Devo John 6:35-52

35Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never
go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. 36But as I told you,
you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37All that the Father gives me
will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38For I have
come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent
me. 39And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that
he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40For my Father’s will is that
everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and
I will raise him up at the last day.” 41At this the Jews began to grumble about
him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42They
said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know?
How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?” 43”Stop grumbling among
yourselves,” Jesus answered. 44”No one can come to me unless the Father who
sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. 45It is written in the
Prophets: ‘ They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and
learns from him comes to me. 46No one has seen the Father except the one who
is from God; only he has seen the Father. 47I tell you the truth, he who believes
has everlasting life. 48I am the bread of life. 49Your forefathers ate the manna in
the desert, yet they died. 50But here is the bread that comes down from heaven,
which a man may eat and not die. 51I am the living bread that came down from
heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh,
which I will give for the life of the world.” 52Then the Jews began to argue sharply
among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”

Meditation
1. Some folks “hope” they have eternal life. Others “trust they will have”
eternal life. And other folks insist “How can you know until you’re dead?”
Others will say, “What makes you think you’re so much better than me?”
Pause for a moment and ask myself: what is my understanding or belief
about eternal life?
2. Jesus wants us to know that we have eternal life (v37). After we responded
to God, He will keep us safe, forever. Again, in vv 39-40, it’s not “will have”
eternal life, not “may have”, and not “maybe has”. It’s “he who believes has
everlasting life.”(v47)
3. Since Jesus says I have eternal life and I can take His word for it. Take the time
to thank God for His salvation and eternal life for me.

Personal Note:
I have received the gift of eternal life.  Out of gratitude, I am willing to labour for sharing the good news of Christ to people around me.

Devo John 5:1-9

1Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews. 2Now there
is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda
and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3Here a great number of
disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. 5One who was
there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6When Jesus saw him lying there
and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him,
“Do you want to get well?” 7”Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me
into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else
goes down ahead of me.” 8Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and
walk.” 9At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on
which this took place was a Sabbath,

Meditation
1. What stands out and draws my attention in this passage? Do I deeply
desire to experience wholeness of mind or spirit because of my woundedness
lately? Or do I find myself questioning whether Jesus really can heal a
physical sickness – either my own or someone else’s?
2. Ask Jesus what he has specifically for me that calls for healing. Talk to God
about what I hear. (Allowing Jesus to bring healing might require letting go
of something that may hurt a lot to release, and may not think I’m ready for
it right now. Or I desire freedom and wholeness, but feel stuck, imprisoned,
fragmented. Or in this moment I find myself ready for my healing.)
3. If the time with Jesus and God’s message today moved me the tiniest bit
closer to wholeness, rejoice. If not, simply let things be. Continue talking to
Jesus about my situation, being alert to what he has for me.

Personal Note:
Physically I am asking God for healing.  Emotionally I have experienced God's healing.  Spiritually I have been cleansed through the blood of Christ and healed from the wounds of sin.

Devo John 4:43-54

43After the two days he left for Galilee. 44(Now Jesus himself had pointed out
that a prophet has no honor in his own country.) 45When he arrived in Galilee,
the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at
the Passover Feast, for they also had been there. 46Once more he visited Cana in
Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal
official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. 47When this man heard that Jesus
had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and
heal his son, who was close to death. 48”Unless you people see miraculous signs
and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.” 49The royal official said,
“Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50Jesus replied, “You may go. Your son
will live.” The man took Jesus at his word and departed. 51While he was still on
the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. 52When
he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “The fever
left him yesterday at the seventh hour.” 53Then the father realized that this was
the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and
all his household believed. 54This was the second miraculous sign that Jesus
performed, having come from Judea to Galilee.

Meditation
1. When the anxious father came, Jesus seemed quite indifferent and said to
the father: “Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders you will
never believe.” And when the father asked Jesus again, Jesus replied, “You
may go. Your son will live.”
2. This is the dilemma of faith. God, in response to our desperate appeals,
speaks to us and says, “It’s done. Go home and you’ll find the sick healed.”
Faith is very much the same. We come to God desperate for salvation. And
all He said is, “you may go.” The work is done, your healing accomplished.
And, though we lack evidence, in faith, we walk away as Jesus said.
3. When I bring my problem to God, do I tend to accept his word or keep
fretting and fussing? Do I actually live out my life in a way that demonstrates
that I really believe God is in control and wants the best for me? Talk to God
about this and listen to His response.

