3 John 5-8

5Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though
they are strangers to you. 6They have told the church about your love. You will
do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. 7It was for the
sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. 8We
ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together
for the truth.

Meditation
1. Read the passage carefully as if John is writing specifically to me.
2. What opportunity have I had recently to show someone hospitality? Or in
some way help someone who is trying to do good? How did I respond to
that opportunity? What do I notice about the motives and priorities behind
my action (or non-action)?
3. Think about some gifts I can offer to others (such as cooking, listening ear,
words of encouragement.) Write them down and go through the list with
God. Determine which gifts I am glad to share, and which ones I’m hesitant.
Now think of a specific person who would be helped by my hospitality. Ask
God what he would have me offer to this person. Be open to take this small
step toward hospitality, and see how God may change my heart as I do it.

Personal Note:
I am going on a few visits today to encourage some brothers in Christ.  I pray that may my visit encourage them to rejoice in God.

2 John

1The elder, To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the truth—and
not I only, but also all who know the truth - 2because of the truth, which lives in
us and will be with us forever: 3Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and
from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love. 4It has given
me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father
commanded us. 5And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but
one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. 6And this
is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the
beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

Meditation
1. A person who “walks in truth” lives in harmony with spiritual and moral
reality. Therefore, we walk “in the truth” if our lives are marked by holiness
and by love. The Christian life is a dynamic pilgrimage of self-giving. It is not
a comfortable resting place of self-indulgence.
2. On a scale of one to ten (with one being the lowest and ten being the
highest), how would I rank my “love quotient”? How might my friends rank
my love quotient? What is needed for me to grow in my understanding and
expression of love to others? What would my life look like if I were diligently
“walking in the truth”?

Personal Note:
The greatest command from God is that we love one another.  I need God's help in my understanding and expressing love to others.

John 5:1-5

1Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone
who loves the father loves his child as well. 2This is how we know that we love
the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3This is love
for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4for
everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome
the world, even our faith. 5Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who
believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

Meditation
1. John insists that God stimulates one love in our heart; a love that expresses
itself both toward God and toward others. We can’t be warm toward God
and cold toward our fellow Christians at the same time.
2. There is another exciting thing about love for God. It makes obeying
EASY. “Want to” is always easier than “have to”. As long as we feel that
we are forced to do certain things that God demands, those things will be
burdensome to us. But if we eagerly want to do those same things, they
seem to us to be a delight.
3. Do a quick check up on my love for God. Do I want to do those things that I
know please God?

Personal Note:
God wants me to grow in the love for him.
God wants me to love the people around me especially those I minister to.  
God wants me to proclaim the good news of Christ to people who do not know him.

Do I want to do the above things to please God.

1 John 4:4-18

4You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one
who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5They are from the
world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens
to them. 6We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever
is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth
and the spirit of falsehood. 7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love
comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No
one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is
made complete in us. 13We know that we live in him and he in us, because he
has given us of his Spirit.
16And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever
lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17In this way, love is made complete
among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in
this world we are like him. 18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out
fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made
perfect in love.

Meditation
1. Read the passage aloud slowly for a few times. Pause at the word “love” each
time coming upon it. Consider these love gifts from God (love, relationship,
God’s own life, the Spirit).
2. Draw a little picture of me receiving God’s love gifts. How do I feel?
3. Pray: Thank God for pouring such gifts to me. Tell God my desire to be like
an absorber of His love and to be saturated with His love so it overflows in
me and pours out to others.

Personal Note:
Perfect love drives out fear.  When I have fears about the future, my abilities, etc, my love for others is incomplete.  When I am saturated with God's love, all my fears are gone as I am confident of God's providence and protection.  As a result, I can love others sincerely.

1 John 3:18-24

18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in
truth. 19This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we
set our hearts at rest in his presence 20whenever our hearts condemn us. For
God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21Dear friends, if our
hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22and receive from
him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.
23And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and
to love one another as he commanded us. 24Those who obey his commands live
in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it
by the Spirit he gave us.

