John 8:3-5, 7, 10-11 - The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act.  "Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?" …He straightened up, and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." …Jesus said to her, "Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?"  She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more."  NASU
 

• You Receive What You Don't Deserve 

This woman had broken the Law of Moses (Deut. 22:22). According to the law, she and the man were to die. They were guilty of breaking the law. The scribes and Pharisees want to know how Jesus is going to handle this situation.
 
Jesus shows the woman MERCY.
 
Let me ask you a question, "If you find yourself in a position where you can demand justice or give mercy what will you do?"
 
I have observed this in my life. People want mercy when they are the lawbreakers and they want justice to be handed down on the lawbreakers when they are not the lawbreakers. 
​

• You Receive What You Give 

In Matt 5:7 Jesus said, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy."
 
You may have heard this referred to as "reaping what you have sown" or some say it this way, "what goes around comes around."  If you would someday like to be the recipient of mercy then my advice would be to be a "giver of mercy." Jesus says, "You're blessed when you are merciful."
 
Mercy is an attribute of God and therefore it would be wise for us to make it an attribute of our life.
 
James 2:13 gives us something to think about when he wrote these words for us, "For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment."
 
In other words, there is a day coming when we will probably wish we had been less judgmental and displayed more mercy. 

• You Receive What You Ask For 

Two men were blind and wanted to receive their sight. They heard Jesus was passing by and so they decided to ask for mercy. This is a good lesson for all of us.
 
Some times in order to receive mercy you have to ask for it.
 
Matt 20:30-34 - And two blind men sitting by the road, hearing that Jesus was passing by, cried out, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!" The crowd sternly told them to be quiet, but they cried out all the more, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"  And Jesus stopped and called them, and said, "What do you want Me to do for you?"  They said to Him, "Lord, we want our eyes to be opened."  Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.   NASU
 
These two men humbled themselves and asked for mercy.
 
Are you in need of mercy? Then you might need to ask for it to receive it.
 
Do you know someone who is in need of mercy? Then you might have to be the giver of mercy to bless someone else's life.
 
Think On These:
 
God still speaks to those who take time to listen.
 
The smallest good deed is better than the grandest intention.

Stay Pumped,
 
Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word

​John 5:5-6 - A man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, "Do you wish to get well?"  NASU 
​

• My First Thought 

I have to admit for many years when I would read these verses I would always think this is a really dumb question for Jesus to be asking. He has been in this condition for 38 years why sure he wants to get well.
 
Who doesn't want to get well? 

• A Counseling Session 

When I was in the located ministry in MD I would counsel people with various problems. It was during one of these counseling sessions that I learned Jesus' question to this man wasn't so dumb after all.
 
I was counseling a person who didn't want to get well.
 
You might be thinking how do you know that to be true?
 
The person would not try any of the Biblical suggestions I was sharing with her. She would not apply the scriptures I gave her to believe and apply to her life.
 
I knew the Biblical answers were correct. I had used them with people many times and they worked when they were applied and they had worked with me.
 
If she would have done this she could have been well. She could have been free from the depression she was living in at the time. She was not willing to even try.
 
It was then I realized she didn't want to be made well. She had grown accustomed to living this way and it wasn't really that bad for her.
 
Jesus' question wasn't so dumb after all. This man had been that way for 38 years. Do you know how different his life was going to become? Did he really want this change to happen?
 
Do you really want to be well? Now I realize this isn't such a dumb question.
 
Some people have learned to live in their condition and to be made well would mean they would now have to learn how to live all over again. This is scary for some and a welcomed challenge for others. 

• How About You? 

What life situation has you fearful? If you were able to have a one on one with Jesus and He were to ask you "Do you want to get well" or "Do you want to conquer your fears"?
 
What would your answer be?
 
Living with certain fears can really handicap you. Your life can not be lived to its fullest when you are being controlled by fears.
 
This is why a Christian must learn to trust Jesus for every aspect of their lives.
 
Ps 9:10 - And those who know Your name will put their trust in You,
For You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.
 
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
 
Heb 2:13 - And again, "I WILL PUT MY TRUST IN HIM."
 
These three passages assure us the right place to put our trust is in Jesus, God, the LORD.
 
Whatever it is you're confronting today trust me it is better to place your trust in the LORD than in yourself, your friends or even your family.
 
Let Him have first place in your life.
 
Think About This:
 
Isaiah 12:2
"Behold, God is my salvation,
I will trust and not be afraid;
For the LORD GOD is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation."
 
Stay Pumped,
 
Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word

Jn 6:66-69 - As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. So Jesus said to the twelve, "You do not want to go away also, do you?"  Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. "We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God."  NASU 
​

• If Only I Could Have Been There 

I don't know about you but I wish I could have been there to see this encounter Jesus has with His disciples. Jesus has finished teaching about eating His flesh and drinking His blood and those disciples who took Jesus' teaching literally instead of figuratively stopped following Jesus.
 
They gave up. They quit. They walked away because they didn't understand Jesus' lesson.
 
When Jesus asks the twelve if they want to go away also, I absolutely love Peter's reply, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life." 

• Have I Ever Wanted To Quit 

Honestly, I have never wanted to quit being a disciple or follower of Jesus. I have wanted to quit the ministry on numerous occasions. Why you might ask? There is only one reason.
 
PEOPLE!
 
If you are in the ministry or have been in the ministry I don't need to say anymore. You totally understand what I am saying. People will walk out on you exactly like they did Jesus. They will talk about you, they will slander you, and the good Lord knows they are going to misquote you.
 
Can you imagine how Jesus was misquoted after telling His disciples they were going to have to eat His flesh and drink His blood (John 6:53-56)? 

• Why Am I A Follower Of Jesus 

I am a follower of Jesus for the same reason as Peter. Where else can I go? I believe with every ounce of strength within my being that Jesus has the Words of eternal life and He is the Son of God. I am with Him all the way to the end of my life.
 
March 2, 2020, will be my spiritual birthday and I will be 45 years old in the LORD. I am closer to my faith becoming a reality and I am not going to abandon Him now.

Forty-five years He has been watching over me. Yeah, you could say I have a friend in Jesus.
 
My faith, in the Word of God, informs me Jesus is the Son of God. I know this about Him He wants us to be with Him in Heaven for all eternity and I want that as well. 

• My Desire For You 

I hope you are a follower of Jesus. I hope you know He has the Words of Eternal Life.

If you are reading this Pump Up and you have never been immersed (aka - baptized) into Christ please consider being obedient to His Word.
 
Acts 2:38 - Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
 
Yes, I am a follower of Jesus Christ because He has to Words of Eternal Life.
 
Think About This:

The Word of God is not simply for information but for our transformation.

Stay Pumped,
 
Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word