Jesus Reassures His Followers #2432

1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. 3 I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know (John 14:1–4, NKJV).”

Jesus encouraged His apostles at a moment when He could have crumbled under discouraging anxiety and fearful anticipation of the cross. His apostles had quarreled (again) over who was the greatest among them (Luke 22:24). Judas’ betrayal was in motion (John 13:26-30). Jesus had just addressed His apostles’ imminent scattering and Peter’s denial (Mark 14:27; John 13:36-38). Now, amazingly, we see Him consoling them. Meditate with me on Christ’s exhortations to them. (1) Jesus gives calming assurance (v. 1). Faith in Christ and His word strengthens us in every trial and turmoil of life. Patient faith in Jesus replaces anxious care (Phil. 4:6-8). (2) Jesus gives comforting promises (v. 2-3). Christ promises a heavenly dwelling place to all who trust and follow Him. Soon He would go into heaven itself as our great High Priest to present Himself as the offering for the sins of the world (Heb. 2:17; 4:14; 9:26; 10:10-14). Hallelujah, what a Savior! (3) Jesus gives confident knowledge (v. 4). We know where Jesus went (heaven, now exalted at God’s right hand, Acts 2:32-36). We know the way to the Father is only through Him (John 14:5-6). Pondering these tremendous spiritual blessings persuades us to endure in faith through the storms of life, trust our Savior’s promise of eternal rest, and secure our hope in the knowledge of the gospel of the Son of God.

“Return to Your Rest, O My Soul” #2252

3 The pains of death surrounded me, and the pangs of Sheol laid hold of me; I found trouble and sorrow. 4 Then I called upon the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I implore You, deliver my soul!” 5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; Yes, our God is merciful. 6 The Lord preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me. 7 Return to your rest, O my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you” (Psalm 116:3–7, NKJV).

Hebrew tradition ascribes Psalm 116 to Hezekiah upon his deliverance from death by Yahweh (Isa. 38). Others view it as a psalm of thanksgiving on the occasion of some other imminent peril (Spence, Pulpit Commentary, Psalms III, 70). Three attributes are ascribed to the Lord in thankful praise of His salvation from the “trouble and sorrow” of death and despair (v. 3). (1) God is gracious (v. 5). His “throne of grace” is ever accessible to our pleas for help in times of need (Heb. 4:15-16). (2) God is righteous (v. 5). He has promised to hear and answer our prayers (1 John 3:22; 5:14-15). He is upright to keep His word. (3) God is merciful (v. 5). His compassion compels Him to protect and secure us in our time of danger and doubt (Matt. 11:28-30; Heb. 13:5-6). Christians learn to cast our anxious cares upon the Lord because we know He cares for us (1 Pet. 5:6-7). God still hears us and delivers our souls from the sorrow, despair, and terror of sin and death. Our souls rest in God’s character. He will deliver us from every evil work (Phil. 4:6-7; 2 Tim. 4:17-18). “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:57). Let us rest in God and praise Him, for He has dealt bountifully with us in Christ Jesus (Ps. 116:7).

Our Top Priority #2061

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:33–34, NKJV)

Jesus said we must make the rule and reign of God and His righteousness the priority of our lives instead of the things of this world (Matthew 6:24-32). Daily priorities not only set what we pursue each day but also what we pursue our entire life. Priorities of a day turn into months, then months into years until finally, life ends. We are eager to set a lifetime goal of making God our top priority, yet we may fail to make Him and His will our priority each day. It is far easier to say Christ is a lifelong priority than to live that priority day by day (Luke 6:46; Matthew 7:21). How can we tell when we have fallen into this deception? By honestly assessing whether we are so worried and anxiously distracted by the troubles of each day that we push God’s rule and righteousness to the side (v. 34; Acts 24:25). When daily concerns are our most urgent priority, we are distracted and deterred from walking by faith. When that happens, God is no longer our priority. We are serving another master instead of the One who provides our daily bread and saves us eternally. Strengthen your faith and trust God every day. As your days turn into months and months into years, you will have eternal rest when death comes. (Sword Tips #1559, revised)

