The Upper Room Daily Devotional from Nashville, Tennessee, United States "Unending Love" for Thursday, 16 June 2016 with Scripture John 13:1-17

The Upper Room Daily Devotional from Nashville, Tennessee, United States "Unending Love" for Thursday, 16 June 2016 with Scripture John 13:1 It was just before the festival of Pesach, and Yeshua knew that the time had come for him to pass from this world to the Father. Having loved his own people in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 They were at supper, and the Adversary had already put the desire to betray him into the heart of Y’hudah Ben-Shim‘on from K’riot. 3 Yeshua was aware that the Father had put everything in his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God. 4 So he rose from the table, removed his outer garments and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 Then he poured some water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the talmidim and wipe them off with the towel wrapped around him.
6 He came to Shim‘on Kefa, who said to him, “Lord! You are washing my feet?” 7 Yeshua answered him, “You don’t understand yet what I am doing, but in time you will understand.” 8 “No!” said Kefa, “You will never wash my feet!” Yeshua answered him, “If I don’t wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 “Lord,” Shim‘on Kefa replied, “not only my feet, but my hands and head too!” 10 Yeshua said to him, “A man who has had a bath doesn’t need to wash, except his feet — his body is already clean. And you people are clean, but not all of you.” 11 (He knew who was betraying him; this is why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”)
12 After he had washed their feet, taken back his clothes and returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me ‘Rabbi’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because I am. 14 Now if I, the Lord and Rabbi, have washed your feet, you also should wash each other’s feet. 15 For I have set you an example, so that you may do as I have done to you. 16 Yes, indeed! I tell you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is an emissary greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

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When Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.[John 13:1 (KJV)]
My friend and I had once been pastors in the same town. Some years later I learned that he had been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. He lay in a hospital bed awaiting radiation. But his spirits were high. While he was unable to perform his duties, church members had stepped up and demonstrated their love. Members of his church had visited him. Others had preached in his place.
When the news is bad or when tragedy strikes, I am tempted to think God has forgotten me. I’ve heard many propose that it’s wrong to question God, but I believe that asking God a question can be helpful. Inquiring of God why something has happened and how I should respond to it is an expression of faith in God’s unending love.
Regardless of what touches our lives, God has not stopped loving us. God loved us in the past, loves us in the present, and will love us eternally. Even when we have questions, we can learn to trust God’s love, mercy, and goodness.
The Author: Martin Wiles (South Carolina, USA)
Thought for the Day: God welcomes my questions.
Prayer: Thank you, God, for eternal love that holds us throughout our lives. Amen.
Prayer focus: CONGREGATIONS WITHOUT PASTORS

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