Personal Note:
When I encounter problems, usually I keep on fretting instead of accepting God's Words and obey His directions.  Over the years, I am more convicted that God is in control and wants the best for me.  As I think more, is there any problem that God cannot help me with?

Devo: John 3:16-21

16”For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever
believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his
Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe
stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s
one and only Son. 19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men
loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who
does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds
will be exposed. 21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it
may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”

Meditation
1. Nicodemus who was a Pharisee, one night he decided to speak to Jesus and
question him. It was through this line of questioning that Nicodemus truly
began to understand the teachings of Jesus and was helped “out of the dark”
and into a new life of “light.”
2. How do I view the time I have spent wandering in darkness, maybe struggling
against new birth?

Personal Note:
The famous John 3:16 verse is taken from the context of a Pharisee approaching Jesus at night.  Jesus shared the Gospel with him.  My encouragement is that there are people who are seeking and searching for life, but they are afraid to seek publicly because of social pressure.  I would like to share the light to whomever approaches me.

Devo: John 2

3When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more
wine.” 4”Dear woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied, “My time has not
yet come.” 5His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
11This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He
thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.
23Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the
miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name. 24But Jesus would not
entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. 25He did not need man’s testimony
about man, for he knew what was in a man.

Meditation
1. This is Jesus’ first sign that is further proof of the actions of Jesus continuing
the act of God. This sign along with many others help us to realize that God is
still at work in this land that he has created. Whether or not we see it, he is still
working today revealing his goodness and glory in everything he does.
2. When I truly understand that all signs point me to God’s glory, power and
existence, will I still resist God’s healing and provision? What signs have I
witnessed in my journey with God?

Personal Note:
Crossroad began with a few young guys.  Today, it is a growing youth group with more people and deeper spiritual maturity.  Crossroad is a sign of God's glory and power.

I began my college life seeking fulfilment in life through money, girlfriend, and personal power.  It is God's healing and power that shaped me to seek abundant life through Jesus Christ alone.

John 1:12-18

12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the
right to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent, nor
of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. 14The Word became
flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the
One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15John testifies
concerning him. He cries out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes
after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ “ 16From the fullness of
his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17For the law was given
through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever
seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him
known.

Meditation
1. Read over this passage a few times taking the time to let it sink in. What
strikes me the most in the passage?
2. When it says the “Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (v14) ,
 how does that make me feel? What would my life be like if God moved to
my street or shared the workspace with me? How would the environment
of my neighbourhood be different if God had moved in? How might my life
be different?
3. Meditate on these words “In him was life, and that life was the light of men.
The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.”
(John1:4-5)

Personal Note:
God is dwelling among us.  It is God's presence and love that enables a ministry to grow.  God reminded me the need to pray and to work with Him.

Devo 2 Peter 3

8But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a
thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9The Lord is not slow in
keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not
wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a
roar; the elements will melt in the heat.  11 Since everything will be destroyed in
this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly
lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will
bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt
in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new
heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

Meditation:
1. Many in Peter’s audience were concerned and dismayed that Christ’s second
coming had not yet occurred.  Peter reminded his readers that a very long
time for us is a very short time for God.  Peter comments that God’s patience
is responsible for the long wait for His coming.  God has no desire for anyone
to “perish” (v9).
2. Someone has commented that transformation into the image of Christ “is
the slowest of all human movements.”  Too easily we become impatient with
ourselves, confused, disappointed, and angered over how long it takes to
change.  Will I ever conquer this habit?  Will I ever learn to love?  Will I ever
be willing to leave my comfort zone?  Will I always be so fearful?  Or selfish?
Or self-deceived?  Peter’s words remind us that God is in no rush.  He knows
what we are made of.  The spiritual life is more a marathon than a sprint,
and God is more than willing to run alongside of us or to walk with us if we
grow weary.
3. Reflect.  What is the area of my spiritual growth that is the slowest to change?
Thank God for His patience for me.  Ask God to help me cooperate with Him
to finish the enormous life transformation project going on in my life.

Personal Note:
I would like to be courageous and faithful to your calling.

Devo: 2 Peter

1But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false
teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even
denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on
themselves. 2Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of
truth into disrepute. 3In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories
they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and
their destruction has not been sleeping.
18For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires
of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who
live in error. 19They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of
depravity—for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.

