Monday, February 23, 2009

Do not let your hearts be troubled

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:1-3, 27.

Jesus' words "do not let your hearts be troubled", in verses 1 and 27, are like two bookends of comfort on either side of the story of redemption. In between the bookends He talks about heaven, a real place, with a room for each redeemed soul who puts their trust in Him. Jesus talks about the Father, to whom He will return, after His sacrifice for sin. He talks about the Holy Spirit, Whom He will send to the Earth, and the work of comfort and teaching that the Spirit will do. And then he adds, to the words in verse one, as a benediction and reminder "and do not be afraid."

We have nothing to fear - Jesus is near.


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