Meditation
1. Read this passage slowly and carefully. Think: why can we cease to be
controlled by the internal voice of self-criticism when we love others (v21)?
2. What role does self-criticism play in my life? Do I constantly criticize myself
or do I find it difficult to receive compliments or affirmation? Explore this
with God, and talk with Him about what I discover.
3. Why does John so firmly ties loving others and freedom from self-criticism?
Ponder this connection(18-20,24).
4. Pay special attention today to my self-criticism. Jot these things down. Then,
talk to God about it. Recall what John says about loving others and selfcriticism,
and ponder it some more. Thank God and accept the “confidence
before God” (v21).

Personal Note:
I find that I struggle with self criticism that wants to condemn my heart.  Am I a good enough pastor, husband, brother...?  When I love others in action and in truth, the condemnation ceases.  The guilt and shame is taken away as I dwell in God's presence.  I can receive affirmation from others when I am convicted of my acceptance before God.  I thank God for reminding me that loving others frees me from self criticism.

2 John 2:15-17

15Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the
love of the Father is not in him. 16For everything in the world—the cravings of
sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes
not from the Father but from the world. 17The world and its desires pass away,
but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

Meditation
1. The “world” in this passage refers to the value system and perceptions
expressed in the culture of sinful human beings. John pointed out the roots
of every human society are in the selfish cravings of man, in the tendency to
greedily desire the materialistic things he sees, and in man’s drive for selfimportance.
Each of these is antagonistic to God.
2. It is easy to become self-centered and drawn away from God by the glamour
of sensuality, status, and riches that will not last. Those who remain on
pilgrimage with God will live forever. The author reminds us that we must
choose; we can have only one master.

Personal Note:
I find that most people including myself love the things of the world more than God.  Before engaging in this devotion, I went on Facebook to check out some videos and comments of my friends and that took like 10min (yes, I try to discipline myself in this area).  I am reminded that anything in the world will pass away.  Why don't I get excited for spending time with God and resting in His Words?  I can only do the will of God when I read and reflect on what God says through His Words.

1 John 1:6-10

6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do
not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have
fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all
sin.  8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If
we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify
us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out
to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

Meditation:
1. Confession: Sharing our deepest weaknesses and failures with God and
trusted others, so that we may enter into God’s grace and mercy and
experience His ready forgiveness and healing.
2. God is light. In order to be in fellowship with God and fellow believers, we
need to enter into God’s light and to live accordingly. Those who had left the
fellowship claim they are without sin, but not the faithful. We must admit
that we do sin and need Jesus to forgive and cleanse us from sin so that we
may continue walking in the light “as he himself is in the light”.
3. Pray: Am I struggling with some sin? What deeper bondage is still not
released? Does my guilt hold me back from Jesus? Talk to him about this.
Now sit silently, listen for Jesus’ response. What is his desire for me?

Personal Note:
At the retreat, through the messages and activities and prayer with brothers and sisters, I am being revealed of the sins and darkness that needs to be released through the light of God.  The main message I received was that I am to dwell in my identity as God's beloved son before getting on with doing ministry, planning, teaching, etc. I pray for all brothers and sisters to have the courage to take up the commitment made at the retreat starting today and throughout the week.

Devo John 20:19-29

 19On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together,
with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them
and said, “Peace be with you!” 20After he said this, he showed them his hands
and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. 21Again Jesus
said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22And
with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you
forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are
not forgiven.” 24Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with
the disciples when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples told him, “We have seen
the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put
my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe
it.” 26A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with
them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and
said, “Peace be with you!” 27Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here;
see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and
believe.” 28Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29Then Jesus told him,
“Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not
seen and yet have believed.”

Meditation
1. Read John’s description of the first time Jesus appeared to his disciples after
his death and resurrection. Pay special attention to Jesus’ words to them.
2. What does Thomas’s response to Jesus’ resurrection make me feel? How did
Jesus respond to him?
3. Read the passage once more. Look around Jesus’ disciples, those believing
ones; and then Thomas. Judging from where I actually am in my relationship
with Jesus right now, where will I be? As I hear Jesus speak to me, respond
to him from my heart. Let him engage me in conversation.
4. Thank God for the faith he has given me no matter if I were a Thomas or like
the other disciple.

