John 14:23-29 (NRSV)
Read John 14:23-29 on biblegateway.com
Verse 23Jesus answered him, "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Verse 24Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.
Verse 25"I have said these things to you while I am still with you. Verse 26But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Verse 27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.
Verse 28You heard me say to you, 'I am going away, and I am coming to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. Verse 29And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe.
Devotion
As we look at sharing the gospel with those unfamiliar with its message, the question of why we do evangelism is raised. What is our motivation? How do we connect the message of Jesus Christ with the secular world?
Perhaps one connecting point is the peace Jesus gives to his disciples in John 14:27. Jesus offers a peace that the world cannot. It is a peace that is greatly needed, not just in war-torn communities around the globe, but in the lives of people we see each day. Peace is a word that resonates with humanity’s deepest longings. This peace is something Jesus freely offers to those who believe his words and love him.
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for the peace you give. Help us to know how to share and express that peace with people who desperately need it. Amen.