Love helps us to see!
Love gives us insight into God’s presence in our lives -
This week’s text is from John 14:15-21
When we love something - we see it in a new way. Now sometimes love can blind is as well - to the problems and to eh downfalls of something or someone, but Love is an entirely different perspective.
Jesus points that out in this text - “if you love me, you’ll keep my commandments.” this isn’t a conditional statement, if you do this… then you do this… it is a statement of how love causes us to trust and act towards others.
Love also gives us insight into the presence of the Holy Spirit which is also the presence of Jesus. A few verses later Judas (not Iscariot) Asks Jesus - why not show the whole world this way? And his response? Because love is what is necessary for insight, and even if the whole world were shown, they would not see without love.
In your life - what are some things you might see differently because of your love?
Do you think you see the more or less clearly?
How about when it comes to God’s presence in the world - whee does your love illuminate God’s activity?
Prayer: God, full our hearts with love that gives us insight into what you are up to in our lives and in the lives of others. Fill us with the humility to come alongside our neighbors with care and concern, and clear our eyes to see your presence and how we might cooperate with the good things you are doing in our lives. Amen.
What help would YOU send?
What help would YOU send your friends? Jesus sends help to all of us in the person of the Holy Spirit.
This week’s text is John 14:15-21
When it comes to recognizing the Holy Spirit in our daily lives - The way Jesus describes the Spirit’s role and activity in the world is extremely helpful. Jesus describes the Spirit doing for him precisely what he has done for God - make God plain to the world. The spirit does likewise for Jesus. And one striking thing about this verse is that Jesus describes Some of what we can expect from the Holy Spirit in the way he describes its
role in the coming days for the disciples after Jesus ascends. He reassures his friends. He send them support and help. Support that can make clear the presence of Jesus, presence that can motivate, renew, invigorate, comfort, send peace, and more. He describes that the disciples will certainly need help in the coming days.
Do you have friends whom you feel need help? What help would you send them?
Is there help you need right now? What sort of help do you need?
Are there ways that God may be sending help into your life right now? How?
Do you ever find yourself explaining things away? Explaining away the coincidence of an idea, or conversation?
Do you explain away inspiration or motivation? Do you explain away the moments in which God feels close to you or there seems to be deeper truth or meaning to a moment?
The help and support we send to our own friends, the care and devotion we have for those we love, these are ways we can reflect on the ways the spirit is active in our lives, in a similar way. When might the Spirit have shown up in your life?
Prayer: Thanks you Jesus for the help you send us in the form of the Holy Spirit. Give us ever clearer eyes to see your presence in your life. Stay near to us and help us to continually grow to know you better. Thank you for your love and comfort to each of us. Empower us to share that love with others. Amen.
Down by the river...what is the truth?
What is truth exactly? or is that the wrong question?
The text this week is from John 14:1-14
If the truth is a person - it changes so many things. Can you imagine a universe in which insteD of the worst story you tell yourself about your intentions and your actions, the source and maker of the universe is in fact extending you love and the best interpretation? or when you don’t know what to do what the right thing is to do next, in fact, the truth knows you and, knows your story, and is there to help you through?
Prayer: Lord God, sometimes our fear and our worry cause us to judge others harshly, or to judge situations in black and white binary thinking. Yet you challenge us to love and see the world as you do - fulling knowing the story of each person and life in your path. Help us to consider the story of others in our journey to love and serve in your name. Amen.
Where are we going? Jesus says, I am the way.
What does he mean, he is the way?
This week’s text is JOHN 14: 1-14
This week will challenge us as Christians to stay away from hard and fast rules or set ways of moving forward. When Thomas asks Jesus - “where are you going to prepare a place for us?”, Jesus responds with “ I am the way.”
If you were asking someone for directions to, say, a fast station, that wouldn’t really be a useful answer. But if you are asking the Son of God, “how am I to get to the place you are preparing for us- how am I to get to your salvation that you have achieved through conquering sin and death in yourself?” Then, it’s a much better answer.
But here’s the thing - it isn’t a set of instructions, instead, Jesus answer points us towards relationship. It isn’t, go this way or do this thing, or even explicitly, ‘follow me‘, it is I am the way. And the next step from statement like that is to get to know the person who says it.
