Series: Devotion

Thinking of dogs, we think of pets—trained, vaccinated, friendly. We are not thinking about the packs of wild dogs that ran around in Jesus’ day—eating dead things, carrying disease and even attacking people. Those kind of dogs are nobody’s friend. They are dangerous.

Before took up His cross, Jesus prayed for those who would believe through the witness of His apostles, asking that the new believers no matter how sticky and smelly things may seem, they would “all be one” just as Jesus and His Father are one (John 17:21a).

Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. … Persist in this, for by doing so you will save both yourself and your hearers.

I know that I am supposed to show love to them, but it’s so difficult! How in the world can I love that person? They do this or that terrible thing—they hold such awful opinions—their voice grates on me; their behavior is obnoxious. Christian or not, I can’t stand them. How can I be “one” with somebody who makes me want to run away the minute I lay eyes on them?

How do you share the Good News of Jesus with people who don’t even know that they need it? How do you give the world’s most valuable gift to people who don’t see any need for it?

He sent His Son to be the Savior of all people, but when Jesus was born and lived among us, many people did not want God’s guidance. Kings and rulers set themselves against the Messiah.

A man is reading the Bible, puzzling over a passage from the Old Testament.
Another man named Philip, sees him struggling and asks, “Do you understand what you’re reading?” The first man says, “How can I, unless someone shows me how?”

the disciples are not ready to hear many of the things Jesus wants to tell them. Much of it will make no sense until He dies and rises from the dead again. Some of it might terrify them—for example, finding out how many of them will give their lives for the sake of Jesus.

John is trying to explain in words things God conveyed to him in a vision—and he’s describing a place that doesn’t even exist yet—a place we won’t really understand till we’re there. Chances are high we’re dealing with a symbol.