Take a moment to prepare yourself and your attitude, pray that you wouldn’t be distracted as you do this devo.
Now read John 17, all of it, and then read it again and try to focus on what God is placing on your heart with this passage.
This is one of the last prayers that Jesus lifts up to God, and he prays this prayer at the end of his time alone with his disciples before he is crucified. In the first five verses, Jesus prays with authority and majesty, “glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you,” (v. 1), “glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed” (v. 5). We are reminded that eternal life with God is only made possible for us because of Jesus Christ. Everything Jesus did was for the glory of God, signifying that it is important for us to glorify God with our time here on Earth. Take a moment and meditate and pray on how you have and can be glorifying God with your life.
As Christ begins to pray for his disciples, note that he is not praying for the world. Though Jesus isn’t praying for the rest of the world, he still does care deeply for them, as anyone will be saved if he comes to God through Jesus. But how great is it knowing that Jesus cares this deeply for his disciples. He prays, “Holy Father, keep them in your name…that they may be one, even as we are one” (v. 11). What Jesus desires for his disciples is to come together and be intimate and united as Jesus is one with God. We are called to be one body. With this in mind, consider the question: How can you be more united with other believers?
As we are called to be fishers of men in Matthew 4:19, “And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’” However, it is not easy to be fishers of men in this temporary world. Jesus prays that God would keep us from the evil one and that, “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” (v. 16-17). Jesus prays that we would be well equipped to do the assignment that God has called us to. It is easy to lose sight of God and to place worldly things before him, but Jesus is praying that we would be sanctified in the truth, that we would abide in him.
In the last part of this passage, Jesus also prays for those whom he has not yet met, but whom are also believers and followers of Christ. Jesus again emphasizes the importance of unity as he prays for those he has not yet met in verse 20, “that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me.” The importance of being one body in Christ and unified with fellow believers is strongly stressed in this prayer. We aren’t to live this life alone, but to live it together.
In his prayer, we see the vision that Jesus has for the church and for the believers in Christ; to build a unified community where people are invited to touch the glory of God, be transformed, and to be lights to the world. Reflect on this passage and on what God is speaking to you with this passage.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Overcome - John 16:17-33
Take some time to quiet your heart to spend time with God.
Before reading this passage and trying to understand it, make sure you read The Work of the Holy Spirit, because many things between the two passages are connected. In verses 17 and 18, the disciples are confused because previously in verse 10, Jesus is talking about the ascension to heaven, but in verse 16, He’s talking about the crucifixion, which are to different things that sounds the same at that time to the disciples.
From verses 19 to 22, Jesus is telling the disciples of the rejoice that will come after the grief of the crucifixion. In verse 22, Jesus says, “Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” This verse is implying that the joy of God’s redemption can’t be taken away by anything or anyone. In verses 23 and 24, Christ is saying how if any of them pray to the Father in Christ’s name, the Father will grant it to them, and how the disciples have not been praying as much as they should be. At the end of verse 24, it says, “Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” This is saying that without asking God for help, the joy in Him won’t be complete because only in through Christ could our joy ever be anywhere close to complete. Our youth group motto is that prayer is the primary work of God’s people. Are you setting prayer as a priority not only in your spiritual life, but in life in general? Reflect and pray that it would be.
To continue on, verses 25 through 30 show that because the disciples have loved and followed Jesus, the Father (regarding to the Trinity in this particular sentence) loves them.
Then, in verse 32, Christ says, “You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.” Throughout the life of Jesus, Father God has been with Him every step of the way, and as sons and daughters of God, He will be with us every step of the way as well. However, that doesn’t mean that we won’t have to endure hardships. In the next verse, he says that “In this world you will have trouble.” As disciples of God, He will be with us, but we will also have the task of facing hardships and overcoming them with God’s power.
Take some time now to reflect on the passage and what it means to overcome hardships with God’s glory and power. Then, spend some time in prayer and ask God to give you whatever you need in order to make that happen.
Before reading this passage and trying to understand it, make sure you read The Work of the Holy Spirit, because many things between the two passages are connected. In verses 17 and 18, the disciples are confused because previously in verse 10, Jesus is talking about the ascension to heaven, but in verse 16, He’s talking about the crucifixion, which are to different things that sounds the same at that time to the disciples.
From verses 19 to 22, Jesus is telling the disciples of the rejoice that will come after the grief of the crucifixion. In verse 22, Jesus says, “Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” This verse is implying that the joy of God’s redemption can’t be taken away by anything or anyone. In verses 23 and 24, Christ is saying how if any of them pray to the Father in Christ’s name, the Father will grant it to them, and how the disciples have not been praying as much as they should be. At the end of verse 24, it says, “Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” This is saying that without asking God for help, the joy in Him won’t be complete because only in through Christ could our joy ever be anywhere close to complete. Our youth group motto is that prayer is the primary work of God’s people. Are you setting prayer as a priority not only in your spiritual life, but in life in general? Reflect and pray that it would be.
To continue on, verses 25 through 30 show that because the disciples have loved and followed Jesus, the Father (regarding to the Trinity in this particular sentence) loves them.
Then, in verse 32, Christ says, “You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.” Throughout the life of Jesus, Father God has been with Him every step of the way, and as sons and daughters of God, He will be with us every step of the way as well. However, that doesn’t mean that we won’t have to endure hardships. In the next verse, he says that “In this world you will have trouble.” As disciples of God, He will be with us, but we will also have the task of facing hardships and overcoming them with God’s power.
Take some time now to reflect on the passage and what it means to overcome hardships with God’s glory and power. Then, spend some time in prayer and ask God to give you whatever you need in order to make that happen.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Holy Spirit - John 15:18 - 16:16
The very first words that this passage states is about the world and the hate they have for the disciple’s faith and Jesus Himself. Jesus states, “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of this world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you”. Think of a time you were made fun of or persecuted for your faith in Jesus Christ. This has been happening from when Cain murdered Abel and is still ongoing today. After reading chapter 15, you realize that there is an ongoing trend of the world hating the Father, Jesus, and Christians for who they are. Jesus even states, “They hated me without a cause”. We aren’t safe from the persecution because of our faith. Instead Jesus says that we will be hated.
