5-5-5 Daily Devotions: The Greatest Story

5-5-5 Daily Devotions | August 13-14, 2022

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S.O.A.P. – “Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer”

What troubles your heart? What causes your heart to be at peace?

Sermon Insight:

The beginning of John 14 is a Hebrew marriage analogy. What Jesus says is something a Hebrew man would tell his betrothed. Incredible promises!

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.”

“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!” John 14:1-6 NLT

The Apostle Paul writes, “Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began.

“But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.’” 1 Corinthians 2:6–9 NLT

Do you love Jesus? Are you looking forward to when Jesus returns for his “bride,” the church?

Do you try to imagine what Jesus has prepared for you?

The disciples trusted Jesus even though they did not understand what he was saying. How is your trust in Jesus increasing in the middle of the uncertainty of your life?

Lord, we long for your return to take us home to be with you. Thank you for giving us the hope of living with you for eternity! Teach us to trust even when we cannot see or understand!

Whose house did you most enjoy visiting when you were a child?

Continuing the Hebrew marriage analogy, Jesus went on to describe making a “place” for his bride!

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.”

“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

That same night (at the Last Supper), Jesus later prayed, “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began! John 17:22–24 NLT

Consider the personal impact of Jesus’ promises and prayers:

He would provide an eternal home for us with him.
Jesus has shared his glory with us.
Jesus is in us.
God loves us as much as he loves Jesus.
Jesus prayed we would experience perfect unity so prove God sent Jesus.

Lord, help us to live in perfect unity so the world can see that all your fullness and character was displayed through Jesus and people can be reconciled to you and be a part of your family too!

Fill in the blank: “I __________ waiting.”

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.”

“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Hebrews 12:1–2 NLT

Satan’s primary tactics are deception and distraction. Those who are filled with the Holy Spirit of God, who live in the light, who are sons and daughters of the Most High God, who are headed home soon—need to recognize that FOCUS is a huge part of the battle. What are you distracted by? Where do we put our hope and focus as believers?

The Scriptures say that God will not be mocked; we will harvest what we plant. Two questions:

1) What time in the future are you intentionally planting for (e.g. tomorrow, five years, eternity)?

2) Will you want to harvest then what you are planting today?

Jesus endured the cross because of the joy awaiting him. What are you enduring, and what future joy are you focused on?

Lord, I struggle daily with what I allow to distract me and swallow my focus. Teach me to focus on the joy YOU have set before me—being with you for eternity!

When you take a trip, do you like to plan completely or make it up as you go?

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. “And you know the way to where I am going.”

“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Later that night, Jesus said, “But now I am going away to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking where I am going. Instead, you grieve because of what I’ve told you. But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.

“There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.’ John 16:5–15 NLT

Why is having the “Advocate” (the Holy Spirit) so much better than having Jesus on earth in his body? Do you think the disciples had any idea what Jesus had planned for them?

For those who trust Jesus, life is 1) uncertain, and 2) always gets better than we can imagine. Does this increase your willingness to trust? What is the next best step you can take?

Lord, thank you for going to prepare a place for us and sending the Holy Spirit as an Advocate, a Spirit of Truth, and a Comforter! Teach me to trust that my best days are ahead!

What is your definition of “truth”?

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.”

“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you. For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him. And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.

“I have revealed you to the ones you gave me from this world. They were always yours. You gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything I have is a gift from you, for I have passed on to them the message you gave me. They accepted it and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me. John 17:1–8 NLT

Do you believe that Jesus has been given authority by the Father over EVERYONE? How does this affect how you see all nations, our government, your neighbors, and yourself?

The Apostle Paul indicates in Romans (1:20-21) that because all are made in the image of God and are on a planet created by our creator, we all instinctively have knowledge of God’s eternal power and divine nature and have NO excuse for not worshipping him. That applies to every human on the planet. How does this affect your view of all people?

Lord, thank you for showing me Jesus; help me glorify you through my actions and attitudes.

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5-5-5 Daily Devotions | August 13-14, 2022

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