Slices
Prepare
Pray: ‘Father God, give us today the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that we may know you better. Amen.’
Bible passage
42 Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.’
Explore
Jesus addresses these words to people who had seen his miracles and chosen to believe him (v 31), but according to Jesus they were unable to grasp their dire spiritual condition and their need for Jesus to set them free (vs 33,43). Do you ever wonder why some people hear the good news but seem to be impervious to it? Or why some people revere Jesus as a moral teacher but react angrily to the suggestion that they are sinners?
According to Jesus, only those who belong to God can hear and understand (v 47). It seems an impossible situation, a catch-22!
The reason people do not understand is because they are held captive by the devil, caught in his web of lies and unable to recognise and respond to the truth (vs 43–45). It is a hard truth to hear that every person is held prisoner by sin and the devil (v 34; see Psalm 14:1–3; 2 Corinthians 4:4), unable to hear the voice of God. The only way out of this catch-22 is through Jesus (v 36). So let’s keep talking about Jesus to those who appear deaf to him, trusting God to work in their hearts.
Respond
Thank God for setting you free from sin then pray for someone who does not yet belong to him.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Job 31,32; Psalms 86,87
Pray for Scripture Union
Praise God for the witness of the beach missions, some of which have been active now for over a hundred years. There are six running this week throughout England and Wales. Praise God that every year the gospel is presented to a new generation of children and pray for many to respond to him.
