I thought we'd do something different this week. I'd like to hear from you.
In the gospel of John Chapter 14:1-6, Jesus comforts his disciples saying,
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God[a]; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."
Thomas said to him, 'Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?'
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
What promises is our Lord making in this passage of scripture and how are they relevant to us today? Please share your thoughts by clicking on the 'comments' link below.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Talk Tuesday-What Are Your Thoughts?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
In this passage, I see three promises that are made. First and foremost, we can expect
a) to go to a place of abundance; a house with many rooms.
In these times we hear so often about the things that are lacking, and the discomfort that so many humans are forced to live in that this passage certainly offers us not only hope, but the comfort that this hope enables.
b) That He will return to "rescue" us.
Nowadays we can easily begin to believe that humanity is completely lost, considering all the conflict,hunger, wars and other turmoil we hear about,so his promise to return almost seems like a rescue mission of which only He is qualified to carry out!
As our pastor pointed out in our service last Sunday, with promises come conditions. As far as I'm concerned, this passage also emphasizes that we must have faith,trust, and follow His way which is the Truth!
I read something that I feel is wonderful on Saturday that I was anxious to share today, so I'll go ahead with it and hopefully I won't mess up the mould or system too much by doing so. I read something called "Pascal's Prayer", and this is what Blaise Pascal wrote:
"Lord, help me to do great things as though they were little, since I do them with Your power, and little things as though they were great, since I do them in Your name."
-Blaise Pascal was a brilliant 17th century intellectual who made significant contributions to the fields of science and mathematics such as laying the groundwork for the modern calculator and the hydraulic lift system. As a young man, he had a personal encounter with Christ and he refocused his studies to theology.
I thought I would leave a comment, even though it's a day late ... This is one of my favourite Scriptures.
When I read this passage, I feel comforted. The Lord is stressing that He is preparing a special place for us, and that our labour for Him on this side of heaven, to serve Him and to remain faithful, will be richly rewarded.
I feel even more comforted that the Lord would see fit to say, "If it were not so, I would not have told you." It is like he is urging us to have that faith that He will really do it, even when our hearts are failing. He is promising us that we are not believing in vain.
I also see a promise from Him that even when we are not sure if we are doing the right thing, or when we're not sure of where we are headed, as long as we are holding on to Him, He IS the way, He IS the truth, and He IS the light. He WILL keep us on the right path, in spite of ourselves.
This is really a comfort when we feel like very little makes sense.
Dawn, I also read that passage by Pascal recently ... it was a great reminder of the wonderful rewards that await us for all we do, large and small... and the honour it is to have our lives and activities count for the Lord! Thanks for the reminder.
Thanks Tash and Andrew as well for bringing this forum to us.
Love to everyone,
Stacey
Dawn & Stacey, that is really powerful and encouraging stuff you both wrote. I love the emphasis on faith-blind faith in Jesus. I love what Dawn said about Jesus coming to rescue us. I was particularly moved by Stacey's comment that He is urging us to believe, even when our hearts are failing.
Please continue to add comments at any time, even days after. It is so awesome how the depth of your insight blessed me and so many others. May God be praised! Somehow, I needed to be reminded too.
Post a Comment