“The Father Himself Loves You”

“Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”

Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.”

“Do you now believe?” Jesus replied. “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:25-33

C.S. Lewis’ book God in the Dock, talks about a set of people living in the same building. Some think they are in a hotel, others think they are in a prison. How do we view life? Do we think of it as hard and intolerable or a time to be pampered and waited on? Sometimes we look at life as a time for training and correction, and it’s not that bad.

Sometimes we expect life to be happy and pain-free. But that is not what the Bible teaches us. For the believer, this world is a place of spiritual development through both good times and bad times. Jesus told His disciples, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.” In facing life’s blessings and bruises, we can have the inner peace of knowing God is orchestrating events according to His sovereign plan.

In the midst of troubles, peace can be found in Jesus.

Our Daily Bread – October 9, 2014