This is the visual God gave me the other day in church. This is not my typical way of writing. Just pray it ministers to someone, somehow. God knows!

You have a beautiful transparent pitcher and an amazing fresh water Source. The water is so pure and refreshing, it seems to quench not only your physical thirst but also some deeper thirst within you that you are often unaware of until that need is met. You delight in filling your pitcher to the brim with the fresh water not only to quench your own thirst but to also share the fresh water with your spouse, your children, your family, your neighbors, your co-workers; really anyone who stops to chat for a minute. You know how refreshing the water is, so you just want to share it.

On occasion, the pitcher gets some debris in it. Sometimes that’s completely accidental and as soon as you notice, you take it to the water source and just let the fresh water flood out the debris. In the past, you used to try to clean the pitcher out by hand without water, but it never got fully clean. You’ve learned the best way to clean out the debris is to just let the fresh water Source flush it out.

Other times the debris build up is just from neglect, you’re just not really paying attention, especially when it comes time to share some of the fresh water with others. When that happens, you often fail to notice how much debris actually gets into other’s cups. Sadly, too often you don’t even notice until the person has taken a big drink of the fresh water and debris.

The pitcher is transparent, but sometimes the debris sticks to the sides of it and it loses its transparency. It’s then that others fail to see the beauty of the pitcher as well as the refreshing beauty of the water within. They may decline any offer of water you make. However, the pitcher truly is beautiful having been crafted by the same Source as the water.

Every time, the answer is, go back to the Source. Let the Source flood the vessel until all the debris has fallen out onto the ground (not in others’ cups). Then, what remains in the pitcher to be poured into other vessels is: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control!

– – – – –

Explanation: The pitcher is you. The water Source is the Holy Spirit of God. The debris can really be anything, but according to online dictionary: debris – the scattered remains of something broken or destroyed, rubble or wreckage. Or carelessly discarded refuse; litter.

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Matthew 23:26b First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.

James 3:11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 

John 7:37-38 Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

John 4:13-14 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Perhaps the greatest limitation we put on God, in our own minds, is our human finiteness. Because we know no other existence, it is difficult to imagine a God that is not bound by time and space as we are. Consequently, we attribute to God the same limits we ourselves have. We have no way of knowing what choices we will be faced with tomorrow nor what we will decide in that given moment. But, because God is outside of time and space, He is already as present in our future decisions as we are present in this very moment. And since He is already present in our future choices, don’t you think He has something prepared for us? That is to say, as if He doesn’t already know every single choice we will ever make and He has the right thing prepared for us in that choice.

Let’s take Jonah, for example. God commanded him to go to Nineveh and preach to them about repentance. However, Jonah did not want to go, so he decided to jump on a ship heading in the opposite direction. Even in the moment God command Jonah to go, He knew Jonah would choose not to go. That is why we see in Jonah 1:17 that God had already prepared a fish to swallow Jonah. Jonah had no way of knowing that would take place when he told the sailors to throw him overboard.

I’m curious how we can apply this lesson to our current situations. Is there something currently happening in your life that has caused you some confusion? Some doubt? Some uncertainty? Do you suppose God is surprised by what’s happening in your life right now, as you yourself might be surprised about it? He is not surprised. Do you think He doesn’t already have something prepared for your next step, and your next step, and the one after that? Does He not have a place for you? A purpose for you? A provision for you, a promise to be fulfilled for you?

Look at Psalm 23:5, “You prepare (put in order) a table before me in the presence of my enemies…” God has already prepared something. Also, in II Chronicles 29:36, “And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because God had prepared (provided) for the people, for the thing came about suddenly.” God provides by preparing for His people. Again, in Psalm 68:10, “your flock found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O God, you prepared (provided) for the needy.” He knows our needs. He prepares and provides for those needs. Matthew 6:8 teaches us this principle.

I Corinthians 2:9 is a beautiful promise we would do well to remind ourselves regularly. We can’t imagine, but God has already prepared for us!! “But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.”

