Beyond the Weekend

November 23 | Challenge & Comfort

November 23, 2018

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

Philip said, “Lord show us the father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’” John 14:8-9

Read: John 14:7-10

Listen: John 14

TODAY’S MESSAGE

Philip and the other disciples didn’t understand it at the time, but in Jesus—we see the Father. Watch the video clip below as Pastor John Dickson tells the story of a young woman named Christina. It is striking that when Christina gets a look at the photo of her mom and the message on the back, instantly her confusion turns into clarity. The photo was a reminder of who her mother was and that she loved her. Jesus does the same for us. He is the image of God left in the world for all to see.

This should come to us as both a challenge and a comfort.This is a challenge because if God reveals himself in Jesus Christ, it means we cannot cherry pick when to listen to him or invent a version of God we find palatable. Instead, we see the definition of God every time we read the Gospels describing his very image in Jesus. But this is also a comfort because we see glimpses of God the Father in everything Jesus said and did. If we just look to Jesus, we will see who God is and know that he loves us despite our rejection of him. God’s image, love and grace calls us home to our God who pursues us even though we don’t deserve it (Romans 5:8).

IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY

Consider that God has made himself known through Jesus Christ. Spend a few minutes and take an assessment of your heart towards this truth. How is it a challenge and how is it a comfort to you today? Then ask, “What is one next step I can take to allow God to define himself to me?” Maybe this means reading through one of the gospels over the next few weeks or committing to pray regularly asking God to show you where you have invented an image of God. Close your time thanking God for his image that calls you home.


Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.

You Might Also Like