This week’s suggested reading: John 16
This week’s question(s) to ponder: What is causing you fear or anxiety these days? What are some truths that Jesus taught that you could meditate upon to help combat the fear and anxiety that tempts you?
We have choice as to what we think about.
Jesus says in John 16:1-4, “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.”
I see two pretty big implications from Jesus’ words, spoken to his disciples, that apply to us today: (1) Jesus followers will be persecuted on this Earth, and (2) we desperately need to remember Jesus’ teachings, especially in the face of trial.
To expound a bit, first, we as Jesus followers literally follow a suffering Savior. We follow the one who lived a perfect life, yet was brutally killed by those who rejected him. We follow one who radically loved the outcast, the rejected, the least, and was crucified on a cross for seeming blasphemy. If the world responded to Jesus with violent rejection, why would we ever think we should receive anything different as we too radically love a hurting world?
Second, trials and pressures will come upon us – they will – but in those seasons, the truths and promises that Jesus taught us are meant to impact us. The truths and promises of Jesus transcend earthly trials and conflict. Nothing can negate Jesus’ promises. Nothing can override his plans and teachings. He is our secure foundation, no matter what this world throws at us. Yet often we live so distracted with things of this world, we forget to meditate on the things our Lord said.
There are a million distractions around us…many coming from the device in the palm of our hand much of the day. I’m preaching to myself. Yet throughout Scripture, God tells us to remember his teachings and remember his promises hundreds of times.
Remember what I said. Remember what I did. Remember what I’ve promised. Remember.
The calling to remember points to the premise of this website: Think True Things. God made our brain to be so amazing. We as his creation have the ability to steer our thoughts. We get choice as to what we think about. Yet so often we/I meditate on things that aren’t helpful, holy, or healing. And thoughts not rooted in the truth of God can slip in so quietly, through the pains we’ve experienced, the media we consume, and the disappointments that plague us. (Just to name a few.)
But Jesus reminds us: he spoke truths to us to keep us from falling away in the face of trouble, trials, and persecution. And if anything seems most pressing right now as I type this post, it’s the dire need for his followers to meditate on the truths that Jesus taught and displayed, every minute of the day.
People hate and murder because they do not know God the Father or Jesus His Son.
We read in verse 3 that people hate and kill Jesus followers because they do not know the one true God. Hate doesn’t come from our God. The God of the Bible is a God of love – the God of love. It was out of his great love for his creation that he sent his Son to save the world, beginning with the Jews and then spreading to the Gentiles. He loves with an everlasting love. Those who murder and hate followers of Jesus do so because they do not know God the Father or Jesus his Son.
Taken a step further, we as Jesus followers must guard our own hearts from hate. As the saying goes, “hurt people hurt people.” We live in a world of hurting people. And humans react out of their hurt. People will do things that bring us pain – sometimes intentionally, sometimes unknowingly. But people will hurt us. In those moments, it’s vital to our own peace that we live in a state of forgiveness. Yes, there’s a place for loving confrontation and firm boundaries. But harboring hate will only end up harming our own souls. And an act of loving forgiveness can actually soften and help heal a hurting world.
Hurt people hurt people. But healed people help heal people.
We follow the God of love. May we be quick to release hate when it knocks on our heart’s door.
We have a Helper!
We’ve talked a few times in this series about the Holy Spirit, referred to as the Helper and the Spirit of truth in this section of John. Jesus himself says, “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” (16:7)
When we look at the whole counsel of the Bible, we know that the Spirit of God comes to make his home inside of believers. After we put our faith in Jesus, we become a temple of the Holy Spirit. (1 Cor. 6:19) We learn in Scripture that he seals us; and that’s a permanent mark. (Eph. 1:13-14) He leads us into truth. He convicts us and guides us. As we walk with him and learn to submit to him, he grows his fruit in us – the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. (Gal. 5:22-23) We have a helper!
This world is dark. There is so much evil here. But we haven’t been left as an orphan on this planet. When we put our faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit of God comes to live within us, helping and strengthening us every step of the way. And that’s really great news.
There is trouble in the world. Even so, there is peace in Jesus.
As I write today, our country is in the midst of a terrible war. There’s so much trouble on this planet. There’s so much hate, greed, lust, and division. But even so, there’s still peace in Jesus.
When Jesus walked on this planet, even knowing he would be brutally murdered and separated from the Father, he didn’t live in fear. He didn’t live anxiously. He knew the joy set before him was greater than the trouble to be experienced on this planet. And in Christ, we can find rest for our soul in that same peace.
The challenge to myself, and one I’ll pass along to you, is seek him, day in and day out. Remember him when life takes a turn into chaotic waters. Remember his promises when fear comes knocking. Meditate on the peace that comes from our Savior – a peace we now have with the Father through faith in Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection.
Yes, there is trouble here. But there is peace to be experienced, even on this broken Earth, in Jesus.
Disclaimer: Words in Red is a devotional blog series created for personal reflection and spiritual encouragement. All writing is original and created solely by the author, Lara Howard—AI was not used in the development of this content. All content in this series is copyrighted and may not be reproduced, distributed, or used without written permission. © Think True Things