In Matthew chapter 3 we see John’s ministry of baptism of repentance. I want to look a bit more into the finer details.

Verse 1 – John was preaching in the wilderness. People had to seek him out if they wanted to hear the preaching. He was not preaching in a public or well-known spot that the masses already frequented. This must have pointed to the people’s genuine desire to hear the preaching (for whatever reason).

Verse 2 – His message was simply repentance. That’s it. Repent. Why? Because the kingdom of heaven was at hand.

The Amplified Bible creates a much clearer picture of what he meant by repentance: “change your inner self – your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God’s purpose for you life.”

The Greek word [metanoeo] for ‘repent’ in that verse means to think differently or afterwards, that is to reconsider. When we change our way of thinking, our actions and behaviors follow suit.

Verse 3 shows how John was fulfilling Old Testament prophecy about being the forerunner of Christ. Verse 4 details what he wore.

Verse 5 adds to the point in verse 1 that people who wanted to hear his message had to seek him out.

Verse 6 is where we see some evidence of repentance, not only were they being baptized by John but they were also confessing their sins in the process.

Verse 7 and 9 are interesting. We see John immediately calling out the Pharisees and Sadducees. He knew and verbally acknowledged their excuses; whatever justifications they wanted to use.

Verse 8 is where I want to focus. “Bring fruit in keeping with repentance.” (ESV) Other versions also say it so well.

BBE – Let your change of heart be seen in your works.

CEV – Do something to show that you have really given up your sins.

ERV – Change your hearts! And show by the way you live that you have changed.

TPT – You must prove your repentance by a changed life.

YLT – Bear, therefore, fruits worthy of reformation.

AMP – So produce fruit that is consistent with repentance [demonstrating new behavior that proves a change of heart, and a conscious decision to turn away from sin].

MSG – It’s your life that must change, not your skin!

We can see scripturally that our repentance is likened to Jesus’ death on the cross. “We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin” Romans 6:6.  Again, defining what repentance looks like: “to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds…” Ephesians 4:22-23 and “In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices…” Colossians 3:7-9

Looking back at who came out to the wilderness to see John; we must self-evaluate our motives. Just ‘showing up’ at a church service or even weeping at an altar does not prove repentance. In fact, it begins with a work of God in our hearts. II Corinthians 7:10 teaches us that it is “godly sorrow that worketh repentance” not a worldly sorrow.

Personal confession: I’ve been walking with God now for over 27 years. I believe I learned early on what true repentance is and that it’s not just lip service, not just asking for forgiveness. It is a change of direction. However, somewhere along the line over the past few years, I would say, I somehow lost sight of the “fruit of repentance” aspect. I think I forgot the part about changing thoughts, changing actions. I don’t want to justify it, but I can understand how someone can slip into that way of thinking. It’s not as if I’m actively sinning the “big sins”. It is perhaps easier to, for example, stop smoking (clear action) when repenting over smoking. But, I guess I forgot how to stop thinking or believing a way (about myself) as evidence of repenting over said thoughts. (Hope that makes sense.)

Anyway, thanks be to God who is so patient, loving and kind towards us, towards me. He is talking to me again about the need for change of thought, change of action, change of behavior, not just words.

In the KJV we read it as “bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.” The Greek word for fruits means exactly that, fruit, either figuratively or literally. The Greek word for meet means deserving, comparable, suitable, due reward. Therefore, in our repentance we must also show action in our lives that is deserving, is comparable, is suitable for repentance.

So, in my own case, I need to stop and change my thought pattern about a thing and at the same time begin behaving in a way that shows I believe what God thinks about a thing. I think to date, I have just shrugged at my own thoughts and beliefs as if to say, “well, that’s just me”. NO! That is no longer acceptable! True repentance, for me, would not only be asking for forgiveness, and wanting His ways, but also shutting down all the thoughts about a thing that are anti-God and start walking out His Truth about a thing. Romans 12:21 states, “do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” This is applicable both for actions and thoughts!

