Month: May 2020

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.”
John 14:1-4

Jesus tells us that He will return to take us to be with Him. Not only is there a place for us but He goes to prepare it. What a wonderful promise!

Jesus has tried throughout His time on earth to explain His relationship with God, and that we can know the same loving connection. We are blessed as His brothers and sisters. He calls us to believe in Him and what we have been taught that we may be with Him in the Father’s house.

Jesus knows the deep need we have to be in relationship with God and each other. He tells us we know the way – His way – and that we are all invited to be there with Him. All we have to do is believe in Him!

Heavenly Father, we pray for strength in trying times, knowing You hear and care for us. Bless us to bear the difficult situations we face by loving You as You first loved us. 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

In this passage, Jesus speaks of what He will do for the disciples (and us) because we believe in Him. He says plainly “no one comes to the Father except through me” (verse 6). The disciples, Philip in particular, still have questions about the relationship between Jesus and our Heavenly Father, and ask to be shown.

Jesus doesn’t mind when we ask Him questions to better understand His teaching, but He doesn’t approve of asking for signs. This is why He seems concerned when Philip asks “show us the Father” (verse 8). He tells them if they have seen Him, they have seen the Father. Jesus explains that the things He says and does reflect God living in Him.

Jesus expects us to share His love with others by reflecting Him living in us. The very best way to honor Him and show we believe is to treat each other the way He treats us, with love and respect. Let the world know Jesus is in you!

Loving Lord, the world is a hard place sometimes, wrapped up in “proving” things. May we give proof of Your love by our outreach to everyone everywhere, sharing the joy of our connection to You. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Psalm 23.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalm 23:1-6

This is probably the best known Psalm of all, and appropriate for this week’s Gospel lesson from John 10 where Jesus says we are His sheep. The concept of the Lord as a shepherd had been written about many years before Jesus came as a human, but people still didn’t understand the full meaning of this saying. As we have read, being likened to sheep is not always a favorable comparison.

However, Jesus never referred to us negatively as sheep. He wanted us to see that our relationship was similar, that He was willing to do whatever was necessary to protect and save us if we only put our trust in Him. As the flock can follow their shepherd with confidence so we can follow Christ, with the assurance that He will lead us home.

Jesus teaches that we must choose to follow, we are not forced. Unlike sheep, we are responsible for our decision to obey. I hope you will read Psalm 23 in a new light today, hearing the thankfulness of an obedient follower and the promise made to us if we are faithful to our Good Shepherd.

Gracious God, we are grateful for the blessings You send, none more wonderful than our risen Savior. Thank You for being the shepherd of Your people, leading us to the joy of eternal life. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 10:1-10.

“Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them. Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
John 10:1-10

Jesus teaches about leadership and the responsibility God places on those who are called as leaders. He indicates to the Pharisees they are not providing the guidance the people need and that God will hold them accountable for their failure. We must hear this teaching as well for we are all called to be leaders of the faith, sharing the Gospel with all the world.

Jesus speaks not just to those in high positions but to each of us, that our words and actions are guides for others. He warns that desiring to be in leadership for personal satisfaction or gain is not why God calls us, and those who misuse their position must answer for it. His leadership is much different, based on love and His connection to the Father, and proved by His sacrifice for us.

This kind of sacrificial, serving leadership is not the way most human rulers have governed, but it is the way Jesus teaches. We should not seek power to exercise it over others or improve our situation, but to give of ourselves for the good of others. That is what Jesus did and what He would have us do.

Loving Lord, we thank You for the gentle way You lead us to a deeper connection to God through Your love and teaching. Help us to be gentle in our exercise of authority, using it not to show our power but Yours, working for the greater good. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 10:1-10.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

Jesus points out the most characteristic human failings in this verse – selfishness and violence. These are the first sins recorded in Genesis 3-4, when humans chose to do what they wanted instead of what God wanted for them. God gave us free will and we abused the privilege.

However, Jesus invites us to use our free will to choose returning to God now, loving Him and each other, putting His call on our lives first. As always, this is not forced upon us, it is an offer from our Creator. God wants us to worship Him out of thankfulness, not fear.

Jesus came to show us the way back to a full relationship with God. The way has always been open, but very rarely do we find it on our own. He promises us that when we come to Him we may have “life and have it to the full”.

Loving Lord, we have forgotten that we are made in Your image, that part of You lives in us. Help us to see the way that is prepared for us and know the joy of connection to You. Amen.