Oftentimes, we impatiently ask God for His plans for us whenever we’re at a standstill in life. We’re stuck worrying about the future and sometimes, it seems that God doesn’t have an answer for us. When these situations arrive, we often can’t grasp His concept of timing, which completely differs from our own. Everything that we yearn for, we want instantly. Take a moment and ask God to show you His own timing and to prepare your heart for the devotional.
Read John 7:1-24
The beginning part of this passage takes place in the days before the Feast of Tabernacles, which required attendance from all Jewish men. Jesus’ friends encouraged him to attend the feast and to teach others by doing miracles. However, in verse five, it shows us that they did not believe in him because they wanted him to be seen as a powerful public figure, which was completely against his true mission. Jesus replies to their requests by saying in verses 6-8, “This is not the right time, I know what I need to do and when I need to do it, and it has nothing to do with your schedule.” He had a timetable that was even incomprehensible to his disciples.
Our lives shouldn’t be centered on getting our demands whenever we want; God has his own plans and timing for us. Though it may be hard if someone in your family is suffering, remember that God uses his own plans to shape us into His witnesses. Wanting something means demanding an answer from God, instead of seeking God Himself who gives the answer. When we insist that God should give us an answer to a prayer, we are off track. The true purpose of prayer, after all, is to get ahold of God. We never realize that all the time, God is at work in our everyday events and people surrounding us. It isn’t until halfway through the feast (around four days) that Jesus began teaching, as opposed to making a flashy entrance at the beginning.
Through verses 16-19, Jesus teaches the crowd on how God should be the one driving the speaking. Jesus repeats that If anyone's heart is sincerely right with God and his intent is to do His will, he will be able to discern whether Jesus’ words are from God, or only from his natural abilities and knowledge. Are we able to filter out the distractions and the false prophets of the world today? In our world today, there are many people who claim to be what they aren’t (think Heavens Gates). Lines 22-23 describe another example in which the Jewish teachers of the law stretched the meaning of the original Law of Moses.
What is God trying to say to you through this devotional and the passage? Is your life reflecting this currently? Take some time to reread and reflect and pray for His word to dwell in you. Pray that we can realize that He answers prayers by His own timing, and not ours.
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