Although there is the fear of being hated by the world, Jesus gives us a twist in His message and a change in the feelings.
26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.
Jesus will send a Helper, from the Father, to be with us. The Holy Spirit is the gift that Jesus gives us after His death on the cross. People nowadays would want Jesus to be alive but have to realize that if Jesus had not died, the Holy Spirit would not have come upon every person that believes. The gift, and Helper, is for all of those who have faith in Jesus.
Although we may have the world hating the believers, we have the Holy Spirit inside of our hearts to help comfort, guide, and grow closer to God.
The end of the passage is finishing up what Jesus is saying. He says to them that the words He spoke are meant to keep them from falling away. He then starts to restate the hatred of the world. People will throw the disciples and other believers out of the synagogue. He affirms the hatred of the world by saying that people will even go to measures of killing believers, thinking that it will do good to God. Jesus affirms all of these forms of hatred that will happen but closes with this:
John 16:4 — “But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.”
Jesus ends with this, knowing that soon He will fulfill the prophecy and die on the cross.
Remember these words that Jesus said to His disciples before the hour of His death. We will be hated by the world. We will be persecuted, suffer loss, go through trials and tribulations, and more. But Jesus has presented us with a gift of the Holy Spirit and a Counselor. We can only draw closer to Him through the things that happen in our lives.
Although there is the fear of being hated by the world, Jesus gives us a twist in His message and a change in the feelings.
26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.
Jesus will send a Helper, from the Father, to be with us. The Holy Spirit is the gift that Jesus gives us after His death on the cross. People nowadays would want Jesus to be alive but have to realize that if Jesus had not died, the Holy Spirit would not have come upon every person that believes. The gift, and Helper, is for all of those who have faith in Jesus.
Although we may have the world hating the believers, we have the Holy Spirit inside of our hearts to help comfort, guide, and grow closer to God.
The end of the passage is finishing up what Jesus is saying. He says to them that the words He spoke are meant to keep them from falling away. He then starts to restate the hatred of the world. People will throw the disciples and other believers out of the synagogue. He affirms the hatred of the world by saying that people will even go to measures of killing believers, thinking that it will do good to God. Jesus affirms all of these forms of hatred that will happen but closes with this:
John 16:4 — “But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.”
Jesus ends with this, knowing that soon He will fulfill the prophecy and die on the cross.
Remember these words that Jesus said to His disciples before the hour of His death. We will be hated by the world. We will be persecuted, suffer loss, go through trials and tribulations, and more. But Jesus has presented us with a gift of the Holy Spirit and a Counselor. We can only draw closer to Him through the things that happen in our lives.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
The True Vine - John 15:1-17
A quick review before we start diving in John 15. In the book of John, Jesus makes seven “I Am” sayings. Recall them? They are good to know. Here are the first six:
“I am the bread of life” = Jesus nourishes the longings of our soul; our deep spiritual hunger
“I am the light of the world” = Jesus overcomes the darkness of the world
“I am the door of the sheep” = Jesus is the only way by which one can become part of God’s people
“I am the good shepherd” = Jesus cares about us, his sheep, so much that he laid down his life for us
“I am the resurrection and the life” = Eternal life with God can only be found through Jesus
“I am the way, the truth, and the life” = Jesus is the only Way, the ultimate Truth, and giver the eternal Life
At the very beginning of John we are introduced to Jesus’ seventh “I am” saying: “I am the true vine.” What does this mean? And what does it mean when Jesus tells us to abide in him? Before we turn to John 15, ask the Holy Spirit now to reveal God’s word and speak to you. Then read John 15:1-17.
In verse 1 Jesus describes himself as the true vine. As the vine supplies nutrients and support for the branches, Jesus is the source of life, strength, and nourishment for us. Once removed from Jesus, we will perish spiritually, like how a branch dies if cut off from the vine. Instead, we are called to abide in Jesus. To abide means to dwell in, find rest in. To abide in Christ means to continue in a daily, personal relationship with Jesus. Note that Jesus does not only call us to know him, but to abide in him. To know Jesus can be a one-time encounter, but to abide in him is a constant, ongoing process. To quote Pastor Jon, “we don’t know Jesus from afar, like a famous person, but we know Jesus as an intimate friend.” Think of your closest friend on earth. You don’t just know him/her once for all, but you are in the process of knowing that person—learning more about him/her—as you spend time together & develop your relationship. How much more we want to be in the process of knowing Jesus!
Our abiding in Christ is so important that God the Father is actively involved in the process. As the vinedresser, God cuts off unfruitful branches and prunes those that are fruitful so that they can be even more fruitful! Fruitfulness is the result of our abiding in Christ. When we find our all in all in Christ Himself, three wonderful things (fruitfulness) happen:
1. God is glorified (v.8)
2. We experience Christ’s love and our joy is full (v. 9-11)
3. Other people experience God’s love through us and vice versa (v.17)
Note that points 1-3 above cover all of our relationships (vertically with God & horizontally with people)! Just like that, when we abide in Christ, everything falls in order. Many of us are caught up with the “Christian” stuff we have to say & do, rather than being caught up with the person of Christ. But performance does not lead to fruitfulness, rather false pride. Jesus clearly tells us that if we do not remain in him we can achieve nothing of eternal value (v. 5). Examine your heart-does it find satisfaction in Christ alone?
When you seek to dwell in Christ through scripture, prayer, and community, you will be consumed with the things that are important to him. And the more you know of Christ, the more you will love him and those around you.
“I am the bread of life” = Jesus nourishes the longings of our soul; our deep spiritual hunger
“I am the light of the world” = Jesus overcomes the darkness of the world
“I am the door of the sheep” = Jesus is the only way by which one can become part of God’s people
“I am the good shepherd” = Jesus cares about us, his sheep, so much that he laid down his life for us
“I am the resurrection and the life” = Eternal life with God can only be found through Jesus
“I am the way, the truth, and the life” = Jesus is the only Way, the ultimate Truth, and giver the eternal Life
At the very beginning of John we are introduced to Jesus’ seventh “I am” saying: “I am the true vine.” What does this mean? And what does it mean when Jesus tells us to abide in him? Before we turn to John 15, ask the Holy Spirit now to reveal God’s word and speak to you. Then read John 15:1-17.
