Experiencing God - Day 19
Day 19 - Thursday, February 29
Read John 11
Highlight
Part of the comfort of Jesus is that he is fully man and fully God. Why should that be comforting to us? Because it means He has experienced the things we experience. Yet unlike us, He knows the full picture. His experience as a man and His knowledge of being God can provide great comfort to us. We can see that here in John 11.
Martha and Mary know who Jesus truly is. Even in their grief, they believe Jesus will raise their brother - whether it was in the last days or that day. The women had faith that Jesus was God and He would comfort their grief. Yet, they also saw that He was human. He grieved and cried with them.
As scholars point out, His grief also comes from a place of knowing the full picture. Jesus came to bring life. And the chaos death leaves in its wake, grieved Him. Your grief, grieves God. He too has experienced pain and loss. BUT, like Mary and Martha, our faith is in Jesus! The Son of God, who defeated death. While here on earth we experience the earthly consequences of sin and death, our faith is in Jesus, who comforts and reminds us of the eternal gift that is waiting for us.
Reflection & Prayer
For this reading plan we will be using a tool to guide our study of Scripture that’s called the S.O.A.P. Method. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. We recommend you use a journal with this method and write out your thoughts on each of these areas for each day of reading. It doesn’t have to be long-winded and you don’t need a fancy journal. But for anyone that has not journaled before, the benefit is that it often helps us focus and avoid distractions during prayer and Bible study.
S.O.A.P. Method
Scripture - Pick a verse or two that stood out to you and write it in your journal. Be looking for a “Holy Spirit Highlight.” What did you read and think “I needed to hear that” or felt like it was written just for you?
Observation - Now write some observations about the verse(s) or passage. What is this passage or verse saying? About God? About people? How is Jesus revealed in these verses?
Application - Now write a few sentences on how this passage applies to your life. Is there truth about God that you are to believe? A promise to receive? Is the Holy Spirit convicting you of something you need to do or stop doing in light of God’s truth?
Prayer - Now write out a prayer to God in response to this Scripture. This is a way to turn God’s Word to you back to Him. Be honest and express your heart to Him. God always listens and He delights in your prayers. (Psalm 34:15; Proverbs 15:8)
Read John 11
Highlight
Part of the comfort of Jesus is that he is fully man and fully God. Why should that be comforting to us? Because it means He has experienced the things we experience. Yet unlike us, He knows the full picture. His experience as a man and His knowledge of being God can provide great comfort to us. We can see that here in John 11.
Martha and Mary know who Jesus truly is. Even in their grief, they believe Jesus will raise their brother - whether it was in the last days or that day. The women had faith that Jesus was God and He would comfort their grief. Yet, they also saw that He was human. He grieved and cried with them.
As scholars point out, His grief also comes from a place of knowing the full picture. Jesus came to bring life. And the chaos death leaves in its wake, grieved Him. Your grief, grieves God. He too has experienced pain and loss. BUT, like Mary and Martha, our faith is in Jesus! The Son of God, who defeated death. While here on earth we experience the earthly consequences of sin and death, our faith is in Jesus, who comforts and reminds us of the eternal gift that is waiting for us.
Reflection & Prayer
For this reading plan we will be using a tool to guide our study of Scripture that’s called the S.O.A.P. Method. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. We recommend you use a journal with this method and write out your thoughts on each of these areas for each day of reading. It doesn’t have to be long-winded and you don’t need a fancy journal. But for anyone that has not journaled before, the benefit is that it often helps us focus and avoid distractions during prayer and Bible study.
S.O.A.P. Method
Scripture - Pick a verse or two that stood out to you and write it in your journal. Be looking for a “Holy Spirit Highlight.” What did you read and think “I needed to hear that” or felt like it was written just for you?
Observation - Now write some observations about the verse(s) or passage. What is this passage or verse saying? About God? About people? How is Jesus revealed in these verses?
Application - Now write a few sentences on how this passage applies to your life. Is there truth about God that you are to believe? A promise to receive? Is the Holy Spirit convicting you of something you need to do or stop doing in light of God’s truth?
Prayer - Now write out a prayer to God in response to this Scripture. This is a way to turn God’s Word to you back to Him. Be honest and express your heart to Him. God always listens and He delights in your prayers. (Psalm 34:15; Proverbs 15:8)
Posted in Experiencing God