John 10:22-42

40 Days of John

Day 18: John 10:22-42

Some are having a hard time believing in Jesus.  It's winter in today's passage around Hanukkah, and people want Jesus to plainly state that He is the Messiah, even though He's already said it in so many ways.  He's even shown His God power again and again.  Yet, people still struggle to wrap their brains around the fact that the  "mere man" right in front of them also claims to be God.  

And I love how Jesus responds to those who struggle to believe Him.  Jesus encourages people to focus on His works in order to know and understand who He is.  About His works, Jesus says,

"But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father."

John 10:38

Really, no matter what the current state of our belief, this passage is so meaningful in our faith, always.  If we want to see God's power than we need to pay attention to His works.

And the thing is, Jesus died for us so that now He is alive and at work in us each and every day.  So in light of today's passage, Jesus is giving us an invitation of sorts to come to know Him by trusting in the works He does in us and through us.  Jesus wants our faith to be strengthened not just by what He says, but by what He does...

I am reminded of what Jesus says later in John...

"On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and You are in me, and I am in You."

John 14:20

So, let's think about that today and spend some time soaking in God's works because that's where we get to know and see Jesus.  Where do we see God's works today?  

Whether messy or neat, pretty or ugly, God promises us He will be there where we look for Him working for good.  

I want to focus on those works and be thankful that Jesus shows us who He is in real ways.

A prayer for today-

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for being in me, and for all Your wonderful works.

I thank you for the ways You are working in and through ________________, ________________, ____________________.

Forgive me for all the ways I focus too much on the world and not enough on Your works.  

Help me to concentrate on Your presence in all that I see and in all that I do.  I want to see the world through the lens of faith, believing and knowing Your goodness and Your powerful love.

I ask that You bless _______________________ (situation/event/circumstances) and pray that it will be a blessing to others for Your glory, Lord.

In Your holy name I pray,

Amen

Peace of Christ,

*This post is part of A Mind-Maker-Upper's Everyday Reading Project.  Click here to read more.