Delayed Truth
Have you learned this important spiritual skill? When you talk, don’t say any bad things. But say things that people need – things that will help other people become stronger. Then the things you say will help the people who listen to you. (Ephesians 4:29 ERV) When I finished it, I knew I needed to wait to print it. It was too fresh. People were too close and might be hurt if I ran it so soon after it happened. While every word of it was true, it needed to be delayed. What is the “it” I’m talking about? “It” is the article I finished the other night at 1:30 in the morning after two hours of work. While the article contained a message that needs to be heard and what is said is 100% truthful, this truth needed to be delayed. Shading the truth or telling only the partial truth is not honesty. Delayed truth is not partial truth. Telling the truth from God’s point of view means that truth should be of benefit to the hearer. Christian speech is redemptive. The motivation behind it must be to be encouraging. Our goal in communication should be to bless and build up others based on their needs and not our agenda, chip on the shoulder, sense of urgency, or insensitivity. Sometimes truth needs to be delayed until the time is right, our motivation is pure, and our purpose is redemptive. So often, many of us prattle on volunteering everything we know and everything we feel. In a world of blogs, conversations, and commentaries, God’s children need to learn there is a time to be silent and keep our mouths – and our pens and our keyboards – silent and still. “There is a time to be silent, and a time to speak.” (Ecclesiastes 3:7) We’ve got to learn to “tell the time” in our choice of words. This is not an option for us. Jesus wants us to know that we “will have to explain about every careless thing” we’ve said to others. (Matthew 12:36) Our words and how we use those words matter to others and to God. I don’t profess to be an expert on being silent – I’ve gotten myself in more than my share of messes from responding to emails too hastily and without prayerfully considering my response. I’ve said something “cute” in the banter of conversation that was at the expense of someone else who was hurt or made the butt of the joke. I often have trouble knowing when to quit talking. Hopefully I’m getting better, but I still have a long way to go. However, I do realize that I must improve in this area. I know that my speech, my email, and my writing need to be handled with more sensitivity, care, and timing. It is not God’s truth if it is not shared with concern for blessing our hearer by what is said and by when it is said. About the author: Phil Ware has authored 11 years of daily devotionals, including VerseoftheDay.com, read by 500,000 people a day. He works with churches in transition with Interim Ministry Partners and for the past 21+ years, he has been editor and president of HEARTLIGHT Magazine, author of VerseoftheDay.com, God’s Holy Fire (on the Holy Spirit), and aYearwithJesus.com. Phil has also authored four books, daily devotionals on each of the four gospels.
Servant!
Jesus recalibrated greatness and changed it from being fame and notoriety to kneeling and using a basin and towel. Over our 25 years, HEARTLIGHT.org has passed along the creative blessings of many famous authors who graciously shared their writing with our readers. This year as we celebrate “Shining the Light” for a quarter-century, we will repeat some of Phil’s previous posts over the years. We hope this focused message on Jesus calls you to deeper discipleship. A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table, or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves (Luke 22:24-27). Don’t you imagine that the Lord’s Supper those first few years after the Lord’s ascension was tough on Jesus’ apostles? After they had endured the ordeal of the Cross, experienced the surprising joy of the resurrection, and received the Great Commission during his farewell ascension, this regular reminder of their failings had to be bittersweet. The Lord’s Supper had to be sweet for them because they celebrated it on the first day of the week, Sunday, the day of Jesus’ resurrection (Acts 20:7; Luke 24:1-3). Jesus’ resurrection changed Sunday from a normal day into the Lord’s Day (Revelation 1:10). They could then view their Savior’s death through the lens of his amazing victory over Satan, sin, death, and hell. Each celebration of the Lord’s Supper meant that they could remember again all their memories of the day they first realized Jesus was alive and the victor over death. They could feel that incredible joy of the resurrection again! However, the Lord’s Supper had to be bitter in many ways, too. They were reminded of their stupid quarrels after the Lord has shared the Last Supper with them – quarreling about who would betray him and who was going to be greatest in his kingdom (John 13:1-38). They remembered the embarrassment they felt when Jesus washed their feet because each of them was too important to wash their Lord’s feet. They were haunted by the memories of their repeated sleepiness when the Lord needed a friend to stay awake with him and support him in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. They were hurt by the memories of their repeated failures to stand by Jesus on this fateful night. They recalled when they forsook him and fled during his arrest as one among them betrayed their Lord into