Passage of the Day:
Jesus replied, “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. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. 25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. 28 “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. 30 I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, 31 but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me, John 14:23-31.
Reflection:
Trouble comes in a number of forms from difficulty, disorder, problems or public unrest. The context of today’s passage occurs during the Passion Week, Jesus’ last week with his 12 disciples. As Jesus wraps up His three-year ministry on earth, He begins to open up about God’s will for His life. Jesus’ words seem like a friend revealing to you that they only have a few months to live. This troubling news appears to have shocked many of Jesus’ disciples. Jesus responds to their concerns with an antidote to overcoming a troubled heart.
Prayerful Action:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. 2 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? 3 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. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going,” John 14:1-4.
Restoring Your Heart:
When you are young, the fear of death can haunt you with scary nightmares about the afterlife. Yet, one of John’s reasons for writing his Gospel and Epistles is so that Christians could know for sure about their eternal destination. John 3:16-17, John 20:30-31 and 1 John 5:12-13 all provide biblical assurance that you can know for sure where you’ll spend eternity before you die. Romans 10:9-11 adds to this assurance by providing a cure for a troubled heart.
Song of the Day:
The greatest gift anyone can ever receive on earth is the assurance of eternal life in heaven. May the lyrics of I Can Only Imagine inspire you to tell others about the gift of God, Romans 6:23. The joy of leading someone to faith in Christ will erase the pain of a troubled heart.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 