What Jesus Did : John 14:29-31 - Giving In When You Don't Have To

    by Phil Ware

    Giving In When You Don't Have To - John 14:29-31

    "I have told you this now, before it happens. Then when it happens, you will believe. I will not talk with you much longer. The ruler of this world (the devil) is coming. He has no power over me. But the world must know that I love the Father. So I do exactly what the Father told me to do.
    "Come now. We will leave this place." (ERV) Full Text

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    Key Thought

    The principle here is tough. Jesus gives in to an enemy and then faces personal anguish, agony, and humiliation because he does. Why does he do it? Why would he let Satan, who has no real power over him, do such horrifying things to him? Two reasons: First, he is honoring the will of God and showing his love for God. Second, he is doing it for us, as an offering for our sin—the reason God sent him to earth in the first place. Jesus' example here is a tough one to follow—giving in when we don't have to do it. Why would we do it? For two reasons: First, to live obediently to God. Second, to spare the heartache of sin to others.


    Today's Prayer

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    Father, I admit that Jesus' example is often hard for me to follow. When I am wronged or falsely accused, I don't want to give in. Sometimes, I don't even want to forgive. I want to vindicate myself. Please give me spiritual discernment to know the difference between being a doormat that lets others needlessly run over me and being redemptive. Please help me know when to give in on matters so that others are spared the heartache of unnecessary conflict as I try to honor you by being a person of character. Thank you my Lord and Christ, for being willing to suffer abuse and injustice so that my sins could be forgiven. In Jesus' name I ask for this wisdom and strength and I offer my praise for heaven's grace. Amen.


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    Today's Verses in Context


    "If you love me, then you will do the things I command. I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper. He will give you this Helper to be with you forever. The Helper is the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him. Why? Because the world does not see him or know him. But you know him. He lives with you, and he will live in you. "I will not leave you all alone like children without parents. I will come back to you. In a very short time the people in the world will not see me any more. But you will see me. You will live because I live. On that day you will know that I am in the Father. You will know that you are in me and I am in you. If a person knows my commands and obeys those commands, then that person truly loves me. And my Father will love the person that loves me. And I will love that person. I will show myself to him." Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But Lord, why do you plan to show yourself to us, but not to the world?" Jesus answered, "If any person loves me, then he will obey my teaching. My Father will love that person. My Father and I will come to that person and live with him. But the person that does not love me does not obey my teaching. This teaching that you hear is not really mine. It is from my Father who sent me. "I have told you all these things while I am with you. But the Helper will teach you everything. The Helper will cause you to remember all the things I told you. This Helper is the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name. "I leave you peace. It is my own peace I give you. I give you peace in a different way than the world does. So don't be troubled. Don't be afraid. You heard me say to you, 'I am leaving, but I will come back to you.' If you loved me, then you would be happy that I am going back to the Father. Why? Because the Father is greater than I am. I have told you this now, before it happens. Then when it happens, you will believe. I will not talk with you much longer. The ruler of this world (thedevil) is coming. He has no power over me. But the world must know that I love the Father. So I do exactly what the Father told me to do. "Come now. We will leave this place."

    -- John 14:15-31 (ERV)

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