the hands of persecutors, and later, as Peter denied him three times. In my own head, I can construct imaginary conversations that might have gone on between these apostles and their children, and in later years, possibly their grandchildren. “Surely you weren’t like those other guys, were you Papa Pete? Surely you stood by Jesus, didn’t you? You didn’t run out on him, did you? After all, you promised him! I know you must have defended him even though everybody else was chicken and ran away?” “No, I’m ashamed to say, I was no different than the rest,” Peter would have to tell his loved ones. On the resurrection side of their Lord’s cross, those closest to him also remembered things Jesus had said, things they had taken to heart but could not understand at the time, but now were clear to them after his resurrection. Having the vantage point of the empty tomb, the coming of the Spirit, and years of ministry, their hearts must have been stirred by the wonderful and powerful mystery and power of their Lord that was now fully revealed to them. They could remember their Lord’s sense of sacrificial mission: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). They could recall the Lord’s definition of greatness: “The greatest among you will be your servant” (Matthew 10:11). They could be reminded of the Lord’s clear statement of his role: “For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves” (Luke 22:27). They could still see in their memory of that night the basin and the towel as he washed their feet and told them, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them” (John 13:15-17). For those longing to be Jesushaped like these earliest and closest followers of Christ, the words “service” and “servant” had to ring in their ears. These words shaped their lives for years ahead as they offered themselves to the work of his Kingdom. Many of them ended up giving their lives to reach and serve the lost, just as their Lord had given his life for them. Yet for Jesus to have called them – and through them, to have called us – to this kind of lifestyle shouldn’t be surprising. Those who love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, and mind, would surely have to love others (Matthew 22:36-40). The Lord’s apostles knew that the second great command could not be divorced from the first one! These commands were the balancing power behind these Christ-followers’ lives. Each of the Lord’s love commands was necessary to keep them moving to the rhythms
A Family Without Borders
These ordinary people did the extraordinary: they lived Jesus’ words into reality. Special Note: This is not a traditional Valentine’s Day post. However, it is part of the most significant gift and message of love ever given: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son…” I sat in the packed and humid auditorium in Bangkok, Thailand. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I sang at the top of my lungs. The tears were not from the chicken, hot peppers, and rice I had for breakfast from a street vendor – the two orange crush sodas had taken care of that. What caused my tears, what held my heart, was the moment. We were singing, “They will know we are Christians by our love, by our love, they will know we are Christians by our love!” I sang in English. Most around me sang in Thai. People from over twelve nations were worshiping together. Each sang in her or his native language in four-part harmony. Rather than being confusing or merely noise, the singing was overwhelmingly beautiful. Even more touching, this was not a special occasion. Other than being the Lord’s Day, what made it special was that though we were different in culture and language and skin color, we were one family. We were bound together by our shared love for Jesus. The Holy Spirit made us family without borders! This experience was a mini-taste of heaven. John describes heaven in the book of Revelation with these words: After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: Salvation belongs to our God,who sits on the throne,and to the Lamb. All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: Amen!Praise and gloryand wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strengthbe to our God for ever and ever. Amen! (Revelation 7:9-12) Jesus challenged his first followers to take his message of hope, new life, heavenly power, and one family to the whole world. The Lord explained his plan in these words: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). This simple, but breathtakingly simple, yet inclusive, plan was used on a city level (“Jerusalem”), a regional level (“all Judea and Samaria”), as well as a whole world level (“ends of the earth”). The Lord wanted his followers to share their great news about Jesus and the kingdom of God using this strategy: Here. Near. Far. We see this plan in action as Luke traces the spread of the great news of Jesus from Jerusalem to all the areas around Judea and Samaria. Then, they reached out all over the Roman Empire. You can map the progress by the great cities of that time: The Jesus-message spread from Jerusalem to Antioch to Ephesus and then to Rome. We can become so familiar with this story that we can forget how impossible Jesus’ parting words had to seem. The Lord only had a small group from the backwaters of Galilee. These few followers watched their Lord leave them. They were not influential. They had few financial resources. They were powerless by