DRAWING NEAR
MAY 20
Desiring Christ's Presence
The twelve apostles included "Thomas" (Matt. 10:3).
When you think of Thomas, you probably think of a doubter. But if you
look beyond his doubt, you'll see he was characterized by something
that should mark every true believer: an intense desire to be with
Christ.
John 10:39-40 tells us Jesus and His disciples left Jerusalem because
of threats on Jesus' life. While they were staying near the Jordan
River, Jesus received word that His dear friend Lazarus was sick. He
delayed going to Lazarus because He didn't want merely to heal him,
but to raise him from the dead.
Lazarus lived in Bethany--just two miles east of Jerusalem. So when
Jesus decided to go there, His disciples were deeply concerned,
thinking it would surely be a suicide mission (John 11:8). Despite
the danger, Thomas said, "Let us also go, that we may die with Him"
(v. 16). That's a pessimistic attitude, but it shows his courage and
desire to be with Christ, whether in life or death. An optimist would
expect the best, making it easier to go. Thomas expected the worst,
but was willing to go anyway.
I believe Thomas couldn't bear the thought of living without Christ.
He would rather die with Him than live without Him. That's also
evident in John 14, where Jesus told the disciples He was going away
to prepare a place for them. Thomas responded by saying in effect,
"Lord, we don't know where you're going or how to get there. Please
don't go somewhere we can't go!" (v. 5). He didn't understand what
Jesus was going to do. All he knew was he didn't want to be separated
from His Lord.
Can you identify with Thomas? Is Christ such an integral part of your
daily decisions and activities that life without Him is unthinkable?
Do you love Him so much you long to see Him? That was Thomas's
passion. May it be yours as well.
Suggestions for Prayer:
Thank the Lord for His presence and power in your life.
Demonstrate your love for Him by communing with Him often.
For Further Study:
Read John 14:1-31.
What did Jesus say about His return? Who would comfort and
instruct the disciples in Christ's absence?
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
John 10:39-40
39 Therefore they sought again to seize Him, but He escaped out of
their hand.
40 And He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John
was baptizing at first, and there He stayed.
John 11:8
8 The disciples said to Him, "Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone
You, and are You going there again?"
John 14:1-31
14:1 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe
also in Me.
2 "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I
would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and
receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
4 "And where I go you know, and the way you know."
5 Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and
how can we know the way?"
6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one
comes to the Father except through Me.
7 "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and
from now on you know Him and have seen Him."
8 Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is
sufficient for us."
9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have
not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how
can you say, 'Show us the Father'?
10 "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in
Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority;
but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.
11 "Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else
believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.
12 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works
that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do,
because I go to My Father.
13 "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father
may be glorified in the Son.
14 "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments.
16 "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper,
that He may abide with you forever;
17 "the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it
neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with
you and will be in you.
18 "I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
19 "A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you
will see Me. Because I live, you will live also.
20 "At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me,
and I in you.
21 "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves
Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love
him and manifest Myself to him."
22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, how is it that You will
manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?"
23 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep
My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and
make Our home with him.
24 "He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word
which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me.
25 "These things I have spoken to you while being present with you.
26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My
name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all
things that I said to you.
27 "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world
gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let
it be afraid.
28 "You have heard Me say to you, 'I am going away and coming back
to you.' If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, 'I am
going to the Father,' for My Father is greater than I.
29 "And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come
to pass, you may believe.
30 "I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world
is coming, and he has nothing in Me.
31 "But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the
Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.
~~~
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www2.oneplace.com/Ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
letters@gty.org
NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase1@wideopenwest.com
http://www.gty.org/Gospel/
http://www.nwbible.org/
To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to discover that the prisoner was you. -Alistair Begg
.
|
