Day 44: Promise
Thursday, April 13, 2017
Scripture
“If you love ME, you will keep MY commandments. And I will ask the FATHER, and HE will give you another HELPER, to be with you forever, even the SPIRIT of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees HIM nor knows HIM. You know HIM, for HE dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see ME no more, but you will see ME. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my FATHER, and you in me, and I in you.”
— John 14:15–21 (ESV, emphasis added)
Reflection
Today is known as “Maundy Thursday” in Holy Week — the day that JESUS shared the Last Supper with the disciples, and washed their feet. The Gospel of John shares an intimate account of the walk from that Last Supper toward the Garden of Gethsemane. In these last moments together before the crucifixion, JESUS speaks words of comfort, words of prayer, and words of promise to HIS disciples. The promise is for the HOLY SPIRIT, a HELPER who will come and dwell within the hearts of those who love the LORD.
Participation
Today, pause and meditate on the impact of this promise in your own life. Stop and praise GOD for this promise, “that according to the riches of HIS glory HE may grant you to be strengthened with power through HIS SPIRIT in your inner being.” (Ephesians 3:16, ESV, emphasis added)
For Families:
- YOUNGER KIDS READ: “The Servant King” on page 286 in The JESUS Storybook Bible / OLDER KIDS READ: Mark 14
- ASK: Tell me about being a servant- where do they live; how do they dress; what do they eat; how do they spend their days? Tell me about being a king- where do they live; how do they dress; what do they eat; how do they spend their days?
- TALK: JESUS is our KING because HE is GOD’s SON but HE loves us so much that HE became our servant and tomorrow we will read about the ultimate way HE showed HIS love for us and everyone who was born before and everyone who will be born after us.
