Today’s Scripture: John 14:1, NKJV- “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me”
We humans create trouble. God created the structure to simplify all things for us. To stay out of trouble we must simply believe and trust God more than the flesh. The opinions and feelings of mere humanity lead to trouble.
In John 13:34, Jesus told His disciples that He had a new command for them. It sounded simple. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” (NKJV)
This sounds simple until we face loving what seems unlovable. Since every single one of us are unlovable at times, it can be hard to believe that God, the Creator of all things and His only Son, Jesus Christ love us. However, we must simply believe and simply love.
In John 13:37, Peter was certain he would lay his life down for Jesus, one hundred percent, no doubt. Jesus knew otherwise and told him he would deny him three times before the rooster crowed. Jesus was right then, and He also knows us better than we know ourselves now. God is not shocked when we fall short.
Jesus spoke the words of John 14:1 just after telling Peter he would deny Him. “Let not your heart be troubled:” Peter denied Christ because he feared humans in that moment. Why do we fear what people think about us or what they can do to inflict harm? We cannot trust our abilities to stay strong in the face of trouble or in the ways of humankind. We must simply love and believe in God, His ways, and His Son.
Jesus was preparing His disciples in John 13 that He would soon be leaving them to prepare a place for them in His Father’s house. In John 14 Jesus is preparing us all for what it takes to enter Heaven where He has gone to prepare a place for us.
Many people defend Christianity by using John 14:6, where Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (NIV) However, John 14:7 is where the rubber meets the road, “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.” (NKJV)
We get to know someone by spending time with them. The more time we spend with Jesus the more He teaches us to go to the Father as He does. As John 14:20 promises “On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” (NIV)
When we do realize that the Father and Son live in us, the less we are troubled by the troubles of this world. Will you trust the Spirit of God living in you when challenged by the evil of this world?
Today’s Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, thank You for living in us. I am thankful for Jesus coming to show us Your Ways. I know Jesus promised to come back to take us to You. He also gave to us Your Spirit to live with You now. Help us to look beyond our troubles and understandings to believe, trust, and love as Jesus did. Jesus’ life teaches us the way to live with You now. Remove any unbelief far from me so I may trust in Your ways and Your presence. I believe in You Father and Your Son and welcome Your Spirit. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, I am praying. Amen.
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