Missionary Renegade: The Daily Guide. grow. pray. study. The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, United States for Saturday, 04 June 2016

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

The Daily Guide. grow. pray. study. The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, United States for Saturday, 04 June 2016 - “How can we know the way?”

The Daily Guide. grow. pray. study. The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, United States for Saturday, 04 June 2016 - “How can we know the way?”
Daily Scripture: John 14:1 “Don’t let yourselves be disturbed. Trust in God and trust in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many places to live. If there weren’t, I would have told you; because I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 Since I am going and preparing a place for you, I will return to take you with me; so that where I am, you may be also. 4 Furthermore, you know where I’m going; and you know the way there.”

5 T’oma said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you’re going; so how can we know the way?” 6 Yeshua said, “I AM the Way — and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through me. 7 Because you have known me, you will also know my Father; from now on, you do know him — in fact, you have seen him.”

Reflection Questions:
Thomas had a gift for honest questions. He wouldn’t pretend to understand if he didn’t understand. Madeleine l’Engle’s A Wind in the Door imagined a setting in which her young heroes asked “Where?” and were told, “Where doesn’t matter.” Similarly, when Thomas asked where Jesus was going, Jesus responded that he was going (along with all his children) “to the Father”—a person, not a place. Our confidence and security does not rest in a map or detailed “where” description, but in the eternal person of Jesus, of God.

Earlier in John’s gospel, Jesus said those who trust in him have eternal life—present tense (John 3:36,5:24, 6:47 and 54). We don’t need to wait until our death to begin living the eternal quality of life that Jesus came of offer us. In what ways can you make God’s love and grace the “home” in which you live spiritually every day? How can making Jesus your spiritual “home” fill your life with what the apostle Paul called “the peace of God that exceeds all understanding” (Philippians 4:7)?

Today’s Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for the joy of walking with you each day through the Holy Spirit’s presence with me. Guide me as I make you my home for eternity, starting now. Amen.
Family Activity:
God is always with us. Many times, though, we are not aware of God’s presence. At mealtime, ask each member of your family where he or she saw God at work that day, or in what or whom they experienced God’s presence. Consider establishing this question as part of your daily family conversation. You might create a journal or a banner where you can illustrate or write out some of your responses. Each month, review the ways you have each experienced God. Allow these experiences to be opportunities for each person to become increasingly aware of God’s presence in his or her life. Thank God for being a constant and faithful presence.
-------Insights from Mike Ash

Mike Ash is the worship leader and Director of Community Life at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection’s Blue Springs Campus.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God and also in me,” This is a curious way to begin John, chapter 14.
In the previous chapter, John 13, Jesus washes the disciples feet, tells them he is going to be betrayed, commands them to love one another and then says that before a rooster crows Peter will deny him three times. The disciples were obviously troubled, deeply confused and beginning to be fearful about the future. Jesus is attempting to prepare the disciples for his crucifixion.
He also tells them that he is going ahead to prepare a place for them and that they will know the way to the place he is going. Perplexed by all that Jesus has told them, Thomas speaks up and says, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”
When I was three we lived in Tucson, Arizona. One day my dad had to go to work. I thought he had walked behind our house on a winding path that led to a six lane highway. I took off out the back door, with my mom running after me calling for me to stop. I somehow crossed the busy highway, entered a roadside diner and was surprised that my dad wasn’t there. My mom finally came rushing in, picked me up and brought me back home. I just wanted to be with my dad, no matter where he was going. I imagine, in some way, this is how the disciples felt about Jesus. He was their teacher, their Rabbi and they had given up everything to follow him.
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.”
This eternal saving reality is still true for us today. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, our all in all. When we come to him with our troubles, confusion and joys, fixing our hope on him, we begin to see things as they really are.
We gladly lift up our voices with the saints and sing this timeless truth.
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine with ten thousand beside
Great is Thy faithfulness, Great is Thy faithfulness,
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided,
Great is Thy faithfulness Lord unto me.
We are all on a journey and the promise Jesus made is that he will be with us no matter where we are, or what we are going through. He also promised that the Holy Spirit will lead us and guide us, comfort and counsel us.
Let’s make this our prayer: “Jesus, lead the way, be our truth and life today. Amen!”