John 14:8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it will be enough for us.” 9 Yeshua replied to him, “Have I been with you so long without your knowing me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am united with the Father, and the Father united with me? What I am telling you, I am not saying on my own initiative; the Father living in me is doing his own works. 11 Trust me, that I am united with the Father, and the Father united with me. But if you can’t, then trust because of the works themselves. 12 Yes, indeed! I tell you that whoever trusts in me will also do the works I do! Indeed, he will do greater ones, because I am going to the Father. 13 In fact, whatever you ask for in my name, I will do; so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me for something in my name, I will do it.
15 “If you love me, you will keep my commands; 16 and I will ask the Father, and he will give you another comforting Counselor like me, the Spirit of Truth, to be with you forever. 17 The world cannot receive him, because it neither sees nor knows him. You know him, because he is staying with you and will be united with you.[Complete Jewish Bible]
-------
Advocacy is an important concept in our world today. We need to assist in giving voice to so many voiceless people. We can certainly intercede in prayer for people, but they also need to see our prayers in action. We intercede when we work together for the good of the whole, a rather novel idea today. We intercede when we hear the Holy Spirit's call through the good news of Jesus, when we gather in worship to hear the word and when the Spirit enlightens us with ever new insights into what it means to live in community. It is the Holy Spirit who empowers us to love God with all our heart, mind and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. It is the Spirit's abiding presence that is with us in all we do.
God, help us to love all people, to break down barriers, to be advocates for healing in a hurting world. Your presence with us is our guarantee. Abide with us in all that we do. Amen.
Ken Knutson
Retired
Master of Divinity, 1966
John 14:8 Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied."
9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, "Show us the Father'?
10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works.
11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves.
12 Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.
13 I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.
15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever.
17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you. [New Revised Standard Version]
---------------------
No comments:
Post a Comment