John 14 (Nov 3)

"Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God; trust also in me."
                             John 14:1 NIV

John 14 is an important chapter, for it leads to two points; the above verse points to rest, and Jesus says "I am," seven times.

The first message from today's passage, stay in God's will and one will find rest; the heart will not be troubled.  The word rest can be defined as the support on which things can be put, a state of inaction, freedom from strain, a pause for relaxation, something left after all other parts have been taken, to give a rest to, to not move, to refrain from acting, to take a short break from one's activities in order to relax, have a place in relation to, to remain in a certain state, to sit as on a branch.

Many of these definitions have a concept of relationship.  Certainly God wants to have a relationship with us to give us rest.  In the Old Testament, we also dealt with the concept of a remnant remaining, the rest.  To remain in a certain state, to have Christ in the heart, mind, and lips.  That is what might also come to mind when considering rest in relationship to God.  

Also when we are doing God's work, the work is not hard, and actually rest comes from doing the work.

The second message; Jesus states "I am," 7 times.  I am is the name God gave to himself when he spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai.  Jesus is in fact a part of the "I am," the Triune God.  If anyone disputes the point, this is a good chapter to point the disputer to in order to attempt to shepherd the disputer with love to the point that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate and not a mere prophet.  Take a moment and circle each "I am," that Jesus says in Chapter 14.

Where do you look for a peaceful heart and rest?

What do you think about Jesus being the "I am"?

Pray to see Jesus as he truly is, to keep him in your heart, to provide comfort and rest in your heart.

In Christ,

David P