Month: May 2020

Our scripture this week is John 14:15-21.

I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.
John 14:18-19

Jesus gives us a wonderful promise, that we will not be left alone, and that because He lives, we shall live also. He tells us that although the world will no longer see Him, we will continue to know His presence. The Holy Spirit works in us and through us so that His love may still be shared with all God’s children.

Even the most solitary among us need the warmth of contact with others now and then. We were made for each other and the desire to be connected is within us all. Through the Holy Spirit we are able to stay in touch with our Heavenly Father and continue the work Jesus began here.

We all need time alone to process and rest, but God did not intend for us to live in continual isolation. During the last few months we have had to separate ourselves from each other for everyone’s protection, but as we see it is not our normal state. The Holy Spirit is with us always, encouraging us to relate to one another as Jesus did.

Wise and Wonderful God, we are thankful for the gift of relationship with You and the chance to share that joy with others. Help us to use our connection with each other to build Your kingdom, bringing all the earth to know Your love. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 14:15-21.

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever — the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
John 14:16-17

We are promised “another advocate”, the Holy Spirit, as a guide and friend. Jesus teaches that God will be with us in this way to remind us of what we have learned. His presence is a constant love supporting us every day.

Just as God the Father and Jesus the Son have done, the Holy Spirit is not a coercive force, but one that encourages us to follow the example we have been given. We bear the responsibility for our own thoughts, words and actions. It is our choice to be obedient children or not, and there is no exception to this.

The Holy Spirit has sometimes been explained with the acronym WWJHUD (what would Jesus have us do). This is our memory device to ask ourselves how Jesus would want us to handle a situation. We don’t always choose well, but if we ask forgiveness from the Lord and those we have wronged, and earnestly try to do better, we can regain our footing on the path Jesus set for us.

Loving Lord, we are often emotional and selfish creatures, choosing our desires over what we know is right. Help us to be strong in the Spirit, remembering the gifts and responsibilities we have been given. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 14:15-21.

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever.”
John 14:15-16

Jesus knows how bewildered His disciples are at this time. Even now we struggle to understand what He taught and the call He places on our lives. However, He promises that if we keep His commandments, God will send the Holy Spirit to be with us and in us forever.

The hardest task we face as humans is being obedient. God made us in His image with the ability to choose our actions. We are responsible to ourselves and each other, but most importantly, to God for what we say and do.

Jesus promised that God would send His presence to be with us through the Holy Spirit. He knows that we need help and guidance, someone to encourage us on the right path. We are assured of Him working in us when we keep His commandments to love God and one another, and to go make disciples of all the world.

Heavenly Father, we give thanks that You are with us always. Help us to be obedient children, keeping the commandments You have given us. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 14:15-21.

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
John 14:15-21

Jesus continues His final instructions to the disciples, describing the coming of the Holy Spirit and the need to keep His commandments. He warns them the world won’t readily accept the Holy Spirit, but that the spirit will live in them. Then He repeats His promise to return for those who love Him.

Jesus knows His disciples (and us) well, and He knows we all will need courage and support for continuing His ministry. We know we can’t do it alone. He encourages us, saying “Because I live, you also will live” (v. 19), that His love and strength will go with us.

The call He places on our lives is not easy, but we are given the necessary gifts. The Holy Spirit is here for us. If we love Jesus, He will live and work in us and we can go to share His love with a world in desperate need of that blessing.

Light of the World, we are not ready for the responsibility You give us, but with Your spirit we are bold to go in Your name. Be with us as we spread the Good News to all Your children. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 14:1-14.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
John 14:1-14

Jesus has much to tell us in this week’s lesson – that He is returning to the Father, that there is a place for us and we are called to the same relationship with God, and that we will carry on His work. This is a bit much for us to take in, but Jesus says not to worry, and promises what we ask in His name will be done.

