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To abide in Christ…. (devo reflection)

John 15:4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

What does it mean to remain in, to abide in Christ? I feel most connected to Him during my morning prayer time, in my recliner, with my coffee, reading, studying, listening. It is easy to abide in Him, to sit at His feet, then.

John 15:9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.

But the moment I get up to start my day, it’s like that connection is broken. I get caught up in the world. I default to stress and anxiety, management, control—What needs doing next? Which fire needs putting out?—Jesus feels so far away.

John 15:10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.

Lord, You call me to remain in Your love as a way to abide in You. You call me to love others as You love me as a way to abide in Your love. I do that, Lord. I try. Help me to abide in You so that Your joy can be complete in me. Amen.

John 15:11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

Have a blessed day.

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A peace He gives freely…. (devo reflection)

John 14:27a Peace I leave with you;

Today’s scripture is John 14:15-31, but verse 27 captures my heart, probably because I spend a lot of time worrying, fretting, planning, when what I really want is to feel His peace, a peace He gives freely. So why do I worry and fret and plan so?

John 14:27b …my peace I give you….

I realized as I was separating the verse to write that it makes a good mindful/intentional breathing exercise. Breathe in, “Peace I leave with you”. Breathe out, “…my peace I give you….” Breathe in, “…I do not give to you….” Breathe out, “…as the world gives….” Breathe in, “…Do not let your hearts be troubled….” Breathe out, “…and do not be afraid.”

John 14:27c …I do not give to you as the world gives….

Lord, I feel like I spend a lot of my life chasing Your peace, yet You freely give it if I will just slow down and center myself on You. Forgive me. Help me to be intentional when it comes to my relationship with You. Help me to breathe in Your grace, Your peace, and Your love. Help me to shine Your light for all. Amen.

John 14:27d …Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Have a blessed day.

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Father, Son, and Holy Spirit…. (devo reflection)

John 14:8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

The concept of the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Three in One, is one that I sometimes struggle with. It’s hard for me to wrap my head around, and that feels like what Philip and Jesus are discussing here. Philip: Lord, Show me the Father. Jesus: I am in the Father. He is in me. We are one.

John 14:9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

I have noticed, though, that my subconscious doesn’t seem to struggle as much with the idea. I’m my prayers, I pray interchangeably: Lord, God, Jesus, Precious Savior, Redeemer, Father.

John 14:10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.

Lord, You know me and my need to try to understand. The concept of the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Three in One, is quite a lot to wrap my head around at times. Thank You that when I pray to You, I get it, I understand the fiercely loving, deeply compassionate, infinitely steadfast Savior of my soul. Help me to shine Your light for all to see. Amen.

John 14:11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.

Have a blessed day.

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In Your strength alone…. (devo reflection)

Luke 22:31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat.

Verse 31 surprised me. I don’t remember that Satan asked permission to test the disciples. At this point in the narrative, I’m usually so focused on the cross and the disciples’ failings before Jesus gets there that I slip into narrative autopilot. But this fits with what Jesus is leaving in place at His death—disciples who love Him deeply, who trust Him completely, and who will comfort, support, and educate His people.

Luke 22:32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

Jesus knows the disciples will falter leading to the cross. He also knows that they are the future of His ministry on earth, that they need to know that despite all their missteps and failings, they are fiercely loved by their Savior and uniquely worthy of His calling on their lives; they *can* do what Jesus calls them to after His death. This is what Jesus is leaving in place at His death.

Luke 22:33 But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”

Precious Savior, You have shown me in this passage that we have to humble ourselves before You before we can fully arm ourselves with Your strength. The disciples had to falter in their own strength so they could succeed through Yours. Help me to lay down my pride, to humble myself, so that I can move forward in Your strength alone. Amen.

Luke 22:34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

Have a blessed day.

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It is easy to judge…. (devo reflection)

Luke 22:24 A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.

It is easy to judge the disciples from a distance, to call them foolish and shallow because, in the shadow of all that Jesus foretold, here they are arguing over who’s the greatest. But maybe it was a diversion technique: We can’t stop this terrible thing that’s coming, so let’s just focus on something else.

Luke 22:25 Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors.

One thing I do recognize: I’m no different at my core, wanting to be recognized for my efforts. But Jesus says that’s not His way. In His kingdom, the greatest is the one who serves.

Luke 22:26 But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.

Lord, I have so much to learn. Help me to set aside my pride, which clamors for the world’s attention. Help me to focus on loving You, loving others, serving others, glorifying You. Amen.

Luke 22:27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

Have a blessed day.

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Help us to love as You love, Lord…. (devo reflection)

John 13:33 “My children, I will be with you only a little longer….

This reminds me of giving my boys instructions before I went somewhere, especially those first few times they were allowed to stay home alone for a few hours: Now don’t forget to….

John 13:34a “A new command I give you: Love one another….

