Our Daily Bread April 9
Stay on the Way / By: Mike Wittmer Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?
John 14:5
Today's Scripture:
John 14:1–7 (NIV):
14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 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. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
Dusk fell as I followed Li Bao along the tops of terraced walls cut into the mountains of central China. I had never been this way before, and I couldn’t see more than one step ahead or how steep the ground dropped off to our left. I gulped and stuck close to Li. I didn’t know where we were going or how long it would take, but I trusted my friend.
I was in the same position as Thomas, the disciple who always seemed to need reassurance. Jesus told His disciples that He must leave to prepare a place for them and that they knew “the way to the place where [He was] going” (John 14:4). Thomas asked a logical follow-up question: “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” (v. 5).
Jesus didn’t quench Thomas’s doubt by explaining where He was taking them. He simply assured His disciple that He was the way there. And that was enough.
We too have questions about our future. None of us know the details of what lies ahead. Life is full of twists we don’t see coming. That’s okay. It’s enough to know Jesus, who is “the way and the truth and the life” (v. 6).
Jesus knows what’s next. He only asks that we walk close to Him.
Today’s Hynms:
I Know Who Holds Tomorrow
Wherever He Leads I’ll Go
Scripture to Respond:
1 Peter 2:21 (NIV)
To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
Reflection :
Most of us would like God to lead us along a smooth broad way. But if God wants you to experience a more abundant life and leads you to a narrow bumpy road, are you willing to follow His steps?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, please help us to see Your beloved Son is our way. Let us follow Him closely in the journey of our life.
Wong Wai Tung (Chief executive officer of The Great Wall Education Foundation) & Sam Chow
(Administrative officer of The Great Wall Education Foundation) Translated by Esther Leung
