Who's Your Daddy?

My post today is on an epic fight about fathers; it's appropriate for the day after Father's Day, I think!

Jesus is teaching in the temple courts near the place where the offerings were put. He liked to teach  near the offering boxes and watch people as they put their offerings in. Incidentally, these boxes were located in the court of women. This is significant because it means that Jesus liked to be where everyone could hear, even the women, though they were considered "less important."

He'd just told the people, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." And of course, the Pharisees were there to challenge him.

He engaged.

He told them that he knew who He was, where He came from and that He wasn't alone. "...I stand with the Father, who sent me." John 8:16

Then they verbally sparred. "Where is your father?"

"You do not know me or my Father." Jesus replied. "If you knew me, you would know my Father also."

He kept talking and confused them.

          He told them that they were from below and He was from above.
                They were of this world and He was not.

They were confused because those who don't belong to God, can't hear his voice. They didn't understand what he was saying because they were listening to the voice of their father, the devil. They only "heard" what they wanted to believe about themselves.

But the Bible says: Even as he spoke, many believed in him. Some of them received clarity and he explained who God's true children really were and the effect his teaching would have on them...

"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:31-32

If you want to go deeper, you can read all about it in John 8:12-58

So now I ask you...Who's your daddy?

Chosen

Last week, I had the pleasure of speaking at a women's ministry dinner in my old hometown. The talk I gave was on the topic of obedience and how to hear God's voice. It was not only a honor, it was an act of personal obedience for me.

You see, I normally don't like public speaking. I'm not comfortable with it and I feel extremely insecure and self-conscious.

Something happened at this talk though, something different. I felt outside of myself.

I'd prayed for months before this event and specifically asked the Lord, "What do you want me to tell them?" I told the gathered ladies what he'd said. He told me to tell them, "You are chosen. You are my daughters."

So I did.

Then I told a really long story and gave them a simple tool to help them practice listening to Him.

At the end of the night, my friend Leslie, the women's ministry leader, excitedly asked me to open the gift she'd bought me in honor of the event. So I opened it and found a beautiful necklace...

Two people can have goosebumps at the same time.

Today, I'm proudly wearing my necklace and though I didn't notice it at the time, it came with a little card containing the scriptures for each word written on the sides. The best part is that the scripture for the chosen word is the exact verse I was praying through while preparing the talk.

God is amazing and he still speaks.

         May you be blessed by hearing his voice today.