Bible League: Living His Word "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?"— John 14:1-2 ESV Certainly, these words of Jesus were meant for all the disciples discoursing together in this Upper Room experience. The final weeks before the crucifixion had been filled with both a whirlwind and turmoil of emotional activity. A triumphal entry into the city a mere seven days before, where the Lord's popularity had seemingly hit a zenith, had the emotions of many running high. Would this be the beginning of a political override to quell the tyranny of Rome? However, it did not take long for the disciples to realize the mounting peril of Jesus, where all the religious leaders were set to put Him to death. And imagine the odorous whiff of shame and embarrassment passing through the Upper Room, when after arguing about who would be greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Luke 22:24-27), Jesus stood to disrobe, wrapped a towel around His waist, and began to wash each disciple's feet (John 13:1-17)! Indeed, the emotions of everyone in the room were on high alert, even those of Jesus (John 13:21). When He spoke these words of our verse for today, He knows of what He speaks. I doubt I would be wrong in stating that anxious, distressed-filled hearts reflect the greatest of world-wide pandemics throughout all time. Troubled hearts induce rage and fear, foolish decisions, and crippling despair. A troubled heart blurs the clarity of moving forward, thrusting one in a mode of inactivity. A troubled heart can ultimately leave one standing alone, broken in a helpless hopelessness. But Jesus would not have anyone stand in such despair, fueling their troubled heart. His words to the disciples are words for us today. Read slowly the words of our verses again, and see that God is offering a key to the release of heart trouble. "Let not your hearts be troubled." Literally, Jesus is saying to resist the constant focus upon the crippling effects of heart trouble and instead, "put your trust in God and also in me." Trust in God who has always been in control of all circumstances, Who already knows how the pathway of life's past connects to the path forward, Who exercises infinite wisdom, power, and love in the way He deals with us. The late Ray Stedman, former pastor of Peninsula Bible Church, also reminds us to trust in Jesus: "... Who is the means by which all that wisdom, power, and love of God is made available to us." Easter provides an opportunity to focus on the only resolution for 'heart trouble.' For the disciples that Friday, things were grim and were about to get worse. They needed to refocus. Thank God—Sunday was coming! The death and resurrection of our Savior became the final antidote for heart trouble. Happy Resurrection Sunday! By Bill Niblette, Ph.D., Bible League International staff, Pennsylvania U.S. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingJudges 3, 4, 5 Judges 3 -- Israel's idolatry and Servitude; Deliverance by Othniel, Ehud and Shamgar NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Judges 4 -- Deborah and Barak Deliver the People from the Canaanites NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Judges 5 -- The Song of Deborah and Barak NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Luke 7:31-50 Luke 7 -- Jesus Heals a Centurion's Servant, Raises a Widow's Son, answer John's messengers; Mary Anoints Jesus NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion But I know the LORD will help those they persecute;he will give justice to the poor. Insight To whom can the poor turn when they are persecuted? They lack the money to get professional help; they may be unable to defend themselves. But there is always someone on their side—the Lord will stand by them and ultimately bring about justice. Challenge This should be a comfort for us all. No matter what our situation may be, the Lord is with us. But this truth should also call us to responsibility. As God's people, we are required to defend the rights of the powerless. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Isaiah 53:5 With his stripes we are healed.Pilate delivered our Lord to the lictors to be scourged. The Roman scourge was a most dreadful instrument of torture. It was made of the sinews of oxen, and sharp bones were inter-twisted every here and there among the sinews; so that every time the lash came down these pieces of bone inflicted fearful laceration, and tore off the flesh from the bone. The Saviour was, no doubt, bound to the column, and thus beaten. He had been beaten before; but this of the Roman lictors was probably the most severe of his flagellations. My soul, stand here and weep over his poor stricken body. Believer in Jesus, can you gaze upon him without tears, as he stands before you the mirror of agonizing love? He is at once fair as the lily for innocence, and red as the rose with the crimson of his own blood. As we feel the sure and blessed healing which his stripes have wrought in us, does not our heart melt at once with love and grief? If ever we have loved our Lord Jesus, surely we must feel that affection glowing now within our bosoms. "See how the patient Jesus stands, Insulted in his lowest case! Sinners have bound the Almighty's hands, And spit in their Creator's face. With thorns his temples gor'd and gash'd Send streams of blood from every part; His back's with knotted scourges lash'd. But sharper scourges tear his heart." We would fain go to our chambers and weep; but since our business calls us away, we will first pray our Beloved to print the image of his bleeding self upon the tablets of our hearts all the day, and at nightfall we will return to commune with him, and sorrow that our sin should have cost him so dear. Daily Light on the Daily Path Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.Matthew 6:33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Romans 8:32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 1 Corinthians 3:21-23 So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you, • whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, • and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God. 2 Corinthians 6:10 as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things. Psalm 23:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. Psalm 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. 1 Timothy 6:17 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; 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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