Have you ever felt like you needed God to give you more specific instructions? Why?
Jesus describes himself as the way into what is next. If that way is a kind and loving savior full of grace and power - what might it look for you?
If the way is a person and not a set of direction or rules, how might that be difficult or frustrating?
Do you think there is a temptation within the church, or maybe within your own life to change Jesus invitation to relationship into a more rote set of rules or expectations? why? Why not?
Prayer: Lord Jesus - you walk with us each day, both ahead of us showing the way and also with us, with peace and comfort for our hearts and courage for the challenges ahead. Make us aware of your presence and lead us into life together with you forever. Amen.
What is abundant life? How does it change things?
What if there is enough? What if God provides?
Today’s text is JOHN 10:1-10
Jesus tells his disciples, and those all around him, including Pharisees and gentiles. I have that that you might have life, and have it abundantly!
What is he talking about? Isn’t life just life? What does he mean?
One way to to approach this is to consider what abundance might really mean for us in our lives. One of the primary things that divides us from others and keeps us from trusting God is our belief that there isn’t enough.
There isn’t enough food, enough money, enough to go around. There isn’t enough time, justice, or love. There just isn’t enough.
The world shows us this again and again. Or at least it is the lesson we seem to learn. But what if there was abundance? What if there is abundance? When we live with this attitude, that God will provide, it frees us to share with others. It frees us to bless others as we have been blessed. This is not only appropriate for our possessions and supplies, but it is also especially appropriate for our hearts and our lives.
When there is enough love to go around, we aren’t stingy or afraid we won’t be able to care for someone who is hard to care for. When there is ultimately justice that will make things right, we can keep working for justice now with hope, even if we don’t make it to the finish line. When there is enough life, enough time, we need t rush through things, or desperately cling to our personal time or work. Instead, we can live humbly knowing that there is more than enough. The attitude of abundance is a trust attitude in the one who loves us.
Prayer: God you provide for us. Help to see this and trust you in your promises so that we might live in the kingdom life now, sharing freely, loving generously, and at ease with each day and what it brings. AMEN.
Jesus says I am the Gate. Wait. What?
Today Jesus tells his followers that he is the gate to the sheepfold. This is an image they’d all get - but maybe we don’t so much…The gate releases the sheep he knows, but also lets them in to a place of safety.
Today’s text is John 1-:1-10
In the text today we have Jesus telling us he is the gate!. Usually we gloss over this and head over to the much more comforting and much easier to understand - I am the GOOD SHEPHERD, which is just in the next section.
But what about this bit? I am the gate - I protect from sheep stealers and those will ill intent. I will open the gate and lead you into green pastures. Upon your return I will open the gate and protect you in a safe sheepfold ( where sheep sleep, and usually a large stone structure / wall in Jesus’ day - look at the image in the banner section) .
Are there places in your heart, soul, mind, physical life, where Jesus might release you from the place where you are stuck? What would that look like? Can you imagine it?
Have you ever asked in prayer for a change of heart, or a release from something that binds you?
How about from the other point of view? Do you feel fear of danger or risk these days? Pandemic not withstanding, are you in need of care or safety? What might that look like?
Have you ever in prayer asked for help or guidance on finding peace or safety from harm?
Are there concrete ways in your life that your walk with Jesus has provided these things?
Speaking for myself - there are many times I have needed release from a prison of my own making, or release from something that bound me up in anger or sin or pride. Praying for a release or for a change of heart is a powerful way to engage with God and God’s love for you. In the same way, God’s promises to us are always a safe sheepfold for us to rest writhing. Paul reminds us that neither height nor depth nor powers nor principalities, nor anything can separate us from the Love of God shown to us in Jesus Christ. Nothing. We are at rest within the loving arms of God’s grace at all times - whether or not we “feel” it. God’s promises are true in that they are the bedrock upon which creation itself rests, changed for all time in the death and resurrection of Christ. If then - we are safe and loved, how shall we live?
Prayer: Thank you God that you release us from our own sin and binding, and that you not only provide us with new avenues, new pastures, new opportunities for loving our neighbors, but that you also hold us in your safety of love and care. Keep us there always and inspire us to welcome others into an awareness of your care for them. Amen.