Category: faith

Reading the end of John 13 and the beginning of John 14 without the chapter break helps us gain insight as Jesus approached the fulfillment of His purpose on earth. The disciples struggled to understand. Peter was confused about himself. Thomas was confused about his destiny. And Phillip was confused about his Lord.

Jesus tells Peter he is not as strong and loyal as he thinks he is… but he still should not let his heart be troubled. Jesus tells Thomas that the destiny of the believer is God… through Christ. Jesus tells Phillip that His own life is lived fully in His Father. From these words, we can learn about ourselves, our destiny, and our Savior. Praise God that Jesus accomplished what no one else could… He prepared the way to the Father. He is the way.

“Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You shall seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, I now say to you also, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered, “Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you shall follow later.” Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a cock shall not crow, until you deny Me three times. Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way where I am going.”

Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going, how do we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”

Phillip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Phillip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how do you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me; otherwise believe on account of the works themselves.” (John 13:33 – John 14:11… New American Standard Version)

I recently found an old journal entry dated March 12, 2001 which was a few weeks before my first stem cell transplant. I smiled as I read about a high school championship basketball team, knowing the point guard was sitting with my wife downstairs. Sherill has lived with us this past year while coaching at a local university. Last week she made Susan and me fill out an NCAA tournament bracket. With March Madness in full gear, perhaps this journal entry is a good reminder:

I’ve discovered a sure way to get in the newspapers: retire from coaching, discover you have cancer; then watch your old team win a state championship. I’m so proud of the girls and coaches for their great accomplishment this season. It is a little different sitting in the stands… but I kind of enjoyed it.

With present circumstance, my thoughts seem to quickly shift to eternal perspectives. As I was walking to my seat before Saturday’s championship game, I heard one fan say to another: “Now this is what it is all about.” I know what he meant and I’ve probably made similar statements, but the truth of the matter is – no basketball game is what it is all about.

In Hebrews 11 we find many heroes of faith, imperfect humans like us who knew God existed and believed He rewarded those who earnestly pursue Him. Some were victorious here on earth; some were martyred; all were praised. In chapter 12, the author says we are surrounded by a “great cloud of witnesses.” Like the host of fans who cheered for our team Saturday, I wonder if the “witnesses” are cheering for us. If they could give advice, what would they say? Here’s my guess:

“Children of God walking the earth… listen to us! We have been where you are and we are now where you want to be. We all endured difficult trials, but know this: it is worth it. Your life on earth is a vapor… but life here is forever. You know the truth… but you must live what you believe! Remember what life is all about!

“If you are confused about what it is all about, the enemy has an edge. God does not want His children to be confused. He loves with an unfathomable love… a love that surrounds us now. By faith you can know this love on earth as you remember how He saved you through Jesus. Look to the Author and Perfecter of your faith… in Him you have life! As you put your faith in the Son you gain access to every blessing needed to live victoriously. In Christ you are free to bring glory to God… in Christ you find what life is all about.

“You are the player; Jesus is the Coach. Do everything He tells you for He knows what is best. He may call you to do things that seem impossible, but the One who calls you will empower you. He has given you the Holy Spirit who comforts, counsels, and instructs. Listen to the Spirit and walk by faith.

“You know you are closer to the return of the King than anyone who has ever lived. In your day there is much darkness. People are living like ‘the visible’ is what it is all about. But you know ‘things seen’ are temporary while ‘things unseen’ are eternal. Live in the eternal! Put on the full armor of God each day. Each one of you is given a race to run. Your race may look different from your neighbor’s, but the destination is the same. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.

“Endure hardship as a good soldier. Do not lose heart; do not grow weary in doing good; do not get distracted by the lesser things. Keep your eyes on a different Country. There is nothing on earth worth more than your soul. Be totally abandoned to your Creator. As you live by faith, you will find He is faithful and true. One day He will bring us all together. No one can imagine all the Father has in store for His children!”