the world’s standards. They were simple, ordinary, folks, at best! However, this little group of people knew, loved, followed, and trusted Jesus (Acts 4:13). Jesus’ resurrection inspired their hearts to embrace their Lord’s words as he left them (Acts 1:8). So, these ordinary people did the extraordinary: they lived Jesus’ words into reality. Two thousand years later, in a place so far from my earthly home, the beautiful country of Thailand, I experienced the reality of Jesus’ grand vision. I was reignited in my motivation to continue carrying out the here, near, and far plan of our Lord. My world since that experience has been both bigger and smaller because I am part of a family without borders! In a world frequently more fractured by race, political party, culture, language, country, and ethnicity, followers of Jesus have an incredible opportunity. With internet access, social media networking, and modern travel, our world is so much more accessible to us than it was to those few folks on the mountain watching Jesus return to the Father. So, dear friend in Jesus, the real question for us is whether or not we are committed to both live out the mission of Jesus (“to the ends of the earth”) and the vision of Jesus (“a great multitude…from every nation, tribe, people and language”) in our time. Yes, we must commit to this mission and go here, near, and far. Yes, we must commit to this vision and love all people in all places. Why? Two reasons crucia0l to our authenticity as followers of Jesus: “For God so loved the world…” (John 3:16). If our Father loved the people of the world so much, how can we not love them and go to them with the message of Jesus? “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). If our Father has called each of us – with all of our differences – into his family, how can we not love each one whom the Father has called into our family? Here, near, and far is our mission as we live out his vision for us to be his loving family without borders! Special thanks for the use of the Jesus related images in this series to Free Bible Images and The Lumo Project. Those pictures associated with the ministry
Get This Please!
Note from Jesus Dear Disciple, Don’t miss this truth: “The Son of Man didn’t come to ruin the lives of people, but He came to liberate them.” No matter what happens to Me on the way to the cross, I won’t use My power for Myself or My preservation even though I have the power to defend Myself and defeat every enemy I have to face. I came to liberate people. I came to liberate you! I came to liberate you from your fear about the future and your fear about your work and worship being wasted. I came to liberate you from the human principle of retaliation and the mistaken notion that violence in return for violence can bring peace. I came to liberate you from the stranglehold of demonic powers and the fear of death. I came to liberate you from having to prove you are significant, worthy, and acceptable to God. I came to liberate you from the mistaken notion that everyone will accept Me. Don’t grow angry with those who reject Me and don’t retaliate against those who push Me away. There are many others who need Me and My grace; move on from those who reject Me and My message and reach those who are seeking and searching. Once again, I remind you: “The Son of Man didn’t come to ruin the lives of people, but He came to liberate them.” Verses to Live My disciples did some dumb things out of fear and confusion. Today you see James and John wanting to do something stupid and insensitive out of confusion and fear; they wanted to destroy some people who didn’t welcome Me. Notice how I point them to the positive aspect of My mission rather than letting them become focused on their anger at those who rejected Me. My followers need to hear the same message in your day! The time approached for Him [Jesus] to be taken back up to the Father; so strong with resolve, Jesus made Jerusalem His destination. He sent some people ahead of Him into the territory of the Samaritans, a minority group at odds with the Jewish majority. He wanted His messengers to find a place for them to stay in a village along the road to Jerusalem. But because the Samaritans realized Jesus was going to Jerusalem, they refused to welcome them. James and John (outraged): Lord, do You want us to call down fire from heaven to destroy these people who have rejected You? Jesus (turning toward them and shaking His head): You just don’t get it. The Son of Man didn’t come to ruin the lives of people, but He came to liberate them. He led them on toward another village. (Luke 9:51-56) Response in Prayer Almighty God, help me remain focused on why Jesus came and why You sent Him into our world. In everything I do, including my efforts to reach and teach the lost, I want to reflect the purpose, character, and compassion of Jesus, in Whose name I offer this prayer. Amen. ‘A Year with Jesus’ is written by Phil Ware. © 1998-2026, Heartlight, Inc. ‘A Year with Jesus‘ is part of the Heartlight Network.All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Voice™. © 2008 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
13 Feb 2026
Thankfulness overcomes a sense of entitlement. It makes us humbly accept that without God’s love for us and His help, we would be nowhere. It is the Lord who sustains us daily. He enables us to live do the things we do. He is merciful and truly cares for us. Colossians 2:6-7.