I know that is a bit vague and a bit off my normal type of post, but I hope it is helpful and I think I need a certain level of transparency in this repentance. Just as those who came to John to be baptized. The scripture says that they came confessing their sins.

There are so many scriptures that talk about fruit (that could be a whole study in and of itself, maybe someday). Here are just a few to close this out with.

James 3:18 “and the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”

Hebrews 13:15 “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving praise to his name.”

Hebrews 12:11 “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

Colossians 1:10 “so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God”

Philippians 1:11 “filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”

Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law.”

John 15:1-16

…more than what we need; to be shared with others.

Matthew 14:5 loaves and 2 fish for 5000 men + women & children –> 12 baskets leftover

Matthew 15:7 loaves and a few small fish for 4000 men + women & children –> 7 baskets leftover

John 2 – The Wedding at Cana – 6 stone water jars which each held about 20-30 gallons, filled to the brim –> the best wine. Was that wine just for the bride & groom and their family. Did it not also provide for the guests? Was the miracle just for the family to save face? Just for an individual or a family? Did not everyone there benefit from the miracle, receive from the miracle? The Bible does not specifically say, but do you suppose there was wine leftover? Perhaps for the new bride & groom starting their new life?

Matthew 13:8, 23 “other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” 

The fruit of the Word in our life is meant to be a blessing to others.

Deuteronomy 14:28-29 “at the end of three years you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in the same year and lay it within your towns. And the Levite because he has no portion or inheritance with you, AND the sojourner, AND the fatherless, AND the widow, who are within your towns, shall come and eat and be filled, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands that you do.” (emphasis my own.)

Leviticus 19:9-10 “when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner. I am the LORD your God.” (Ruth’s story)

God designed it in the law that we always consider the less fortunate and plan to share what we have.

Ephesians 3:20 “now unto him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.”

God is an extravagant God. All He does is in abundance. Just look at creation!

I am who I am because the I AM tells me who I am.

Do you know names mean something to God? We may choose our children’s name simply based on the sound of the name and how much we like it. We might name a child based on a family name. Some chose their child’s name based on the meaning, but that seems to not be the norm any longer.

In biblical names, we can see right from the beginning that names mean something. For example, God named Adam because he was taken/made from the earth. Adam means man and of the earth. God named him exactly according to who/what he was. We see Adam do the same thing with Eve. At first, he called her woman, because she had been taken/made from the man. At the end of chapter 3 in Genesis, we see where Adam began to call her life-giver (Eve) instead of just ‘from man’. There are so many other stories of the importance of names throughout scripture, from Abram to Abraham, Jacob to Israel, etc.

Perhaps the most important one in scripture is the name Jesus. In the Hebrew, Jesus literally means Jehovah has become my salvation. There are numerous New Testament scriptures that point to the importance, the authority, the power of Jesus’ name.

Matthew 1:21; Mark 6:14; Mark 9:39; John 10:25; John 20:31; Acts 2:38; Acts 3:6, 16; (the whole book of Acts); I Corinthians 1; Ephesians 5:20; Philippians 2:10; Colossians 3:17; I John 3:23; and so many more.

However, today’s lesson is not about Jesus’ name. That is a lengthy study in and of itself. Today, I want to remind everyone that your name means something to God. I would strongly encourage you to look up your name and ask the Lord how that applies to His Kingdom.

I had the great honor to be in a baby dedication service where the pastor does a bit of research of the child’s name before service. He finds the meaning of the name, then prays about the meaning, the child, and the Kingdom. He then asks the Lord to give him a prayer/prophecy to pray over the child during the baby dedication service. This is powerful! I have since reminded myself of each of my child’s name, studied a bit of scripture, prayed and ask the Lord to give me a prophetic prayer to pray over them. This is powerful!

I would strongly encourage you to look into your name meaning, take some time to pray, read the Book, ask and meditate upon what the Lord gives you. If you have children, I would also recommend doing this for them. Also, just as God changed names throughout history, perhaps you’re wanting an identity change as well. Ask the Lord about that. Perhaps you don’t need to legally change your name, but inquire of the Lord what name He calls you; how He sees you; what your identity is in His Kingdom.

