DAY 3: jesus speaks plainly to his disciples
WE ARE AN ABIDING PEOPLE
Part of vs 33 from today’s reading says…”in me (Jesus) you may have peace.” On Monday and Tuesday we heard about Jesus being the vine and us being the branch. In a real vine, water and nutrients move along the vine, into the branch and help it make fruit. Part of being attached to Jesus is that we get to receive his peace. Let’s imagine ourselves as a branch this morning, attached to Jesus the vine, receiving his peace. Why not do this for a couple of minutes. Thank him for being the Prince of peace.
BIBLE READING
In today’s bible reading Jesus says about the Holy Spirit: 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.
We get to receive from the Holy Spirit what Jesus has given him to share with us. Let’s believe this as we read through John 16 now.
What truth about God did you see in this passage?
WE ARE A SURRENDERED PEOPLE
This passage talks about God’s people being scattered, being put out of the synagogue, potentially being killed. How does the truth about God that you found in the section above help you keep surrendering to him even in hard times?
The end of verse 33 says: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Receive courage from God today for the difficult situations that might be going on right now. After bringing each situation to God in prayer say “I take heart, because you have overcome the world.”
WE ARE A SENT PEOPLE
What do you learn about making disciples from this passage?
Many brothers and sisters that we have in Christ are going through the difficulties mentioned above. They are being affected by persecution and war. In verse 23 it said: “Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.” Let us spend some time asking the Father to help and strengthen our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world.