In verse 1 Jesus describes himself as the true vine. As the vine supplies nutrients and support for the branches, Jesus is the source of life, strength, and nourishment for us. Once removed from Jesus, we will perish spiritually, like how a branch dies if cut off from the vine. Instead, we are called to abide in Jesus. To abide means to dwell in, find rest in. To abide in Christ means to continue in a daily, personal relationship with Jesus. Note that Jesus does not only call us to know him, but to abide in him. To know Jesus can be a one-time encounter, but to abide in him is a constant, ongoing process. To quote Pastor Jon, “we don’t know Jesus from afar, like a famous person, but we know Jesus as an intimate friend.” Think of your closest friend on earth. You don’t just know him/her once for all, but you are in the process of knowing that person—learning more about him/her—as you spend time together & develop your relationship. How much more we want to be in the process of knowing Jesus!
Our abiding in Christ is so important that God the Father is actively involved in the process. As the vinedresser, God cuts off unfruitful branches and prunes those that are fruitful so that they can be even more fruitful! Fruitfulness is the result of our abiding in Christ. When we find our all in all in Christ Himself, three wonderful things (fruitfulness) happen:
1. God is glorified (v.8)
2. We experience Christ’s love and our joy is full (v. 9-11)
3. Other people experience God’s love through us and vice versa (v.17)
Note that points 1-3 above cover all of our relationships (vertically with God & horizontally with people)! Just like that, when we abide in Christ, everything falls in order. Many of us are caught up with the “Christian” stuff we have to say & do, rather than being caught up with the person of Christ. But performance does not lead to fruitfulness, rather false pride. Jesus clearly tells us that if we do not remain in him we can achieve nothing of eternal value (v. 5). Examine your heart-does it find satisfaction in Christ alone?
When you seek to dwell in Christ through scripture, prayer, and community, you will be consumed with the things that are important to him. And the more you know of Christ, the more you will love him and those around you.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Jesus Comforts His Disciples - John 14
Read John 14.
After washing the disciples’ feet (John 13), Jesus tells his disciples that he will leave soon, but that he will come back again. He reminds us of his promises of eternal life and the Holy Spirit.
Reread John 14:1-7
In these verses, Jesus comforts and reassures us that he will be back and that we are not alone. In verse two, he tells us that he is going to his Father’s house—a place where we will go to eventually as well. Jesus reminds us of his promise of eternal life. How do we get to God’s house? In verse six, Jesus tells us that he is “the way, the truth, and the life”. The one and only way for us to be with God is through Jesus. Jesus was the sacrificial lamb to atone for our sins in order for us to become pure and holy so that we can be in the presence of God. So we know what it means by “he is the way” now, but what does “the truth and the life” mean?
Jesus is truth itself. In John 1:14, it says, “The Word [Jesus] became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (NIV). The teachings and commands of Jesus are the truth. Jesus is real and what he says is the truth.
Through Jesus, we are reborn—we obtain new life. But that’s not the end of it. A baseball diamond is sometimes used as a metaphor for the stages of Christianity. Base one is knowing and accepting Christ as a savior, base two is growing in Christ, base three is serving Christ, and base four is sharing the good news. Often times people hit bases one and two, but find it hard to move further on. Because we are reborn, we need to show that through our beliefs, thoughts, and actions: we need to flip our world upside down and start living a new lifestyle for God.
Take some time to evaluate your walk with God. Which base are you on? Are you living a new lifestyle for God?
Reread John 14:8-14
Jesus tells us of the closeness in the relationship between Father and Son in verse eleven. No one has seen the Father, but the Son has shown the Father to the world because the Father is in the Son (v. 9 says, “…Whoever has seen me has seen the Father”).
Often times when people come across verse fourteen and get the wrong perception. Look back at verse 13 and reread it carefully. What does it say?
Jesus tells us that whatever we ask in his name (in Jesus’ name, Amen), he will do so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. This doesn’t necessarily mean that God won’t grant some of our prayers such as doing well on a test (obviously you still need to study!!), but don’t be surprised if God gives no for an answer. Next time you pray for something, ask yourself if what you want will glorify God. Is it necessary? How will does it glorify God?
Reread John 14:15-31
In this passage, Jesus promises the disciples the coming of the Holy Spirit. For us, this means that if we are believers, the Holy Spirit will dwell in us forever (v. 16-17, 21). So why is the Holy Spirit so important? In verse 26, Jesus tells us that the Holy Spirit is sent to teach us all thing and to bring remembrance of all that he has said to us. In verse 23, Jesus says, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them” (NIV). Jesus loves God dearly, and he showed his love of God by obeying his teachings. Just as Jesus obeyed his Father in all that he did (coming to earth and dying on the cross for us), we should do so as well to demonstrate our love for God.
So where does the Holy Spirit come in? The Holy Spirit is a helper, an aide to guide us on our walk with Christ so that we won’t be mislead or get lost and wander off on different roads. It keeps us in check so we are able to obey Him.
Reread John 14
Spend some time to take in the chapter as a whole and reflect. Is your spiritual life stuck in a rut? Have you been living a life for God? Are you asking for things that will glorify God? What have you done this past week that might have been displeasing to God? Pray that God will help you obey and glorify Him in your everyday life.
After washing the disciples’ feet (John 13), Jesus tells his disciples that he will leave soon, but that he will come back again. He reminds us of his promises of eternal life and the Holy Spirit.
Reread John 14:1-7
In these verses, Jesus comforts and reassures us that he will be back and that we are not alone. In verse two, he tells us that he is going to his Father’s house—a place where we will go to eventually as well. Jesus reminds us of his promise of eternal life. How do we get to God’s house? In verse six, Jesus tells us that he is “the way, the truth, and the life”. The one and only way for us to be with God is through Jesus. Jesus was the sacrificial lamb to atone for our sins in order for us to become pure and holy so that we can be in the presence of God. So we know what it means by “he is the way” now, but what does “the truth and the life” mean?
