Focus

Prepare yourself to discern what is and what is not of God today. Still yourself so you can hear how God is calling you.

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Read

John 14:1-14 (NRSV)

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

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Reflect

Jesus was preparing the disciples for his coming crucifixion and the ultimate separation they would experience after his ascension. Philip asked Jesus to show God to them. Jesus responded by explaining that if the disciples knew him, then they also knew God. In other words, God and Jesus are of the same mind. They do not disagree or contradict each other. The same is true of the Holy Spirit. The persons of the blessed Holy Trinity are of the same mind, the same will, and of the same purpose. Very often we think of Jesus as being our friend and savior, which makes him seem very approachable. We tend to associate God with the Old Testament, which shows God leading the people, but also getting angry and punishing them. However, when we think that way, we forget that Jesus is also God.

Jesus was trying to equip the disciples for the work that would come. For us to be prepared to do God’s work, we must have an accurate understanding of the nature of God.

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Pray

Almighty God, reveal yourself to us as the creator and sustainer of all things. Help us not to separate the will and desire of one person of the Godhead from the others. Give us understanding in these things, for we ask it in the name of your Son our Savior, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Ghost, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Go with God.