Jesus is, of course, a worried parent, but in a totally different way. His mind isn’t consumed with “what if” scenarios. He *knows* what’s ahead for His beloved disciples and wants to be sure they remember what’s important: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

John 13:34b “…As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

Lord, As a parent with kids on the cusp of adulthood, I take great comfort in Your reminder to the disciples. There’s always the fear: Have I loved them enough? Have I taught them enough? But if they can hold tight to what You told the disciples: love each other as You love us—deeply, fiercely, beyond faults and missteps and doubts, they will be ok. We all will. Help us to love as You love, Lord. Amen.

John 13:35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Have a blessed day.

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He knows all of it, yet He loves them still…. (devo reflection)

John 13:22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant.

Commentary today focused on “the disciple whom Jesus loved” and the intimate relationship implied even though all of the disciples abandoned Jesus in His hour of need. Here’s what I struggle with: Jesus knows, yet He loves them anyway. He knows Judas will betray Him. He knows Peter will disown Him. He knows all of it, yet He loves them still.

John 13:23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him.

Not only does He love them anyway, He encourages them. He says in Luke 22:32 “But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” In Matthew 22:39 He says, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” I don’t know about you, but I don’t live this level of self-love and compassion.

John 13:24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”

Lord, You knew that the disciples would betray and abandon You, doubt You, doubt themselves, run away. And yet You loved them anyway. You encouraged them to strengthen their brothers once they got themselves straightened out. Help me to show that level of love and compassion to myself and all those I encounter. Help me to fully live the truth of Your fierce love for me. Amen.

John 13:25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”

Have a blessed day.

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Even though I don’t deserve it…. (devo reflection)

Luke 22:14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table.

Jesus knows what is coming. He knows that Judas will betray Him and the disciples will abandon Him. And yet He says to them at this Passover meal, this literal last supper, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.” He *knows* the faults and missteps of these people, what it means for Him and for them, and yet, He *eagerly desires* to eat the Passover meal *with them* before He *suffers* (emphasis mine).

Luke 22:15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.

Commentary calls His actions “Such love and intimacy.” Hymns ask “What kind of love is this that gave itself for me?” Jesus says, “Go and do likewise” (Luke 10:37). I can’t even fathom love that eagerly desires a last meal with people who will betray me and turn their backs on me, and Jesus says, “I have set you an example that you should go and do as I have done” (John 13:15).

Luke 22:19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

Lord, My pride bucks at what You are calling me to do—love people who are fallible and weak, who will and have betrayed me, who aren’t nice, aren’t lovable, aren’t worthy of love in my opinion. And even as I bristle and squirm at this ask, I know You do this for me. Every. Single. Day. Help me to get over myself. Help me to surrender my pride and to love Your people, not because they are worthy, but because You are. Thank You for loving me, even though I don’t deserve it. Amen.

Luke 22:20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

Have a blessed day.

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Even though they will disappoint…. (devo reflection)

John 13:3-4 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.

Verse 7 (see below) has long been a favorite of my “Why?”-oriented brain. To think that someday I might understand, even though there are so many things in this life that don’t make sense to me, brings me comfort. Though, I’m pretty sure that once I’m in a place to get all those answers that seem so important on this side of the veil, I don’t think I’ll care enough to ask the questions anymore.

John 13:5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

More important here, I think, is what Jesus is doing. He has power over all things. He came from God and is going to God. So what does He do? Wash the disciples feet—a filthy, dirty, servile, humbling job. He knew that Judas would betray Him and everyone else would desert Him and still He serves them in this incredibly personal, intimate way.

John 13:6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

Lord, There are so many things in this life that I don’t understand. But Your intimate, humbling act of service to the disciples even though You knew what was coming seems pretty clear. You call me to humble myself in service to others, to show them they are worthwhile and worthy, even though they are human and fallible, even though they will disappoint. Help me, Jesus. Amen.

John 13:7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

Have a blessed day.

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Not what I was trying to accomplish…. (devo reflection)

Luke 22:3 Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.

I’ve heard a theory that Judas may have betrayed Jesus to get the ball rolling, to force the Messiah into action. Whatever his motive, the fact that he tried to give back the silver and ended up taking his own life, indicates that he did not accomplish what he had hoped.

Luke 22:4 And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus.

It’s easy to judge Judas, but I’m not so different at times. My unwillingness, inability to give up control of my worries suggests that, just like Judas, I think I know better, I think I have a better idea, a better plan. Unfortunately, my way often leaves me bitter, anxious, unsettled—not what I was trying to accomplish.

Luke 22:5 They were delighted and agreed to give him money.

God of Mercy, Thank You for Your love and compassion. Thank You for knowing everything about me yet loving me fiercely despite my flaws. Help me to lay my worries, my troubles, my plans at Your feet and trust You. Always. Help me to love others despite their flaws as well. Amen.

Luke 22:6 He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.

Have a blessed day.