Enduring Hope
Where does the power to keep hoping come from? In the early 1700’s, Alexander Pope wrote, “Hope springs eternal in the human breast: Man never is, but always is to be, blest.” (Essay on Man). I am afraid that is not entirely true. There are many today who have either lost, or never had, real hope. Hope is simply the belief that there is something better still ahead. It is not a complicated thing – just a glimmer of light in the darkness. It primarily is the domain of the suffering and troubled. Those who are fully satisfied with things as they are spend little time hoping for a better tomorrow. In The Diary of Anne Frank, a story of the persecution of the Jews under Adolf Hitler, her family is in hiding for a long time. Finally they are discovered and there is great emotional stress as they prepare to be taken to the prison camp. Her last line is classic: “Until now we have lived in fear. Now, let us live in hope!” How can anyone survive without hope? Yet, many do. It is a sad and bitter life at best, but they survive. But, survival is not the primary goal of humankind. If it were, then we are all defeated. Endurance, made possible by hope, is our calling. The ancient Job cried out in his bitter agony, “But the mountain falls and crumbles away, and the rock is removed from its place; the waters wear away the stones; the torrents wash away the soil of the earth; so thou destroyest the hope of man.” (Job 14:18-19) But he is answered centuries later as the Psalmist sings, “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.” (Psalm 42:5-6) The apostle Paul sums it all up as one who has known the full force of our adversary. “Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” (Romans 12:12) Perhaps Peter the apostle says it best of all: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…” (1 Peter 1:3) It is a long way from Job to Peter, but in the end they shared one common experience. God was their vindicator! He still redeems the righteous from despair and gives us hope and “hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Romans 5:5 NKJV) About the author: Bill is a long time minister in Nacogdoches, Texas who loves world missions. His passion for ministry has led him all over the world. In addition to his work as a minister, he is also a licensed professional counselor. Bill’s family is also involved in ministry and service to the world and community.
Surprised by Love
Could this be the greatest love story of all? Oh, how can I give you up …?How can I let you go?How can I destroy you …?My heart is torn within me,and my compassion overflows.… for I am God and not a mere mortal. (Hosea 11:8-9 NLT) Sentimentalists, don’t get your hopes up by this title; this isn’t a “chick flick” worthy story. It is, however, about the truth that underlies every single one of those stories that has value. In some ways, what we discover together here is far more important than any other story no matter how sentimental. This is the discovery of truth – the surprising, experiential, multi-faceted, ever-repeating reality – about love and all genuine love stories. Love is unpredictable. There you have it. That’s it. That’s a truth you can bank on! Love is unpredictable. Love does the unexpected. Love is full of surprises. Love is new even in the face of mind-numbing monotony. Love twists when rationality says go straight. Love forges ahead when logic says make a major change. Love doesn’t budge when conventional wisdom says run. Love moves like the wind when common sense says “Be still and hide!” Love does the unexpected! O I know that is not the exact definition of love in Scripture (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 for example). I can’t quote a verse as a proof text that really summarizes what I’m saying … at least not one verse that says it exactly. But I can get you proof. God! God is love. He shows it instead of just saying it. Or better yet, he says it by doing it. He can be tough or tender. He can be patient or pushy. He can rage and he can whisper. He can show his power and he can hide in the quietness of his creation. He can punish and he can suffer under the scourge. He can thunder and he can weep for a dead friend and his sisters. He can demand allegiance, but he can also risk everything to win our hearts. God is not unpredictable. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Yet his actions will always appear a bit unexpected and surprising if we do not humbly recognize that he is driven by one truth that trumps all others … his love for us … his gracious, undeserved, and unexpected love for us. That’s not to be confused with sappy emotions without gut wrenching sacrifice. It should not be mistaken for spoken intentions without follow through. This love should never be reduced to politically correct sounding speech with hollow character. We’ve let baby boomer sappiness and TV driven sentimentality replace the real grit and authenticity of true love … unexpected, undeserved, sacrificial love. God will do the unexpected to reach the undeserving … to reach us. He always has. He always will. That’s what his book is about. Even more, that is what his ultimate message, Jesus is about. And that is what he is at work doing in your life and mine … even when the unexpected turns of our life leave us ripped up and full of questions. So … … will you trust that whatever he is up to in our world, your world, its about finding a way to reach you and your heart even when you can’t understand all the why’s of life? … will you join him in his passion to touch everyone – even the ones most of us can’t stand or wouldn’t waste time to reach – and change them by his love? About the author: Phil Ware has authored 11 years of daily devotionals, including VerseoftheDay.com, read by 500,000 people a day. He works with churches in transition with Interim Ministry Partners and for the past 21+ years, he has been editor and president of HEARTLIGHT Magazine, author of VerseoftheDay.com, God’s Holy Fire (on the Holy Spirit), and aYearwithJesus.com. Phil has also authored four books, daily devotionals on each of the four gospels.
