My Prayer: Psalm 96:10 (New International Version)
10 Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns."
The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.
The Reading: John 20-21
John 20:29 (New International Version)
29Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
My Thoughts: How many times have I said that I wanted to see a sign, something like a burning bush to clearly point the way? The diciples were lucky. They got to see Jesus at work. They got to see miracles and hear first the parables Jesus used to talk. They had daily proof of Jesus as savior and they saw with their own eyes his resurrected body. And they missed it just about every time. Jesus had to explain himself over and over and re-introduce himself to the men who worked and traveled with him. It's good to know that I'm not alone. I probably would have missed what was right in front of my face, too. Of course, we're lucky because Jesus left the Holy Spirit for all of us. So today, we have the Holy Spirit. We're never alone. We don't get to see the miracles performed the way the disciples did but we still get to see God at work in this world through believers.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Day 33-Protection
My Prayer: Psalm 86:13 (New International Version)
13 For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me from the depths of the grave
The Reading: John 17-19
John 17:15-16 (New International Version)
15My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.
My Thoughts: This is a passage that I've never spent much time on, but Jesus is praying on behalf of his disciples and on behalf of everyone who would believe in his name. He wanted unity for his church. Boy, have we messed that up! It's really sad to think about what the world could be like with true unity instead of the division among Christians. That's how the world is supposed to find Jesus, through the witness of his people. Still, I'm not sure I've studied much on this prayer of protection...protection from the evil one. I am reminded again of how Jesus prays for us even when we don't know what to pray for.
13 For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me from the depths of the grave
The Reading: John 17-19
John 17:15-16 (New International Version)
15My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.
My Thoughts: This is a passage that I've never spent much time on, but Jesus is praying on behalf of his disciples and on behalf of everyone who would believe in his name. He wanted unity for his church. Boy, have we messed that up! It's really sad to think about what the world could be like with true unity instead of the division among Christians. That's how the world is supposed to find Jesus, through the witness of his people. Still, I'm not sure I've studied much on this prayer of protection...protection from the evil one. I am reminded again of how Jesus prays for us even when we don't know what to pray for.
Day 32-The Way
My Prayer: Psalm 147:5 (New International Version)
5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
his understanding has no limit.
The Reading: John 14-16
John 14:1-4 (New International Version)
Jesus Comforts His Disciples
1"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God[a]; trust also in me. 2In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And 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. 4You know the way to the place where I am going."
My Thoughts: Jesus had just told the disciples about how he would be betrayed and they were upset. So Jesus comforted them. This is a crystal-clear picture of what made Jesus different. He loved them, even though he was going to have to die to save them. He wanted them to have hope in his return. He wanted to feel secure that they would be able to find him. Jesus said, "I am the way..." They knew Jesus, they knew how to find him again. I've read this passage at 2 funerals when my heart was completely and totally broken. But here is a reason for joy. I know the way home. They knew the way, too. The way to a permanent home.
5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
his understanding has no limit.
The Reading: John 14-16
John 14:1-4 (New International Version)
Jesus Comforts His Disciples
1"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God[a]; trust also in me. 2In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And 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. 4You know the way to the place where I am going."
My Thoughts: Jesus had just told the disciples about how he would be betrayed and they were upset. So Jesus comforted them. This is a crystal-clear picture of what made Jesus different. He loved them, even though he was going to have to die to save them. He wanted them to have hope in his return. He wanted to feel secure that they would be able to find him. Jesus said, "I am the way..." They knew Jesus, they knew how to find him again. I've read this passage at 2 funerals when my heart was completely and totally broken. But here is a reason for joy. I know the way home. They knew the way, too. The way to a permanent home.
Day 31-Glory
My Prayer: Psalm 85:7 (New International Version)
7 Show us your unfailing love, O LORD,
and grant us your salvation.
The Reading: John 12-13
John 12:27-28 (New International Version)
27"Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28Father, glorify your name!"
My Thoughts: Maybe this is a clue to the answer about my questions about prayer. Jesus has told his believers to pray in his name and their prayers will be answered. So why aren't they answered? Why aren't my prayers answered? Jesus, instead of praying for safety or security or any of the escapes he could command, prayed only to glorify God's name. Bad things happen. Bad things happen to good people. It's true. It's not true that we were ever promised anything different. People don't get any good-er than Jesus who died like a criminal. But as one of those people who know Jesus, a good person can believe that when bad things happen, God's going to use them to change the world, to reach people, to save people. I'm pretty sure that's the mature view that I'm supposed to have. Maybe I'll get there someday.
7 Show us your unfailing love, O LORD,
and grant us your salvation.
The Reading: John 12-13
John 12:27-28 (New International Version)
27"Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28Father, glorify your name!"
My Thoughts: Maybe this is a clue to the answer about my questions about prayer. Jesus has told his believers to pray in his name and their prayers will be answered. So why aren't they answered? Why aren't my prayers answered? Jesus, instead of praying for safety or security or any of the escapes he could command, prayed only to glorify God's name. Bad things happen. Bad things happen to good people. It's true. It's not true that we were ever promised anything different. People don't get any good-er than Jesus who died like a criminal. But as one of those people who know Jesus, a good person can believe that when bad things happen, God's going to use them to change the world, to reach people, to save people. I'm pretty sure that's the mature view that I'm supposed to have. Maybe I'll get there someday.
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