Jesus is truth itself. In John 1:14, it says, “The Word [Jesus] became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (NIV). The teachings and commands of Jesus are the truth. Jesus is real and what he says is the truth.
Through Jesus, we are reborn—we obtain new life. But that’s not the end of it. A baseball diamond is sometimes used as a metaphor for the stages of Christianity. Base one is knowing and accepting Christ as a savior, base two is growing in Christ, base three is serving Christ, and base four is sharing the good news. Often times people hit bases one and two, but find it hard to move further on. Because we are reborn, we need to show that through our beliefs, thoughts, and actions: we need to flip our world upside down and start living a new lifestyle for God.
Take some time to evaluate your walk with God. Which base are you on? Are you living a new lifestyle for God?
Reread John 14:8-14
Jesus tells us of the closeness in the relationship between Father and Son in verse eleven. No one has seen the Father, but the Son has shown the Father to the world because the Father is in the Son (v. 9 says, “…Whoever has seen me has seen the Father”).
Often times when people come across verse fourteen and get the wrong perception. Look back at verse 13 and reread it carefully. What does it say?
Jesus tells us that whatever we ask in his name (in Jesus’ name, Amen), he will do so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. This doesn’t necessarily mean that God won’t grant some of our prayers such as doing well on a test (obviously you still need to study!!), but don’t be surprised if God gives no for an answer. Next time you pray for something, ask yourself if what you want will glorify God. Is it necessary? How will does it glorify God?
Reread John 14:15-31
In this passage, Jesus promises the disciples the coming of the Holy Spirit. For us, this means that if we are believers, the Holy Spirit will dwell in us forever (v. 16-17, 21). So why is the Holy Spirit so important? In verse 26, Jesus tells us that the Holy Spirit is sent to teach us all thing and to bring remembrance of all that he has said to us. In verse 23, Jesus says, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them” (NIV). Jesus loves God dearly, and he showed his love of God by obeying his teachings. Just as Jesus obeyed his Father in all that he did (coming to earth and dying on the cross for us), we should do so as well to demonstrate our love for God.
So where does the Holy Spirit come in? The Holy Spirit is a helper, an aide to guide us on our walk with Christ so that we won’t be mislead or get lost and wander off on different roads. It keeps us in check so we are able to obey Him.
Reread John 14
Spend some time to take in the chapter as a whole and reflect. Is your spiritual life stuck in a rut? Have you been living a life for God? Are you asking for things that will glorify God? What have you done this past week that might have been displeasing to God? Pray that God will help you obey and glorify Him in your everyday life.
Friday, March 9, 2012
Washing Feet - John 13
A little while ago, we had an event called “You Got Served,” and if you were there you got a very good picture of what Christians did during the days of the early church. If you weren’t there, we shared a meal together and ate Mediterranean food and served one another. But the Love Feast that the early Christians observed was modeled after the feast in this passage. That’s also why we washed each other’s feet, just like Jesus did at this dinner (to see how “fun” it was you can go on Facebook and see a clip of Josh Chang washing John Hickernell’s feet). But the reason why we did all of this is important, and what better way to find out than look at the Bible itself!
Read John 13
In the olden times, servants would wash the feet of the guests when they entered the house. The roads and towns places weren’t as clean as they are now. If you’ve ever walked on a clay tennis court, or in the sand at the beach, that’ll give you a little idea of what people’s feet looked like at the end of the day. The thought of washing someone’s feet today is unpleasant, but think about what the servants felt when they had to wash those types of feet! Jesus is calling us to be a servant, and just as He showed us, we need to serve others, even if that means doing the “dirty” jobs, like taking out the trash after youth group. Try and think about any things you can do to serve in your school, church, or family.
The next two parts of the passage talk about Jesus and Him talking about His betrayal and Peter’s denial. Peter asks where Jesus is going, and asserts that he will lay down his life for Jesus. However, Jesus knows that he will deny Him three times before dawn (when the rooster crows). Sometimes we feel like that could never happen to us. But if someone was bullying a kid at school because they were Christian, and then came up to you and asked if you were with him, would you say yes? If it became illegal to be a Christian, would you still be one? If your teacher or college professor (in the future) were an atheist, would you stand up for your faith when they say demeaning things about it? We all need to stand up for our faith.
However, this doesn’t mean that we have to post: “I am a Christian. If you are a Christian, re-post this…”. Not at all. In fact, I don’t like these posts because they pressure Christians into writing something, and make them feel like they’re going to hell if they don’t. A lot of times they use the verse “Whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 10:33) However, just because we don’t post something on our Facebook doesn’t mean that Jesus is going to deny us in heaven. While we do need to stand up for our faith, that doesn’t mean we HAVE to do certain things. Like, what if a Facebook post said “I get on a knee and pray every time I get an A on a test. Every Christian should do this or Jesus will deny you in front of God…” ? Jesus cares about the heart, not about whether you Tebow or not. He wants you to stand up for your faith when it is put to the test.
Read John 13
In the olden times, servants would wash the feet of the guests when they entered the house. The roads and towns places weren’t as clean as they are now. If you’ve ever walked on a clay tennis court, or in the sand at the beach, that’ll give you a little idea of what people’s feet looked like at the end of the day. The thought of washing someone’s feet today is unpleasant, but think about what the servants felt when they had to wash those types of feet! Jesus is calling us to be a servant, and just as He showed us, we need to serve others, even if that means doing the “dirty” jobs, like taking out the trash after youth group. Try and think about any things you can do to serve in your school, church, or family.
The next two parts of the passage talk about Jesus and Him talking about His betrayal and Peter’s denial. Peter asks where Jesus is going, and asserts that he will lay down his life for Jesus. However, Jesus knows that he will deny Him three times before dawn (when the rooster crows). Sometimes we feel like that could never happen to us. But if someone was bullying a kid at school because they were Christian, and then came up to you and asked if you were with him, would you say yes? If it became illegal to be a Christian, would you still be one? If your teacher or college professor (in the future) were an atheist, would you stand up for your faith when they say demeaning things about it? We all need to stand up for our faith.
