John 14- Peace

Scripture

“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.”

John 14:27

Observation

A sense of peace is a hard thing to find in our chaotic world.  It seems tough to just find a moment of silence. Even before I go to sleep I start thinking of the day I just went through and the day to come.  I have been fighting a cold the last couple of days and I have found how hard it has been to just relax.  There seems like there are always errands to run or plans you have made that you just can’t break because the world might end.  I have tried to lay down and relax but my mind keeps going to things I have to do for work or things I need to get done.  That is why I thank God for NyQuil.  I have taken a few doses this last couple of days and it has forced me to go to sleep and rest.  Something my body desperately needed.  The NyQuil was able to give me the temporary peace I needed.  Here is the thing though as soon as I woke up, all my troubles and worries came back.  So maybe this scripture is saying the true everlasting “NyQuil” if you will is God, who can give you true everlasting peace.  

Application

I will look to God for peace.  I know that the more I read his word and pray the less troubled and afraid I am.  I will be aware of self-medications, not just NyQuil (lol), but watching a movie when I am stressed, or having a beer when I am troubled.  Since these self-medications can go out of control if unchecked and only provide temporary false peace.  It is not to say that having NyQuil, a beer, or watching a movie is bad.  It is saying for what reason.  If you having the beer because you are troubled or sad, then you should turn to God first.  Why? Because God promises in this verse, “Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”  

Prayer

God thank you for your peace that you offer us.  Thank you for giving us a true everlasting peace.  A peace that can’t be bought over the counter or found in any store.  It is a peace that reaches are innermost parts.  I will commit to turn to you when I am troubled and afraid and remember  your promises.  Thank you Lord for the peace you have given me, let me not forget.  Amen.

John 13

Scripture

“A new command I give you: Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

John 13:34-35

Observation

Love one another.  This is so hard sometimes.  Especially when somebody has wronged you or talked behind your back.  Normally you don’t want to love that person you want to hurt them.  Or you think they don’t deserve my love for what they did.  Sometimes I have to ask myself, do I deserve God’s love?  Yet even though I don’t deserve his love he loved me and died for me.  

Application

I will constantly look for ways to love my neighbors.  I won’t consider who is deserving of it or what have they done for me lately.  I will love unconditionally.  

Prayer

Lord, give me strength to love my neighbor like you have loved me.  Let me not forget your love for all of us who have sinned against you.  Let me pour out my love so that through this they will know I am one of yours.  Let your glory and mercy be shown in my life.  Amen.

John 12

Scripture

“Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him.  But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue;  for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.”

-John 12:43-43

Observation

These men had seen Jesus perform miracles and speak in person.  They had not read about it or been told about it by some church leader like we are in this age.  They had seen the Son of Man with their own eyes.  It says they even believed.  However they would not confess their faith because of fear.  They placed a higher importance on the praise of others than praise from God.

Application

I will not be afraid to talk about God and Church in front of coworkers and friends that are nonbelievers.  In the past when I had a bible study or some other church function and somebody would ask for me to go out with them I would tell them I had other plans, but would be vague.  It is not until recently that I have started to be specific.  This has given me a great opportunity to confess my faith to others.  Before I would say I am not going to say anything because they wouldn’t understand.  That was wrong though, because I should have said it for just that reason. We should talk to the ones that don’t understand or we perceive just don’t get it.  Because in the end just like us they need it.

Prayer

God, please help me to release the fear of confessing my faith.  Give me strength to seek your praise and not the praise of others.  You are such a great and awesome God that deserves our whole effort.  You have given me everything I have and will provide everything I ever will need.  Let me not fear what others will think but do what is right in your eyes.  Amen.

 

John 11- Jesus Wept

“Jesus wept.”

-John 11:35

I have gone through some hardships in my life.  There have been times when I felt all alone.  That nobody understood my hurt.  I remember when my wife and I suffered a miscarriage, my father wrote us a simple card that said when you cry Jesus cries.  It was interesting reading this verse and imagining Jesus in all his power and all his knowledge, weeping.  This is the most powerful being in the world and he was crying at the death of his friend. 

It blows my mind to think that somebody so powerful, so wonderful, so important would care about me and my hurt.  It is so wonderful to know that such an awesome God will actually weep when you are hurting.   Now I know that when I am sad, when I cry, I don’t cry alone.

Thank you God for caring about me and all those around me.