The Everyday Prayer

Re:Verse passage – Luke 24:45-53 (day four)

It’s easy to read the ascension of Jesus and consider it the “end” of his story. After all, he doesn’t have any more lines on the page, does he? But the ascension is not an end. Rather, the ascension is where the Biblical narrative and our present reality meet. Jesus ascended to the Father not to live in heavenly obscurity, but to take his place at the right hand of the God, where his ministry on our behalf continues. Paul reminds us in Romans 8:34 that Jesus remains at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us. That is still true at this very moment. We have our risen savior interceding on our behalf, and the very Spirit of God dwelling within us, speaking what he hears from the Father. Even in hardship, darkness, and suffering, we lack no good thing. In the work and ministry of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit, we have everything we need.

 

Re:Verse passage – Luke 24:45-53 (day two)

And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy,  and were continually in the temple praising God. v. 52-53

At first this seems like something of a paradox; Jesus leaves the disciples, and they are filled with great joy. Surely they would be filled with sadness and despair as the Lord leaves them. Each of the previous encounters with the resurrected Jesus they were fearful, grieving, unsure, but not this time, so what changed? This may be one of the few times when they saw, heard, and understood at the same time. Everything Jesus said about himself had come to pass, and this was even more evidence of his promises fulfilled. He had promised not to leave them comfortless, and they were fully trusting in this. So often, like the disciples, we don’t see clearly, but persistent faith will result in rejoicing. May we never take our eyes off the risen savior, and may our mouths be continually filled with praise.

Re:Verse passage – John 16:5-16 (day seven)

But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away. John 16:7

W.W.J.D. took over the 90’s Christian Merch and Book Stores. Everyone had one of these bracelets, and I bet you did too! It was an easy way for us to ask ourselves “What Would Jesus Do?” It was intended to help us apply Jesus to every scenario of our day. It might be easy to poke fun at this trend, but it was a great tool to use for evangelism and personal growth. However, what we may or may not have recognized in the 90’s was that this whole concept has more to do with the Holy Spirit than it does Jesus as a person. It is only possible for us to walk like Jesus because He left us and sent His Spirit to guide us. When we rely on the Holy Spirit in every aspect of our life, it will appear as though we were doing what Jesus did as it makes us more like Him. Us asking “What Would Jesus Do?” is actually a sanctifying encounter with the Holy Spirit.

Maybe we should bring the fad back!

Re:Verse passage – John 16:5-16 (day six)

Sorry for the late start, friends.

I’ve been in New York City for almost a week now. It’s an incredible place—teeming with life, a constant rhythm of movement, and the hustle and bustle of every nation under heaven. Right now, I’m sitting outside a bagel shop on the Upper West Side. People are on the move—coming and going, laughing with friends, couples sharing breakfast, cyclists weaving by, runners, dog walkers, shop owners opening up for the day.

New York City is a microcosm of humanity in a way San Antonio is not. And it is good. It gives me joy.

Joy, because for a few days I’m among a dense crowd of people who—by their very existence—reflect the glory of God. Just being human. The imago Dei. And yet, most are far from God.

This week, I’ve been reminded of God’s deep love for people. We know that love because He sent Jesus—who died and rose again—to call people back to Himself. To walk with Him.

In John 16:8, Jesus says that God loves people so much that He sends the Holy Spirit to help them see reality clearly:

To recognize sin, to see righteousness revealed in Christ, and to know that a choice must be made about which kingdom they’ll belong to.

And here’s the amazing part: the Holy Spirit works through His church. We are His presence here. His light in places like New York City.

Wherever we are—in the bustle, the quiet, or the in-between—He’s inviting people home. Through us.

Re:Verse passage – John 16:5-16 (day five)

“But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.”
Jesus senses that the hearts of His disciples are heavy and saddened. So, He carefully and wisely chooses His next words. Looking to strengthen and encourage them, He promises and discloses the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit. That work- convicting, guiding, and glorifying is “to our advantage”.  That work also stretches and challenges us in our finiteness and humanness. The Lord’s economy is always seen and understood more clearly from an eternal perspective rather than a temporal one. It is the eternal things that matter most to the Lord. And they should to us as well. Our task and privilege is to think and remember His words (verse 4). So, daily if not more, we read, recite, and remind ourselves of the Scripture (His Words) that produces the eternal perspective of joy, wisdom, hope, strength, and courage.

Re:Verse passage – John 16:5-16 (day four)

Jesus said to them, “A little while, and you will no longer see me; and again a little while, and you will see me.” He seems to hold a loose definition of “a little while,” doesn’t he? We might agree that it was only a little while between when Jesus said this and when he ascended to heaven. But seeing him again? It feels like more than a little time has passed.

When I look at the world around me, I long for Jesus to return. The reality of sin and death can feel like too much to bear. I want Jesus to return in “a little while,” which is about the same amount of time I mean when I say “these cookies only need a little while longer in the oven.” But I operate in a finite, earthly sense of time, the Lord does not. When Jesus says “a little while,” he’s not talking about our earthly sense of time, but rather heavenly time, the fullness of time. He promises to return exactly on time, but this sense of time is too wonderful for us to understand on this side of heaven.

We hold to this promise, though, in verse 22, “Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.”

We only have to wait a little while.

 

Re:Verse passage – John 16:5-16 (day three)

“I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.”

The Lord tenderly cares for you. He doesn’t overwhelm you, but remembers you are dust, as the Bible says. That’s not patronizing or disdainful. Rather, God’s care for you points to how deeply he treasures those whom he has made, as an artist would treat his or her works with great caution and alertness. When the Lord says the time is not yet right for you to experience this or that, he’s cherishing your existence, lest what comes harm you. When the time does come that the Lord allows you to see and know what’s next, that’s the time that he knows you can live fully in that moment with great strength. He knows how he made you, and he stands by his work with confidence.

Re:Verse passage – John 16:5-16 (day two) 

But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. v. 7

How often have you come to a place of transition and been afraid of what comes next? You may have been very prepared, educated, and trained, and, yet, there is trepidation about what comes next. Graduation season is a great reminder of this feeling. Many students are eager to jump into the next phase, but with each milestone there comes a level of comfort in known, and uncertainty about what’s next. With each transition we may have more that we are giving up, and more things and people counting on us to succeed and provide. It is in the preparation that we find the courage to move forward. Jesus from the very beginning of his ministry was preparing the disciples. He taught them, he demonstrated his authority, he challenged them, and he cautioned them about what happened next. This transition was inevitable, and Jesus made sure they were prepared. It would take some time, but they slowly began to understand what all that preparation was for. Transition is coming. It may be for a new season of life, a job, a family, or a transition from this life to the next. All of these require preparation. How are you preparing? Are you in the Word? Are you in fellowship with other believers? Are you serving the Body? Are you preparing?