However, this doesn’t mean that we have to post: “I am a Christian. If you are a Christian, re-post this…”. Not at all. In fact, I don’t like these posts because they pressure Christians into writing something, and make them feel like they’re going to hell if they don’t. A lot of times they use the verse “Whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 10:33) However, just because we don’t post something on our Facebook doesn’t mean that Jesus is going to deny us in heaven. While we do need to stand up for our faith, that doesn’t mean we HAVE to do certain things. Like, what if a Facebook post said “I get on a knee and pray every time I get an A on a test. Every Christian should do this or Jesus will deny you in front of God…” ? Jesus cares about the heart, not about whether you Tebow or not. He wants you to stand up for your faith when it is put to the test.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Distractions - John 12:27-50
Before you start this time of devotionals, take a few moments to pray and ask the Spirit of Jesus Christ to teach you what is in the scripture. Ask the Lord to give you an open mind and heart to interpret the word for what it is with no preconceived notions. Prepare your heart and mind.
Read John 12:27-50
Verse 27 = Jesus shows anxiety and horror for the coming wrath of God. That he must bear it all for the sins of the world on that cross.
Verse 31 = He is referring to Satan as the “ruler of this world” and it is true. Satan has an overwhelming influence on today’s world just as much as before. Here, however, Jesus is talking about the victory at the cross in his resurrection over Satan.
Verse 35 = Here, Jesus calls his people to walk in his light and to not be taken over by darkness from the evil that fills the world. He tells the people that walking in darkness will cause them to be lost and wandering people, while believing in will himself will cause them to become “sons of light”. That applies to us as well. If we believe in him and abide in him, he will abide in us. We will be his children that shine life giving light.
Verses 37-43 = Although Jesus had done so many miracles and signs, the people still did not believe. Isaiah had predicted that Satan would blind their eyes and harden their hearts to the point where they could not see that they are a broken people who need to turn to Christ and receive healing.
This passage continues to say that even though some authorities did believe that Jesus was the Messiah, they sealed their mouths for fear of losing the glory that came from man, rather than fearing God himself. They didn’t want to be “put out of the synagogue”, so they never publicly recognized Jesus as the Messiah.
Verses 44-50 = At this point, Jesus CRIES out so maybe his words might penetrate their deafened ears. Just imagine the pain he must feel from knowing that after everything the people had seen his miracles, they still do not believe. His precious lambs are continuing to go astray, ignoring their shepherd that can see the wolf ahead.
Now, reread John 12:27-50 to further understand the message John and Jesus were trying to convey. Try and see the whole picture.
These people have consistently ignored Jesus even though He warned them that his light would only remain on earth for a little longer. But notice how Jesus never gives up on his people, not even at the very end. Just like he continually loves and shepherds them, he also nonstop seeks us and cares for us. Even when we ignore him or put earthly things before him, Jesus has open arms just begging for us to abide in him and reside in the pleasure and joy that comes from him, and not the world. If you have strayed and lost hope in the Lord, pray fervently that the Holy Spirit would give real desire to seek him with everything. With the words you speak, the actions you do, and the things you believe in may they all point to the one who deserves all the Glory.
Here is a list of different possible distractions from the Lord. Put a check next to the ones that you have put before Him, and ask him to give you perseverance and strength to change that (answer honestly to yourself and Jesus). Here are just a few…
Sports
Youtube
Grades
Facebook
Gaming
Tumblr
Romance
Status
Hobbies
Anime
Family
Friends
Read John 12:27-50
Verse 27 = Jesus shows anxiety and horror for the coming wrath of God. That he must bear it all for the sins of the world on that cross.
Verse 31 = He is referring to Satan as the “ruler of this world” and it is true. Satan has an overwhelming influence on today’s world just as much as before. Here, however, Jesus is talking about the victory at the cross in his resurrection over Satan.
Verse 35 = Here, Jesus calls his people to walk in his light and to not be taken over by darkness from the evil that fills the world. He tells the people that walking in darkness will cause them to be lost and wandering people, while believing in will himself will cause them to become “sons of light”. That applies to us as well. If we believe in him and abide in him, he will abide in us. We will be his children that shine life giving light.
Verses 37-43 = Although Jesus had done so many miracles and signs, the people still did not believe. Isaiah had predicted that Satan would blind their eyes and harden their hearts to the point where they could not see that they are a broken people who need to turn to Christ and receive healing.
This passage continues to say that even though some authorities did believe that Jesus was the Messiah, they sealed their mouths for fear of losing the glory that came from man, rather than fearing God himself. They didn’t want to be “put out of the synagogue”, so they never publicly recognized Jesus as the Messiah.
Verses 44-50 = At this point, Jesus CRIES out so maybe his words might penetrate their deafened ears. Just imagine the pain he must feel from knowing that after everything the people had seen his miracles, they still do not believe. His precious lambs are continuing to go astray, ignoring their shepherd that can see the wolf ahead.
Now, reread John 12:27-50 to further understand the message John and Jesus were trying to convey. Try and see the whole picture.
These people have consistently ignored Jesus even though He warned them that his light would only remain on earth for a little longer. But notice how Jesus never gives up on his people, not even at the very end. Just like he continually loves and shepherds them, he also nonstop seeks us and cares for us. Even when we ignore him or put earthly things before him, Jesus has open arms just begging for us to abide in him and reside in the pleasure and joy that comes from him, and not the world. If you have strayed and lost hope in the Lord, pray fervently that the Holy Spirit would give real desire to seek him with everything. With the words you speak, the actions you do, and the things you believe in may they all point to the one who deserves all the Glory.
Here is a list of different possible distractions from the Lord. Put a check next to the ones that you have put before Him, and ask him to give you perseverance and strength to change that (answer honestly to yourself and Jesus). Here are just a few…
Sports
Youtube
Grades
Gaming
Tumblr
Romance
Status
Hobbies
Anime
Family
Friends
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Adoring the King - John 12:1-26 Adoring the King -
Read John 12:1-26
When I was in eighth grade, my mom bought me a bass guitar for my birthday. While I was glad to receive the gift, it cost significantly more than any gift I’d been given before. It cost so much, in fact, that I felt guilty that she bought it for me. When I protested about her spending that much money on me, she smiled and reassured me that she loved me enough to spend that much money on me.
