“Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you; for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of the light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them. But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on Him.” John 12:35-37
Today’s Christian daily devotional
“Julia?” I see a familiar face smiling on the other side of the clear freezer door.
Startled, I almost drop the sweaty water bottles scooped in my arms.
“You look great! What are you up to these days?” Shawna rambles on, her eyes wide and curious. It is shocking to see her after all these years.
“I’m a writer now.” I move to the side, making room for another customer to get his drinks.
“No joke!” Shawna bursts out. The local Seven Eleven is tiny and all eyes turn our direction.
“Sorry.” Catching herself with a stiffled giggle, Shawna continues on.
“I just graduated from Illinois State with a degree in creative writing!” she speaks with hushed excitement, smiling and shaking her head in disbelief. We both walk towards the front of the store.
“How are you finding work? It’s a tough world out there.” She gives me a knowing look; we both share a rough past.
I scramble for the proper change to give the cashier and then scoop the wet bottles back into my arm.
“I just finished my first book. I also write daily inspiration for my website: shalombewithyou.com.” My stomach knots up in anticipation for the next phase of our conversation: The awkward, uncomfortable, yet inevitable…silence.
Shawna’s big eyes seem to get rounder. Her smile freezes as her brain assimilates all her questions. She finds one she can ask.
“So, what is your source of inspiration?” Looking down at her watch, it is apparent her interest is quickly fading.
“I like to get all my inspiration from God, so I do my research from the Bible.” I silently wonder why I am bothering to swim upstream with this conversation.
“Whoa. Seriously?” She stifles a confused laugh.
“God?! Jules, you were one of the few dancers that worked in our club who actually seemed to have her head straight.” Shawna’s usually warm demeanor turns condiscending and defensive. I feel like a stranger as I have never seen this side of her before.
I want to kick myself for being thirsty enough to stop for water.
“I’m one of God’s ‘chosen people’.” Shawna rolls her eyes while she speaks dismissing her belief in the actual value of it.
“But, I am a non-practicing Jew. Everything in my life I got through my own hard work; definitely not from some God.” Shawna rants with her hands on her hips as if she is ready to spar. Apparently my choice of inspiration has hit a sensitive nerve with her.
In my experience, if a person is dead-set against believing there is a God there is nothing my little self can say that will convince them otherwise.
In John 12:35-37, Jesus is among the Jewish religious leaders of his day, the Pharisees. Not only did He speak profound words of wisdom and give divine revelations, He backed His claims of being the Son of God with actual miracles.
But, the Pharisees had already decided ahead of time not to open their hearts. They did not want to entertain the idea that Jesus could actually be the Messiah they claimed to be in search of. The cost was too high for them and because of their cold hearts; they lost the blessing that was right in plain sight.
Many people who claim to be open minded, close their minds to Jesus. Why is this?
Culturally speaking, many don’t want to deal with the ramifications and persecutions of being put out of their society. Much like the Pharisees of Jesus’ day, they are not willing to take a social risk and go out on a limb in their search for God.
Many are hoping that God will conform to their ideal “bubble” and stay where they want Him to stay; close enough to bless them, but far enough to allow them to do what they want.
God wants to bless you. Are you willing to reach out, take a risk and go for that blessing?
“Dear Heavenly Father,
I admit that I don’t know it all. In fact, I struggle with the lack of what I actually do know everyday.
I want to believe that God really cares about me. I am having a hard time wrapping my head around the idea of Jesus, though.
I pray that if Jesus is the way, you will show me. I know that God spoke to the Israelites through His word, and I am trusting that He will do the same for me through the Bible.
Guide me as I search for you in the scriptures. Help me to not give up on you as you have never given up on me.
In Jesus’ precious name, I open my mind, heart and life to THE TRUTH. Amen.”
Thank you for reading today’s Christian daily devotional on verses: John 12:35-37
Please check back and see what we have for you tomorrow!
Author: Julia Shalom Jordan