Unshakable

“Jesus answered them, “Do you finally believe? In fact, you’re about to make a run for it—saving your own skins and abandoning me. But I’m not abandoned. The Father is with me. I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world, you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.” (John 16:31-33 MSB)

            In the book of John, Jesus tells the disciples that they will “abandon” Him. This is right before the account of the Garden of Gethsemane. I wonder why Jesus told them that they would abandon Him?

            As I think about this passage, I try to put myself in their shoes. If I lived with the Author of love, God with skin on, the Miracle worker for three years and left everything to follow Him, what would this look like? Never seeing Him be rude or fearful, He is perfection, yet perfect in Love. Then when He was captured, if I left, ran, and “abandoned” Him. How would I feel? Would I think that He would want me? Would I think that reconciliation was possible? Would I believe that He could forgive my rejection of Him?

            I wonder if He told them that they would reject Him, so that they knew He was not surprised. Right after He tells them that they will abandon Him, He says, “you will be unshakable!” Only God can turn running away from Him into running toward Him.

            In a way, humanity has chosen to save “our own skins.” At some point, most of us have chosen our way, instead of God’s way. We have chosen fear, struggle, sin…However, instead of shame or guilt, God turns our struggle into a fierce commitment to Him. He makes us strong in Him as we return, as we seek, as we realize that He is the only way. Shame and guilt keep us running. Yet, grace and love cover our mess and make us “assured, deeply at peace.” (all quotes from the verse above)

            May we choose Jesus. For only in Him do we find peace and purpose that makes us UNSHAKABLE.

Are their ways that you have “abandoned God?” If so, may we return trusting Him, and we will be “unshakable.”

Jesus,
Thank You that You turn messes into miracles- only You can do that. I am sorry for the ways I ran from You. Please cover my sins in the blood of Jesus. I choose You, make me “unshakable” in my faith. In Jesus name


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