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:1-3

A top priority of any good parent is to establish security in a child. “You are loved; you are safe; you will always have what you need; you do not need to be afraid.” Parents don’t want their children to be anxious or worried but to know they are in good hands.

As children of the perfect Father, we can simply read His Word and see similar feelings. God reveals such truths to us to erase all insecurity and to give us every reason to be totally confident in Him. He wants us to believe Him when He says:

1. “I love you.”
   “I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:17-19)
2. “I am with you.”
   “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)
   “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)
3. “There is nothing impossible for Me.”
   “For nothing is impossible for God.” (Luke 1:37)
   “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to the power that is at work within us, to Him be honor and glory, in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!” (Ephesians 3:20-21)
4. “You do not need to be afraid.”
   “Peace I leave you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)
   “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32)
   “God has said, ‘Never will I leave you or forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my Helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:5-6)

There is no better place of security than in the hands of our Heavenly Father.

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God! And that is what we are!” I John 3:1

The morning I brought John to eat breakfast with my friend Ed, he commented on Ed’s prayer as we were driving home. “I’ve never heard a prayer like that,” John said. I’m used to praying with Ed, but sometimes he uses words more common in previous centuries. His mom was born in 1910 so her father was born in the 1800’s. As a boy, Ed would regularly spend Friday nights with his grandparents in Atlanta. He often speaks about the huge impact his grandfather had on his life. Now at eighty years old, Ed still prays the words his grandfather constantly lifted up to the Heavenly Father:

Father, keep us as the apple of Your eye in the hollow of Your hand under the shadow of Your wing. Order each step we take according to Your Word and let no sin have dominion over us. Grant unto us the blessed company of God and angels to keep us in each moment of danger that no evil may befall us. All these blessings and benedictions we pray in the precious Name of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen

“Into Your hands I commit my spirit.” (Psalm 31:5; Luke 23:46) These words Jesus uttered on the cross are also found in a Psalm of David. In his novel “Jesus,” Walter Wangerin proposed that Mary prayed these simple words with young Jesus every night before sleep. Perhaps without even realizing, we as parents, grandparents, and leaders teach others to pray.

The disciples knew their Master was a Man of prayer so they asked for instruction. “Once Jesus was in a certain place praying. As He finished, one of His disciples came to Him and said, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.’ Jesus said, ‘This is how you should pray: Father, may Your name be kept holy. May Your Kingdom come soon. Give us each day the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation.’” (Luke 11:1-4)

May our prayers be prayers of faith that make a difference… and may they never cease.

“The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:16

“Pray without ceasing.” I Thessalonians 5:17

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:18

“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision carries any weight — the only thing that matters is faith working through love.” (Galatians 5:6, New English Translation)

Faith matters to God. In fact, “without faith, it is impossible to please God.” (Hebrews 11:6) Jesus said, “You believe in God; believe also in Me.” (John 14:1) We come to God through faith in His Son and He calls us to walk this way. “For we live by faith, not by sight.” (II Corinthians 5:7)

The Israelites were rescued from Egypt. They walked on dry land through the Red Sea and experienced miracles of provision and protection. But they were not permitted to enter the Promised Land because they were lacking in faith. “For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.” (Hebrews 4:2)

So if my faith is weak and my prayer is like the father’s who came to Jesus on behalf of his son: “Lord, I believe, help me overcome my unbelief,” what do I do? I go to the One who is the “Author of faith” and the “Perfector of faith.” Jesus helps us believe!

“The only thing that matters is faith working through love.” “If I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.” (I Corinthians 13:2) Love matters to God.

Faith in the Son brings life in the Son and love is the result of this life. A person that claims to follow Jesus proves it by the way he or she loves. Love should be the most visible quality of the believer.

So if my love is weak and I look more like “a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal” than the Savior, what do I do? I go to the One who is love. He tells me that His “love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:5) Jesus helps us love!

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35