Bible League: Living His Word In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.— John 14:2 NKJV Jesus was about to leave His disciples by dying on the cross. Although He was about to leave them, He was not about to forget them. In fact, it was just the opposite. He was about to leave them so He could go and prepare a special place for them. He was about to do this so that "where I am, there you may be also" (John 14:3). Jesus, in other words, kept His disciples in mind, cared for them, and made sure they would always have a place with Him in the coming ages. Where is this place that Jesus had in mind? It is, of course, in heaven. Jesus was going to return to heaven from whence He came. This place is referred to as the "New Jerusalem" in the Book of Revelation (Revelation 21). Since Jesus was going there to prepare a place for His disciples, one might say that the New Jerusalem was under construction. The many mansions referred to in our verse for today would be built for the disciples in preparation for when they died and went to heaven themselves. Although the place Jesus was preparing for His disciples is in heaven, it will not stay in heaven. One day it will come down to earth. How do we know this? We know because the Apostle John saw it come down in a prophetic vision. He described it in this way: "Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband" (Revelation 21:2). There will be heaven, with all its mansions, on earth. What was true for the disciples of Jesus back then is true for His disciples throughout the ages. He's still preparing places. He's still preparing places for all of us. The New Jerusalem is still under construction. As the gospel message spreads and new converts are brought in, there is a need for more mansions. The construction won't end until the full number is brought in. If you're a Christian, then you need a place in heaven too. Like He did for his first disciples, Jesus is in the process of fulfilling that need. He's preparing a mansion for you -- that where He is you may be also. Bible in a Year Old Testament Reading1 Samuel 4, 5, 6 1 Samuel 4 -- Philistines Take the Ark; Death of Eli NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 1 Samuel 5 -- Philistines Smitten while Possessing the Ark NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 1 Samuel 6 -- Philistines Return the Ark to Israel NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Luke 12:35-59 Luke 12 -- God Knows All; Parable of the Rich Fool; Anxiety; Watchfulness NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion A gentle answer deflects anger,but harsh words make tempers flare. Insight Have you ever tried to argue in a whisper? It is equally hard to argue with someone who insists on answering gently. On the other hand, a rising voice and harsh words almost always trigger an angry response. Challenge To turn away wrath and seek peace, choose gentle words. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Acts 27:23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God.Tempest and long darkness, coupled with imminent risk of shipwreck, had brought the crew of the vessel into a sad case; one man alone among them remained perfectly calm, and by his word the rest were reassured. Paul was the only man who had heart enough to say, "Sirs, be of good cheer." There were veteran Roman legionaries on board, and brave old mariners, and yet their poor Jewish prisoner had more spirit than they all. He had a secret Friend who kept his courage up. The Lord Jesus despatched a heavenly messenger to whisper words of consolation in the ear of his faithful servant; therefore he wore a shining countenance, and spake like a man at ease. If we fear the Lord, we may look for timely interpositions when our case is at its worst. Angels are not kept from us by storms, or hindered by darkness. Seraphs think it no humiliation to visit the poorest of the heavenly family. If angel's visits are few and far between at ordinary times, they shall be frequent in our nights of tempest and tossing. Friends may drop from us when we are under pressure, but our intercourse with the inhabitants of the angelic world shall be more abundant; and in the strength of love-words, brought to us from the throne by the way of Jacob's ladder, we shall be strong to do exploits. Dear reader, is this an hour of distress with you? then ask for peculiar help. Jesus is the angel of the covenant, and if his presence be now earnestly sought, it will not be denied. What that presence brings in heart-cheer those remember who, like Paul, have had the angel of God standing by them in a night of storm, when anchors would no longer hold, and rocks were nigh. "O angel of my God, be near, Amid the darkness hush my fear; Loud roars the wild tempestuous sea, Thy presence, Lord, shall comfort me." Daily Light on the Daily Path 2 Timothy 3:12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.Matthew 10:35,36 "For I came to SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW; • and A MAN'S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD. James 4:4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 1 John 2:15,16 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. • For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. John 15:18-20 "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. • "If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. • "Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. John 17:14 "I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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