Monday Reading: John 18:1-9
Key Verse: John 18:4
4 Then Jesus, knowing all things that were coming upon Him, went out and said to them, Whom do you seek?
Devotion:
How many times have you been asked by someone (like your parents) “What are you doing?” when they know exactly what you are doing? The reason why they ask the question is not to find out what you are doing, because they already know, but to get you to admit to what you are doing! When people are searching for the truth, the best way of actually engaging them in conversation is most likely going to be to ask them what they are looking for; find out what they are searching for or at least why they are searching.
Key Verse: John 18:4
4 Then Jesus, knowing all things that were coming upon Him, went out and said to them, Whom do you seek?
Devotion:
How many times have you been asked by someone (like your parents) “What are you doing?” when they know exactly what you are doing? The reason why they ask the question is not to find out what you are doing, because they already know, but to get you to admit to what you are doing! When people are searching for the truth, the best way of actually engaging them in conversation is most likely going to be to ask them what they are looking for; find out what they are searching for or at least why they are searching.
All throughout the New Testament we have times where Jesus would approach someone and ask them a simple question to get them to admit that they wanted to know God. By doing this He was getting them to admit to wanting to know Him before He introduced Himself properly. This was not a ploy to check and see if they believed before going any further but a simple task of getting that person to admit to wanting or needing a Saviour. Christ did not come to the world to take over people’s minds, lives or ways; He came to save people by giving them a Saviour when they knew that they needed one. There was no coercing or trickery involved because Christ can know no sin.
The fact was that Christ did know what was in those people’s minds just as He knows what is in our minds. He wants us to openly admit that He is our Saviour – we don’t have to do it to the whole world, just to Him. When we openly admit our need for a Saviour, He will step forward and show us exactly who our Saviour is and give us our forgiveness from our sins that we seek. From that moment on we are His and He will never leave us nor forsake us. It is not that He has taken us, but that we willingly gave our lives back into His eternal care. He is our God. He is our Saviour. We have to make that choice as to whether to allow Him to guide us through eternity or to try and “go it alone”…
Points to Ponder:
How often are you asked to explain yourself?
How often are you asked to explain yourself?
How many times do you ignore God’s questions?