Devotion for August 12, 2023

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In 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. And 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.” (John 14:1-3)

Jesus had just told the disciples He was leaving. He told Peter that he would deny Him, and then He followed those words with the passage for this evening. “Do not let …” is telling them that our hearts don’t have to be in turmoil. Few Christians today believe this! Jesus was telling them that in the worse imaginable scenario, they could choose to have faith and reject fear. They could remain calm and firm in their convictions in the face of their Master being tortured to death. How in the world is that possible?

He told them how, “Trust in God; trust also in me.” Trust, or believe, in both God the Father’s sovereignty over all, and Jesus’ choice to go the direction He was led by His Father. The sovereignty of God and faith in His will being for our good is a great source of peace to the people of God. No matter what you face, if you know the God who loves you will have His way in the end, you can peacefully endure all things. It is when we place our trust in our self that we should be disturbed! Where is your trust placed in your situation today?

In Jesus’ day, a suitor would ask his prospective bride to wait for him while he added a room onto his father’s house. Once the room was completed, he would return with his friends for a weeklong wedding party. Then they would return to the new room to live together. He would tell her something very similar to verses 2 and 3 above. Jesus is not leading you on. He can’t lie. He is preparing a place for you. He will be back to receive you to Himself so that you can forever be with Him. It should cause us amazement to consider that He so desires us to be with Him. Don’t let your heart doubt or be in fear. The One who cannot lie has promised a wonderful new beginning, eternally in His presence, in a special relationship with Him.

Prayer

Lord, daily strengthen my faith to trust in Your promises, and allow Your peace to fill my life. Let me always look forward to living with You in heaven for eternity. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Stay encouraged!

Pastor Mike

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