Meditation:
1. Peter insists genuine freedom is found in willingly submitting to God in all
things.  The false teachers declare, “We are free because we do whatever we
please.  We are free from all boundaries, restrictions, restraints.”  Exactly the
opposite is true.  We have been created for freedom, but we discover our
freedom only by submitting to God and obeying Him.  False teachers ignore
God’s way, and are wandering aimlessly.
2. Among the people I know and care, is there anyone who is living in so-called
“freedom” but actually in bondage and bitterness?  Why?
3. Grieve with God over this person’s unwillingness to follow God’s way to
enjoy genuine freedom.  Pray specifically for this person.  Pray also for an
opportunity that I may share the true freedom with him/her.

Personal Note:
There are a few people that comes to my mind when I think of people living out false freedom.  The sad thing is that those people are so blinded that they are leading others astray and they have a strong follower base for them.  In the end, we all have to give an account for what we have done on earth.  Let's pray.

1 John 5:13-21

13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
 16 If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.

 18 We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him. 19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. 20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true—even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

 21 Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

Introduction and Background on 1 John 5

Why did I choose this for devotion this morning?  As we celebrate Christ rose from the dead and alive in our lives, we are looking into the implications for us.  This passage is an awesome reminder of the live that we are promised with in light of Christ's resurrection.

In the beginning of the chapter 5, we are reminded that everyone who believes Jesus Christ is the saviour who died and overcame death for the purpose of forgiving our sins are children of God.  Regarding the testimony from Spirit, blood, and water, the testimony of the manifestation (showing) of the Spirit, atonement for sin from crucifixion of Christ, and baptism of Jesus and his followers in water are testimony from God.

Reflection on 1 John 5:13

Why did John write this letter?
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. (v.13)

Does God listen and answer our prayers?
Having Eternal life is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. (v.14-15)

How can a sin not lead to death (v.16)? Recall (The wages of sin is death... Romans 6:23)
Our new nature of being children of God is our real identity.  As we expected, Satan will use our old nature to tempt us, causing us to fall and stumble into sin.  This sin does not lead to death, but how do we reconcile with Romans 6:23?  We reconcile the verse in Romans 6:23 by knowing it completely.  The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:8-9).  When we stumble to sin, confess to God right the way, and the Spirit will lead us to live a life that is more like Christ.

What should we do when we see a brother or sister commit a sin?
a) Condemn him or her and never talk to him or her again in order to preserve purity
b) Gossip and let the rest of the group know to shame him or her for repentance
c) Pray for him or her to repent and trust that God will give him or her life
d) Nothing and keep on being encouraging to him or her

What are the characteristics of people who are born of God?
We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him (v.18)

Who has given us meaning and security?

We know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true.  It is the eternal life we have through Christ that gives us true meaning and security (v.20).

Application

1. During your prayer time, ask God for more faith and pray more boldly for things according to his will.

2. When you see a brother or sister sinning, (prideful/rude words, gossips, uncaring towards others, etc), ask God to guide him or her to repent so he or she can experience life

3. Pray and give thanks that we are God's children, and pray for three of your friends' salvation so they can have eternal life in Christ.

Devo Psalm 13

1 How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?
   How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
   and every day have sorrow in my heart?
   How long will my enemy triumph over me?

 3 Look on me and answer, O LORD my God.
   Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;
4 my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
   and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

 5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
   my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the LORD,
   for he has been good to me.

Personal Note:
God, I am feeling deep sorrow in my heart.  My heart is faint and weak.  I am in times of fear, hopelessness, darkness, confusion, weakness, and despair.  I feel like I am trying to seek after you and you are hiding in the dark.  There is so much darkness in this world and you said you are the light of the world.  Unless you give me light and guidance, I will be lost in this darkness.  LORD, you are calling me to believe and put my trust in your unfailing love.

Where am I now if I did not receive your salvation?  My heart rejoices and you are my only hope.  I am certain of you coming again and restore this world without pain, sorrow, sin.  Until that day, I will continue to worship you.  I will continue to dwell in your Words to bring healing to my soul.  I will continue to pray for seeking closer to you.

Devo: Psalm 8

1 O LORD, our Lord,
   how majestic is your name in all the earth!
   You have set your glory
   above the heavens.
2 From the lips of children and infants
   you have ordained praise[b]
because of your enemies,
   to silence the foe and the avenger.

