“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.”—John 14:1-3 (NLT)

I started the New Testament reading plan in October with the Bible Recap. I have done different studies over the years in the book of John. Because of reading the Bible chronologically this year, it is all making more sense to me. This book emphasizes that belief in Jesus leads to eternal life. While reading chapter 14, it triggered a memory of when I was first introduced to this book in the Bible.

Shortly after my first husband died, I will never forget the phone call I made to the previous owners of the home we had bought in East Texas. We purchased it about a month before we were moving so we could do some remodeling. It was our house. We owned it. The husband of the couple we purchased it from was a Baptist preacher who had retired. He and his wife were selling the house so they could move closer to their children.. 

I remember calling them after John died because I was desperate to talk to someone that might be able to give me some answers about God. I figured a preacher would be a good place to start. It has been over 25 years since this happened, so I am paraphrasing what I can recall.

The wife answered the phone. I asked to speak to her husband but he wasn’t home. She asked if she could help me. I blurted out, my husband died and I don’t know what to do. Her immediate response was not one of love. She said, , Lisa, I don’t now what you want us to do. You own the house. I was a little shocked at her reply. I told her, that isn’t why I am calling. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know the Bible. Why would God let this happen?

I have to believe she felt bad for her initial response that was in the flesh because she quickly realized I was a lost, broken soul searching for answers and not asking to return a home back to her that I clearly owned. She gently told me to start with the book of John, chapter 14. Now I know why she led me their first. Verses 1-3 still give me comfort to read. As I read this chapter this week, I thought about her words of wisdom.

John 14 includes Jesus being the Way, the Truth and the Life and the promise of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the only way to the Father. (14:6) In verse 26, Jesus tells us God will send us a Helper (the Holy Spirit), which my Bible dictionary also translates as Comforter, Counselor and Advocate. I definitely was in need of a Helper, Comforter, Counselor and Advocate during that time in my life. I still am. 

I realize I started this post talking about how I was introduced to the book of John but as I continued to type this, the title of this post changed. I couldn’t help but think of my conversation with the pastor’s wife. Honestly, I think she was in shock by the unexpected phone call and rather than pray before she spoke, the first words that came to her mind are what tumbled out of her mouth.. Being married to a preacher didn’t mean she would always respond as Jesus would. We are all human. None of us are perfect and we should all be giving each other grace because God knows how much we all need it. 

However, had my frame of mind been one of anger and bitterness, that conversation could have gone south rather quickly. Not only would she have missed an opportunity to share the Gospel with me, but she would have driven me further from God by reinforcing my misconceived thoughts about so many Christians being hypocrites. I am just being honest on how I felt at that time in my life. I am not proud of those feelings because I have experienced quite the opposite over the years.

Thankfully, that wasn’t how it transpired. I think she was convicted of her immediate response. However, it was a good reminder for me to pray before I speak, especially in situations such as these. You never do know someone’s mental state.

As a disciple of Christ, I really need to choose my words wisely, especially with someone that is in a fragile frame of mind, such as I was. I don’t want to get to Heaven and find out how I really blew it to lead someone to Jesus because I was more focused on me than Him. God brought this situation to my mind so that I will be more intentional in that area of my life. Like the preacher’s wife, I may not always get it right, but thankfully we serve a God of second chances.

Dear Lord,

Thank You for the Holy Spirit that dwells inside of me. I give You thanks for opening my eyes to scripture both now and when my soul was lost and seeking You. Forgive me when I miss opportunities to share the Gospel because I am more focused on me and not You. I lift those up to You who are struggling with understanding who You are. I ask for words of wisdom for those who are seeking You. It is in the name of Jesus that I pray these things. Amen. 

November Memory Verse:

I thought Romans 12:18 was the perfect verse for me to imprint on my heart for this month. I am called to live in peace with EVERYONE, not just those that think and act as I do. We can not be a light in the dark if we are acting as the world does when things don’t the way we desire.

 “Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.”—Romans 12:18 (NLT)

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