We worry about things constantly, sometimes needlessly, and this often prevents us from doing something about them. Jesus said “do not let your hearts be troubled” assuring us of God’s love and mercy (v. 1). We are called to a wonderful ministry of care for each other through our relationship with God, following the example Jesus gave us.

Jesus told us to ask for help when we need strength, that “I will do whatever you ask in my name” (v. 13). He has the power and we may call on Him when we are in need. We can go into the world to share His love knowing that He has blessed us and promised us a place in His kingdom.

Gracious God, You have called us to be part of Your work to reach all people. Help us to be the strong but gentle way of change, that the world may return to You. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 14:1-14.

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. John 14:13-14

Jesus makes a promise to His disciples that whatever is asked in His name will be done. He tells us when we pray earnestly, God listens and is aware of our needs. The key here is that the name of Jesus is powerful and we should not ask for anything frivolously.

However, Jesus wants us to know that through prayer in His name, we can share our deepest issues, our greatest hurts and our highest joys with God. Our prayers are precious and serious to Him. No matter the situation, God expects and wants to hear from us.

We know that God answers prayer according to His plan, not our own human desires. It is not a wishing well or a magic lamp to give us what we want. Prayer is a serious and intimate communication with our Creator, a chance to speak and listen, to know that He is always working for our eternal good.

Loving Lord, we often come in prayer only to ask for things. Forgive our selfishness. May we be thankful for Your blessings and give You the glory always. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 14:1-14.

Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
John 14:11-12

Jesus teaches that God is in Him, and He is able to perform the miracles that reflect this only because it is so. He tells us we will do even greater things through our belief in Him and His sacrifice for us. All of this points us to the importance of His relationship to God and our connection through Him.

Jesus tells us “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). We can’t make it on our own. Only through a living, growing connection – like a grapevine – can we accomplish the purpose God has for us.

When we follow His teachings and remain connected, we are able to share the joy of a life in Christ with those who are disconnected. We can show them how being a part of His kingdom is essential to our lives here and hereafter. Nothing is stronger than the bond between Jesus and His people, and nothing more important.

Gracious God, we long to be connected and fruitful, part of Your work in the world. Help us to be the faithful force that moves others toward You. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 14:1-14.

Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. John 14:8-10

Philip asks Jesus to show them the Father not because he doesn’t believe, but because he doesn’t understand. As with Thomas asking about where Jesus was going before, the disciples have faith, but lack knowledge. This wanting to know is a very human thing and while Jesus encourages them to ask for understanding, He stresses to them that their faith and relationship to God are much more important.

Jesus wants us to be sure in our faith, but not to question God’s love for us or His plan. Many people wanted a sign or a miracle as “proof” of Jesus’ relationship with God. However, during His forty days in the wilderness Jesus rebukes Satan, saying “It is also written: Do not put the Lord your God to the test” (Matthew 4:7), and the answer is the same for us.

Asking Jesus to tell us more because we don’t understand is not wrong, but eventually our faith has to overcome our doubt. We can’t test to see if God is telling the truth. We must trust that He is in control and plans only good for us.

Loving Lord, in Your grace and mercy You sent Jesus to love and save us. Help us to have faith even when we don’t understand and follow the way He has set for us. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 14:1-14.

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:5-7

Thomas asks the question that all the disciples are likely considering – “how can we know the way?”. They are thinking in human terms and want specific instructions. Jesus tells them that He is the way, the only way to be connected to God and to know Him is to know God.

Jesus wants them (and us) to understand His relationship with God to better understand and develop our own. He doesn’t ignore Thomas’ question but He doesn’t give him the “roadmap” the disciples are looking for, He tells them that following Him is the way they need to go.

We want things explained to us specifically, step by step and neatly packaged…and even then we often ignore the instructions we receive. Jesus says it doesn’t work that way, that each of us has a different call and different gift from God. We must each follow Jesus where He leads us individually, regardless of the way others go.

Loving Lord, help us when we are lost and confused. May we see the love You bring to each of us and the way You open for us. Amen.