THANKFUL

Chatting with Jesus

Monday, February 26, 2024

Lord, you spent your last night on Earth praying with your disciples. Within hours, according to God the Father’s plan, you would willingly go to the cross as the sacrifice for man’s redemption from sin. But before you went, you prayed earnestly for your disciples … and for me personally, too. You prayed that your rag-tag group of disciples would not be removed from the Earth. Instead, you prayed a holy boldness would empower them to tell everyone your message of redemption through faith in you, Jesus. These twelve men’s sharing the truths of your death, burial, and resurrection would change the world.    

Your message of redemption is not complex. The Apostle John simply wrote in his Gospel: “For God so loved the world [that’s you and me] that he gave his only Son [Jesus] that whosoever [again, you and me] believes in him [again, Jesus], should not perish [die without knowing you, God], but have everlasting life [with you, God, in Heaven] (John 3:16).

Lord, you covered all the bases for everyone who would believe in you. I’m a believer because you added an addendum to your prayer:

“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message” (John 17:20).

The disciples shared your salvation message to their world, who in turn shared it with those in their world, and the message of grace, forgiveness, and mercy—the message of John 3:16—passed down through the generations and finally reached me.

Lord, you are faithful. Over the centuries, sinful man has tried to cancel you but failed at every attempt. How true your Words. You said heaven and Earth will pass away, but your message of redemption will never pass away (Matthew 24:35).

Lord, help us keep your message alive and ongoing.  Amen, Jesus.