples for His soon departure to the Father, He described things of the spiritual realm with physical examples in order to help them better understand. They didn’t want Jesus to go, especially to suffer and die, but what an example He gave to think about, and how relatable for the mothers that have experienced this, or fathers who've witnessed the birth of their child.
As I sit here in the hospital room with my beautiful wife enjoying the birth of our new son Levi, everything up to this point within the last 24 hours wasn’t so peaceful and pleasant. Having to see my wife in discomfort and pain during childbirth is never easy for me, but it is just as Jesus described. For Mo, once the baby is born, there is this moment of relief, peace, and joy. The sting of the pain is there but diminishing. There is something far better to focus on now than what was there before, God’s gift of new life.
That’s what Jesus was trying to teach His disciples. That although they were about to experience pain and sorrow from Him being crucified, the fruit of His act of love will surpass the thoughts of the painful process.
Imagine not having a propitiation for our sins? Imagine not having a Mediator/High Priest between us and the Father? Imagine not having the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth? Imagine not having salvation and not being able to have a personal relationship with God? The picture of childbirth was the same mindset Jesus used to focus on the future beauty, in the present pain (Hebrews 12:2). Let that be our prayer, that we follow and apply that same example in our seasons of “labor.”
Stay blessed, bold, and encouraged fam.
Your brother in Christ,
- Anthony
TODAY'S PRAYER REQUESTS:
Juliet - Thank you all for your prayers! Juliet is now home with her family. Please pray for the feeling in her legs to be restored. Please pray for the results of her biopsy to come back benign, and reveal no cancer. Please pray for her physical rehabilitation and open doors in Casa Colina.
Andrea – please pray for this young woman’s salvation who is experiencing severe trials.
Sandra L. – Sandra’s surgery is scheduled for March 23. Please continue to pray for a successful surgery, a smooth recovery, and especially for the removal of every bit of cancer cells.
Norah Rae - please continue to pray for this precious little one to grow healthy and strong; may God touch her parents and guide all the physicians tending to this little life.
Please pray for the churches who are in court battles to stay open, including Calvary Chapel San Jose. Please pray that God would give them the victory.
Please pray for the defeat of "The Equality Act" which will be headed to the Senate for vote in the near future.
Juliet - Thank you all for your prayers! Juliet is now home with her family. Please pray for the feeling in her legs to be restored. Please pray for the results of her biopsy to come back benign, and reveal no cancer. Please pray for her physical rehabilitation and open doors in Casa Colina.
Andrea – please pray for this young woman’s salvation who is experiencing severe trials.
Sandra L. – Sandra’s surgery is scheduled for March 23. Please continue to pray for a successful surgery, a smooth recovery, and especially for the removal of every bit of cancer cells.
Norah Rae - please continue to pray for this precious little one to grow healthy and strong; may God touch her parents and guide all the physicians tending to this little life.
Please pray for the churches who are in court battles to stay open, including Calvary Chapel San Jose. Please pray that God would give them the victory.
Please pray for the defeat of "The Equality Act" which will be headed to the Senate for vote in the near future.
Today at Calvary Chapel El Monte
Thursday, March 4, 2021
Midweek Bible Study 7PM
Lord willing, we will be covering Proverbs 31.
Midweek Bible Study 7PM
Lord willing, we will be covering Proverbs 31.