The last words from Jesus before he die was "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"  By the power of God, Jesus Christ was raised from the dead.  He overcame death.  The first words he said to his disciples were: "Peace be with you!"  The disciples were overjoyed and they confirmed it was really Jesus through examining his wounds.  After we experienced God's peace and love, Jesus is sending us out and he breathed the Holy Spirit on us and said "Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."

I thank God for the faith that he has given me.  I can proclaim the forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ because I am convicted that I have received forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ.

Devo John 18:4-11

4Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them,
“Who is it you want?” 5”Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said.
(And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6When Jesus said, “I am
he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7Again he asked them, “Who is it
you want?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 8”I told you that I am he,” Jesus
answered. “If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” 9This happened
so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those
you gave me.” 10Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the
high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)
11Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the
Father has given me?”

Meditation
1. Go over the passage slowly with humility. Wait for God to speak to me about
Peter’s actions here.
2. Read this passage again. How does the story of Peter both self-confident(v10)
and weak (vv25-27) encourage me? When have I felt like Peter?
3. Talk to God about this. Allow the Holy Spirit to work to heal and to mold in
me slowly and surely.

Personal Note:
When people attack Jesus, what is my reaction?  Fight back,

Devo John 19:1-16

1Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 2The soldiers twisted together a
crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe 3and
went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they struck
him in the face. 4Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, “Look, I am
bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against
him.” 5When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe,
Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” 6As soon as the chief priests and their
officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!” But Pilate answered, “You
take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.” 7The
Jews insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because
he claimed to be the Son of God.” 8When Pilate heard this, he was even more
afraid, 9and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he
asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10”Do you refuse to speak to me?”
Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”
11Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you
from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater
sin.” 12From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, “If
you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king
opposes Caesar.” 13When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down
on the judge’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic
is Gabbatha). 14It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth
hour. “Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews.
15But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!” “Shall I
crucify your king?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests
answered. 16Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.

Meditation
Read this passage slowly. If it’s possible, read the whole Chapter. Try to see
and hear the story. What do I think and how do I feel? Talk to God about it.
Wait for His response.

Personal Note:
I was my sin along with the sins of the religious leaders that put Jesus Christ on the cross.  It is part of God's plan for Jesus to go on the cross. "you would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above."

Devo John 17:20-26

20”My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me
through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in
me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you
have sent me. 22I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be
one as we are one: 23I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete
unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you
have loved me. 24”Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where
I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me
before the creation of the world. 25”Righteous Father, though the world does
not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26I have made
you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love
you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

Meditation
1. Read the passage slowly, knowing that this is Jesus praying for me (“those
who will believe in me”). Read it again; substitute my name when it comes
to them or they. If needed, read it one more time.
2. What am I most excited about Jesus praying for me or saying about me?
Why?
3. Thank Jesus for praying for me. Talk to him about the prayer phrases I found
most meaningful. Pray Jesus’ prayer for his followers alive today in the world.
4. Walk around today with the sense that Jesus is in me and that this was
always his plan – to be in me.

Personal Note:
Jesus prays for me all the time.  He prayed this prayer before his death and resurrection.  He is praying for me in the midst of all my joy and sorrow.

Devo John 16:7-15

7But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away,
the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8When he
comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness
and judgment: 9in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10in regard
to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no
longer; 11and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now
stands condemned. 12”I have much more to say to you, more than you can now
bear. 13But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.
He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell
you what is yet to come. 14He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine
and making it known to you. 15All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why
I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.

Meditation
1. The Holy Spirit has three ministries to the world. In regard to sin: the essence
of sin is unbelief (v9). Our trust in Jesus contrasts the world’s rejection of
Him, this confirms its guilt. In regard to righteousness: the ultimate standard
of righteousness is God Himself, expressed in Jesus, whose claims have
been vindicated by His return to the Father’s side(v 10). Though men see
Jesus no longer, His character is displayed in believers’ Christlike lives. We
continually exhibit the gap that exists between sinners and the Lord. In
regard to judgment: The Cross and Resurrection – the reality of which are
seen in the believer who lives his life in Jesus’ resurrection power (Rm 8:11),
proves unequivocally that Satan is a defeated foe. Thus the world system he
dominates is an empty sham.
2. There is nothing we can do to convict the world we live in. It is our lives,
infused by the Spirit’s power and displaying heaven’s grace, that boldly
proclaim the judgment of our God.
3. Thank the Holy Spirit for His guidance in helping me to live out the Christlike
life daily.

