Week 5, Day 5
Begin with 2 minutes of silence
Scripture : John 12:20-33
20 Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration 21paid a visit to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee. They said, “Sir, we want to meet Jesus.” 22 Philip told Andrew about it, and they went together to ask Jesus.
23 Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Manl to enter into his glory. 24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. 25 Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. 26 Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.
27 “Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came! 28 Father, bring glory to your name.”
Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.” 29 When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him.
30 Then Jesus told them, “The voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out. 32 And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” 33 He said this to indicate how he was going to die.”
Devotional : Letting Go
By Jeff Feuerstein
Guests from far away, life and death, profound love, eternity and honor, troubled souls, voices from heaven, the final conquest of love over the prince of darkness… This passage is dripping with more drama, significance and poignance than the most gripping movie or book imagined. So much more powerful than any story is Jesus framing for his friends the meaning (and defining it’s application to them) of this ultimate pivotal moment of all time and eternity - Jesus choice to die for us and mankind’s only chance to be free of death.
Much of this really big spiritual drama and battle is beyond our ability to fully grasp, yet a strikingly simple charge is given to our applying this as we “care nothing for our lives”. This call is to care not for our safety, comfort or personal benefit. Like the metaphor we are encouraged to think beyond pain and be willing to be planted as a seed that will cause us to die to our self protecting demands or defenses and then come alive to something new and greater. Maybe it is as simple (and as challenging) as listening for His leading and remaining willing to follow Him wherever He seems to be leading us. In doing that He promises we will not remain alone but will see good fruit in good time, now and for eternity
Question to Consider
What comforts, accomplishments or hurts would God would have you let go of or die to - something you value that is of this world? Alternately, what do you sense God is calling you to take hold of or keep on with (or drawing you to Himself) to be near Him?
Prayer
Father, help me to approach this day, and the life I live, with unclenched fists - living open handed with all that I am and all that I have - toward you and toward the world around me. Reveal to me those things I hold tightly too that keep me from holding on to you. Amen.
Comments