5 Minute Read
Today’s Bible Reading:
2 Samuel 7:1–8:18
John 14:15-31
Psalm 119:33-48
Proverbs 15:33
Today’s Bible Verse(s):
John 14:23 (NLT): “Jesus replied, ‘All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.’”
Reflections on Today’s Bible Verse(s):
Probably the most significant human need is for relationships. We long to love and be loved by others.
In God’s work of Creation, recounted in Genesis 1-2, we read that the Lord kept pronouncing everything “good.” Yet, when He created Adam and before He created Eve, He acknowledged Adam’s lack of relationship as “not good.”
Genesis 2:18 (NLT): “Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.’”
So, even in the perfect utopia known as the Garden of Eden, before sin entered the world, where Adam was free to enjoy God, it was acknowledged that Adam needed a human relationship – in his particular case, a wife.
But, the intriguing truth is that it wasn’t good that Adam had God. Adam needed something else – he needed a human relationship. Yet, as Adam sinned and took his new wife into a cursed world, his relationship with God was broken, so he was doomed to experience loneliness anyway.
Principle: We need a relationship with God and others. We need to have our hearts satisfied in a relationship with God to enjoy others. And having our need for relationships met by others (church, family, etc.) enables us to enjoy God’s presence all the more.
We need to cultivate a relationship with God and others!
The greatest commandment (love God will everything we’ve got) enables us to obey the second greatest commandment (love others as we love ourselves) and vise versa (see Matthew 22:35-40). Obeying these two commands also satisfies our deepest emotional needs for love and acceptance.
In the verse that I have chosen for today, we read that the Trinity will take up residence inside the person who loves and obeys Him.
John 14:23 (NLT): “Jesus replied, ‘All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.’”
Talk about the satisfaction that comes from relationships! The Trinity will not simply go with us throughout life. God will enter us and treat our bodies as a temple where he resides.
So, there are at least two truths to be enjoyed as we reflect on this verse:
1) Enjoy the relationship with God that He is offering to you. Enjoy it so much that you are overflowing with happiness and satisfaction.
2) Then, you will be more emotionally healthy and suited to enjoy a relationship with others.
God really does understand us. He knows of our need for a relationship. So chase after them. Obedience to the two greatest commands is in your best interest, friend.
Matt Ellis is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Polk City, Florida (fbcpolkcity.com). His latest book is God’s Grace in the Real World. Connect with him on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
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