This past Christmas, I bought my mom an expensive purse. Most parents feel bad when their kids splurge on them, so I made sure that the receipt wasn’t in the package when I mailed it to her. College students don’t have alot money, but I wanted to show my mom how much I appreciated her caring for me my entire life.
We can probably all think of similar stories; either receiving an expensive gift or giving an expensive gift. While almost no one likes to spend money for the sake of spending it, almost everyone is willing to spend money on someone they love. In John 12:1-26, we see Mary expressing her love for Jesus in such a way.
“Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume,” (John 12:3). While we are not told of how Mary acquired the perfume, she could have sold it for a lot of money and spend it on herself, or, as Judas pointed out, she could have sold it and given the money to the poor. However, she instead chose to honor Jesus.
Later in the chapter, we see others adoring Jesus in another way. “On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, “Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, even the King of Israel,” (John 12:13). The crowd, being familiar with the Old Testament prophecies concerning the coming King of Israel, honored Jesus by publicly confessing his Lordship. They did this in spite of the fact that the Pharisees despised Jesus and were more than willing to punish those who worshipped Him.
Finally, in v. 21 a group of Greeks who were in Jerusalem for the Passover ask Jesus’ disciples for permission to see Him. His response is not what we might expect. After speaking of His death in verses 23 & 24, He makes a statement that seems like a paradox, but is actually precisely how we go about honoring Jesus and expressing our love for Him.
“He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him,” (John 12: 25-26). If Mary had her loved her life, she would have kept the perfume or the money it could have sold for for herself. She, however, didn’t. She made the decision to anoint Jesus instead of herself.
Notice that it doesn’t say “he who enjoys his life will lose it”. Jesus is not telling us to be consumed in depression in order to honor Him. Instead, as we become willing to lay down our desires to honor and serve Him, we can truly enjoy life in its true purpose, adoring Jesus. In v. 26, Jesus tells us that we should follow Him and be near Him. Today we do this by praying, reading God’s word, and obeying Him. As we do these things, we will learn to lay down our interests and truly love Jesus.
Take a moment to read back over John 12:1-26. Now pray about how you might better love Jesus. Ask him to reveal to you areas in your life that are not honoring to him. Are you adoring God with your finances and material possessions? Are you adoring God with your time? Do you spend time with Him? Do you spend time doing things that express your love for Him? Meditate on these things.
When I was in eighth grade, my mom bought me a bass guitar for my birthday. While I was glad to receive the gift, it cost significantly more than any gift I’d been given before. It cost so much, in fact, that I felt guilty that she bought it for me. When I protested about her spending that much money on me, she smiled and reassured me that she loved me enough to spend that much money on me.
This past Christmas, I bought my mom an expensive purse. Most parents feel bad when their kids splurge on them, so I made sure that the receipt wasn’t in the package when I mailed it to her. College students don’t have alot money, but I wanted to show my mom how much I appreciated her caring for me my entire life.
We can probably all think of similar stories; either receiving an expensive gift or giving an expensive gift. While almost no one likes to spend money for the sake of spending it, almost everyone is willing to spend money on someone they love. In John 12:1-26, we see Mary expressing her love for Jesus in such a way.
“Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume,” (John 12:3). While we are not told of how Mary acquired the perfume, she could have sold it for a lot of money and spend it on herself, or, as Judas pointed out, she could have sold it and given the money to the poor. However, she instead chose to honor Jesus.
Later in the chapter, we see others adoring Jesus in another way. “On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, “Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, even the King of Israel,” (John 12:13). The crowd, being familiar with the Old Testament prophecies concerning the coming King of Israel, honored Jesus by publicly confessing his Lordship. They did this in spite of the fact that the Pharisees despised Jesus and were more than willing to punish those who worshipped Him.
Finally, in v. 21 a group of Greeks who were in Jerusalem for the Passover ask Jesus’ disciples for permission to see Him. His response is not what we might expect. After speaking of His death in verses 23 & 24, He makes a statement that seems like a paradox, but is actually precisely how we go about honoring Jesus and expressing our love for Him.
“He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him,” (John 12: 25-26). If Mary had her loved her life, she would have kept the perfume or the money it could have sold for for herself. She, however, didn’t. She made the decision to anoint Jesus instead of herself.
Notice that it doesn’t say “he who enjoys his life will lose it”. Jesus is not telling us to be consumed in depression in order to honor Him. Instead, as we become willing to lay down our desires to honor and serve Him, we can truly enjoy life in its true purpose, adoring Jesus. In v. 26, Jesus tells us that we should follow Him and be near Him. Today we do this by praying, reading God’s word, and obeying Him. As we do these things, we will learn to lay down our interests and truly love Jesus.
Take a moment to read back over John 12:1-26. Now pray about how you might better love Jesus. Ask him to reveal to you areas in your life that are not honoring to him. Are you adoring God with your finances and material possessions? Are you adoring God with your time? Do you spend time with Him? Do you spend time doing things that express your love for Him? Meditate on these things.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
The Perniciousness of Sin - John 11:45-57
Read John 11:45-57
If you notice carefully, the discussion in the Sanhedrin was not about who Jesus was. The issue at hand was national security. For the Sanhedrin, Jesus was a social and political problem. They know that Jesus was performing many signs (v. 47) and they knew the signs were believable. They even said it in v. 48. But their knowledge gave way to fear: fear that the Romans will respond to this Jesus by wiping Israel off the face of the map. The High Priest Caiaphas proposed a solution: let’s get rid of him. Plus, it worked with a prophecy he gave earlier that year (v. 51). The economics seemed to work out: one man dies, and the Jewish nation is saved. The cost and benefits add up; killing Jesus makes political, social, and economic sense. Never mind, by the way, that this man was not just any ordinary man – he was Jesus the Christ – all that mattered was that at least the Jewish nation is saved. What was even more disturbing was vv. 55-57. The chief priests and the Pharisees were using a time of worship – a time of celebration in the Jewish calendar – as an opportune moment to arrest him! How ironic was it that a time for the Jews to remember how God had saved them from Egypt was used to arrest the same God who would save them from their own sins!
