Devotions in the next few days are written by Becky Ferguson. Becky is a long-time member of LSA, and is serving in the Czech Republic with TEAM Mission. She works primarily with young people there, and also plans the curriculum for camps through the summer.
John 14:1-14 NLT
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”
5 “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”
9 Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. 11 Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.
12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. 13 You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. 14 Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!
In recent months, I have been re-watching the series, The Chosen, because I will be using it as part of the curriculum for one of the summer English camps in Czech. I continue to be impressed with how well this show has portrayed Jesus. He is shown to be the Jesus I’ve come to know through reading the Bible and being in relationship with Him.
In this biblically based series, we see the gentleness of Jesus. We see His love, His compassion, His dedication, His truth, His grace and His openness. He welcomes all who come to Him and accepts them as they are – broken, sick, confused, struggling, desperate. He embraces the troubled, the unwanted, the outcasts, the burdened. He offers love, peace, healing and new life. He has a place for everyone.
Jesus has a place for everyone.
Take a moment to reflect on that.
There is a place for you. There is a place for me.
There is a place for the man who cut you off in traffic.
There is a place for the cashier who was rude to you.
There is a place for the homeless woman on the park bench.
There is more than enough room in our Father’s home. There is a place for everyone. Jesus Himself tells us that, and He tells exactly how to claim that place. We get to it through Him.
Verse 6: 6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
It couldn’t be any clearer.
Jesus tells us He is in the Father and the Father is in Him, and if we know Him, then we Know the Father. And Jesus has prepared a place for us in the Father’s home.
Life can be quite challenging. We just have to look at the last few years to be reminded of how difficult everything can be. We have lived through a global pandemic that affected us physically, mentally and emotionally. We’ve seen the start of more senseless wars that have displaced millions. We mourn over another school shooting. I could continue on.
Then there are the personal struggles we face. The loss, the heartache, the loneliness, the anger, the confusion, the emptiness. At times we wonder if it’s worth it.
It IS worth it.
Jesus has prepared a place in our Father’s home. A place for each of us. And when the time is right, He will come for us; He will come to take us home.
I encourage you to print out these verses of John 14 and put them somewhere visible. Read them often and be reminded that Jesus has a place for you that is already prepared.
In times of trouble, when your heart is heavy, when tears are falling, when you’ve had enough, return to this promise. Jesus has a place for you. He is fighting for you. He is advocating for you. He is reaching His hand out to you.
Jesus wants you, just as you are. He wants to give you healing, peace and joy. Remember His words in Matthew 11:28-30(NLT):
‘Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”’
Our song for today is Loved By You by Riley Clemmons.