Names mean something to God. Your name means something to God.

“But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”  Isaiah 43:1

“Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, each by name.”  III John 1:15

“The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.”  John 10:3

“She would not go in to the king again, unless the king delighted in her and she was summoned by name.” Esther 2:14

“For you have found favor in my sight and I know you by name.” Exodus 33:17

Genesis 11:4 “Let us make a name for ourselves.”

Genesis 12:2 “I will bless you and make your name great.” ~ God

Exodus 33:17 God to Moses “I know you by name.”

Isaiah 40:26 “calling them all by name”

Philippians 2:9 “given him a name which is above every name”

I am who I am because the I AM tells me who I am!

What reward are you seeking? Instead of looking for an answer, why not look for Jesus?

In the many years of talking with others, this is something that often comes up. I hear believers speak of miracles, signs, and wonders. I listen to believers express their longing for peace and joy in their lives. I even had someone recently tell me, “if we do things the right way, we get the rewards” speaking specifically of personal prayer time, Bible reading, faithfulness to the gathering of believers, and the like. However, in the same conversation the individual disclosed to me that it had not worked like they had hoped. It got me to thinking.

These all may be accurate and certainly worth longing for. But, what does the Word say? What does God say about seeking signs and benefits? What did Jesus say to His followers? Let’s look.

“Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. So, Abram went…” Genesis 12:1 & 4

Genesis 13 – Abram offered the first choice to Lot. Abram did not have his eye on any particular land. Honestly, he did not even know where he was going. All he knew was he was following as God led. To do this, he had to be in pursuit of God. If he had been in pursuit of land, that would have clouded his ability to clearly hear the voice of God. If he had preconceived ideas of where he was going and what it would look like, he would have viewed everything God did through that lens. He would have constantly been asking “is this the land? Is this it?” Or he might have always been questioning “where’s the miracle, God? Why are we struggling to get there?” Etc. Instead, he pursued God. In this way, there could be no worry of mishearing or misunderstanding.

Hebrews 11:10 & 16 – these verses highlight the fact that Abraham had really no idea what he was looking for other than God and His city. This alludes to the idea that Abraham knew he was on a quest of a heavenly city, not an earthly one.

Another example, even though Moses knew God was using him to bring the children of Israel into the promised land, he personally was more interested in seeing God. Exodus 33:15 Moses pleads with God, “if your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here,” and again Moses pleads, “please show me your glory!” (Exodus 33:18 ESV) Moses understood if he didn’t seek God first, no victory, no reward, nothing was worth it without Him! Even though the spies had brought back a report that the land was beautiful and abundant, we do not see Moses begging God for the substance of the land. Instead, we see Moses beg God for His glory and to see Him!

Again, so many of David’s psalms illustrate this concept of searching for God over any reward. That’s not to say David did not request peace, safety, healing, etc. But, when looking deep in the psalms we see how David constantly came back to “you O LORD are my refuge, You are my shelter, You are my hiding place” and the like. David learned to seek to hide in God.

Psalm 3 & 4– David was able to sleep restfully because he knew God was his resting place.

 Psalm 9 – ever wonder how David was able to write so knowingly and intimately about God? “the LORD has made himself known” (v.16) The Lord had made himself known to David because David sought to know Him!

Matthew 11 Jesus asked the people “what” did you go out to see (referring to John the Baptist). Mark 1:7 John identifies Jesus “He who is mightier than I”. The people went looking for signs. Jesus came for those looking for Him. Jesus said to them, “truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”  Jesus is Truth. Jesus is Love. Jesus is Light. Jesus is the Way. Jesus is Life.

There will always be benefits when seeking God. However, it is important to keep in mind our motives. Do we really want to know Him? Or are we just interested in the benefits? Hebrews 8:11, “and they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least to the greatest.

