Here is a link to last week’s series, Upside down.
“Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.”
John 14:1
John 14 is one of those chapters in the Bible that helps you to easily picture Jesus in your mind’s eye.
Can’t you just see the Savior talking in reassuring tones to his disciples in a peaceful setting as if there is no trouble on the horizon.
Jesus wasn’t deceiving his friends. He wasn’t trying to cajole them or ease them into the coming horror. He was preparing them with the certainty of His bond—His absolute eternal promise that He had already overcome the dark hour.
This is such a defining passage for committed believers because we know there was trouble on the horizon.
Jesus was mere days and steps from the cross in Jerusalem. The disciples faced doubts and fears before taking on the world. With courage and faith empowered by God, they persevered and served Jesus—all but Judas.
This section of scripture would be ideally suited for a dad, a papa, or an uncle to sit and read and discuss with pre-teens or teens in their world.
Really anyone could benefit. But kids are on my heart lately as their world grows so dark and morally threatening.
Kids are grappling with the decision of wholeheartedly following Christ or choosing to take the bait of their world, friends, and the lures of their ambitions, away from Christ.
Their ambitions and dreams are not necessarily sinful directions. But any direction away from Jesus is other than God’s plan.
So, this week, Seed Basket issues a challenge to parents, teachers, pastors and other adult believers. Sit with the children in your world. Introduce them to the better way. No preaching, high-strung emotion or debate. None of that works and Jesus doesn’t do that. He gives choices. (Romans 2:4)
Read the passage found in John fourteen. Read it with other believers. Togetherness is a strength all its own. Talk about how Jesus helped Thomas, Thaddeus and Philip.
Then model bold belief for the children in front of you. This world is being very intrusive and pushy. Give your kids the wisdom from God’s Word to make the better choice that leads to life.
“Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.“
Jesus’s Gift of Peace
“Peace, I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful. You have heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I am coming to you.’
John 14:27
By the way, the word believe appears seven times in the scripture this week, bringing our total in 14 weeks to eighty-eight uses of the word, Believe.
John 14:1 (X’s 2), 10, 11 (x’s2), 12, 29
Share the Good News in your world!
Isaiah 52:7
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
Getting the Seed out of the basket and into hungry hearts. Matthew 13 