 3 When I consider your heavens,
   the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
   which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
   the son of man that you care for him?
5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings[c]
   and crowned him with glory and honor.
 6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
   you put everything under his feet:
7 all flocks and herds,
   and the beasts of the field,
8 the birds of the air,
   and the fish of the sea,
   all that swim the paths of the seas.

 9 O LORD, our Lord,
   how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Personal Note:
God, you are our creator.  You are mindful of us.  We are called to to rulers over the works of your hands.  How majestic is your name in all the earth.

Passion Week Devo: John 13:1-17

John 13

Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet

 1 It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. 2 The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

 7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

 8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

   Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

 9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

 10 Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

 12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Personal Note:
The greatest thing I can do for others is to serve people with humility.  Jesus Christ knows his mission and he served the world by sacrificing himself as the atonement for sins.

Isaiah 50:4-9

The Lord’s Obedient Servant

⁴ The Sovereign Lord has given me his words of wisdom,
    so that I know how to comfort the weary.
Morning by morning he wakens me
    and opens my understanding to his will.
⁵ The Sovereign Lord has spoken to me,
    and I have listened.
    I have not rebelled or turned away.
⁶ I offered my back to those who beat me
    and my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard.
I did not hide my face
    from mockery and spitting.

⁷ Because the Sovereign Lord helps me,
    I will not be disgraced.
Therefore, I have set my face like a stone,
    determined to do his will.
    And I know that I will not be put to shame.
⁸ He who gives me justice is near.
    Who will dare to bring charges against me now?
Where are my accusers?
    Let them appear!
⁹ See, the Sovereign Lord is on my side!
    Who will declare me guilty?
All my enemies will be destroyed
    like old clothes that have been eaten by moths!

Personal Reflection

Jesus Christ is speaking in first person of what he is going to endure.  Isaiah wrote this hundreds years before the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Passion Week: Isaiah 49:1-6

Listen to me, all you in distant lands!
    Pay attention, you who are far away!
The Lord called me before my birth;
    from within the womb he called me by name.
² He made my words of judgment as sharp as a sword.
    He has hidden me in the shadow of his hand.
    I am like a sharp arrow in his quiver.

³ He said to me, “You are my servant, Israel,
    and you will bring me glory.”

⁴ I replied, “But my work seems so useless!
    I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose.
Yet I leave it all in the Lord’s hand;
    I will trust God for my reward.”

⁵ And now the Lord speaks—
    the one who formed me in my mother’s womb to be his servant,
    who commissioned me to bring Israel back to him.
The Lord has honored me,
    and my God has given me strength.
⁶ He says, “You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me.
    I will make you a light to the Gentiles,
    and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”

Personal Note:

Jesus LORD, your mouth is like a sharpened sword.  You are the servant that display God's glory.  All my rewards are with you and you are my strength.

Passion Week: Isaiah 42:1-7

“Look at my servant, whom I strengthen.
    He is my chosen one, who pleases me.
I have put my Spirit upon him.
    He will bring justice to the nations.
² He will not shout
    or raise his voice in public.
³ He will not crush the weakest reed
    or put out a flickering candle.
    He will bring justice to all who have been wronged.
⁴ He will not falter or lose heart
    until justice prevails throughout the earth.
    Even distant lands beyond the sea will wait for his instruction.^[a]”

⁵ God, the Lord, created the heavens and stretched them out.
    He created the earth and everything in it.
He gives breath to everyone,
    life to everyone who walks the earth.
And it is he who says,
⁶ “I, the Lord, have called you to demonstrate my righteousness.
    I will take you by the hand and guard you,
and I will give you to my people, Israel,
    as a symbol of my covenant with them.
And you will be a light to guide the nations.
⁷     You will open the eyes of the blind.
You will free the captives from prison,
    releasing those who sit in dark dungeons.

Personal Reflection

The word justice came to mind.  What is justice?  Where do we get justice?  Justice is a term used for what is right or “as it should be.  We get justice from you alone as you said you will bring justice throughout the earth.  

Why does injustice happen all over the world?  Why do those who love you and put their faith in you suffers?  Why do many who called themselves followers of you (myself included) ignore the fact that you are a God of justice.  

You did the greatest work of all, which is the forgiveness of sins through dying on the cross.  You are alive and at work today and you continue to open the eyes of the blind, free the captives from prison, and releasing those who sit in dark dungeons.