But we should not be too surprised. One of the central beliefs of the Christian faith is that all people are sinful (technical term: total depravity). As you may gather from the reading, even religious leaders were not exempt from sin. How scary is it that they’ve sinned, and they’ve brushed it off. What we don’t realize at times is that sin is so pernicious, so terrifying in its evil. It’s so easy to dumb it down to just personal practices; oh, if I don’t swear, I’m not sinning; oh, if I don’t think bad thoughts, I’m not sinning; oh, if I’m not angry, I’m not sinning. But in doing so, we delude ourselves into thinking that we’re actually very okay when really the truth is the opposite.
Sin encapsulates anything that does not put God in right relationship with humanity. When we think God is much less than God is, we have sinned. When we think we are something we are not created to be, we have sinned. And sin is so sly and slick that we can even do something like worshipping (or, praising God, prayer, etc.) and be sinning at the same time! We just need to open up a book on church history and read about sorry stories of Catholics and Protestants participating in – and even preaching in support of – great evils. I remember one day in class (this was when I was at Wheaton) the students turned on the TV before class started – the United States was beginning to bomb Baghdad, and almost everyone watched eagerly anticipating the first strike. Our professor – God bless his soul – came in, frowned, and turned off the TV. And this was at Wheaton, supposedly the “Harvard of evangelical Christianity!” And yet, Christian students were watching destruction with eager anticipation. St. Paul was not kidding when he wrote Romans 3:10.
In this time of Lent, we pause and meditate on the life of Christ. But we also meditate on what Christ died for on the cross. We meditate on our complicity to personal sins, but also our participation in social sins. We meditate on our personal shortcomings, and our shortcomings as the body of Christ. We meditate on how we have failed to love God wholeheartedly, and our neighbors as ourselves. We meditate on the perniciousness of our sins. But let us not leave it there, because in meditating on how low and totally depraved we are, we must acknowledge our God who stands beside us who waits with extended hands, who waits to pick us up so we can keep walking with God.
Heavenly Father, invade our lives and break us, humble us, so that we can be people you have created us to be: your beloved children. For too long, Lord, we have filled our minds with the delusion that if only we said the right things, performed the right actions, and accompany them with “Thank you Jesus”, we are truly your followers. But God, we forget that sin is so pernicious, that even “thank you Jesus” has been and still can be used to justify acts of pride to acts of grave injustice. Lord, humble us and put us in our rightful place so that we can worship you as Lord of all Creation, instead of worshipping us as the lord of our own creation. Amen.
If you notice carefully, the discussion in the Sanhedrin was not about who Jesus was. The issue at hand was national security. For the Sanhedrin, Jesus was a social and political problem. They know that Jesus was performing many signs (v. 47) and they knew the signs were believable. They even said it in v. 48. But their knowledge gave way to fear: fear that the Romans will respond to this Jesus by wiping Israel off the face of the map. The High Priest Caiaphas proposed a solution: let’s get rid of him. Plus, it worked with a prophecy he gave earlier that year (v. 51). The economics seemed to work out: one man dies, and the Jewish nation is saved. The cost and benefits add up; killing Jesus makes political, social, and economic sense. Never mind, by the way, that this man was not just any ordinary man – he was Jesus the Christ – all that mattered was that at least the Jewish nation is saved. What was even more disturbing was vv. 55-57. The chief priests and the Pharisees were using a time of worship – a time of celebration in the Jewish calendar – as an opportune moment to arrest him! How ironic was it that a time for the Jews to remember how God had saved them from Egypt was used to arrest the same God who would save them from their own sins!
But we should not be too surprised. One of the central beliefs of the Christian faith is that all people are sinful (technical term: total depravity). As you may gather from the reading, even religious leaders were not exempt from sin. How scary is it that they’ve sinned, and they’ve brushed it off. What we don’t realize at times is that sin is so pernicious, so terrifying in its evil. It’s so easy to dumb it down to just personal practices; oh, if I don’t swear, I’m not sinning; oh, if I don’t think bad thoughts, I’m not sinning; oh, if I’m not angry, I’m not sinning. But in doing so, we delude ourselves into thinking that we’re actually very okay when really the truth is the opposite.
Sin encapsulates anything that does not put God in right relationship with humanity. When we think God is much less than God is, we have sinned. When we think we are something we are not created to be, we have sinned. And sin is so sly and slick that we can even do something like worshipping (or, praising God, prayer, etc.) and be sinning at the same time! We just need to open up a book on church history and read about sorry stories of Catholics and Protestants participating in – and even preaching in support of – great evils. I remember one day in class (this was when I was at Wheaton) the students turned on the TV before class started – the United States was beginning to bomb Baghdad, and almost everyone watched eagerly anticipating the first strike. Our professor – God bless his soul – came in, frowned, and turned off the TV. And this was at Wheaton, supposedly the “Harvard of evangelical Christianity!” And yet, Christian students were watching destruction with eager anticipation. St. Paul was not kidding when he wrote Romans 3:10.
In this time of Lent, we pause and meditate on the life of Christ. But we also meditate on what Christ died for on the cross. We meditate on our complicity to personal sins, but also our participation in social sins. We meditate on our personal shortcomings, and our shortcomings as the body of Christ. We meditate on how we have failed to love God wholeheartedly, and our neighbors as ourselves. We meditate on the perniciousness of our sins. But let us not leave it there, because in meditating on how low and totally depraved we are, we must acknowledge our God who stands beside us who waits with extended hands, who waits to pick us up so we can keep walking with God.