When Water Becomes Wine
How can we see this miracle in our lives? Each moment is crowded with eternal significance, yet our eyes are often blind: we expect only what is predictable. We miss God’s grace in the moment, the Father’s gift in the simple, and Heaven’s glory in the ordinary. We lose the Lord’s presence in the sunrise, his joy in the smile of a child, his whisper in the wrinkles of the aged, and his glory hidden in a spider’s web. So when John tells us his story of Jesus, he is wanting to do more than tell us history. Yes, what he writes is truth, but even more he wants us to know it is true – authentic to real life. Each encounter with Jesus tells us, not just what he did, but also what he longs to do now… in us… among us… through us. The unpredictable Savior wants to show us how water can become wine. On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him (John 2:1-11 NLT). Jesus is at a wedding. Possibly a relative’s wedding. Mary is likely helping. This week long celebration is the most important event in the life of the bride and groom, their families, and the small village of Cana. Losing face in this moment would be disastrous! And they don’t have enough wine to meet the needs. Joy was about to be shipwrecked in shame. Celebration was headed for embarrassment. And Mary, the mother of Jesus, knew of the need. She also knew the power of her son not yet released. She brought the two together even though it wasn’t time for Jesus’ work to begin. Jesus takes ordinary water and it becomes wine. Look carefully at the story line. Mary shared the need expecting Jesus to act (John 2:3). Mary stressed the need for simple obedience (John 2:5). Everyone is blessed (John 2:10-11)! This story is a reminder that our Savior will do what is necessary, even when the time isn’t right, to bring grace. Jesus takes ordinary water and it becomes wine, again and again… With Nicodemus he talks about being born of water and the Spirit – inviting him to enter the Kingdom through the miracle of baptism and the Holy Spirit (John 3:1-21). In the heat of the day, he uses his own thirst for water to break down the barriers of prejudice and suspicion with a rejected woman he meets at a well (John 4:1-43). In a furious storm on the water, he comes to his fearful followers and brings them safely to shore and displays his power (John 6:17-21). On the cross, water mixed with blood flows out of his spear pierced side, showing us the love of God and his willingness to face mortality to bring us life (John 19:31-35). So where in your life do you need to experience water becoming wine? I have a situation where I need a miracle from Jesus. I’m you sure do, too! So we ask… How do I get my needs met? What do I need to do to get my miracle? How can I see his glory? When will my water become wine? But lean in with John and look closely. Who’s the hero? It is Mary, Jesus’ mom. She is looking to bless someone else, not herself! We often get so caught up in our own stuff that we fail to notice others. Don’t believe me? Notice our pronouns when we pray. It’s all I, me, and my. We want our water to become wine and so easily forget the shame, the brokenness, the embarrassment, the hurt, the longing, and the lack in others. We lose the miracle of seeing water become wine, because all we can see is ourself! So let’s commit to being like Mary! Let’s share the needs of someone else with the Lord and expect him to act with grace for them. Let’s encourage those around the situation to practice simple obedience to Jesus. And let’s anticipate for the moment when their water becomes wine. And when we do, we will find that we see his glory revealed and others will be led to believe. About the author: Phil Ware has authored 11 years of daily devotionals, including VerseoftheDay.com, read by 500,000 people a day. He works with churches in transition with Interim Ministry Partners and for the past 21+ years, he has been editor and president of HEARTLIGHT Magazine, author of VerseoftheDay.com, God’s Holy Fire (on the Holy Spirit), and aYearwithJesus.com. Phil has also authored four books, daily devotionals on each of the four gospels.
