The One Year New Testament

September 22

John 14:1-14

John 14:1-14

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.

12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

Reflection

Jesus says that his work will carry on even though he is going to the Father (John 14:12). As the King and leader of the church, Jesus continues his work in the world by the power of his Spirit in the lives of his people. Our work for Jesus is actually Jesus at work in and through us. We must, therefore, live in prayerful relationship with him, coming before God in the name of the One who is worthy to be heard and asking him to use us for the sake of his glory (vv. 13–14).

Hebrews 13:7-19

Hebrews 13:7-19

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. 10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. 12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

18 Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. 19 I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner.

Reflection

The readers are to remember their former leaders who spoke God’s word, and follow their example of faith in life and death (Heb. 13:7). These leaders, similar to the examples in chapter 11, displayed a faith that looked to the future; and even though they are gone, their influence remains. They remind us of Abel, who “through his faith, though he died . . . still speaks” (11:4).

What was the “word of God” that these leaders spoke (13:7)? It was the gospel! Leaders come and go, but the message about Christ, our Lord and Savior, remains the same. This is the “word” the church is to heed. We are not to “be led away by diverse and strange teachings,” whatever they may be (v. 9). Any teaching that rejects Jesus must itself be rejected. In contrast to false teaching, “it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace” (v. 9). We need God’s grace to become his children and begin our life of faith. We also need it every day of our lives to walk in a way that is fitting for his children (cf. 4:16). That is why Hebrews ends with the words, “Grace be with all of you” (13:25). We must rely on God’s matchless grace day by day.

Psalm 115:1

Psalm 115:1

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,
for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!

Thoughts For Prayer

God wants us to bring our requests to him, and he wants to answer our prayers (John 14:13–14). Pray that God would continue to teach you how to pray according to his will (1 John 5:14), so that he would be delighted to answer your requests for the sake of his glory.

Missions Prayer Requests More

  • April 26, 2024

    Supported Workers: Jon (& Ruthie), Matt (& Laura) Pheneger, Goran (& Beth) Tomic

    Country: United States of America

    Ambassadors Football has 24 youth teams locally for children ages 8-18. In February, they had a retreat for the high school players in the club, and the students spent the weekend learning about God. Students from all sorts of backgrounds were exposed to the gospel and given a chance to ask questions and discuss who God is. Several students who come from refugee families in Akron attended, and one young man from Afghanistan said it was the best weekend of his life. Please pray for these students as they continue to think about what was shared at the retreat and during their weekly devotional times at the club.

    Albania (Europe). Population: 2,826,020 Believers: 0.5%. Thank God for his work in this land! For a long time, it was closed to the gospel, but evangelicals grew from nearly zero to several thousand in just a few years. The Church has indigenous leadership, nationwide networks, a vision for discipleship and evangelism, and it sends out workers to other lands! And all this came about during a politically and economically unstable time. Many believe that years of devoted prayer for Albania opened the way for ministry here. From Operation World DVD-ROM 2010 and www.operationworld.org