Heavenly Father, invade our lives and break us, humble us, so that we can be people you have created us to be: your beloved children. For too long, Lord, we have filled our minds with the delusion that if only we said the right things, performed the right actions, and accompany them with “Thank you Jesus”, we are truly your followers. But God, we forget that sin is so pernicious, that even “thank you Jesus” has been and still can be used to justify acts of pride to acts of grave injustice. Lord, humble us and put us in our rightful place so that we can worship you as Lord of all Creation, instead of worshipping us as the lord of our own creation. Amen.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Jesus and Lazarus - John 11:1-44
Before you start this devotional, take some time to quiet yourself. Breathe. Slow down. Relax. Prepare to meditate and learn from the Word and hear from God. Don’t rush this process because you want this time to be fully dedicated to God.
Once you’ve ready, read John 11:1-44. Go through it once without stopping. Then go back over the passage again, looking for things that stick out to you. Make a note of these things, and write down anything else you might want to remember during this devotional.
If you’ve ever talked to an atheist or seen atheist posts online or something, one of the most common questions they ask is, “if God loves the world, then why do so many bad things happen?” That’s a good question. Why is there starvation across the world? Why do babies die before they’re born? Why are people left paralyzed after car accidents? Why do people die from cancer? For many, it is hard to believe in God because he allows these things to happen. No one knows exactly why God allows these things to happen, but verses 4 and 15 give us an answer to this difficult question. Jesus tells Mary and Martha that Lazarus’ illness is not so that he’ll die, but so that the Son of God may be glorified through him and so that people will believe. I know for me and many other believes, when things are going well, we forget how good God is and how much he has done for us. It is in the difficult times that our faith grows the most, we see God at work the most, and we see how awesome he really is. If our lives were always easy, we wouldn’t see our need for God, and we wouldn't grow. For non-believers, lives without difficulty don’t need a god. Why should they believe in a good, loving, perfect God who blesses us if there’s nothing wrong with their life? As Jesus tells us in verse 15, he uses the trials so that people will see how awesome he is and believe in him. Our prayer shouldn’t be that the hard times never come, but that during the hard times we grow in our faith, deepen our understanding of God, give thanks, and glorify him.
Once Jesus gets to Bethany (where Lazarus is), Martha tells him that Lazarus was already dead for 4 days. During their exchange, Jesus says in verse 25, “I am the resurrection and the life” (ESV). Many people know that Jesus gives us eternal life, but many forget the second part of what Jesus says. He saves us from hell and gives us eternal life and a renewed life, but Jesus also IS the new life. Our new lives as believers should be all about Jesus: growing roots into him, learning more about him, experiencing more of him, talking to him through prayer, and spreading the good news he brings. Jesus is not only God and our savior, but he is our new way of life.
Just before Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, he says in verses 41 and 42, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” Right before Jesus performs this miracle, he thanks God, and he gives him the glory. Jesus wants the people to know that this is God at work and that God is using Jesus to do his work. God uses believers everywhere to do his work, but do we remember who our work is for or why we do it? I often get caught up in pride when doing God’s work and I think higher of myself than I should. Jesus sets a perfect example for us; he serves these people by raising Lazarus from the dead so that God can be glorified and so that others will believe. The work that we do should be the same: pointing to God, glorifying God, and compelling others to believe in God.
As you wrap up this devotional, end your time in prayer. Ask God what he wants you to learn from this passage. Pray that God will remind you of this message through the week, helping it stick with you and helping you apply it. Thank God for this time, for how good he is, and for how much he has done in your life. Spend time talking to the ultimate, all-loving, all-powerful, only God of the universe.
Once you’ve ready, read John 11:1-44. Go through it once without stopping. Then go back over the passage again, looking for things that stick out to you. Make a note of these things, and write down anything else you might want to remember during this devotional.
If you’ve ever talked to an atheist or seen atheist posts online or something, one of the most common questions they ask is, “if God loves the world, then why do so many bad things happen?” That’s a good question. Why is there starvation across the world? Why do babies die before they’re born? Why are people left paralyzed after car accidents? Why do people die from cancer? For many, it is hard to believe in God because he allows these things to happen. No one knows exactly why God allows these things to happen, but verses 4 and 15 give us an answer to this difficult question. Jesus tells Mary and Martha that Lazarus’ illness is not so that he’ll die, but so that the Son of God may be glorified through him and so that people will believe. I know for me and many other believes, when things are going well, we forget how good God is and how much he has done for us. It is in the difficult times that our faith grows the most, we see God at work the most, and we see how awesome he really is. If our lives were always easy, we wouldn’t see our need for God, and we wouldn't grow. For non-believers, lives without difficulty don’t need a god. Why should they believe in a good, loving, perfect God who blesses us if there’s nothing wrong with their life? As Jesus tells us in verse 15, he uses the trials so that people will see how awesome he is and believe in him. Our prayer shouldn’t be that the hard times never come, but that during the hard times we grow in our faith, deepen our understanding of God, give thanks, and glorify him.
Once Jesus gets to Bethany (where Lazarus is), Martha tells him that Lazarus was already dead for 4 days. During their exchange, Jesus says in verse 25, “I am the resurrection and the life” (ESV). Many people know that Jesus gives us eternal life, but many forget the second part of what Jesus says. He saves us from hell and gives us eternal life and a renewed life, but Jesus also IS the new life. Our new lives as believers should be all about Jesus: growing roots into him, learning more about him, experiencing more of him, talking to him through prayer, and spreading the good news he brings. Jesus is not only God and our savior, but he is our new way of life.
Just before Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, he says in verses 41 and 42, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” Right before Jesus performs this miracle, he thanks God, and he gives him the glory. Jesus wants the people to know that this is God at work and that God is using Jesus to do his work. God uses believers everywhere to do his work, but do we remember who our work is for or why we do it? I often get caught up in pride when doing God’s work and I think higher of myself than I should. Jesus sets a perfect example for us; he serves these people by raising Lazarus from the dead so that God can be glorified and so that others will believe. The work that we do should be the same: pointing to God, glorifying God, and compelling others to believe in God.
As you wrap up this devotional, end your time in prayer. Ask God what he wants you to learn from this passage. Pray that God will remind you of this message through the week, helping it stick with you and helping you apply it. Thank God for this time, for how good he is, and for how much he has done in your life. Spend time talking to the ultimate, all-loving, all-powerful, only God of the universe.
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