Today’s Verse – 1 Corinthians 13:6-7
Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. —1 Corinthians 13:6-7 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Life as a follower of Jesus is always about love – loving God and loving others (Matthew 22:36-40), doing the things Paul lists here – not delighting in evil, rejoicing with the truth, protecting, trusting, hoping, and persevering always! Living this always loving way in a fallen world full of self-centered people is a very tough and tall order and sometimes very tough work. Only God is always. But then Christians are fueled to this always kind of love through the Holy Spirit. Paul tells us that “The love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:5). No wonder this love, true love, Christian love, loving like Jesus is always love – it is God’s love, demonstrated by Jesus’ sacrifice, and now empowered through us by the Holy Spirit to be delivered to others by grace. My Prayer… Sweet and Glorious God on high, I humble myself before you, recognizing your boundless power to love always. I also recognize the incredible need for this always kind of love in the lives of those around me as I try to love that way with my limited capacity to love in my own strength. So, please pour your Holy Spirit into my heart and fill me with the power to love as you do: always. In Jesus’ sweet name, I pray. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
The Blindness of Fear
Note from Jesus Dear Beloved, Have you ever been blinded by fear? Have your decisions ever been erratic or inappropriate because you were acting out of terror and confusion? Have you ever done something really stupid because you were trying to deny oncoming reality and wanted to do anything possible to avoid finding out what might happen? Don’t be too hard on My disciples in the events you read about below. They really looked like insensitive clods in several of the next events in My life because they were confused and fearful. They had risked everything to follow Me. They had seen Me do amazing miracles — feed thousands, still storms, raise the dead, heal the sick, and cast out demons. So they were having a hard time processing My repeated warnings of My impending crucifixion. As Luke describes it below, “they felt too afraid to ask” Me what I was describing because they didn’t want to believe there could be a catastrophe in our future together. Let those words settle into your heart — “they felt too afraid to ask”! Most people reach this place of fear at some point in their lives. They need to know, they need to understand what is about to happen, they need to realize what is ahead, but… they feel too afraid to ask anyone, including Me, about what lies ahead. So they end up in arguments over “stupid and vain” questions. In the face of fear, they need to know they belong to Me and are important to Me. So please know the following truths: First, you don’t need to have all the answers to people’s problems, but I do want you to serve those who are vulnerable. Second, don’t discount the good things others do in My name just because you don’t recognize them as part of your group. If they are doing good in My name, then I can use their efforts for the good of the kingdom. Third, beloved disciple, don’t be too hard on yourself when fear grips you and blinds you about your future. When your fear leads you to do or say dumb, insensitive, or inappropriate things, learn from and don’t repeat your mistakes but don’t beat yourself up. Remember, there will never be a place that you travel in your life that I will not go with you and ultimately bring you safely home to the Father. Verses to Live Be encouraging and tender with those who do dumb things because they are afraid or in denial or find themselves confused about the future. Watch how I prepare My disciples as I minister to them on My way to the crucifixion and resurrection. While I do get frustrated with them at times, notice how I warn them of the truth about what is coming and prepare them for what lies ahead. Notice that at other times I leave them promises about the future and assurances that I will not abandon them, but send the Spirit to them. Especially notice how I leave seeds of truth for them to discover as the events unfold — seeds of truth that give them strength for their important ministry ahead. The following verses are just the first stage in My journey to Jerusalem where rejection and the cross await me. So watch how I treat those closest to Me as they journey into the heart of their most unimaginable fears. Jesus: Listen. Listen hard. Let these words get down deep: the Son of Man is going to be turned over to the authorities and arrested. They [the disciples] had no idea what He meant by this; they heard the words but missed the meaning, and they felt too afraid to ask Him to explain further. Later the close followers of Jesus began to argue over the stupid and vain question, “Which one of us is the greatest disciple?” Jesus saw what was going on — not just the argument, but the deeper heart issues — so He found a child and had the child stand beside Him. Jesus: See this little one? Whoever welcomes a little child in My name welcomes Me. And whoever welcomes Me welcomes the One Who sent Me. The smallest one among you is therefore the greatest. John: Master, we found this fellow casting out demons. He said he was doing it in Your name, but he’s not one of our group. So we told him to stop. Jesus: What? No! Don’t think like that! Whoever is not working against you is working with you. (Luke 9:44-50) Response in Prayer Dear Father, sometimes fear about things I cannot control makes me do dumb things. Sometimes, dear Father, fear about the future for those I love makes my heart waver and my faith weak. Please, dear God, hear my prayers. Show me Your presence. Give me strength to face each tomorrow. In my confusion and frustration, I need to experience Your nearness, or I cannot handle what is ahead or minister to others in a way that blesses them and honors You. In Jesus’ name, I offer up my heart and my deepest fears to You. Amen. ‘A Year with Jesus’ is written by Phil Ware. © 1998-2026, Heartlight, Inc. ‘A Year with Jesus‘ is part of the Heartlight Network.All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Voice™. © 2008 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.