Priorities #1559

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:33–34, NKJV)

Jesus said we must make the rule and reign of God and His righteousness the priority of our lives instead of the things of this world (Matthew 6:24-32). Daily priorities not only set what we pursue each day, but also what we pursue our entire life. Priorities of the day turn into months, then months into years until finally, life ends. We are tempted to set a lifetime goal of making God our top priority, yet fail to genuinely make Him and His will our daily priority. It is far easier to say Christ is our lifelong priority than to live that priority day by day (Luke 6:46; Matthew 7:21). How can we tell when we have fallen into this deception? By honestly assessing whether we are so worried and anxiously distracted by the troubles of each day that God’s rule and righteousness are pushed to the side (v. 34; Acts 24:25). When daily concerns are our most urgent priority, they distract us and deter us from walking by faith. When that happens, God is not our priority. We are serving another master instead of the One who provides our daily bread and saves us eternally. Strengthen your faith and trust God every day, so that as your days turn into months and month into years, when death comes you will have eternal rest.

Understanding and a Calm Spirit #1396

He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. (Proverbs 17:27, NKJV)

Hearts are disquieted by uncertainty and doubt. When His apostles’ hearts were troubled, Jesus calmed them with assuring words of truth that shored up their faith (John 14:1-11). Understanding God’s word is a divinely-given resource to combat the anxious mind. Faith in Christ and His word leads us to a place of contentment, reassurance and hope in the face of life’s storms. On the other hand, multiplying our own words without knowledge feeds pride but fails to soothe the soul (Job 35:9-16; 38:2). Our spirit is calmed when our faith is informed by God’s word. Whatever uncertainty you face, seek God’s answers in the Bible. Understanding God’s word can calm your spirit as you put your trust in what He says. If your spirit is troubled, spend time with God’s word and gain understanding.

Seek First #822

31  Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32  For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:31–34, NKJV)

What is the primary aim of your life? What, more than anything else, drives you, motivates you, compels you to action? Unbelievers crave (“seek”) material things that satisfy their momentary desires. Disciples of Jesus hunger for the rule and reign of God in their lives. Our priority is to be upright before God and men in word and deed. We trust our heavenly Father to supply our daily material needs. So, we strive not to “worry” about (be distracted by) things beyond our power and control. We meet our daily responsibilities and challenges with faith in God. So, again we ask, what is most important to you? Are you really living for heaven, or for this earth? Your daily decisions, words and deeds show your true answer. Walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7).

Trust the Power of Prayer #549

6  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6–7)

These are the promises made to those in Christ who have learned not to go beyond the providential Hand of the Lord. Jesus never said that we should not be concerned for the things of this world, but rather that we should not let them distract us from the promises and blessings found in the security we feel in our prayers. Those Christians who let the devil distract them to the point of forgetting to pray, have left their own hearts unguarded and opened their minds to greater problems than they could ever handle on their own. Let us be secure in our own minds, and our hearts will be guarded by the trust we have in the power of our prayers to God. “In God We Trust” should be more than a slogan on a monetary piece of paper or metal coin. (Dennis Scroggins, Bible Thoughts for Today)

A Three-fold Cord of Joy #496

4  Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5  Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:4–6, NASB95)

Christians have the ability to live in joyful gladness under the most stressful situations. The character of gentle forbearance couples with remembering the Lord’s approaching judgment to form two reasons we live in joy instead of anxiety. The third strand of the three-fold cord of joy is prayer. The thankful requests of prayer strengthen our resolve to rejoice in the Lord because we know God hears and answers us. With a gentle spirit, generous prayers and respect for the Lord’s presence and power to judge, Christians refuse to abandon joy for anxiety, especially in the face of temporary trials. Though Paul was imprisoned in Rome for his faith, he set this example of always rejoicing in the Lord. Today, remember Christ rules from heaven and sees all things. Keep a gentle spirit toward others as you petition God with thanksgiving for His great and constant care. By doing so you can, and will, “rejoice in the Lord always”.