Personal Note:
It is the Holy Spirit that convicts me of my sins and disobedience to God.  It is also the Holy Spirit that convicts anyone of their sins and disobedience to God.  I pray that as I continue to model after Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit will go ahead of me to work in the lives of the people whom I will have contact with.  I pray that my thoughts and actions are completely guided by the Holy Spirit.

Devo John 15:1-9

1”I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch
in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so
that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I
have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear
fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you
remain in me. 5”I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and
I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone
does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such
branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me
and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.
8This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be
my disciples. 9”As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in
my love.

Meditation
1. Jesus’ disciples are branches, He is the Vine. As we remain in His love, we
produce fruit. A branch draws its nutrients from the vine. In the same way
we draw the spiritual vitality from Jesus in order for us to produce fruit. Thus
Jesus says clearly, “Apart from me you can do nothing.”
2. For the branches to bear more fruits, the gardener needs to prune his vine
regularly. The great Gardener, our heavenly Father, works with extreme care
to prune His vines. We’re assured that God, the gardener, actively tending
His vineyard, is fully committed to bring us to maximum fruitfulness. God’s
pruning work benefits us, it doesn’t threaten us.
3. Remain in the Lord and thank Him for the necessary pruning in order for me
to be fruitful.

Personal Note:
I know that I am in the good hands of God.  I am to remain in Jesus Christ in order to bear fruit.  I am willing to follow Jesus Christ's leading and let God's Spirit work in me.

John 14:15-17

15”If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16And I will ask the Father,
and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17the Spirit of
truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him.
But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

Meditation
1. This passage is about the Holy Spirit, ask Him to guide in a prayerful reading
of it. Make the reading a prayer in itself.
2. The Holy Spirit is the most neglected personhood of God. Yet Jesus promises
to leave His disciples (and us as his followers) with this important Friend.
What does it mean to have the Holy Spirit in me and guiding me throughout
my day, as this passage says: “But you know him, for he lives with you
and will be in you”? Is it comforting? Discomforting? Frustrating? Hard to
understand? Awesome? How can I grow today in awareness that the Friend
lives in me?
3. As I drive, walk, work, study, and interact with others today, call on my
Friend for his guidance with the thoughts I think, the words I speak, and the
decisions I make.

Personal Note:
The Spirit lives in me and is guiding all my thoughts.

Devo John 13:1-5, 13-17

1It 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. 2The evening meal
was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of
Simon, to betray Jesus. 3Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his
power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4so he got up
from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.
5After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet,
drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
12When 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. 14Now
that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one
another’s feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done
for you. 16I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a
messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these
things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Meditation
1. Jesus’ Last Supper begins with profound lessons in humility and baptism.
Notice the incredible extent of Jesus’ love, the ignorance of human
responses, and the immensity of Christ’s servanthood.
2. Think over the definition of Service – Loving, thoughtful, active promotion
of the good of others and the causes of God in our world, through which
we experience the many little deaths of going beyond ourselves. (Spiritual
Formation Bible)
3. Reflect: Is humility the trademark for my service? Talk to God and wait for
His response.

Personal Note:
Do I really value others above myself?  Am I really to sacrifice my time, energy, money, reputation, and convenience for the sake of modelling Jesus Christ to the people I serve?  Why am I hesitant at times to care and go out of the way to serve my brothers and sisters?  I thank God for His word to remind me that my leadership is great when I model Jesus Christ's humble leadership.

Devo John 12:20-26

20Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the
Feast. 21They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request.
“Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22Philip went to tell Andrew;
Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. 23Jesus replied, “The hour has come for
the Son of Man to be glorified. 24I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls
to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces
many seeds. 25The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates
his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26Whoever serves me must follow
me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who
serves me.

