Read John 5:19-23. Circle the words that stand out to you. What is the Lord saying to you?
19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.
Digging Deeper
At a church clean-up, our team was to help string cable wires for the security cameras. No one knew how to cut sheet rock and install electrical wires. They didn’t even have the right tools. Being a handyman, not an electrician, I was able to show the guys how to use a stud finder, use a sheet rock cutter or utility knife to cut the sheet rock, and install the electrical box.
As one person attempted to do it under my supervision, the other guys observed and learned. After the first one was done, everyone else decided that they would like to try doing it in other classrooms on their own. Every so often, I stopped by and offered them help as they needed it. Each person was proud of their own work and learning new skills in installing an electrical box.
Jesus makes an astonishing statement. The Father just doesn’t direct Him to an activity, but shows Him the activity. He says this, “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does.”
Haven’t we all wished that someone would show us how to have a devotion or do a Bible study besides giving us instructions or just telling us to do it? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if someone actually walked with us through their own devotion or Bible study so that we can learn from them?
If you don’t know how to have a meaningful devotion or a Bible study, ask someone you respect in the church to SHOW you. If God leads you to a young Christian, ask him/her if they would like to know how to have a devotion or Bible study. Walk with him/her through the process that you take. It may not be perfect for them. And that’s ok. You are just sharing how God works in your life. It’s up to them if they sense God leading them to appropriate it. For many, they will appreciate it so much as they know that someone is with and for them in their journey with Christ. Jesus showed His disciples just as the Father showed Him what He was doing. Let’s do the same.
-Kingston