John 14:6-10

“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. Jesus said, “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.”

😇 Regardless of what the smartest minds try to tell us, Jesus is the only access to God. How do we know? Because the person who told us so actually “is” God. Ever wonder what God is like? We don’t have to wonder…just look at Jesus; the things He says and does…that’s God.

🙏🏼 Lord, God…help me boldly, but humbly, proclaim my belief that Jesus and you are one and  the same. You came to earth to rescue me from the penalty of my sin. When I don’t feel confident of my relationship with you, give me the eyes and ears to see and hear Jesus. That’s you in the flesh.This is why, if I know Jesus, I know you.  Thank you…Amen

John 14:1-4

“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.”

😇 A troubled spirit is the result of uncertainty about what the future holds. The truth is simple; in a hundred year you may have never played college or professional sports, you may never have graduated from your favorite college, Summa cum Laude, but you will be at home in Heaven (forever) cause Jesus has already picked out a place and gave us clear directions. Keep your head up and focus!

🙏🏼 Lord, help me keep the big picture in mind; because of Jesus, my future is wonderfully certain. Give me peace to navigate the less important details between here and there. Amen.

 John 13:34, 35, 38

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another...Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!”

😇 Believers wake up every morning and say “today I give myself completely to Jesus.” By the end of the day we have made ourselves liars. God understands…Jesus says , in Matthew 26;41, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 

🙏🏼 Lord, help me love my Christian brothers and sisters…not because I always want to but because you always command it. Lord, my heart yearns to obey you yet, I regularly fall short. Thank you for understanding my human weakness and please, guide me on path that helps my flesh follow my (and your) heart. Amen. 

 John 13:8, 14-17

“Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."

😇 Many people believe they are good enough (clean enough) to have a relationship with God on their own merits. Jesus said that can never happen. It’s easy to get comfortable receiving the many blessings we receive from our Lord, Jesus. However, Jesus tells us we are supposed to pass those blessings along to others. 

🙏🏼 Lord, Jesus, wash me and I will be whiter than snow…pure and holy so I may satisfy God, your Father. When you have taught me truth, given me peace, guided me through difficult times, remind me to pass those blessings on to others in your name. …Amen. 

 John 12:44-48

“Whoever believes in Me does not believe in Me alone, but in the One who sent Me. And whoever sees Me sees the One who sent Me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should remain in darkness. I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken.”

😇 Belief in Jesus is predicated on belief in God. But, we cannot properly know God without knowing Jesus. It’s why unbelievers have such a distorted view of God…one without the other is impossible. The two are inseparable. We will be judged more for what we believe than for what we do. If we believe Jesus is our Lord and Savior, our occasional disobedience is forgiven. If we refuse to believe in Jesus, one day the truth will judge us...no matter how perfect we believe we have been.

🙏 Father God, I know you because I know Jesus. It means I know you don’t judge me, but love me at great cost…to rescue me from my sinful nature. Thank you, and help me keep my eyes on you today by keeping my eyes on Jesus I believe you are God’s Son and you have paid my debt of sin through your death and resurrection. Thank you for your grace and mercy when I fail to obey you and give me the wisdom to do better, Amen.

 John 12:28-33

"Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.” When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him. Then Jesus told them, “The voice was for your benefit, not mine. The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” He said this to indicate how he was going to die."

😇 It’s often suggested Satan rules this world and we must run and hide…or cower in his presence. It’s not true. Satan is a poser…he’s only trying to intimidate us.

 

🙏🏼 Lord, God…when your Son, Jesus, rose from the grave he destroyed Satan’s power over me because my sins are eternally forgiven. Give me the confidence to stand boldly before that toothless lion, in Jesus’ name, and he will flee from me. Amen. 

 John 12:24, 25

“I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity."

😇 The problem with being too attached to our life here on earth is, we become tempted to deny the teachings of Christ in order to keep it going. 

🙏 Lord, keep me focused on the eternal things that matter, Amen.