with devotion

Let not your hearts be troubled ...

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

One of the messianic titles ascribed to Jesus is the "Prince of Peace". In a very real sense he is a peacemaker like no other has ever been. Through his life, his ministry, his teaching and his sacrifice on the cross he ushered in a peace unlike any that has ever existed. Through Jesus we are able to have peace with God and peace with man. It reminds me of the lyrics of this chorus that we used to sing in church:

He is our peace ... Who has broken down every wall ... He is our peace.

The peace of Christ is not like the outward form that the world wants - it is not about coexisting with your neighbor and not being at war with them. The peace that Jesus speaks about is an internal peace that spills over into the cracks and crevices of our lives. This peace of Christ is one that shatters the walls that we have erected between us, God and people. This is true because the author of this peace is called the Prince of Peace.

Come O Prince of Peace. In the midst of turmoil I so need you today.

He will teach you all things ...

"These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

The ministry and role of the Holy Spirit is often a controversial topic in modern day church circles. Some believe that the charismatic (i.e. grace) gifts spoken of by Paul in several of his letters ceased with the canonization of the scriptures. Others aver that they, especially the gifts of tongues and prophesy, are still in operation today. Whatever your view about such things it is obvious that the work of the Holy Spirit has not ceased in disciples today.

Consider what the apostle Paul teaches us about the fruit, or evidence, of the Holy Spirit. Listing such virtues as love, joy, peace, patience, faithfulness and others Paul teaches us that the evidence of the Holy Spirit's influence in a believer's life is not limited to tongues, healings and miracles. Perhaps this is, in part, what our Lord means when he says that the Helper will teach us all things. Perhaps we cannot truly love without the help of the Helper.

I need you Holy Spirit. I surrender to your influence today.

I will love him and manifest myself to him.

Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?" Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.

When we speak of love we sometimes embrace a definition of it that is more schmaltzy and touchy-feely than the one that Jesus speaks of here. In this passage he tells us that we cannot separate our love for God from what we do and how we live. Our lives are a mirror to the world of who or what we love the most. If we love God we will reflect his image.

Yet it is not we but the Holy Spirit who shines from deep within us. When Jesus says that he and the Father will "make our home with him" he speaks of how the Holy Spirit lives in our innermost being when we are spiritually born. In a sense keeping God's commandments is all about following the influence and leading of the Holy Spirit within us.

I am listening Lord. Help me to hear your voice and keep your commandments today.

I will not leave you as orphans ...

"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.

This verse reminds me of that verse our Lord spoke to his disciples before he ascended into heaven.. the one where he said that he would be with them unto the end of the age. Both in that verse and in this one Jesus is speaking of the presence of the Holy Spirit. On the Day of Pentecost the disciples experienced a powerful move of the Spirit and many, like me, have had similar experiences of being moved, and indwelt, by the Holy Spirit.

Even so I do not think that we should limit the moving, and work, of the Holy Spirit to such extraordinary experiences. I think that His presence can often be felt in simple acts like love, forgiveness, faithfulness and singing - I know that I often feel His presence when I am in worship. Yet He sometimes puts skin on and comes with the touch of a member of the body of Christ. And the truth is that He is there whether we feel His presence or not.

Abba. Dear Father. I am not alone. Thank you that I am not a spiritual orphan.

He will give you another Helper ...

"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

There is a symbiotic relationship between our love for God, desire to keep his commands and the power of His Spirit in our lives. They are inextricably linked together because God does not control us, but leads us, by the Spirit. It is a matter of cooperating with the Lord. When we, from a heart of love, take a step of obedience the Holy Spirit rises up within us empowering us. What sometimes seems to begin naturally takes on the supernatural.

Consider how Jesus called out to Peter to walk on the water. If Peter did not cooperate he would have never experienced the supernatural. It is the same, albeit a bit less over the top, when we respond to the call of God in our lives. We begin with a heart filled with loved for God then begin to take a step of faith as we sense Him leading us. As we walk we experience the power of the Spirit take us to places we have previously not been to.

Where you go I will follow Lord Jesus. Lead me dear Holy Spirit.

Believe on account of the works themselves.

Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.

When most think about the works of Jesus they go directly to the amazing miracles and healings done at his hands. It is hard to consider these things and not remember how Lazarus was rescued from death and walked out of the tomb at Jesus' command. Yet, in light of the Lord's reference to believers doing greater works, I have to wonder if these are the works that Jesus speaks of or if the works are of a different nature.

Many affirm that such miracles are prevalent today through the gifts of the Holy Spirit and evidence the "greater works" that Jesus spoke of. I am certainly not disparaging such things but wonder if these works are the ones that cause cynics to believe. Could it be that the motive behind these works is somethings greater than the works? Is it possible that the amazing love of God, expressed through believers, is what causes skeptics to believe?

Help compassion to flow in my life Lord. Cause love to express itself in amazing works.

Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.

If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him." Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?

It seems that, since the beginning, humanity has always wondered about God and what he is like. Some embrace the image of an angry God.. some see Him as a taskmaster demanding obedience to His laws.. and while some see Him differently. In one sentence Jesus tells his listeners, and us, that we need to look not further than Him to know what God is like. And if we read through the gospels we see this image of God:

Powerful Prophet: When Jesus calms the sea, changes water into wine and does some amazing miracles we see that God is not constrained by physical laws.
Caring Shepherd: In almost every confrontation with the religious elders we see how God views hypocritical religious leaders who do not care for the flock.
Compassionate Father: Jesus' demeanor towards the hurting, the sick and the poor is unmatched by any religious figure and gives us a peek into God's heart.
Wise Teacher: The teaching of Christ is unmatched in history. The sermon on the mount reveals to us the true wisdom of God and how He is interested in our heart.

The image that Jesus gives us in the gospels is a glorious picture. Really, would anyone find fault with this picture? Who would prefer the wrathful and intolerant view of God that some embrace? And who would prefer a tribal deity over the One who loves the whole world? Jesus takes my breath away. When I read of his miracles, his courage, his teaching and his compassion I stand in awe. How can anyone not be in awe of Jesus Christ?

Lord, help me to embrace your image today in the way that I live.

Pages