March 20: I am not alone
John 14:15-31 TNIV from Biblegateway.com
15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. Anyone who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”
23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with 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.
28 “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. 30I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, 31 but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.
“Come now; let us leave.
Devotional Comments:
I am not alone.
That seems so basic, but it’s so easy for me to live just the opposite. Oh to live today ‘at home’ with Jesus, his Father and the Holy Spirit. To listen and be reminded of all that Jesus has said, and is now saying to me. This passage calls me to let go of my plans for how to take care of my life. It awakens a deep longing within me to actually experience Jesus as my Helper, Strengthener, Advocate, Comforter, Friend and Counselor.
These names are how Jesus describes his Spirit’s presence with me, with us. As I slow down to listen and waste time with Jesus, these names become more than a longing.
Jesus has promised to show himself to me. He wants to do that. What Brad Jersak calls ‘gazing prayer’ is one way I am beginning to experience Jesus more. Seeing him in my imagination, as a way to practice contemplative prayer and listen for his voice, is a great gift. Jesus has promised that “you will see me.”
Gazing into his face is so simple. Why do I resists doing it? He comes to me every time I turn to him in prayer, and that turning can be just a look.
Steve Waldschmidt
Pray that we may hear his voice and see his face.