Robert J. Morgan states,
Jesus' discourse on 'Let not your heart be troubled' was interrupted by Thomas, who asked in John 14:5, 'Lord, we don't know where You are going. How can we know the way?' Try imagining the tone of voice Thomas used. Was it gentle and sincere or edgy and argumentative? As you picture and replay the scene in your mind, you'll soon find you've memorized the entire passage---John 14:1-6.
The Way to the Father - John 14:1-6
1 "Your heart must not be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. (We've got that verse down)2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (KJV - we've got that one down too!) 3 If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also. (Check!)
4 You know the way where I am going." (just a small addition!)5 "Lord," Thomas said, "we don't know where You're going. How can we know the way?" (Throw in a little Doubting Thomas....)6 Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (Finish off with this week's verse!)Are you sometimes finding this easier than you thought it would be? When you put it all together and in context, it just becomes a dialogue....a very affirming dialogue! Do you identify with our friend, Doubting Thomas? I know I sometimes do! There is a cartoon showing Thomas looking at the Apostle Peter saying, "why doesn't everyone call him Denying Peter?" Makes me empathize a little bit with Thomas...he really did get dubbed for all of time with his character flaw, didn't he? Makes me wonder how I would go down in Biblical history!But just like Thomas, I find myself saying, "How can you expect me to know what to do, God? How should I know which way to go?" And I hear God say back to me..."Oh let's see...I've given you my Word, my Son came to live on earth and showed you what is and what isn't important in this life, I've surrounded you with Christian influences, and, oh yes, I've empowered you with My Holy Spirit...so, use the tools that you've been gifted with and walk in the way I'm directing you!"Makes our excuses seem pretty lame, doesn't it?Jesus is the way -- the way from this life to the next, and the way to live this life here and now. He lived it. He died. He lives again! He is the way...we can know how to live and how to make good choices in our lives, and then how to follow Him as our Good Shepherd into our eternal lives.Follow the Way...follow Jesus.
1 comment:
We should allow our faith in God to guide us through life. I wish I would have stopped and read and prayed to God before I made some of my life choices, they were not always the right and good choice. If I had only followed the teachings of Christ and spent more time in meditation with God, I would have made better choices. I was in too big of a hurry to decide my fate and my direction. I should have allowed God to direct me and let Him influence me and lead me. I pray more earnestly now, as I have matured in life and in the growth of my belief in Christ and His loving guidance. Jesus Christ is the Way and He is
my Shepard. I am His sheep and I will follow Him.
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