Devo, John

Cite Your Reference

Cite Your Reference

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THE PRAYER WALL

About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching. The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. — John 7:14-18

This is an interesting moment.

What has happened is Jesus has secretly gone up to the Feast of Booths. Once he gets there, he conceals his identity. Yet crowds of people are debating about who he is. Right about the middle of the eight-day feast, he starts teaching on the Temple grounds. So he reveals himself. And the audience is mesmerized by him.

But they notice something different about his teaching style. He doesn't teach like the other Jewish teachers. And what's different is that Jewish teachers would constantly cite other teachers as a show of their education and development. But Jesus doesn't do that. And this was odd because a student formally trained at one of their 30 local rabbinical schools was trained to teach this way. But Jesus doesn't do that. He simply cites scripture. So the crowd begins to conclude that he is uneducated.

But it's right at this moment Jesus cites his source. His source is God. And with this, he drops the mic on them. He declares they assume he is uneducated because they don't know his source. They don't know his school and they don't know his teaching style because they don't know God or his Word. Thus he uses their own methodology and teaching practices against them to point out a major flaw in their educational system and personal beliefs.

Gentlemen, all the schooling you need is in God's Word. The Word of God is our source for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) Reading from other sources is not like reading the bible. This is because the bible is not an ordinary book. It is the spoken Words of God to us. In it, we find God's will to us and for us. And when we read it, hear it, and obey it we will speak it, teach it, and live it like Jesus.

ASK THIS: What of God's will are you eager to know?

DO THIS: Go find it in God's Word and live it. (Hint: Try using Google).

PRAY THIS: God, help me hear and obey.

PLAY THIS: The Gospel.

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11 thoughts on “Cite Your Reference”

  1. Hudson Plass says:

    You said “He said He wasn’t, but he did.” Are you saying that Jesus lied?!!

  2. Randy R says:

    I am really enjoying the Devo. Vince’s style is right up my alley! I need prayer for healing a degenerative disease but, mostly for God to fill my life with him and get rid of all the other junk I have stored up. Thank you

    • Paul P says:

      Jesus, we pray for my brother Randy. We lay everything down before you Jesus. There can only be one Lord in our lives, and we choose to step off the throne and let you be Lord. We cast aside any idols in our lives that we have turned to for comfort,  and we ask that the Holy Spirit would comfort us. He is our comforter. 

      We ask for an overflow of the Spirit in our lives. We ask for a clean heart and that we would be full of the Holy Spirit and that He would overflow your grace and peace to all of those in our sphere of influence. 

      Jesus, we ask for healing for Randy. We receive your healing by faith. Just like the woman who reached out and touched your cloak in the crowd. We reach out in faith and receive your healing and more of your grace. In Jesus’ name amen. 

  3. Brandon says:

    Finding this daily devotional has been life changing for me. I would like to ask for prayers that God just takes, develops, and molds me into the man I am supposed to be. I want to remain open to Gods plan for me wherever that leads me, and I truly mean wherever that leads me.
    I feel like everyday as men that we don’t reach our full potential that God has for us the world suffers. I don’t mean that in a conceded way either, just look around, the world needs more godly men and each day we don’t achieve that that is one less godly man leading in the world. Praying for all the brothers here as well, love you all.

    • Paul P says:

      Jesus, I pray 2 Cor 3:16-18 over my brother Brandon, myself, and all the brothers here. We pray that the veil would be taken away, and we pray that the Holy Spirit would transform us into the sons, brothers, husbands, fathers, and friends that you want us to be. 

      We don’t want simple behavioral change, Lord. We want transformation by the Spirit. We want a progressive transformation working to transform us into men who walk in freedom,  and who become better mirrors that reflect your glory. We want to grow in our identity in Christ; and we want to grow stronger in our relationship to you. In Jesus’ name amen. 

  5. Jared says:

    This is not my idea but it resonated with me and I have found it true in my walk. Physical hunger increases the longer you don’t consume food. Spiritual hunger acts just the opposite. It increases as you consume spiritual truth (God’s Word).

  6. Trent says:

    I am eager to know my specific purpose and when the next leg of my race begins. I grow weary of the leg I am currently running.

    • Brock Henderson says:

      Let’s Pray!

      God, we know that your Word says we can ask for wisdom and you will give it to us! I ask that You would give Trent wisdom this morning, and peace that surpasses all understanding. WE thank you God that you are faithful and just and kind enough to lead us into all truth.
      AMEN

  7. Bob Berg says:

    Vince, you continue to hit it out of the park with your messages. The focus on the Word has been a deciding factor in my personal growth in faith in Christ. And so important in these times where we are bombarded daily with untruths through the thousands of media sources available today. God bless you and May God continue to enrich you and your ministry. Your DEVO is an important starting point to my day.

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