The Upper Room Devotion for Thursday, April 25, 2024, was written by Kumalawaty Sundari of Jakarta, Indonesia.
Scripture
1 “I have said these things to you to keep you from stumbling. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, an hour is coming when those who kill you will think that by doing so they are offering worship to God. 3 And they will do this because they have not known the Father or me. 4 But I have said these things to you so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you about them. “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; 11 about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned. 12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
John 16:1-15 NRSV
Author's Thoughts
Watching the sunrise from my balcony is something I always await with enthusiasm. One day I was disapointed because there were many dark, thick clouds in the sky. I thought it would certainly begin to rain soon, but slowly the dark clouds turned red. As time passed, the clouds began to dissipate until finally the sun shone brightly. Hardly believing what I had just seen, I realized that like the light of the sun overcoming the dark clouds that morning, God is greater than all my problems.
Sometimes life feels gloomy and we just live day by day without a clear sense of purpose. However, when we trust in Jesus, he is the light that guides our way; with his strength we do not carry our burdens alone. Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit to direct our steps so that we can always move forward with hope.
Author's Prayer
Triune God, life is full of uncertainty, yet we know we can rely on you. Comfort us during hard times, and help us to look forward in hope to the promise of salvation. Amen.