Wednesday, May 6

Devotional: The Fingerprints of God

Intro:
Your fingerprint uniquely identifies you. We've all watched enough CSI Miami to think we are forensic experts! And all that expert knowledge has taught us at least this: don't leave your fingerprints on anything ... they will catch you!

Jesus left his fingerprints on lots of things in this world. He left his prints on a man with a broken body. He left his prints on a woman caught in adultery. He left his prints on a father with a dying son. He left his prints on the religiously arrogant. He left his prints on the rich and poor. He left his prints on his followers. These folks were never the same when he was finished with them.

When the CSI folks ran the prints they came to a startling discovery ..... the prints were the very prints of God himself.

The creator God, the God of Moses and manna, the God of David and Daniel, the God who parted the Red Sea, the God of lovingkindness, the God of gods and the Lord of lords ... that God, left his mark on the earth! He left a set of fingerprints that matched Jesus.

We have looked at John 14 this week. Stay with it. As you read this morning, ask God to give you a new set of eyes to see wonderful things in His word. Things you have not seen yet.

Read: John 14:1-1-14
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 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? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”
5 “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”
9 Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. 11 Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.
12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. 13 You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. 14 Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it! (NLT)

Think:
John 1 tells us that no one has seen God at any time but that the Son has made him known to us. In other words, if you want to know what the Father looks like, there is a striking family resemblance in Jesus of Nazareth!

Hebrews 1 tells us that the Son is the exact representation of the Father. In other words, if you have seen Jesus you have seen God.

John 14 tells us that anyone who has seen Jesus has seen the Father! Think through that statement. Think of what Jesus is saying here. It is like a math equation: Jesus = the Father & the Father = Jesus.

Think through how radical a statement this really is. Imagine what it would sound like for you to say to your friends at church, “Hey, if you have seen me you have seen Jesus!” That is crazy talk! You might be really holy. You might be godly in behavior. You might be pleasing to the Father. BUT you cannot say that to see you is to see Jesus. That math does not add up!

This is the final week of Jesus’ life. He has a staked interest in these men and the spreading of the Kingdom through them. In a moment of weakness and in need of encouragement Jesus changes their focus and promises to guide them to heaven safely. BUT can he deliver? Only God can make such bold guarantees! Exactly!

If they could not believe based on what he was saying He challenged them to look at the miracles He performed. He challenged them to look for his unique fingerprint.

Do:
Q. How do you motivate yourself when you are discouraged? Do you numb yourself with music and noise? Do you anesthetize yourself with alcohol or other things? Do you get really busy? Do you worry? Do you pretend you are not struggling and do more and more at church in an effort to feel better?

Is this all worth it? Have we ventured into Christ for nothing? Is this a waste of time and effort? If you are honest you have asked questions like these at times. How you answer the questions is more important then having the questions. God can handle your questions.

The issue is what are your answers? How do you answer disappointment? How do you answer doubts? How do you answer nagging questions that pop up?

A. Jesus is God. That is the most important answer. Jesus is risen from the dead. Jesus is preparing a place for you. Jesus will guide you safely home. We were never promised an easy passage just a safe landing! Jesus is the only Promise Keeper and will accomplish what he has started. This is what Jesus used to motivate his discouraged and doubting disciples. Can you find solace and encouragement here as well?

Look for those fingerprints today! Jesus is at work in your life.


DevoLink: Devotions to help you Link with God.