Mount Nebo Baptist Church

@ Noonday

“Jesus Did It”

Good afternoon. Friday’s moment of meditation at midday comes from three verses in John 9:

20 His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:

21 But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.

22 These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.

Beloved, in John 9, a man who had been born blind was healed by Jesus on the Sabbath Day. The Pharisees were the leaders in the synagogue, and they despised Jesus because He often exposed their hypocrisy. They wielded their power by attaching rules and regulations to the Biblical law that God never endorsed and they didn’t follow themselves. For example, no healings were allowed on the Sabbath Day!

The formerly blind man likely informed his parents that Jesus did it, but his parents were afraid to say this out of fear they would be thrown out of the synagogue. Imagine that, my friends, being kicked out of the church for giving credit to Christ! The parents wouldn’t do it, but I will:

When it comes to my forgiveness and salvation, “Jesus Did It”! When it comes to my every healing and my every breakthrough, “Jesus Did It”! When it comes to my growth and progress in each and every way, “Jesus Did It”!

It has been said, “The Gospel is the only story where the hero dies for the villain.” I’ll shout it in the sanctuary and out on the rooftop too, “Jesus Did It”!

The Lord will make a way somehow!!!
John A. Wicks, Jr.

@ Noonday

“Father Knows Best”

Good afternoon. Wednesday’s moment of meditation at midday comes from Psalm 103:13, “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him.”

Beloved, we have a Heavenly Father that loves us and is ready and willing to listen to us and lift us. The NIV translates the word “pitieth” to “has compassion.” Our Heavenly Father shows compassion toward us in a similar manner to a dad and his young child.

When we are very young, our earthly father keeps a watchful eye on us and holds our hand whenever we are in harm’s way. We may not see Him, but our Heavenly Father is, likewise, watching our every move. Moreover, we may not feel it, but our Heavenly Father is also holding our hand and pulling us, sometimes forcing us, away from danger and into safe places.

Sometimes, toddlers don’t appreciate the direction Dad is pulling them in, but it’s for their own good. As for us, we may not throw a temper tantrum like a toddler, but we don’t always want to go where God is taking us either, but “Father Knows Best.”

Lastly, author C. S. Lewis once brilliantly quipped, “Our Heavenly Father has provided many delightful inns for us along our journey, but He takes great care to see that we do not mistake any of them for home.” Indeed, comparatively speaking, this earth is not much more than an overnight stay. One day soon, Daddy is taking us home!

I have a Father who can!!!
John A. Wicks, Jr.