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 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.

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.

1 Corinthians 15:50-58

 50I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom
of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51Listen, I tell you a
mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52in a flash, in the
twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead
will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53For the perishable must
clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54When
the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with
immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been
swallowed up in victory.”
 55”Where, O death, is your victory?
      Where, O death, is your sting?” 56The sting of death is sin, and the power of
sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord
Jesus Christ.
 58Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give
yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the
Lord is not in vain.

Meditation
1. If someone is writing a tribute for my memorial, what would be written in it?
How would I like people to write the letter announcing my death?
2. Tell Jesus all my thoughts and emotions right now.  Stay quiet to allow the
Holy Spirit to minister to me now.

Personal Note:
I would like people to remember me as a committed follower of Jesus Christ.  I am encouraged by the last verse: Stand firm, let nothing move you, and always give fully to the work of God, because my labour in the Lord in not in vain.  As I am praying and working on how to be a faithful co-worker with God in bringing his kingdom on this earth, I realize there are attacks physically, emotionally, and spiritually from every direction. God wants my whole being and I am giving my whole self to Him.  I trust that receiving God's invitation to work with Him for His glory is the way to go.