II Timothy 4:8, “henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award me on that day, and not only to me but to all who loved His appearing.” The Lord is coming back for those who are looking for HIM, watching for Him, loving His appearing. He is not coming back for those who are focused on signs or tribulation or miracles or benefits.

Do you want to be loved for who you are or what you can do or give people?

Think of it in a more personal way. If married, do you want your spouse to want you and love you because of who you are or are you happy with your spouse wanting you because you make a great meal and feed him/her? If not married, what about a best friend. Do you want your best friend to love you and spend time with you because you always pay for the meal when you go out or do you want them to love you and spend time with you because of who you are?

God is the same way. After all, we were made in His image.

We so often pursue the benefits. For example, we pursue the healing, we pursue the job, we pursue feelings of peace, we pursue feeling justified. How often do we just simply pursue Him?

This has been a personal reminder to me the past couple of weeks. I was looking for some answers, some direction, some insight. Then, in His loving kind way, He reminded me answers will be the supernatural by-product as I pursue Him. So, that’s where I am currently. Going back to basics; in pursuit of Jesus! This is not a new concept. I’m so thankful for His gentleness and patience with me. Clearly, I needed the reminder. I think perhaps someone else does too.

Proverbs 8:17 – I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.

Isaiah 65:1 – I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me; I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, “Here I am, here I am,” to a nation that was not called by my name.

Jeremiah 29:13 – You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

I Corinthians 14:1 – Pursue love.

I Timothy 6:11 – Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.

II Timothy 2:22 – Pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace.

Stop looking for an answer, a benefit, or some reward. Start looking for Jesus! He is the only answer!

Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving… But the Lord answered, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”  – Luke 10:39, 40a – 42

John 11:2 It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair.

John 12:3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 

This story of Mary and Martha I have heard multiple times. In fact, I have even taught on it myself. However, back in September, at a ladies’ conference, when this verse was spoken, the Lord highlighted something I had not focused on before. “Mary has chosen the good portion which will not be taken from her.”  Perhaps this won’t hit you the same way it did me, perhaps it will. But, I know the voice of the Lord well enough to know He was working something in my spirit about this. The one thing that is necessary is choosing the good portion.

The power of choice. We live in a world that wants us to believe that so much is outside of our control. There is also a victim mentally that is pervading our human experiences. Now, don’t get me wrong, there are things outside of our control and there undoubtedly are true victims. However, the spirit of the world wants to strip us of our God-given freedoms and hold us captive to lies. We absolutely can choose our thoughts, emotions, and actions. It is by the power of our own choice that God’s mercy and grace saves us; when we say yes to His calling. Joshua 24:15 “choose this day whom you will serve.”

When the rich young ruler came to Jesus asking about eternal life, he felt justified that he had kept all the commandments since childhood. However, Jesus pointed out to him that he still lacked one thing – the power of choice, to chose “the good portion”. Luke 18:22 “When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack…”

David was aware of this truth as shown here in Psalm 27:4 “One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after…” David understood putting his choices into action. It is not enough to say the right thing or to even have “good intentions”. James states this clearly, “so whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, to him it is sin.” Also, “be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves… but the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” (James 1:222, 25 & 4:17)

God has given us clear lines – the way of life and the way of death. The way of blessing and the way of cursing. Deuteronomy 30:19 “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore, choose life, that you and your children may live.” The power of choice.  

Today is the day. Now is the moment. Choose! Joshua 24:15 “…choose this day whom you will serve,” Psalm 17:15 “As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness,” Psalm 119:30 “I have chosen the way of faithfulness, I set your rules before me.”

The second part of that scripture about Mary: “…which will not be taken from her.” The world may try to strip us of our many God-given rights. However, there is a choice that no one can take away from us: the good portion.

I Peter 1:3b – 5 “According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

Romans 8:38-39 “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Our hope, our confidence, our promise in Jesus cannot be taken from us. Every moment of every day as we choose Jesus, the good portion, will not be taken from us! We can rest assured in Him!

And Jesus said to him, “why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.” Mark 10:18

Jesus is God. God is good. All the time!