Together in Christ: 'Never Abandoned!' — John 14:18

Wednesday, October 16, 2024

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We pray the Lord blesses you with the grace of Jesus' presence this Christmas!

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[Jesus promised his disciples,] "No, I will not abandon you as orphans — I will come to you."
— John 14:18 NLT

Key Thought

In Christ, we are never abandoned, forsaken, or left alone!

God repeatedly promised us, His beloved children, that He would never fail us or abandon us. [1] God will never let anything in the spiritual realm or the created world separate us from His love for us in Jesus, His Messiah. [2]

Dear brother or sister in Christ, we should not be surprised by these promises from the New Testament writers because Jesus had earlier promised: "I will not abandon you as orphans — I will come to you." Jesus comes to us through the Holy Spirit He poured out on us and into us when we were saved. [3] He assured us that even though the Holy Spirit is in us, we can ask the Father, and He will send the Spirit to us with an increasing measure of His presence. [4] The Holy Spirit will empower us to love others, [5] overcome the power of sin, [6] and do more than we could ever imagine doing — doing even greater things than Jesus did. [7] Even when we are drifting from Him, Jesus has promised to come to us and knock on the door of our hearts so we can invite Him in fully, to make His home with us. [8]

We can love others because God lives in us and longs to make His presence — as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — complete in us. Let's invite God in to take control as we offer ourselves to Him with all we are, have, dream, and do! [9]

[1] Hebrews 13:5-6.
[2] Romans 8:35-39.
[3] Acts 2:38-39; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Titus 3:3-5.
[4] Luke 11:13; Acts 4:23-31; 1 Thessalonians 4:8.
[5] Romans 5:5; Ephesians 4:25-32.
[6] Romans 8:1-11; Galatians 5:19-23.
[7] John 14:12.
[8] Revelation 3:20; John 14:23.
[9] Galatians 2:20; Romans 8:3-9; Romans 12:1-2.

Today's Prayer

Come into my heart, dear Father. Make Your home in me, Lord Jesus. Please fill and empower me, Holy Spirit. I offer You, God, my love with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength [A] and present myself to You as a living sacrifice [B] to live for Your glory. Amen.

[A] Matthew 22:36-40.
[B] Romans 12:1-2.

Related Scripture Readings

  • Deuteronomy 31:5-6, 8; Joshua 1:5; Hebrews 13:5-6
  • Romans 8:1-11, 35-39

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Illustration

Illustration of John 14:18 NLT — [Jesus promised his disciples,] "No, I will not abandon you as orphans — I will come to you."

About This Devotional

Together in Christ is a daily devotional that focuses on what Scripture teaches about godly living in relationships.

'Together in Christ' is written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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