Meditation
1. What does Jesus mean when he talks about a grain of wheat dying and
reproducing itself? Then wait for Jesus to show an area of my life – a
relationship, a decision to be made, and so on – in which I am holding on to
the status quo, and not allowing him to bring growth or change. In what way
might this be destructive or suffocating?
2. Ponder Romans 12:2 “Fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the
inside out.”(the Message). What would this area of my life look like if I am to
“fix my attention on God, ” and in so doing, let go?
3. Hold hands in tight fists. Then relax them, open them, and turn palms
upward. Talk with Jesus about what a life of open hands would look like. Ask
him to show me what it means to be where he is(26).
4. Think again about the tightly held part of my life. Talk with Jesus, ask Him to
help me to let go just a little bit today, and tomorrow, …

Personal Note:
I want to let go of how other people look at me.  I want to let go of my fear and dependency on worldly treasure.  I want to let go of the fear of rejection so I can courageously share the Gospel.

Devo: John 10:1-5,14-18

1”I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but
climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2The man who enters by the
gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3The watchman opens the gate for him, and
the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep
follow him because they know his voice. 5But they will never follow a stranger;
in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s
voice.”
14”I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15just as
the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They
too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17The
reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again.
18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority
to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from
my Father.”

Meditation
1. Read these words of Jesus aloud slowly as if he were explaining this to me
personally. Notice that the repeated word “know”. Jesus knows his sheep;
they know Jesus. The Father knows Jesus; Jesus knows the Father.
2. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, does the following for the sheep. Which of these
do I most need for Jesus to do for me today?
 call his own sheep by name
 lead them out
 know his own sheep
 put the sheep before himself, sacrificing himself, if necessary
 gather and bring other sheep
3. The sheep recognize Jesus’ voice and respond by following him and knowing
him. How do I need to respond to Jesus today?
4. Pray: Talk to Jesus about what I need. Especially talk about my capacity to
recognize his voice. Ask for his help.

Personal Note:
My leadership as a pastor depends solely on my personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  I would like my friends to pray for my desire to draw close to Jesus and recognize his voice.

Devo John 9:13-25

13They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14Now the day
on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath.
15Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put
mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.” 16Some of
the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.”
But others asked, “How can a sinner do such miraculous signs?” So they were
divided. 17Finally they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say
about him? It was your eyes he opened.”
The man replied, “He is a prophet.” 18The Jews still did not believe that he had
been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. 19”Is
this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that
now he can see?” 20”We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we
know he was born blind. 21But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we
don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” 22His parents said
this because they were afraid of the Jews, for already the Jews had decided that
anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ would be put out of the
synagogue. 23That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” 24A second
time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God,” they
said. “We know this man is a sinner.” 25He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or
not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

Meditation

The Pharisees could say whatever they wanted about Jesus. But they had
to face the fact that He gave sight to a man born blind. Today, people can
pass any judgment on Jesus. But if they are honest they have to agree that
millions testify to Jesus’ transforming work in their lives. John Newton, once
a slave trader, experienced a transformation expressed and wrote this hymn:
“Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found, was blind, but now, I see.
T’was Grace that taught my heart to fear. And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear, the hour I first believed.

Devo John 8:1-11

1But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2At dawn he appeared again in the
temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to
teach them. 3The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman
caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4and said to Jesus,
“Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5In the Law Moses
commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6They were
using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus
bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7When they kept
on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is
without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8Again he stooped down
and wrote on the ground. 9At this, those who heard began to go away one at a
time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing
there. 10Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no
one condemned you?” 11”No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn
you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Meditation
1. Imagine myself in the crowd that day. Picture the embarrassed and ashamed
expression on the woman’s face. Hear the condescending voices of the
religious leaders. Feel the dirt blowing against me as Jesus bends down and
writes something in it.
2. Come honestly before God and ask the Spirit to reveal to me the sins I’ve
engaged in recently. Then imagine myself in the same situation as this
woman. I’m caught in this sin, exposed. Imagine me and Jesus having the
same conversation: “Does no one condemn you?” “No one, Master.” He
looks me in the eye. “Neither do I. Go on your way. From now on don’t sin.”
What am I feeling? Thinking?

Personal Note:
God has forgiven me all of my sins! All of my greed, lust, pride, indifference, envy, and all sorts of wicked thoughts are forgiven through Jesus Christ, who absorbed God's wrath on all of my sins.  I feel like an heavy burden is lifted off my shoulder!