Daily Devotion-February 2, 2023

Daily Devotion-February 2, 2023

John 6:66-69

After this, many of his disciples turned back and were not walking with him anymore. So Jesus asked the Twelve, “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank you for this example of how to deal with people who walk away from your word. Faith in you is voluntary, no one is coerced or forced to believe, and there is no program our church can do to get more people in the door. Moreover, programs, music, the pastor, or any external should not be the why people come. You are the only reason people should walk through our church’s doors. They should desire to hear about your love and forgiveness. Sometimes, hearing the truth will be challenging, especially when we get caught up in sin. The crowds left you because your teaching was hard for them to understand; it went against their reasoning, but you didn’t chase after them and force them to stay.

When someone leaves our church because we don’t have the right music, the right children’s program or the new pastor is just different from the old one; we ask them as you did and allow them to go. The twelve understood what was vital, and you taught them. You came to this world to live a holy and perfect life for all people; then you went to the cross for them. So we receive your grace upon grace, and all that believe in you will have everlasting life. We pray that we would recognize where your word is taught in its truth and purity; there we will say with the disciples, “Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” Forgive our sins when we doubt your providence to keep us in our faith. Please also provide for us faithful pastors and teachers who always point us to your love and mercy and the forgiveness you won for us. So that, out of love for you, we will share the good news of your love and forgiveness with others. Amen.

Written through Pastor Roger Emmons

What is a faithful church? It’s not focused on what you are doing but on Jesus and his salvation for you. A message about his suffering and death, how he paid the penalty for all your sins, and how he has won the victory for your eternal life; that is a church you never leave.