The image Jesus draws in this passage is a clear one. He is still in conversation with His disciples, which is an important thing given some of what Jesus is saying here. Many people believe that Scri...  Read More

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are ...  Read More

I encourage you to pray for the Lord's peace. Accept what He desires to give to you. Lay your anxieties before Him. Call them out by name and rejoice in the Lord. Acknowledge by faith that the Lord de...  Read More

As I shared in yesterday's devotion, fear and focus go hand in hand. I have found for myself that those times of anxiety are most dominant when my focus is off of the Lord. Even worse, I find it thriv...  Read More

Scripture deals with a lot of difficult moments throughout time. We see wars, persecutions, famines, and the like. We also see the Lord wanting to protect His people and encourage them. We see Him giv...  Read More

The lesson for the original audience comes out of the question that Judas is asking."Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?"-John 14:22The response is two-fold to...  Read More

Similar to the previous week, there is an overarching theme throughout the book of John that emphasizes belief, love, and obedience. All of these are still present here. Something that I find to be in...  Read More

This section continues off of the interaction that Jesus is having with His disciples. Judas, who is specified as not being Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Jesus, presses Jesus on more questions....  Read More

22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?”23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My ...  Read More

Pray for an increase of a measure of faith and trust in the Lord. Pray that the Lord would send His Holy Spirit to you. Pray for wisdom and strength to walk out His commands. Take this time with the L...  Read More

So we have discussed both the cycle of faith -> love -> obedience. We have also discussed the need of the Holy Spirit and the benefit Jesus sees in sending the Holy Spirit. The action plan of these le...  Read More

Depending on who you talk to, the Holy Spirit takes one of two roles. Either He is the most neglected person of the Trinity, or He is the most overly emphasized person of the Trinity. In my more recen...  Read More

Aside from the nature of the Holy Spirit, the original audience would pick up on the three things that Jesus is instructing them in. Believe. Love. Obey. Our minds tend to be more formulaic whereas th...  Read More

There are many connections to be found throughout this passage, but I want to zero in on Whom Jesus says will come after Him. I want to address a larger biblical theme and then also address the role t...  Read More

Philip grabs ahold of what Jesus was saying. The goal is the Father and Jesus is the way. He asks then for Jesus to show them the Father and that it would be sufficient for them. This leads to a bit o...  Read More

8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the...  Read More

Let us enjoy communion with the Father. Take some time and read through Psalm 119. See how the Psalmist simply enjoys God through His word. Enjoy Him and delight in Him. Prayerfully commit that you wo...  Read More

20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that w...  Read More

The major lesson that sticks out to me is one that rewrites much of how Christianity was originally introduced to me. I was always told that heaven was the goal. So in order for me to experience "eter...  Read More

The lesson for the original audience is not far at all for the lesson for us. At the core of this is a very central verse to our faith.6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No o...  Read More

The text we are dealing with draws attention to a very broad stroke of eschatology - the study of death, judgment, and the finality of one's soul. Many readers of the day may have viewed this text thr...  Read More

Jesus is continuing his discourse with the disciples after Judas has left. He just shared with Peter that he will deny him thrice. This is what enters us into chapter 14 where Jesus says, "Let not you...  Read More

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I...  Read More

Earnestly seek these two things before the Lord:That you would receive the love of GodThat you would give the love of GodWe do not operate out of our own self-sufficiency, but we also don't forgo pour...  Read More