AUG 27

John 14:1-4
Memorise John 14:1
“Let not your heart be troubled…”

Jesus perceived that the disciples were troubled by His talk of impending death and departure. He knew that at that point of time, their understanding was still limited, and did not fully comprehend why He had to leave them. Jesus therefore comforted them with these words, beginning with John 14:1 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.” Notice how in the way that Jesus comforted, He turned their attention to God. Just as the disciples had faith in God’s promises in His Word, the disciples should likewise believe in Jesus the Son of God. Jesus’ death was necessary to conquer death on our behalf and thus open for us the way to the kingdom of God, fulfilling God’s law and promises in His Word. The disciples may not have realised the full significance of Christ’s words during the Last Supper, but surely after His resurrection they would have grasped the full import of these comforting words.

When you perceive other Christians who are troubled, do you comfort them, or ignore them? I pray that you will henceforth not ignore what you have learnt from yesterday’s devotion. However, you might feel wholly inadequate to comfort them; your reasoning is that you do not understand the feelings of others of a different gender, a different age group, a different personality etc. However, you have forgotten that you actually have a commonality far greater than these differences, which is this bond in Christ Jesus through His blood, and thus every Christian can be comforted with the Word of God. As long as you are comforted by God’s Word during trials, likewise comfort others who are troubled by using the same Words of God, for every true Christian will recognise that these are the Words of our great Shepherd Jesus Christ although spoken by the voices of ordinary men like you and I. In this way, the Holy Spirit is using us to speak God’s Word rather than share our own wisdom, so that the glory may go to God alone. That is the best way that we can comfort a brother or sister in Christ, by pointing him or her to trust in God and His Word!

Thought: Am I still giving excuses for not comforting others?
Prayer: May I comfort others though sharing God’s Word.