Scripture: John 16:33

Thought: This devotional will be based on finding peace in a time of uncertainty.

The interesting thing about John 16:33 is the way Jesus makes this statement. He speaks of trials with certainty. “In this world you WILL have trials.” However, there is a comforting turn of phrase after he makes this statement, “BUT, take heart, I have overcome the world.” 

At the very beginning of this verse Jesus says that He has told them things so that they can find peace in Him. This portion of scripture is part of what we could call Jesus’ farewell address to his disciples. He speaks of His relationship with His Father and His presence with Him. Basically Jesus is saying His teachings about who He is, who His Father is and all things in between have been given to them to provide them a solid foundation of peace. Jesus knew what was coming for the disciples then and He knows what is coming for us now. 

The foundation of peace Jesus offers is not in the absence of trouble but in the midst of it. When we look at the Greek word for overcome which is “nikao,” we see that it means to have victory or to conquer. As a believer this is significant for us. The victory of Jesus is not simply a past event, it is a present reality. This has daily implications for those who call Him their Savior. Presently it means, in the uncertainty of this world we can live in the victory of our Savior. He has won and we have too! 

When you feel the pressure of uncertain times, the distress of not understanding the world around you, remember your peace is rooted in who Jesus is, what He taught us, and the victory He won yesterday, today and for all eternity. We can find strength for today in His Word. He not only told the disciples all these things so that they could have peace, but He gave His Word so that we could have peace too. Believe Him at His Word and find peace!

Scripture: Ephesians 4:32

Thought: This devotional will be based on being kind and compassionate with one another, even when we disagree.

This scripture is fairly straightforward about how we should behave as people who belong to Jesus. As Sherlock Holmes used to say in the old movies, “It’s elementary, my dear Watson!” However, as straightforward and elementary as this scripture is, we often find it hard to practice these things when we disagree with someone. 

It is easy to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving to those we agree with. But we need the help of The Holy Spirit in order for us to show these things to those we do not see eye to eye with. The thing is, God gave us free will, and with that comes differing patterns of thought based on religion, culture, environment, socioeconomics, political ideologies, age, and on and on the list could go. While our decision-making looks different, as followers of Jesus, we all have access to The Word of God, and we have the ability to pray, reason, and seek the guidance of The Holy Spirit. Still, we interpret life and decisions very differently. 

The reality is that even believers fall on opposite sides of many different issues. Our role as Jesus’ followers is still to behave the way Ephesians 4:30-32 charges us to behave. Sometimes we need to agree to disagree and love each other anyway. We must let The Holy Spirit do His job and not get in His way. In this current political season in our country, being a follower of Jesus will require full surrender to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It will require us to watch our words, guard our hearts, love well, and remember to forgive as we have been forgiven. 

Kindness is needed today and every day. Kindness, even in the face of disagreement, may just be the difference between an opportunity to lead someone to Jesus and forfeiting the right to that honor altogether. Kindness, even in the face of disagreement, may just be the difference between a unified body of Christ and a church family that doesn’t look much different than the world. 

Today, remember who you belong to and share the kindness of Jesus with everyone you interact with throughout your day, even those on the other side of a text, an email, or a social media post. Kindness from those who belong to Jesus matters, especially in a world where kindness is all but extinct. Be kind, friends – even to those you disagree with.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, I surrender my thoughts and feelings to you.  Forgive me for any unkind actions or words that have harmed others.  I ask you to lead me in the way I treat those around me.  I want to reflect Jesus to everyone I meet in all circumstances.  Help me to be kind, show love, and watch my words and actions even when I disagree.  Help me to not get so caught up in life’s circumstances that I forget to do my part to bring unity to the body of Christ.  In Jesus name, amen.